618th Air and Space Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center)

The 618th Air and Space Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Mobility Command's Eighteenth Air Force (18AF/AFTRANS). It is stationed at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. The 618th AOC (TACC) is responsible for planning, scheduling, and tracking aircraft performing airlift, aerial refueling, and aeromedical evacuation operations around the world.^[1] It serves as an Air and Space Operations Center (AOC) for 18AF/AFTRANS, executing missions assigned by the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM).^[2]

Overview

Within the United States Department of Defense, the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) is responsible for providing air, land, and sea transportation. Air transportation is provided by the US Air Force’s Air Mobility Command (AMC). Operations within AMC are conducted by the Eighteenth Air Force (18AF) which, in its capacity as a component of USTRANSCOM, is a Component Numbered Air Force (C-NAF) known as Air Force Transportation (AFTRANS). As in other C-NAFs, operations are planned by an Air and Space Operations Center (AOC). The 618th AOC (TACC) serves as the AOC for 18AF/AFTRANS.

Founded as the Tanker Airlift Control Center in 1992, the 618th AOC (TACC) provides command and control for both military and contract air mobility aircraft. Military aircraft include the C-5 Galaxy, KC-10 Extender, C-17 Globemaster III, C-130 Hercules and KC-135 Stratotanker. Civilian aircraft include those contracted to provide airlift services, as well as the Civil Reserve Air Fleet. The unit is composed of active duty, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard personnel.^[1]

Organization

Because the 618th Air and Space Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center) is a functional AOC focusing on air mobility operations, it is organized differently from the standard US Air Force AOC. The 618th AOC (TACC) is composed of eight directorates.^[1]

• Global Channel Operations Directorate (XOG)

The XOG directorate manages worldwide strategic channel airlift operations for passenger and cargo movement in the Defense Transportation System. The directorate also assists transportation officers worldwide with booking passenger movements for Department of Defense international travelers. Sixty-percent of AMC's daily missions are channel missions.

• Current Operations Directorate (XOO)

The XOO directorate plans and monitors Air Force and commercial airlift and air refueling missions to meet customer requirements for movement of passengers and cargo in support of National Command Authority-directed classified programs, nuclear airlift, fighter and bomber deployment and employment air refueling, and distinguished visitor airlift.

• Global Readiness Directorate (XOP)

The XOP directorate is the single manager for integrating Global Reach by focusing airlift and mission support resources in response to directives and tasking from the National Command Authority. It projects mobility forces to achieve national goals and objectives in support of wartime needs, contingencies, aeromedical evacuation, exercises and humanitarian efforts, and is AMC's source for theater augmentation and contingency response assets.

• Mobility Management Directorate (XOB)

The XOB directorate is responsible for matching validated airlift requirements with active duty and available Air Reserve Component units to support AMC's Global Mobility mission.

• Command and Control Directorate (XOC)

The XOC directorate, the largest directorate in the AOC, is a highly skilled command and control team exercising the AMC commander's authority and direction over AMC assigned and gained missions. It operates 24-hours-a-day, every day, providing first-class flight planning, diplomatic clearance, and integrated flight management services to aircrews from the moment a mission enters execution through mission completion.

• Director of Operations (XOZ)

The XOZ directorate acts as AMC's single point of contact for AMC mission execution serving as the command's representative to the Joint Staff, Air Force Watch Cell, National Military Command Center, U.S. Transportation Command, the DOD and other agencies. The "Senior" provides immediate oversight and decision making for all AMC command and control efforts.

• Mission Support Directorate (XON)

The XON directorate maintains the 618th TACC's viability today and develops solutions for tomorrow's challenges. The directorate consists of three divisions providing timely, accurate and relevant data, technology and resource support across the 618th TACC. It serves as a force multiplier ensuring unrivaled execution of AMC's Global Mobility mission.

• Global Mobility Weather Operations Directorate (XOW)

The XOW directorate provides weather products, services and briefings for mission planning and execution phases managed by the 618th TACC for strategic airlift and air refueling crews operating worldwide.

History

The 618th AOC (TACC), initially known as TACC, became operational April 1, 1992. Air mobility leadership sought to simplify the execution of the worldwide mobility mission. They created a highly efficient organization to centralize command and control operations previously located within numbered air forces and airlift divisions. TACC was redesignated as the 618th TACC on April 1, 2007, and remained under that designation until being renamed the 618th AOC (TACC) Aug. 30, 2010.^[3]

Air Mobility leverages a tightly integrated AMC team that includes the 618th TACC, commanders across the spectrum, crews, support personnel and customers. The 618th AOC (TACC) optimizes the Global Air Mobility System while providing aircrews with mission details, support, training and authority necessary to successfully execute their missions. As an air operation center, commanding combat forces around the globe, the 618th AOC (TACC) is a committed partner for today and tomorrow's expeditionary Air Force.

Lineage

• Established as Tanker Airlift Control Center on 1 April 1992^[1]
• Redesignated as 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center on 1 April 2007^[1]
• Redesignated as 618th Air and Space Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center) on 20 August 2010^[3]

Assignments

• Military Airlift Command (1 April 1992-1 June 1992)^[4]
• Air Mobility Command (1 June 1992-Present)^[4]
• Eighteenth Air Force (1 Oct 2003-Present)^[4]

Stations

• Scott Air Force Base, Illinois (1 April 1992-Present)^[4]

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

External links

• 618th AOC (TACC) home page