page_title: 25th Air Support Operations Squadron
section_title: Modern era
hierarchical_section_title: 25th Air Support Operations Squadron / History / Modern era
caption_attribution_description: English: O2-A, 25th Tactical Air Support Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.
context_page_description: The United States Air Force's 25th Air Support Operations Squadron is a combat support unit located at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii. The squadron provides tactical command and control of airpower assets to the Joint Forces Air Component Commander and Joint Forces Land Component Commander for combat operations.
context_section_description: The squadron was again activated in July 1971 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, as the 25th Tactical Air Support Squadron and equipped with the Cessna O-2 Skymaster.  In 1986 the 25th upgraded to the North American OV-10 Bronco, 1986–1989. The squadron was inactivated in September 1989.
  Its most current period of active service in Hawaii began a little more than a year later in 1990, when it was activated as the 25th Air Liaison Squadron at Schofield Barracks.  Three months later the squadron moved to Wheeler Army Airfield.  The unit has deployed in support of Air Force and Army missions.  The squadron is manned by tactical air controllers, a unique type of servicemembers—Air Force by service, but Army by trade, planning, communicating and facilitating the execution of close- air support for ground forces.  To assist in their communication needs, the JTACs operate and  maintain a complete array of equipment. Tactical Air Control is also one of the few jobs in the Air Force operates far forward on the battlefield.
  The 25th deployed to Afghanistan in 2006. They were located everywhere from headquarters to operations with company-sized elements, acting as the liaison for all air support that comes from all services and coalition partners. Their mission of calling in air support requires communication and planning. Planning includes advising leaders on the best ways to use air assets and coordinate so that close air support can operate safely on the battlefield with other indirect-fire assets, such as artillery and mortars.
caption: 25th Tactical Air Support Squadron O-2A at Eielson AFB
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