ARLINGTON, Va. — U.S. Central Command Air Forces has been renamed U.S. Air Forces Central.

The name change, which was marked by a Monday ceremony at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., switches the often-used acronyms for the command from USCENTAF to USAFCENT.

USAFCENT is responsible for air operations in the 27-nation area of responsibility in Southwest Asia that fall under its parent command, U.S. Central Command.

In a news release, Air Force officials said the new moniker better reflects the fact that the component is “structured to operate and train every day in its wartime configuration.”

During Monday’s ceremony, the 609th Air Intelligence Group, 609th Air Intelligence Squadron, 609th Combat Operations Squadron, 609th Combat Plans Squadron, 609th Air Support Squadron and the 609th Information Operations Flight were inactivated.

The 609th Air Operations Group was redesignated as the 609th Air Operations Center, which forms the core of the Combined Air and Space Operations Center. The 609th Air Operations Center, Detachment 1 was redesignated, and Detachment 5, U.S. Air Forces Central was activated.