The 87th Air Base Wing is responsible for providing installation support to the Department of Defense's only tri-service Joint Base. The wing also provides mission-ready, expeditionary Warfighters to support Unified Combatant Commanders in on-going military operations.
The 87th ABW traces its lineage to 1952 when it was organized during the Korean War as a troop carrier wing. The command served as a training unit for medium-sized airlifters like the C-46 "Commando" and C-47 "Skytrain" which were used extensively in Korea and throughout the world. A consolidation of training units forced the inactivation of the 87th Troop Carrier Group on Feb. 1, 1953.
In the midst of two major contingency operations, ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM, along with its consistent and vast responsibilities worldwide, the DOD looked to create operational efficiencies with the joint base concept. The Air Force was selected as the lead service for the only tri-service joint base and on March 3, 2009, the 87th ABW activated at McGuire AFB to lead the effort. The 87th ABW - comprised of the 87th Mission Support Group, 87th Medical Group, 87th Civil Engineer Group and a multitude of staff agencies - officially declared full operational capability for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst on Oct. 1, 2009.
Large numbers of active and reserve component service members train and conduct operations on the installation ensuring integration of the Total Force to ongoing global operations and homeland defense. The tri-service aspect of the 87th ABW makes the organization critical to our Nation's defense, and uniquely capable of projecting air, land and sea power.
Additionally, the men and women of the 87th ABW are dedicated to providing world class quality of life to the more than 50,000 service members and families that live, work and serve on the installation.
Ut Unum Vincere - "Win as One"