United States Air Force Rescue Coordination Center
The United States Air Force organization that coordinates inland federal search-and-rescue activity across the United States.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) is the United States' national inland search-and-rescue coordination center. It is responsible for coordinating federal search-and-rescue activity on land across the United States, including Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands. Unlike the United States Coast Guard, which coordinates maritime search and rescue through its own district-based rescue coordination centers, the AFRCC focuses on inland incidents and works with a broad network of federal, state, local, military, and volunteer organizations. The center operates continuously from Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, providing a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week coordination capability. It is connected to the Federal Aviation Administration's alerting system and to the United States Mission Control Center. Its information systems include data from the Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking system and resource files identifying organizations capable of assisting with search-and-rescue missions throughout North America. These systems allow personnel to investigate distress reports, identify likely locations, assess the urgency and scope of an incident, and select an appropriate response force. When a request is received, AFRCC personnel verify the circumstances, communicate with relevant authorities, and determine which resources are best suited to the mission. Depending on the situation, the response may involve Civil Air Patrol, the United States Coast Guard, Department of Defense aircraft or other military assets, or state and local search-and-rescue organizations. Selection is based on factors such as availability, capability, geography, terrain, weather, and the urgency of the emergency. During an active operation, the center remains a communications and coordination hub, supporting on-scene commanders and mission coordinators while helping organize the safest and most effective recovery effort. The center handles a wide range of incidents. These may include missing aircraft, lost hikers and hunters, missing people with medical or cognitive vulnerabilities, emergency locator transmitter alerts, remote-area medical evacuations, and urgent transportation of organs or blood when civilian resources are unavailable. Its role is generally to coordinate and enable the response rather than to act as the sole rescue operator. The center can request federal resources and help connect incident commanders with state, local, civilian, and volunteer capabilities. AFRCC also contributes to national search-and-rescue readiness. It develops and manages search-and-rescue plans, agreements, and policies for the continental United States, provides a mobile Search Management Course to Civil Air Patrol wings, and assigns instructors to the National Search and Rescue School at the United States Coast Guard Training Center in Yorktown, Virginia. That joint training program serves civilian and military personnel responsible for planning and managing search-and-rescue missions. The organization was created in May 1974 when the Air Force consolidated three regional rescue centers into one facility at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. The consolidation was intended to improve coordination, communications, procedural consistency, and operational efficiency while allowing a more experienced staff to manage national-level activity. AFRCC later moved to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, in 1993, was realigned under Air Force Special Operations Command in 2003, returned to Air Combat Command in 2006, and moved to Tyndall Air Force Base in March 2007 under the First Air Force and Air Forces Northern command structure. Since its establishment, the center's coordinated missions have been credited with saving more than 20,000 lives, according to the referenced historical account.
History
Before 1974, the United States Air Force divided the continental United States into three inland search-and-rescue regions, each with its own rescue center. In May 1974, those facilities were consolidated at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. The purpose was to create a more coherent national coordination system, improve communications, standardize operating procedures, reduce duplication, and develop a more experienced staff capable of managing a broad range of federal search-and-rescue requirements. The resulting Air Force Rescue Coordination Center became the Air Force's principal inland search-and-rescue coordination organization. Its role was not limited to dispatching aircraft. It maintained information about federal, state, local, and volunteer resources; assessed distress reports; helped determine the scale and type of response required; and coordinated the actions of organizations operating under different authorities. Civil Air Patrol, the United States Coast Guard, Department of Defense forces, and state and local agencies could all contribute to missions coordinated through the center. In 1993, the AFRCC moved to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, when Air Combat Command assumed responsibility for Air Force peacetime and combat search and rescue. The center was subsequently realigned under Air Force Special Operations Command in October 2003, although its physical location remained at Langley. In April 2006, it was aligned again with Air Combat Command. On March 1, 2007, the organization moved to Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, under the First Air Force commander and Air Forces Northern structure. Tyndall remains the center's stated location in the referenced material. The center's operational model combines communications, information management, satellite-aided detection, and interagency coordination. AFRCC connects with the Federal Aviation Administration alerting network and the United States Mission Control Center, while its systems incorporate Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking information. When an emergency beacon or other distress report is received, personnel investigate and verify the situation, identify the geographic and operational requirements, and locate suitable rescue assets. Factors include the availability and capability of forces, terrain, weather, distance, and urgency. During the mission, AFRCC supports the incident commander or mission coordinator as a continuing communications and coordination node. Its mission portfolio includes searches for missing aircraft, hikers, hunters, and vulnerable persons; responses to emergency locator transmitter signals; remote-area medical assistance and evacuation; and transportation of organs or blood when civilian capability is unavailable. The center also supports national readiness by developing search-and-rescue plans, agreements, and policies. It provides a mobile Search Management Course to Civil Air Patrol wings and supplies instructors to the National Search and Rescue School at the Coast Guard Training Center in Yorktown, Virginia. The joint school trains military, government, and volunteer personnel involved in search-and-rescue planning and management. The referenced account identifies several high-profile operations associated with AFRCC coordination, including searches for John F. Kennedy Jr. and Steve Fossett, the Payne Stewart aircraft accident, the September 11 attacks, and the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. Since the center was established in 1974, its coordinated missions have reportedly resulted in more than 20,000 lives saved. The AFRCC emblem reflects the organization’s broad national mission: land and air search-and-rescue resources, fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, satellite tracking, rapid response, peacetime and combat operations, and cooperation among the many organizations that make inland rescue possible.
