Headquarters Emergency Relocation Team (HERT) was a subordinate unit to the United States' Strategic Air Command during the Cold War, poised to provide command and control (C2) of SAC forces in the event of a national emergency (i.e. nuclear war). The personnel and equipment were stationed at Offutt AFB, Nebraska, with temporary deployment locations at the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant, Grand Island, Nebraska.
Contents
History
The term HERT was superseded by Enduring Battle Management Support Center (EBMSC) circa 1982. The unit was redesignated 55th Mobile Command and Control Squadron, after SAC was inactivated in 1992.
Chronology
Weather support
The 3d Weather Wing (3 WW) was tasked to support HERT. 3 WW developed nuclear fallout procedures for Post Attack Command and Control System (PACCS), and demonstrated Defense Meteorological Support Program (DMSP) Mark IV capabilities. Weather support centered around DMSP satellite data, local observations, climographic data and aircraft forwarded "air reports" (AIREPS). Future capabilities were to rely on Marine HF broadcast data
Interaction with NPO
As the National Program Office (NPO) mirrored HERTs command and control abilities for the civilian side of the government, coordination between the two were exercised during exercise NIGHT TRAIN 84, which was held concurrent with READINESS EXERCISE 84 (REX 84).