The mission of the 515 AMOW is to deliver strength and hope throughout the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility in order to meet the peacetime and wartime needs of the United States and our allies. The wing is responsible for two Air Mobility Operations Groups (AMOG), six Air Mobility Squadrons (AMS), three Detachments, six Operating Locations (OL), six Air Terminal Ground Handling Service Contracts (ATGHS) and various small terminals comprised of nearly 2,000 geographically separated personnel with an annual budget of over $50 Million.

The lineage of the Wing dates to July 9, 1942 when it was established as the 15th Ferrying Group at Morrison Field, Florida. The 15th Group ferried aircraft between Florida and points in western Africa. On March 19, 1943, the unit was redesignated as the 15th Transport Group with mission focus on air transportation. Although the group was stationed at Morrison, its personnel were also used at other stations of the Caribbean Wing of Air Transport Command (ATC). At the end of 1943 the 15 Transport Group was disestablished. After 42 years the unit was reestablished and redesignated as the 515 Tactical Air Support Group, on July 31, 1985.  The current organization of the 515 Air Mobility Operations Wing was redesignated on 11 Apr 2008, and activated on 5 Jun 2008 at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.

The wing consists of two AMOGs, the 515th (Yokota) and 715th, controlling the six Air Mobility Squadrons.  Originally located at Hickam, the 715 AMOG relocated to Elmendorf AFB, AK in June 2010. The units within the 515 AMOW are structured for peacetime workloads with a limited surge capability. Wartime response or sustained contingency operations such as disaster relief or humanitarian operations require higher headquarters augmentation.

The 515th Air Mobility Operations Group (515 AMOG) was activated June 5, 2008 at Yokota Air Base, Japan the same day that its parent organization, the 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing (515 AMOW) was activated at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii.  The 515 AMOG was activated to oversee all en route operations in the western Pacific, and remains headquartered at Yokota to this day.

The 730th Air Mobility Squadron (AMS) is collocated with the 515th Air Mobility Operations Group (AMOG) at Yokota Air Base, Japan.  In many respects, Yokota is similar to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam’s status as a major hub for air mobility, passenger, and cargo operations, but in this case for the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) and Southeast Asia.  For this reason, the 730 AMS has the largest squadron personnel strength in the AMOG with some 350 officers, enlisted, and civilian personnel.

The 731st Air Mobility Squadron (AMS) is located at Osan Air Base, South Korea and has a personnel complement of just over 150 military and civilian personnel, including Korean nationals.  The squadron’s primary mission as the sole APOD/APOE for the Korean peninsula is to provide air mobility cargo and passenger support for all DoD entities, including the United States Air Force, United States Forces-Korea (USFK), Combined Forces Command, Defense Logistics Agency-Korea, and the United Nations Command. This includes support for the training and operational deployment of United States Army forces in Korea. The 731 AMS also fulfills a major role in operating the Patriot Express to accomplish the movement of US civilian and military personnel and their dependents.

The 733d Air Mobility Squadron (AMS), known as the “Enroute Pacesetters”, is located at Kadena Air Base on the Japanese island and prefecture of Okinawa.  It has a strength of over 200 military and civilian personnel.  The base supports continuous flight operations, with no quiet hours unlike other bases in overseas locations. The 733 AMS, also provides support to AMC missions elsewhere in Southeast Asia through its operating locations (OL) at U-Tapao, Thailand and Clark Air Base in the Philippines.

The 715th Air Mobility Operations Group (715 AMOG) was originally established as the 615th Air Mobility Support Group (615 AMSG) on May 26, 1994, which consolidated the Pacific en route Air Mobility operations of the previously existing 316th, 603d, and 619th Airlift Support Groups (ALSG) under one command.  Originally headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, the group was re-designated the 715 AMOG on 15 March 2001. The 715 AMOG remained at Hickam until June 2010, when its headquarters were moved to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, where it remains to this day.

The 732d Air Mobility Squadron (AMS) is located at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson with personnel strength of just over 250 officers, enlisted, and civilians.  Collocated with the 715th Air Mobility Operations Group (AMOG), the squadron’s primary mission in Alaska is to provide 24/7 en route capability to United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) and Air Mobility Command (AMC) strategic operations.  The unit supports Alaska Command in its weekly resupply missions to 10 long range radar sites which protect North America and the sole resupply route for more than 700 personnel stationed across Alaska.  Additionally, the squadron annually supports nearly 200 Joint Airborne Air Transportability Training missions to prepare United States Army-Alaska (USARAK) to deliver combatant commanders a dedicated and scalable force throughout Pacific Command’s area of responsibility. 

The 734th Air Mobility Squadron (AMS) is located at Andersen AFB on the Marianas Island of Guam.  It has a strength nearly 200 officers, enlisted and civilian personnel.  The squadron works closely with the 36th Wing to support the Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadrons during their rotations through Andersen, providing the air bridge for expeditionary bomber and fighter units. Since 1966 the squadron continues to support Operation CHRISTMAS DROP; the longest-running annual humanitarian airlift in the world to the remote outer islands of Micronesia and the Carolines.

The 735th Air Mobility Squadron (AMS) is collocated with the 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing (AMOW) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.  The 735 AMS boasts a strength of approximately 350 military and civilian personnel.  Hickam is a Tier I AMS serving as the major airlift and mobility hub in the Eastern Pacific region.  The squadron and its personnel operate a busy passenger and freight terminal, and are also responsible for handling the maintenance of all AMC missions transiting Hickam.  One of the squadron’s primary missions is to provide airlift support for other military services such as the US Army’s 25th Infantry Division (25 ID) at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; and 3d Marine Regiment, located at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. 

The 515 AMOW activation and daily operations demonstrate that AMC’s en route structure is flexible and shaped by the needs of our nation’s security, establishing the appropriate level of authority, enhancing response time and agility to meet the changing theatre requirements and support combatant commanders.

Point of Contact

515th Air Mobility Operations Wing; 290 Vickers Ave.
Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, HI, 96753