The 700th Airlift Squadron maintains combat ready aircrews and aircraft capable of deploying in response to worldwide contingencies and emergencies. It is equipped with eight C-130H Hercules aircraft and tactically qualified aircrew to support air transportation for deployments, humanitarian airlift missions, and aeromedical evacuations.

The squadron was activated in Buffalo, N.Y. as the 700th Fighter Bomber Squadron July 8, 1952 and equipped with P-51s. The squadron moved to Niagara Falls IAP, N.Y. in July 1955, and converted to C-46s. It was then redesignated as the 700th Troop Carrier Squadron.

The squadron moved to Dobbins Air Force Base and converted to C-123s, November 16, 1957. It was redesignated as the 700th Troop Carrier Squadron, in September 1968. The squadron was recalled to active duty on October 28, 1962, for 32 days during the Cuban Missile crisis. The squadron changed its name many times throughout the years, but on June 1, 1992 it was renamed as the 700th Airlift Squadron.

The 700 AS took part in many Air Force Reserve exercises. In December 1983 the 700th was instrumental in attempts to return American soldiers and Marines from the island of Grenada. In 1984 and 1985 the 700th participated in the delivery of personnel and cargo in Central and South America in support of Volant Oak and Coronet Oak at Howard AFB, Panama.

The 700 AS participated in Operation Desert Shield, deploying to Saudi Arabia from August through September 1990. And from 1992-1994, the 700 AS participated in Operation Provide Promise involving airdrops into war-torn Bosnia and airland sorties under hostile fire into Sarajevo. Shortly thereafter, the 700th provided airlift during Provide Comfort II at Incirlik, Turkey.

This year alone the squadron participated in four real-world missions. One aircraft flew in support of the Denton Amendment. Humanitarian cargo was delivered to Latvia and St. Petersburg, Russia. The crew deployed to Saudi Arabia for six weeks in support of Southern Watch. The squadron deployed four crews for four weeks to Coronet Oak in Panama. Two crews deployed for four weeks to Ramstein AB, Germany for Joint Guard in support of Bosnia operations.