DESCRIPTION:

On a disc divided horizontally into a light blue sky and a white base, a brown coiled snake with a yellow eye and diamond back, red tongue and white fangs, all within a narrow, dark blue border. Above the disc a dark blue scroll inscribed “607 ACS” in gold letters. Below the disc, a dark blue scroll inscribed “Always Ready” in gold letters.

SIGNIFICANCE:

The emblem is symbolic of the squadron and the Air Force colors, ultramarine blue and golden yellow are used in the design. The color blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force operations, and yellow to the sun and excellence of personnel in assigned tasks. The two color background is indicative of day and night operations. The coiled snake is representative of the following:

a. The fact that the snake strikes only in defense points out the defensive role of the unit.

b. The snake is a land animal, and the unit’s mission is carried out on land since there is no aircraft in the inventory.

c. The fact that the snake is in a coiled position reiterates the motto “Always Ready” since a coiled snake is ready to strike with little notice.

d. The snake, a sidewinder, has a sensing device which aptly symbolizes the unit’s radar capability.

WHY THE SNAKE:

During 1969, the squadron was Detachment 1, 727th Tactical Control Squadron, and did not have an emblem. During the year, the detachment was deployed to a site on Overton Mountain, north of Las Vegas, Nevada. After the tents had been erected and maintenance shelters were set up, a master sergeant assigned to the unit looked down at his boots and discovered a sidewinder had bitten one of them and was stuck to his boot. The snake was removed and killed and preserved in acrylic. The snake remained in the squadron for several years afterward. Shortly after the deployment, the squadron was designated the 607th Tactical Control Squadron. It was decided by the majority of the squadron members that the snake would be the appropriate symbol for the squadron.

The 607th Air Control Squadron is an operational unit of air weapons radar controllers and maintenance technicians who are capable of deploying anywhere in the world, on short notice, to establish and operate a forward air control post.

The 607th ACS is assigned to the 355th Operations Group and is geographically located at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. They are the principle ground radar control unit for the 355th Wing here at D-M, the 56th Fighter Wing and the 944th Fighter Group at Luke AFB and other aircraft operating in local airspace.

This 120 plus person unit maintains radar, communications, and computer equipment worth more than $25 million.

The 607th Air Control Squadron is a forward-deployed control and reporting element. It is capable of deploying anywhere in the world, on short notice, to provide any theater Air Component Commander with decentralized command and control operations and a single integrated air picture using TYQ-23 Modular Control Equipment. Within the MCE, highly trained operators perform battle management functions including theater ballistic missile defense, weapons direction, Air Tasking Order oversight, theater data link control, 24-hour joint surveillance and threat awareness, aircraft identification, theater combat communications, and coordination of AOC battle management functions as delegated by the JFACC.

The 607th ACS is assigned to the 355th Operations Group, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., and is physically located at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. Currently, the 607th is converting to a Field Training Unit for mission qualification training of Weapons Directors and Surveillance Technicians for the Combat Air Forces. The 607th is projected to graduate over 300 highly trained mission ready personnel each year. The unit will be manned with over 150 personnel to support the daily training of as many as 120 students. It is the principal ground control radar unit for the 355th Wing, Davis Monthan AFB Ariz., the 56th Fighter Wing and 944th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, Ariz.