Mission
The 196th Reconnaissance Squadron's primary mission is to support the war on terrorism by providing reconnaissance, flying the MQ-1 Predator, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In November 2006, the squadron's parent wing, formerly the 163rd Air Refueling Wing, was redesignated the 163rd Reconnaissance Wing (163 RW) and operational claimancy was transferred from the Air Mobility Command (AMC) to Air Combat Command (ACC). As the operational flying squadron in the wing, the 196 RS was the first Air National Guard (ANG) unit to receive the MQ-1 Predator and was the first to become a fully functional ANG Flying Training Unit (FTU) and Field Training Detachment (FTD) for the Predator. The FTU falls under the Air Combat Command and trains pilots and sensor operators to become Predator aircrew. The FTD, which falls under the Air Education and Training Command (AETC), trains enlisted personnel to assemble, disassemble, maintain and repair the Predator.
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