Initially, the Air Research and Development Command (ARDC) opened a field office at Vandenberg in 1958. it was responsible for managing launch facility construction. It also conducted research and development flight tests of both intermediate range and intercontinental ballistic missiles, supported SAC's deployment of operational versions of these missiles.
When ARDC was restructured and redesignated as Air Force Systems Command (AFSC) on April 1, 1961 the wing, which had been assigned to the Air Force Ballistic Missile Division, was reassigned to Space Systems Division.In November 1961, the wing was redesignated the 6595th Aerospace Test Wing.
In May, 1964, Headquarters Air Force Western Test Range (AFWTR) was established at Vandenberg AFB. AFWTR was given full responsibility for ICBMand space support functions, previously assigned to the Navy's Pacific Missile Range. Range sites were located along the California coast, Hawaii, Canton, Midway and Wake Islands in the mid-Pacific; Eniwetok and Bikini Atolls and Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
In a major realignment at Vandenberg, Headquarters Air Force Systems Command (AFSC) activated the Space and Missile Test Center on April 1, 1970. SAMTC was assigned to the Space and Missile Systems Organization (SAMSO) The formation of SAMTC involved a consolidation of personnel and functions from three long-established organizations: Headquarters Air Force Western Test Range with the 6595th Aerospace Test Wing at Vandenberg AFB, and the 6555th Aerospace Test Wing at Patrick AFB, Florida.
More specifically, Headquarters AFWTR was inactivated; the 6595th
Aerospace Test Wing was restructured by transferring its support
elements to the staff of the new organization and redesignating its
primary mission elements from program divisions to 6595th space and
missile test groups. On May 1, 1970, the groups were reassigned from
SAMSO to SAMTC. The 6555th Aerospace Test Wing in Florida was redesignated the 6555th Aerospace Test Group and reassigned from SAMSO to the 6595th Aerospace Test Wing. This reorganization brought Air Force Systems Command (AFSC) range and launch operations at Vandenberg AFB under a single chain of command for the first time.The National Range Division that had coordinated Eastern and Western Range activities since 1964 was formally abolished on February 1, 1972.
On October 1, 1979, HQ Space and Missile Test Center (SAMTC) was redesignated Headquarters Space and Missile Test Organization. At the same time, the 6595th Aerospace Test Wing was inactivated and two reporting organizations were established: the Western Space and Missile Center, collocated with SAMTO at Vandenberg AFB and the Eastern Space and Missile Center at Patrick AFB. HQ Western Space and Missile Center (WSMC) was formed from Headquarters Air Force Western Test Range which had been inactivated since April 1, 1970. The new arrangement consisted of the Western Test Range (WTR) organization and the 6595th missile and space test groups. The 6555th Aerospace Test Group which had been assigned to the wing was reassigned to HQ Eastern Space and Missile Center. On October 1, 1990, WSMC was reassigned from
Air Force Systems Command (AFSC) to Air Force Space Command
(AFSPC) On January 15, 1991, the host responsibilities for Vandenberg
AFB transferred from the Strategic Air Command to AFSPC's WSMC.
The remaining SAC organizations at Vandenberg continued thier mission
of launching Peacekeeper and Minuteman III ICBM's as part of the follow-
on test and evaluation program, as well as combat crew training.
Eleven months later, on November 19, 1991, WSMC was redesignated
the 30th Space Wing. On June 1, 1993, Strategic Air Command was
inactivated and replaced by Air Combat Command. Currently, the mission of the 30th Space Wing is to manage and support space lift operations, support flight tests of the nation's intercontinental ballistic missile force and operate the Western Range network.
On April 1, 1994, the 381st was redesignated by Air Education and Training Command (AETC) as the 381st Training Group under Second Air Force and located at Vandenberg AFB. The group, which was activated on September 30, 1994, is responsible for the consolidation of all space and missile training for Air Force Space Command (AFSPC). This consolidation involves the oversight of five squadrons ( 392nd, 532nd, 533rd, and 534th Training Squadrons as well as 381st Training Support Squadron) teaching all aspects of missile operations, space operations and missile maintenance. The 381st Training Group provides qualification training for ICBM, space surveillance, missile warning, spacelift, and satellite command and control operators. It also performs initial and advanced maintenance training on ALM and ICBM's It conducts training in joint space fundamentals and associated maintenance. The group also conducts qualification and orientation training for all Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) staff and senior-level personnel, as well as instructor enhancement in support of operational units. In July 1993, responsibility for missile training was transferred from Air Combat Command to AETC. In September 1994, responsibility for space training was transferred from AFSPC to AETC and consolidated with the missile training units into the 381st Training Group.
