Högseths prepares a special tactical squadron in Florida: National Guard and active command to accelerate coordination

In modern warfare, some forces decided whether the warplanes could find their targets and others whether the wounded would be evacuated alive after landing. On September 23, Hegesses signed a memorandum calling for the formation of a new special tactical squadron of the Air National Guard in Florida.Public on 21 OctoberI'm sorry. This organizational adjustment is not a brazen move, but it touches on the weak link of joint United States military action: advanced equipment is not a substitute for ground-based guidance, combat rescue and cross-military coordination.

Combat control, combat search and rescue, reconnaissance and open-space support require long-term joint training among different professionals. The Hegesses memorandum was organized: the Air Force would then implement staffing, training processes and budgets. The operational capability of the new squadron once it is completed will be shaped by these specific inputs and by practical training.

Why do the Americans have to add a professional squadron instead of just more planes

The Chinese army under Xi Jinping's administration is also advancing the construction of a joint combat system, often showing its strength through carriers, warplanes and missiles. The Florida plan shows another capability that is not easily visible in the military parade: how to organize ground experts for long-range air operations control targets, rescue personnel, airport security and coordination support. The stability of joint command may be as important as the performance of the equipment.

The military activities of the Liberation Army around Taiwan have been increasing, and the comparison of military strength in the Western Pacific has therefore involved logistics, cross-military teamwork and combat training. New units on the United States side are located within the United States' own system of special operations, and public decisions are mainly about organization; It shows that the United States continues to invest in personnel and command capabilities in complex missions.

Order of 23 September, published on 21 October: Organization decision on land landing

Air Force Magazine reported on 21 October that a memorandum from Hergess to Air Force Minister Troy Meink was issued on 23 September, requesting the establishment of a new special tactical squadron of the National Guard at Hurlburt Field (Helbert Airport) in Florida and the placement of associated new organizations at MacDill Air Force Base (McDil Air Force Base). The Pentagon subsequently announced this decision publicly. The memorandum clarified the direction of the organization and then dealt with the specific allocation of military personnel, equipment, base facilities and training resources. These matters will determine when the new unit will be able to fully implement its mandate.

Combat control and rescue, what is the special tactical squadron responsible for?

Such squadrons consist of various professions, including combat controllers, umbrella rescuers, special reconnaissance personnel and tactical air control personnel. Its mandate may relate to airport control in hostile areas, combat search and rescue, coordination of ground-to-ground air support and open-space liaison at high-risk sites. In joint operations, aircraft can strike targets from a distance, but who identifies targets, manages temporary airports, organizes rescue and provides security for personnel often relies on these ground experts.

There are currently two similar squadrons in the United States Air Force National Guard: the 123rd Specialtactic Squadron in Kentucky and the 125th Specialtactic Squadron in Oregon. The new unit in Florida is therefore not an ordinary addition to the office team, but rather an expansion of the relatively scarce specialized combat expertise in the National Guard system. The original 249th Special Operations Squadron in Florida operated CV-22 “Fowl Eagle” rotary-wing aircraft, which provided the context for understanding the local special operations ecology.

Herbert and McDier: How do we connect the two bases to the command?

Herbert Airport is the headquarters of the Air Force Special Operations Command, while the McDir Air Force Base has the United States Special Operations Command. The relationship between the new squadron and the two locations is not simply a geographical arrangement, but a question of training, deployment, intelligence, command and joint tasking. The Pentagon describes it as a highly synergistic mission environment, but the specific allocation of command, staff and training resources requires follow-up budget and institutional documentation.

The memorandum incorporates the subsequent resource planning for military construction, equipment and staffing into the presidential budget cycle for the 2028 fiscal year. This means that the actual size of the new squadron and construction expenditure will be gradually developed in the next budgetary arrangements, rather than being completed by a single announcement.

The new squadron will address the interface between personnel and the chain of command: who will detect, who will rescue, who will control open-space communications and how these professional forces will be trained with the active command.

Another difference between US-China joint operations: open budgets and organizational responsibility

If this decision is taken as just another sign of the United States military, the strategic implications of it cannot be seen. The United States is building a long-term training and command system to compensate for the most difficult ability to replicate rapidly in high-technology warfare. The discussions in Beijing on military modernization have often highlighted new types of warplanes and ships, while training accidents, the stock of grass-roots professionals and the collage of cross-military commands have rarely been as deeply discussed in society. The real gap between the military is often hidden in organizational details of the propaganda films that are not intended to be filmed.