7th Bomb Wing
The 7th Bomb Wing is the host unit at Dyess and is assigned to 8th Air Force at Barksdale AFB, La. The wing is a component of Air Force Global Strike Command, headquartered at Barksdale AFB, La.
The wing is composed of many units working in unison to support logistic, operations, medical, and support functions and is host to 13 associate units. In a nutshell, the 7th Bomb Wing's mission is to provide world class Airmen and air power for the warfighter. It is also charged with producing combat-ready aircrews in the Air Force's only B-1B formal training unit. Groups assigned to the wing include the 7th Operations Group, the 7th Maintenance Group, the 7th Mission Support Group and the 7th Medical Group. In addition, the wing provides host-unit support for the 317th Airlift Wing and 489th Bomb Group also stationed here.
7th Operations Group
The 7th Operations Group is responsible for executing global conventional bombing directed by proper command authority. It is the Air Force's largest B-1B operations group comprising 36 B-1s and more than 1,100 people assigned to its four squadrons: the 9th and 28th Bomb Squadrons, the 7th Operations Support Squadron, and 436th Training Squadron. The 7th OG combines the skill and experience of these units to provide heavy worldwide firepower at a moment's notice anywhere on the globe.
The 9th Bomb Squadron maintains combat readiness to deliver rapid, decisive airpower on a large scale in support of conventional warfare tasks. Squadron experts provide warfighting commanders with the best in operational aircrews and B-1B aircraft. The squadron repairs, services, launches, recovers, and inspects B-1 aircraft capable of sustained intercontinental missions and world-wide deployment/employment from forward operating locations. The 9th BS is the oldest active bomb squadron in the Air Force, and its most recent combat involvement was during Operation Enduring Freedom. The unit flew more than 300 combat sorties during its four-month deployment in mid 2006 in support of the war on terrorism.
The 28th Bomb Squadron is the largest bomb squadron in the Air Force and the largest flying squadron in the command. Its primary mission is to provide all B-1 initial qualification, requalification and instructor upgrade training for Air Combat Command. The squadron determines, evaluates and implements formal training requirements to qualify crewmembers in long-range day and night, all-weather and air-to-ground attack missions. Each year, the 28th trains more than 200 active duty B-1 crewmembers. The squadron also maintains conventional combat readiness supporting higher headquarters contingency taskings worldwide.
The operations support squadron is responsible for B-1 combat effectiveness. The squadron directs wing flight operations, conventional mission planning, combat tactics, airfield management, aircrew training, exercise scheduling, aircraft scheduling, weapons and tactics standardization, intelligence integration, war plans, deployment planning, weather support, small computer support, simulator training, air traffic control and wing life support functions.
The training squadron provides formal training to Air Combat Command using 15 schools at Dyess and 38 other programs exported directly to units for local training needs. Training includes command and control, air, ground and weapons safety, Air Force Operations Resource Management System, classroom instructor training, Air Force Mission Support System administration, mission planning cell training, life support and survival, and computer software use and development. The 436th Training Squadron also develops multimedia and formal presentations used in training program development and formal presentations. Multimedia personnel are based at Dyess, and deploy worldwide to perform their mission. Unit products and services are used throughout the DOD.
7th Maintenance Group
The 7th Maintenance Group provides maintenance support to the bomb wing, deployed units and associate units assigned here. Five units are assigned to the group: 7th Maintenance Operations Squadron, 7th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 7th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, 7th Component Maintenance Squadron and 7th Munitions Squadron.
The maintenance operations squadron supports the B-1 mission by managing and controlling aircraft maintenance and coordination of support to ensure aircraft availability. The unit also manages the wing's ancillary maintenance training program. It provides scheduling and analysis of maintenance and flying indicators for wing level decisions on aircraft reliability, ensuring aircraft integrity.
The aircraft maintenance squadron provides on aircraft maintenance assuring mission readiness for assigned B-1s to meet local and higher headquarter taskings. The unit manages aircraft cannibalization program and aircraft inspection programs to keep the B-1 fleet mission ready.
The equipment maintenance squadron provides aircraft maintenance support for B-1B, C-130, transient and special mission aircraft. The unit is responsible for B-1 phase inspections, aircraft parts fabrication, and maintenance of aerospace ground equipment on the base.
The component repair squadron performs on- and off-equipment maintenance on the B-1 and C-130 aircraft at Dyess. The squadron is responsible for the F-101 engine regional repair center, the only one in ACC, performing all major engine repairs for the B-1 fleet. Unit experts repair avionics computer driven flight control, navigation and radar/electronic warfare components. They also maintain all B-1 ejection seats and fuels systems, plus rebuild hydraulic components and overhaul selected electrical components on both airframes.
The munitions squadron provides all munitions support for Dyess' B-1 fleet. The unit is responsible for storing, maintaining, processing and preparing of all conventional munitions requirements in support of training and combat warfare tasks. The unit is also responsible for maintaining all weapons release systems.
7th Mission Support Group
Dyess operates much like any city and is home to thousands of people. From family services to construction and security, the 7th Mission Support Group keeps the physical installation and its members performing at peak efficiency, while also preparing and supporting the base for its mobility requirements within the Air Force's expeditionary role. Skilled craftsmen operate a power plant, water plant and wastewater treatment plant making the base self-sufficient. Units meet administrative, educational and communications-computer system requirements for the wing. Other activities include lodging, food service, mortuary affairs, and child development functions.
