THE BASE

Homestead ARB was established in 1942 as Homestead Army Airfield (AAF). After its destruction by Hurricane Andrew in August 1992, the base was taken off active status and rebuilt, reopening as an Air Force Reserve facility in 1994. Homestead Air Reserve Base (482d Fighter Wing) and its joint missions include the 482nd Fighter Wing’s F-16 mission, but the Florida Air National Guard’s sovereign air defense mission, Special Operations Command South, USCG Maritime Safety & Security Team Miami 91114, US Customs & Border Patrol, Florida Army Guard’s 50th Area Support Group, and various temporary missions assigned to the base.

JOINT OPERATIONS

482ND Fighter Wing

The 482nd Fighter Wing, Air Force Reserve Command, maintains and operates Homestead Air Reserve Base, located near the southern end of the Florida peninsula, about 25 miles south of Miami. It is a fully combat-ready unit capable of providing F-16C multi-purpose fighter aircraft, along with mission ready pilots and support personnel, for short-notice worldwide deployment. The Wing has approximately 1,600 members, including more than 1,200 reservists, of which 260 are full-time reservists, in addition to 325 full-time civilians.

Special Operations Command South

SOCSOUTH is a sub-unified command assigned to Commander, U.S. Southern Command. It is a joint (military members from all four services) Special Operations headquarters that plans and executes special operations in Central & South America and the Caribbean, principally employing Special Operations Forces provided by U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the Services' Special Operations Forces (SOF) component commands. The headquarters staff of military, DoD civilian employees and contractors are comprised of more than 200 personnel.

SOCSOUTH has five assigned or attached subordinate commands including “Charlie" Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group; ''Charlie" Company, 3rd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment; Naval Special Warfare Unit FOUR; 112th Signal Detachment SOCSOUTH; and Joint Special Operations Air Component-South.

USCG Maritime Safety and Security Team

Multi-mission active-duty mobile Maritime Safety and Security Teams, modeled after Coast Guard expeditionary Port Security Units (Reserve Component) and Low Enforcement Detachments, will be established regionally to protect military load-outs, enforce security zones (moving and fixed), defend critical waterside facilities in strategic ports, interdict illegal activities and provide a modest level of shore-side force protection.

50th Regional Support Group

Provide combat service support to units assigned to, or passing through, its area of responsibility. Provides command and control for those units. Responsible for the physical security and rear-area force protection activities during their missions.

125th Fighter Wing

Provide air defense for the southeastern United States, from Charleston, South Carolina to the southern tip of Florida and across the Florida panhandle. The Wing maintains and flies F-15 fighters at Jacksonville International Airport. Simultaneously, the Wing performs a continuous 24-hour alert mission at Its detached site located, at Homestead Air Reserve Station standing ready to intercept unknown aircraft at any time.

Customs & Border Protection

To safeguard America's borders thereby protecting the public from dangerous people and materials while enhancing the Nation's global economic competitiveness by enabling legitimate trade and travel.