The unit was originally established to guard the U.S. West Coast against sea-launched ballistic missiles from the eastern outskirts of Beale Air Force Base approximately 8 miles (13 km) east of Marysville, California.

After autonomously sensing a missile within the coverage area the crew takes action in order to warn senior leaders of threats.

After that, the crew determines the number of launched vehicles and provides impact predictions on North America.

This program's objective is the defense of the United States against a threat of a limited strategic ballistic missile attack.

The unit's Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR) detects, acquires, and tracks inbound missiles to provide the necessary data to classify and engage the target.

This target data allows the GMD Fire Control and Communications element to generate a weapons task plan, allowing for the engagement, interception, and negation of threat of a ballistic missile reentry vehicle in the exoatmospheric region of space.

[2] The unit transferred to Air Force Space Command in May 1983, eventually becoming the 7th Missile Warning Squadron.