Structured to fight
Combat Support Group is undertaking a major reorganisation of 95 and 96 Wings to enable them to be more agile and focused in support of an integrated force.
CAPTION: Group Captain Gary Sadler, Warrant Officer Jason Pyke, Group Captain Kylie Green, Warrant Officer Korey McGregor and Wing Commander Fiona Pearce following the 17 Squadron handover/takeover ceremony. Story by Scott Jenner.
Currently, 95 Wing is responsible for the delivery of expeditionary airbase effects, while 96 Wing is primarily responsible for the delivery of fixed airbase effects within Australia.
The first unit transfer of authority occurred in August when 13 Squadron and 17 Squadron transferred from 96 Wing to 95 Wing. A further six units will transfer in October.
During the Transfer of Authority ceremony for 13 Squadron, Officer Commanding 96 Wing, Group Captain Gary Sadler, said Plan Mulleun identified an opportunity to more effectively support the requirements of the National Defence Strategy through a reorientation of organisation and mindset.
“Progressing forward from an era of deliberate expeditionary and fixed base segregation, Combat Support Group capability will now be balanced across both 95 and 96 Wings with clearer geographical focus on the projection of airpower within Australia and to our north/northwest and eastern approaches,” Group Captain Sadler said.
The current structures have been in place since 2014 and proven effective for the types of tasks and missions for Combat Support Group during that time.
The changing strategic environment detailed in the Defence Strategic Review and the National Defence Strategy prompted a review of these structures, which are now being modernised to best support the generation of Air Power to meet emerging threats.
The reorganised wings will each consist of multiple airbase operations squadrons, a security forces squadron, and at least one contingency response squadron.
1 Combat Communications Squadron and 65 Air Base Recovery Squadron will continue to be used as theatre level assets, each sitting in a separate wing.
The reorganisation will balance both wings, enabling them to quickly generate deployable force elements.
It will also enable the wings to train how they are likely to fight and develop the warfighting mindset across Combat Support Group.
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