1 2 th ▁Medical ▁Group ▁ 4 1 2 th ▁Mission ▁Support ▁Group ▁ ▁Associ ate ▁units ▁There ▁are ▁a ▁vast ▁array ▁of ▁organizations ▁at ▁Edwards ▁that ▁do ▁not ▁fall ▁under ▁the ▁ 4 1 2 th ▁Test ▁Wing . ▁They ▁are ▁known ▁as ▁Associ ate ▁Units . ▁These ▁units ▁do ▁everything ▁from ▁providing ▁an ▁on - base ▁gro c ery ▁store ▁to ▁testing ▁state - of - the - art ▁rock ets . ▁▁ 3 1 st ▁Test ▁and ▁E valu ation ▁Squadron ▁( T ail ▁Code : ▁O T ) ▁ ▁The ▁ 3 1 st ▁Test ▁and ▁E valu ation ▁Squadron ▁provides ▁Air ▁Com bat ▁Command ▁personnel ▁to ▁support ▁combined ▁test ▁and ▁evaluation ▁on ▁Air ▁Force ▁weapons ▁systems . ▁ ▁Est ab lished ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 7 , ▁it ▁is ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁oldest ▁units ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁Air ▁Force . ▁▁ ▁The ▁" Des ert ▁Pir ates " ▁are ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁ 5 3 d ▁Test ▁and ▁E valu ation ▁Group , ▁Nell is ▁A FB , ▁Nev ada ▁and ▁the ▁ 5 3 d ▁Wing , ▁Eg lin ▁A FB , ▁Florida . ▁▁ ▁It ▁also ▁provides ▁the ▁Air ▁Force ▁Oper ational ▁Test ▁and ▁E valu ation ▁Center , ▁K irt land ▁A FB , ▁New ▁Mexico , ▁and ▁Air ▁Force ▁M ater iel ▁Command , ▁Wright - P atter son ▁A FB , ▁Ohio , ▁with ▁test ▁team ▁members ▁who ▁have ▁an ▁oper ational ▁perspective ▁to ▁perform ▁test ▁and ▁evaluation ▁on ▁Com bat