Current Operations
Commander, Tactical Support Wing, located at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, TX, has operational and administrative control of the Air Wing. CVWR-20 consists of more than 1,900 active duty and Selected Reservists (SELRES). The SELRES represent a unique personnel asset as a civilian/sailor who performs one drill weekend each month and up to twelve days of active duty each year. The squadron's active duty FTS (Full Time Support) cadre is jointly responsible for SELRES training and the maintenance of unit readiness required for crisis response. In today’s smaller Navy, Reservists are performing more duties once filled by active duty units. While Reservists are obligated to drill a minimum of two days per month and incur a two-week Annual Training session, Sailors in TSW far exceed that, averaging seven to 10 days a month, or about 100 days a year. The organization structure of TSW mirrors that of active fleet carrier air wings, with the exception of a F/A-18E Super Hornet squadron, an F/A-18F Super Hornet squadron, and an SH-60F/HH-60H squadron. Two TSW squadrons are also equipped with land-based, non-carrier capable, F-5F/N aircraft The air wing is capable of immediate mobilization when directed to meet commitments required by higher authority. VMFA-142 (Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 142) was previously designated as the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve component of this reserve carrier air wing, supplementing the three existing VFA squadrons. The wing conducted USMC Integration with the VMFA-142 "Flying Gators" every other year until July 2008, when the squadron was placed in "cadre" status pursuant to BRAC action which closed its home station of NAS Atlanta at Dobbins ARB, Georgia and pending VMFA-142's transition to the F-35B Lightning II. It has yet to be determined if the Marine Corps' sole remaining Reserve F/A-18 squadron, VMFA-112, will assume VMFA-142's previous role with respect to TSW.
Following the inactivation of Helicopter Wing Reserve (HELWINGRES) at NAS North Island, California, HS-75 at NAS Jacksonville, Florida also previously chopped to TSW in a Mobilization status, as it also had done with CVWR-20, and provided the flexibility to immediately integrate and operate with Regular Navy counterparts with its SH-60F and HH-60 Seahawk aircraft. HS-75 was inactivated March 2007 and its assets redistributed to Regular Navy HS squadrons.
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