233rd Space Group

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (April 2021)

233d Space Group
233d Space Group front gate, Greeley, Colorado
Active	1992 – present
Country	United States
Allegiance	Colorado
Branch	Air National Guard
Type	Group
Role	Space Communications
Part of	Attached to 140th Wing[1]
Garrison/HQ	Greeley Air National Guard Station, Greeley, Colorado
Commanders
Current commander	Col. Stephanie Figueroa

The 233d Space Group (233SG) is a unit of the Colorado Air National Guard located at Greeley Air National Guard Station, Greeley, CO. The 233d Space Group provides immediate, worldwide missile warning as well as space launch and detection in the event of an attack against the United States.^[2] If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force or United States Space Force depending on decisions made by military leaders and Congress. Talks are still ongoing as of May 2024.^[3]

The 233d Space Group operates the Air Force's strategic survivable, mobile Defense Support Program ground station. The group provides endurable missile warning detection to the National Command Authority and has the ability to survive and operate through all phases of trans/post attack. In addition, the satellites provide immediate, worldwide missile warning, space launch, and nuclear detonation detection.^[4] The members of the 233d Space Group are currently in the middle of a larger discussion involving a potential Space National Guard. The idea of a Space National Guard was introduced by military leaders upon the formation of The Space Force in 2019, but was turned down by Congress in 2021. The discussion/battle continues into 2024 with 11 Air National Guard units who perform space related missions being unsure of their future.

The history of the 233d Space Group is in the equipment it operates. The 233d Space Group activated 1 October 1995, assuming the mission of the 4th Space Warning Squadron (4 SWS), Holloman AFB, New Mexico.^[2]

The mobile Defense Support Program (DSP) communication mission began on 1 October 1983, as the 1025th Communications Squadron (Mobile).^[4] The 1025 CS spent its first three years testing the new mobile satellite communications equipment and training its people. On 1 November 1985, administrative operations were transferred to the 1st Space Wing, part of the newly formed Air Force Space Command. The 1025th Space Communications Squadron was redesignated as the 4th Satellite Communications Squadron on 1 August 1986. During an Air Force-wide reorganization, the 1st Space Wing and the 3d Space Wing were inactivated, and their assets merged into the newly renamed 21st Space Wing, at Peterson AFB, Colorado. The unit was renamed the 4th Space Communications Squadron. On 1 October 1992, the 4th SCS's mission was declassified. When the duties of the 4th SWS transferred to other space projects, the mobile DSP mission was transferred to the newly formed 137th Space Warning Squadron, activated in 1995.^[2] In 2012, the 233d Space Group was established and the 137th Space Warning Squadron became the first operational squadron of the 233d Space Group.

• Air National Guard/Air Force Space Command (1995 – present)

• 1 October 1983 – The 137th SWS activated as the 1025th Satellite Communications Squadron (SCS)
• 1 August 1986 – The 1025th SCS was re-designated as the 4th SCS
• 1 October 1992 – The 4th SCS's mission was declassified and became the 4th Space Warning Squadron.
• 1 October 1995 – The 137th Space Warning Squadron activated
• 1 March 2012 – The 137th Space Warning Squadron was re-designated as the 233d Space Group

• Mobile Ground System (MGS) of the Defense Support Program (1995 – present)

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• 140wg.ang.af.mil: 137th SWS Awards
• Buckley.af.mil: Team Buckley Security Forces team dominates at Guardian Challenge
• Buckley.af.mil: 460th Space Wing (137thSWS) competing in Guardian Challenge 2010