Recreational activities such as the fitness center, library, skill centers and clubs are vital to the health and morale of the base community. The squadrons assigned to the mission support group are the 7th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 7th Mission Support Squadron, 7th Security Forces Squadron, 7th Services Squadron, 7th Communications Squadron, 7th Contracting Squadron and the 7th Civil Engineer Squadron.
The logistics readiness squadron is responsible for homebase logistics support as well as mobility support of deployed forces. The squadron provides supplies, equipment, and fuel to all base units, receiving and storing more than 388,000 pieces of property, valued at over $211 million.
They fulfill the base's transportation requirements, managing and maintaining 588 vehicles, operation of the base taxi fleet, aircrew transportation, personal property shipments and recalling and training ready-augmentation-duty force personnel to support deployment exercises, inspections and contingencies. The diverse squadron provides over 4 million gallons of aviation and ground fuels to all government vehicles and aircraft. It also provides all contingency and peacetime deployment planning and execution, war reserve materiel management, base support planning and support agreement management.
The mission support squadron is the focal point for military and civilian personnel matters, education services, family support issues and professional military education. The unit supports military and civilian employees, family members and retirees assigned to or supported by Dyess.
Security forces protect operational resources on the flight line, as well as patrol the entire base in a law enforcement role. The unit maintains a continuous presence in Southwest Asia and keeps several mobility teams in peak readiness for worldwide contingency deployment. The squadron also functions as a base and local community support agency providing services such as pass and registration, combat arms training, armory, investigations, military working dogs, and drug abuse resistance education for students. The services squadron is the most widely diverse organization at Dyess, providing more than 21 different activities for the base populace. The squadron manages programs geared to the health and welfare of the entire base. It also maintains a strong military deployment contingent providing worldwide support.
The communications squadron provides communications-electronics maintenance on meteorological and navigational aid systems, a Doppler weather radar and land mobile and air traffic control radios. It also provides information systems services including computer network, telephone and mail support, and protection and planning for all communications and information systems. The squadron also provides visual information services to include graphic, photographic and video support.
The contracting squadron solicits and awards more than 20,000 contracts worth more than $35 million annually. Unit experts are responsible for handling contracts covering operations and maintenance construction, services, supplies, and environmental contracting for the wing including all deployed units and forces. The staff also provides emergency contracting operations during global contingency deployments and responds to support combat missions worldwide.
Base civil engineers maintain and repair all base facilities, conduct disaster preparedness training, fire protection and prevention activities, manage environmental programs, and handle housing responsibilities for accompanied and unaccompanied personnel. In addition to operating shops with craftsmen skilled in the building trades, the unit is postured with worldwide deployable prime base engineer emergency force contingency teams equipped to deploy on short notice, to sustain them in a battlefield environment and perform wartime repair and construction.
The 7th Bomb Wing staff includes the wing operations center, plans, judge advocate, public affairs, protocol, antiterrorism, manpower, chapel, treaty office, safety, history, comptroller, military equal opportunity, Air Park and visitor's center, honor guard, wing administration and wing career advisor.
The wing inspector general's office handles all wing inspections, exercises, IG complaints and fraud, waste and abuse allegations.
Licensed military attorneys and professional military paralegals staff Dyess' legal office. They provide services such as legal assistance on such matters as wills, powers-of-attorney, domestic affairs, landlord/tenant issues, Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act issues, consumer issues, and tax assistance.
7th Medical Group
The 7th Medical Group includes more than 300 personnel dedicated to providing community health services to Team Dyess, expert Airman-medics to combatant commanders, and world-class medical and dental care to a population of nearly 20,000.
The Group has an Ambulatory Healthcare and Patient Centered Medical Home accreditation from The Joint Commission, as well as accreditation from the College of American Pathologists.
The 7th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron utilizes dedicated primary care manager teams to deliver proactive medical services to treat active duty Airmen including more than 600 aviators, and to process the administrative medical requirements necessary to maintain ready Airmen. Organized into eight flights, OMRS further supports population-based preventive medicine through services such as dental, public health, optometry, and health promotions, and ensures compliance with occupational and environmental health standards while supporting two flying wings for dominant air power and combat support…anytime, and anywhere.
The 7th Health Care Operations Squadron provides comprehensive primary care and limited referral and space-available subspecialty care to TRICARE-enrolled patients at the medical group. The squadron is comprised of two flights: Physical/Occupational Therapy and Primary Care that focuses on caring for the dependents of our Airmen. Other available services include: Allergy, Behavioral Health, Family Advocacy, Immunization, Pediatrics, Physical Therapy, and Substance Abuse Counseling. Women’s Health supports both OMRS and HCOS.
The 7th Medical Support Squadron consists of six flights providing Resource Management, TRICARE Operations and Patient Administration, Information Management, Pharmacy, Diagnostic and Therapeutic, and Logistics support. The 7 MDSS supports healthcare delivery by managing a group budget of $13 million as of September 2019 and manpower programs for more than 300 staff members. The managed care program supports a beneficiary population of 20,000. The squadron also has responsibility for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy partnership, which provides pharmacy students with advanced pharmacy practices.
(Current as of Sept. 2022)