Location: Columbus Air Force Base is located in Columbus, Mississippi, and is home to the 14th Flying Training Wing, Air Education and Training Command (AETC). Columbus is considered a low-cost military town and is residence to many retirees. Many popular travel spots such as New Orleans, Louisiana; Memphis, Tennessee; Atlanta, Georgia; and the Gulf Coast are within 350 miles driving distance from Columbus.
History: The installation's history began 26 June 1941 with the War Department's approval to establish an Army Air Field for the Columbus area. Initially, the base was a training facility for fighters and bombers. The Columbus flying school received its first aircraft--nine Lockheed AT-10s and twenty-one AT-8s--in early 1942. Twenty-five cadets arrived at Columbus in February 1942. A total of 7,766 students came to Columbus for pilot training during World War II. When the war ended in 1945, the base strength had reached a peak of 2,300 enlisted men, 300 officers, and an average of 250 pilot cadets per class. Columbus was void of activity for four years until communist troops violated South Korea's borders and fighting broke out in 1950. To handle increased pilot requirements for the Korean War, Air Training Command activated Columbus AFB on 20 December to be used as a station for a contract flying school. On 1 April 1955, HQ USAF transferred Columbus AFB from ATC control to Strategic Air Command (SAC) and Second Air Force. After 14 years as a SAC base, on 1 July 1969, HQ USAF transferred Columbus back to Air Training Command and to its original mission of training pilots. The first undergraduate pilot training (UPT) class--71-01--entered school on 17 July.
Mission: "Building the world's best warriors, leaders and professional military pilots." The 14th Flying Training Wing, under the Air Education Training Command (AETC), is responsible for an intensive 52-week Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT) program. In Phase I, students fly the T-37 Tweet, where they learn basic aircraft control, including takeoff and landing techniques, aerobatics, instrument flying, and navigation. Upon completion of Phase I, students enter a track-specific training depending on the type of aircraft they've been selected to fly: the T-38 Talon for those bound for fighter-bomber aircraft or the T-1A Jayhawk for those entering the tanker-airlift training. Pilots headed for fighter assignments must also complete a six-week program at Moody AFB, GA, in the AT-38 Talon, where they learn air-to-air employment (basic fighter maneuvers) and air-to-air surface attack (bombing, and low-altitude navigation).
Population Servied: Columbus AFB currently serves more than 11,500 personnel, including 1,250 active duty military members and their dependents, an area populace of more than 10,250 personnel from the Reserves, other branches of service, Geographically Separated Units, DoD civilians, contractors, and retirees. Columbus Air Force Base is the only major military installation within a 100-mile radius and is the focal point for a large retired population.
Sponsorship: If you do not currently have a sponsor, please call the MPF Customer Service section at DSN: 742-2626 or commercial: (662) 434-2626, so that a sponsor can be assigned to assist you. For those spouses desiring a sponsor, a spouse-to-spouse sponsorship program is available by simply contacting the sponsor's gaining unit. It's very important to keep the active duty member's sponsor informed of any changes and/or concerns. Upon your arrival to Columbus AFB, contact our 24-hour arrival point located in building 956 (Lodging/Billeting-DSN: 742-2548, Commercial: 662-434-2548) for assistance in contacting your sponsor, if needed, and obtaining general information about the base. To have your mail forwarded while en-route or after being newly assigned, you may have it sent to your rank, name, PSC 3000, 469 C Street, Columbus AFB, MS 39710-3000, where you can pick it up at the Postal Service Center (DSN: 742-2959, Commercial: 662-434-2959) during normal duty hours. The base Newcomer's Orientation is held the last Thursday of each month at the Columbus Club starting at 7:30 a.m. This briefing is mandatory for incoming permanent party active duty members and civilians. Spouses are encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Customer Service at DSN: 742-2626 or commercial: (662) 434-2626.
Temporary Quarters: Incoming personnel can contact the base billeting/lodging office (DSN: 742-2548 or Commercial: 662-434-2548) in advance to make arrangements for their first night's stay at Columbus AFB.
Relocation Assistance: The base newcomer's orientation will afford you an opportunity to address many relocation questions. Our loan closet has household items to tide you over prior to the arrival of your household shipment. Items such as pots/pans, dishes, futons, silverware, ironing boards/irons and baby items are available for your use at the Outdoor Recreation Services, building 152, (DSN: 742-2507, Commercial: 662-434-2507). In addition, a variety of relocation assistance information can be obtained by visiting or calling the base Family Support Center, Building 1114, (DSN:742-2790 or Commercial: 662-434-2790).
Critical Installation Information: Under the "Childcare for PCS" program, active duty Air Force families are eligible to receive 20 hours of free childcare within 60 days of PCSing, regardless of the sponsor's rank. To utilize this program, bring a copy of your orders to the Family Support Center (building 1114). Child care services at Columbus AFB may be limited.