JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
Air Combat Command officially activated the 13th Air Task Force at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph via an assumption of command ceremony held at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, on Sept. 23, 2024.
The 13th ATF opened its doors on JBSA-Randolph on July 15, marking a significant shift in the service's force presentation model. This new unit aims to transform how Airmen train, deploy, and operate in response to evolving global threats.
Col. Ben “Leeroy” Donberg, commander of the 13th ATF, emphasized the importance of this change and how it will impact JBSA service members.
"For the past 20 years, JBSA Airmen have been deploying in small one-to-two-person groups cobbled together with Airmen from countless other wings," Donberg said. "The Air Task Force is a pathfinder effort to fix this problem by training the entire deployment group as a combat-focused team for the 12 months prior to the deployment, so we know and trust our teammates on day one."
The 13th ATF's mission is to build, train, deploy, and command mission-ready Airmen as part of the Air Force's strategy to enhance combat effectiveness and team cohesion. This approach addresses the challenges faced in previous deployment models where airmen often met their teammates for the first time at deployed locations.
The Task Force’s presence at JBSA-Randolph primarily consists of a command element including a command team and associated A-staff personnel. This structure allows for efficient command and control while minimizing the impact on existing base operations.
“We are a mission partner within JBSA,” Donberg said. “We have received world-class support from JBSA in establishing our new unit.”
The activation of the 13th ATF at JBSA-Randolph is part of a broader Air Force initiative to establish six Air Task Forces across the United States and represents a significant step in the Air Force's efforts to adapt to the challenges of great power competition.
For more information, visit www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3917222/air-combat-command-activates-3-air-task-force-units/ or www.dvidshub.net/news/481703/air-combat-command-activates-3-air-task-force-units.