39TH INFORMATION OPERATIONS SQUADRON

The 39th Information Operations Squadron, located at Hurlburt Field, Fla., is the U.S. Air Force's premier information operations and cyber formal training unit. The unit conducts qualification and advanced training to provide mission-ready information operations and cyber warfare operators for all Air Force major commands. The 39th IOS conducts the information operations integration course, which is initial qualification training for Airmen assigned to operational-level information operations team billets in air operations centers; the Signature Management Course, which provides military deception and operational security training to officers and non-commissioned officers serving as wing-level signature managers; and the operational military deception course, which provides training for Air Force major command and component numbered Air Force planners.

The 39th IOS also provides initial and mission qualification training for network warfare operators serving in Air Force, joint service, and interagency cyber units/activities. The Network Warfare Bridge Course replaces the former Undergraduate Network Warfare Training course, provides foundational network warfare skills to the full range of cyber-related Air Force specialties and prepares non-accession Airmen for initial qualification training. Intermediate Network Warfare Training is the Air Force's single initial qualification training to prepare Airmen to serve in a wide range of Air Force cyber operations crew positions in 24th Air Force and beyond. The squadron also provides mission qualification training to a growing list of network warfare units to prepare Airmen to serve as combat mission ready cyber operators and analysts.

History

The 39th IOS traces its roots back to Feb. 7, 1942, when the 136th Signal Radio Intelligence Company was constituted. The 136th SRIC was activated Feb. 15, 1942. Several redesignations took place before it was deactivated on May 8, 1955.

On Oct. 1, 1986, the unit was reactivated and consolidated with the 6919th Electronic Security Squadron at Sembach Air Base, Germany. The mission was command, control and communication countermeasures support to U.S. and allied forces. This squadron was deactivated May 31, 1991.

On Nov. 1, 1994, the 39th Intelligence Squadron was activated at Nellis AFB, Nev. The 39th IS provided tactical intelligence integration training for the Weapons and Tactics Center and the Air Force Weapons School.

The squadron was moved to Hurlburt Field in 1998. The initial cadre of permanent party members arrived on station between Oct. 1998 and May 1999. The first class of information operations warriors was trained in a temporary facility in December of 1998.

The Air Force approved changing the squadron's name from the 39th Intelligence Squadron to the 39th Information Operations Squadron Sept. 1, 1999, to better reflect it's new and expanded mission set. Since the initial Information Operations Integration Course, the schoolhouse has graduated more than 3,400 students graduate from various courses.

Mission

Provide advanced information operations and cyberspace training for the United States Air Force.

People

Eighty-six professionals, representing 17 Air Force Specialty Codes, perform the 39th IOS mission. The instructor corps at the 39th IOS consists of 48 experienced, active duty, civilians and contractors with expertise ranging in cyber warfare, electronic warfare and influence operations.

Vision

To prepare information operations and cyber Airmen to fight our nation's wars.

Organization

Today, the 39th IOS is part of the 318th Information Operations Group, and 688th Information Operations Wing, both located at Lackland AFB, Texas, which are aligned under the 24th Air Force and Air Force Space Command. The 318th IOG consists of the 23rd Information Operations Squadron, the 346th Test Squadron, the 90th Information Operations Squadron and the 92nd Information Operations Squadron at Lackland AFB, Texas; the 39th Information Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., and detachments at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and Fort George G. Meade, Md. The group performs its mission in partnership with Texas, Vermont and Washington Air National Guard units.

Cyberspace Capabilities

The 39th IOS is housed in a state-of-the-art 22,000-square-foot facility featuring several classrooms, multiple small group mission planning rooms and a 50-person auditorium. All classrooms are equipped with cutting edge communication and computer systems, to include secure video teleconferencing and fiber optic infrastructures. This allows real-time war gaming and improved instruction at multiple security levels.

(Current as of October 2011)