The 1st Combat Communications Squadron is a military communications unit of the United States Air Force. It is part of the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, United States Air Forces in Europe. It is located at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
The squadron traces its history to the constitution of the 1st Airways and Air Communications Service Squadron, Mobile, on 28 January 1952, and its subsequent activation on 1 March 1952 at Johnson Air Base, Japan, as part of the 1808th Airways and Air Communications Service Wing, Airways and Air Communications Service, USAF. After a number of changes, the then-1st Mobile Communications Group arrived at Lindsey ASN, West Germany, in January 1976, thereafter being assigned to the European Communications Area.
Today the squadron's mission is to provide rapidly-deployable communications and air traffic control services throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The unit also supports training exercises, deployments, contingencies, and special military projects for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, United States European Command, the Department of State, and the United Nations, as directed by United States Air Forces in Europe. In many cases, the unit's mission requires its members to be some of the first US forces to arrive at an operating location. Because of the nature of the operation and the services the unit provides, unit members are frequently among the last personnel to leave. Hence the motto, "First In--Last Out."
The squadron was the Air Force's Major General Harold M. McClelland Large Unit of the Year Award winner for 2017.
Lineage and previous designations
Redesignated - 1st Combat Communications Squadron on 31 Jul 1991
Redesignated - 1st Combat Communications Group on 1 Oct 1986
Redesignated - 1st Combat Information Systems Group on 15 Oct 1984
Redesignated - 1st Combat Communications Group on 1 Jan 1981
Redesignated - 1st Combat Communications Squadron on 24 Mar 1976
Redesignated - 1st Mobile Communications Group on 15 Jan 1975
Redesignated - 1st Mobile Communications Squadron on 1 Jul 1974
Redesignated - 1st Mobile Communications Group on 1 Oct 1961
Redesignated - 1st Mobile Communications Squadron on 1 Jul 1961
Activated - 1st Airways and Air Communications Service Squadron, Mobile on 1 Mar 1952. Constituted - 1st Airways and Air Communications Service Squadron, Mobile on 28 Jan 1952.
Bases stationed
Ramstein Air Base, Germany, c. 1 July 1994 - to present
Sembach Air Base, Germany, 1 October 1992
Lindsey Air Station, Germany, 1 February 1976
Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, United States, 15 January 1975 - 1 February 1976
Clark Air Base, Philippines, 1 August 1961 - 15 January 1975
Johnson Air Base (later, Air Station), Japan, 1 March 1952
Emblem
Decorations
Presidential Unit Citation (Southeast Asia): 01 Jan 1967 - 15 Feb 1968
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device: 15 Jan 2004 - 31 Oct 2005 (Order # GA-25) Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device: 01 Jan 1972 - 31 Dec 1972 (Order # GA-621) Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device: 01 Jan 1971 - 31 Dec 1971 (Order # GA-495) Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device: 01 Jan 1969 - 31 Dec 1969 (Order # GA-408)