- 2007
Move to Tyndall Air Force Base
[1]The AFRCC moved from Langley Air Force Base to Tyndall Air Force Base on March 1 under the First Air Force and Air Forces Northern command structure.
- 2006
Return to Air Combat Command alignment
[1]The center was realigned under Air Combat Command.
- 2003
Realignment to Air Force Special Operations Command
[1]The AFRCC was placed under Air Force Special Operations Command as part of a broader Air Force reorganization.
- 1993
Move to Langley Air Force Base
[1]The center relocated to Langley Air Force Base after Air Combat Command took responsibility for Air Force peacetime and combat search and rescue.
- 1992
AFRCC emblem developed
[1]Members developed the center's emblem at Scott Air Force Base after the planned stand-down of the Air Rescue Service became known.
- 1974
National inland rescue-center consolidation
[1]The Air Force consolidated three continental United States rescue centers into one center at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, creating a centralized coordination structure.
Products and positioning
A national-level military coordination center and interagency hub for inland search and rescue, emphasizing continuous availability, rapid location of distress signals, interoperable planning, and the efficient use of federal, state, local, and volunteer rescue resources.
Emergency coordination service · 1974
Inland search-and-rescue coordination
AFRCC's core function is to coordinate federal inland search-and-rescue activity across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the United States Virgin Islands. It evaluates distress reports, identifies appropriate response organizations, and supports incident commanders throughout a mission. Resources may include Civil Air Patrol, military forces, the Coast Guard, and state or local agencies.
Emergency communications and tracking
Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking coordination
The center uses satellite-enabled emergency beacon information and related communications links to help locate aircraft, vessels, or people in distress. These capabilities are integrated into the center's operational information systems and help reduce the time needed to identify a likely distress location and begin a coordinated response.
Professional training
Search Management Course
AFRCC provides a mobile search-management course to Civil Air Patrol wings around the United States. The training is intended to develop qualified incident commanders and improve the ability of participating organizations to plan, manage, and coordinate complex search-and-rescue operations.
Professional training
Inland Search and Rescue Class
Through instructors assigned to the National Search and Rescue School at the United States Coast Guard Training Center in Yorktown, Virginia, AFRCC contributes to joint instruction for civilian and military personnel. The course serves personnel from federal, state, local, and volunteer organizations who are responsible for search-and-rescue mission planning.
Brand decisions
2007
Relocation to Tyndall Air Force BaseStrategyBackground
Following organizational realignments under Air Force Special Operations Command and then Air Combat Command, the center required a new operating location within its updated First Air Force and Air Forces Northern structure.
Action taken
The AFRCC moved from Langley Air Force Base to Tyndall Air Force Base on March 1, 2007.
Aftermath
Tyndall became the center's operating location and headquarters for continuous inland search-and-rescue coordination.
1974
Consolidation of regional rescue centersStrategyBackground
The Air Force operated three separate rescue centers for the continental United States. The arrangement created an opportunity to improve coordination, communications, procedural consistency, and operating efficiency through a centralized facility.
Action taken
The three centers were combined into a single Air Force Rescue Coordination Center at Scott Air Force Base.
Aftermath
The consolidated model created a national-level inland search-and-rescue coordination capability and a more experienced centralized staff.
Recent events
- 2007
AFRCC moves to Tyndall Air Force Base[1]
Other
On March 1, 2007, the center moved from Langley Air Force Base to Tyndall Air Force Base under the First Air Force commander and Air Forces Northern structure.
- 2006
AFRCC returns to Air Combat Command alignment[1]
Other
The center was realigned back under Air Combat Command as part of another change to Air Force organizational responsibilities.
- 2003
AFRCC realigned under Air Force Special Operations Command[1]
Other
An Air Force-wide organizational change placed the center under Air Force Special Operations Command while it remained located at Langley Air Force Base.
- 1993
AFRCC relocates from Scott Air Force Base to Langley Air Force Base[1]
Other
The center moved to Langley Air Force Base after Air Combat Command assumed responsibility for Air Force peacetime and combat search-and-rescue functions.
- 1974
Air Force consolidates three inland rescue centers into one national center[1]
Other
The Air Force combined three regional rescue centers into a single facility at Scott Air Force Base to improve coordination, communications, procedural standardization, and operating efficiency.
AFRCC coordinates notable national search-and-rescue missions[1]
Other
The center's cited missions include searches connected with John F. Kennedy Jr., the Payne Stewart aircraft accident, the September 11 attacks, the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, and adventurer Steve Fossett.
Sources2 sources
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