625th Strategic Operations Squadron

625th Strategic Operations Squadron
625th Strategic Operations Squadron emblem
Active	1996-Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Strategic Operations
Role	Nuclear Targeting, Strategic Automated Command and Control, Airborne Launch Control Systems, Missile Analysis
Part of	20 AF/Strategic Command
Garrison/HQ	Offutt AFB, Nebraska
Motto	SI VIS PACEM PARA BELLUM - "If you wish peace, prepare for war"
Decorations	AFOUA
Commanders
Current commander	Lt Col Stacy Huser

The mission of the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron (625 STOS) is to find, analyze, and evaluate strategic nuclear targets for U.S. nuclear forces inside OPLAN 8044, formerly known as the SIOP.^[1]

Mission

Three mission areas are encompassed by subordinate flights:

• Strategic Automated Command & Control System flight - distributing emergency action messages to the warfighter (Tell ICBM combat crews when to "execute")
• Weapons & Tactics Flight - Targeting for ICBMs (Tell the missiles where to hit)
• Airborne Launch Control System Flight - provide training and crewmembers for two positions on board E-6B Mercury Airborne Launch Control System (Launch the missiles, if combat crews are unable)

History

The 625 STOS was previously designated 625th Missile Operations Flight (625 MOF).^[2]

625 MOF's mission was to verify missile targeting, trains airborne launch control system crews and ensures strategic communications networks between the launch control centers and national leadership are operating.^[3]

The squadron will soon transfer to the new Air Force Global Strike Command.^[4]

Emblem significance

Ultramarine blue and Air Force yellow are the Air Force colors. Blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force operations. Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force personnel. The mission element symbolizes three mission areas and flights (Airborne Launch Control System flight, Strategic Automated Command and Control Systems Flight). The world globe represents the unit's global spanning missions. The stars represent the unit's commitment to the ever vigilant forces at three missile wings located at FE Warren AFB, Malmstrom AFB, and Minot AFB.^[5]

Previous designations

• 625th Strategic Operations Squadron (14 Jun 2007–Present)^[6]
• 625th Missile Operations Flight (1 Apr 1996-14 Jun 2007)

Bases stationed

• Offutt AFB, Nebraska (15 Apr 1996–Present)

Aircraft & Missiles Operated

• E-6B (2007–Present)^[7]
• LGM-30G Minuteman III ICBMs

Decorations

• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
  • 1 Oct 2001-30 Sep 2003^[8]
  • 1 Oct 1999-30 Sep 2001^[9]
  • 1 Oct 1995-30 Sep 1997^[10]

References

Constructs such as ibid., loc. cit. and idem are discouraged by Wikipedia's style guide for footnotes, as they are easily broken. Please improve this article by replacing them with named references (quick guide), or an abbreviated title. (July 2010)

United States Air Force portal

v t e Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) Bases Barksdale F. E. Warren Malmstrom Minot Whiteman Units Air Forces Eighth Air Force Twentieth Air Force Wings Bomb 2d Bomb 5th Bomb 509th Bomb Missile 90th Missile 91st Missile 341st Missile Squadrons Bomb 11th Bomb 13th Bomb 20th Bomb 23d Bomb 69th Bomb 93d Bomb 96th Bomb 343d Bomb 393d Bomb Flight test 576th Flight Test Squadron Missile 10th Missile 12th Missile 319th Missile 320th Missile 321st Missile 490th Missile 740th Missile 741st Missile 742d Missile Strategic Operations ‎ 625th Strategic Operations Squadron Weapon systems Bombers B-2 Spirit B-52 Stratofortress Command E-6B Mercury Helicopters UH-1N Iroquois Missiles LGM-30G Minuteman III Leadership Kowalski Klotz