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The cost of living index for Lowndes County, MS is 75.4 (source: BestPlaces Link Feb 2024).
Average rent/month (source: BestPlaces Link Feb 2024).
Lowndes County... studio ($640); 1 bedroom home/apartment ($650); 2 bedroom home/apartment ($790); 3 bedroom home/apartment ($1,070); 4 bedroom home/apartment ($1,280)
Oktibbeha County... studio ($730); 1 bedroom home/apartment ($760); 2 bedroom home/apartment ($870); 3 bedroom home/apartment ($1,120); 4 bedroom home/apartment ($1,290)
Clay County... studio ($640); 1 bedroom home/apartment ($670); 2 bedroom home/apartment ($760); 3 bedroom home/apartment ($1,050); 4 bedroom home/apartment ($1,290)
None.
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 Military and Family Readiness Center (Building 1114). Child care services at Columbus AFB may be limited.
Defense Service Network Dialing Instructions
The DSN is the provider of long-distance communications service for the Department of Defense. Every installation has a special DSN number and the numbers vary by world-wide location. In order to place a call using DSN, the caller must be using a military phone on an installation. Cell phones cannot dial DSN numbers. When dialing a DSN number from a United States installation to another United States installation, it is unnecessary to dial the DSN 312 area code. When dialing a DSN number to/from overseas locations, the DSN area code must be included. The operator can be reached at commercial 662-434-1110. Please note that long distance charges may be incurred.
Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training
All incoming Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training students please review the "Welcome SUPT Students" packet information.
The 14th Flying Training Wing, under Air Education Training Command (AETC), focuses on specialized undergraduate pilot training in the T-6 Texan II, T-38C Talon and T-1A Jayhawk aircraft. Each day the wing flies an average of 260 sorties on its three parallel runways. The 14th Flying Training Wing's mission is to "Train World Class Pilots."
The installation's history began June 26, 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 December 20, 1950 to be used as a station for a contract flying school. On April 1, 1955, HQ USAF transferred Columbus AFB from ATC control to Strategic Air Command and Second Air Force. After 14 years as a SAC base, on July 1, 1969, HQ USAF transferred Columbus back to ATC and to its original mission of training pilots. For more history on Columbus AFB, view the installation homepage.
Columbus AFB currently has a Total Force Strength of 3,488 personnel comprised of 1,375 civilian (civil service, contract) and 2,113 military members (CAFB Snapshot, Mar 2024).
Columbus: 22,552 (Mar 2024, source: World Population Review)
Lowndes County: 56,551 (Mar 2024, source: World Population Review)
Columbus AFB currently serves more than 10,000 personnel, comprised of 1,300 plus active duty military members, and a combined area populace which exceeds 9,000 personnel from the Reserves, other branches of service, Geographically Separated Units, family members, DoD civilians, contractors, and retirees.
Columbus Air Force Base is located in Columbus, Mississippi, and is home to the 14th Flying Training Wing, Air Education and Training Command (AETC). Located in Lowndes County, Columbus is considered a low-cost military town and is home 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. The base operator's phone number is 662-434-1110; DSN 312-742-1110. The base is located just off Highway 45 North, approximately 7.5 miles north of where Highway 82 intersects Highway 45 near downtown Columbus. The turnoff to the main gate is well marked with signage and a T-37 static display. There is an additional entrance on the south side of the base at the end of Highway 373 which is currently open to inbound/outbound traffic from 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. and outbound traffic only 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday. It is closed on weekends, holidays and other base wide down days. For questions, you may call 662-434-3161, DSN 312-742-3161.
There are no commercial flights arriving or departing on Columbus Air Force Base. The commercial airport is called The Golden Triangle Regional Airport which is centrally located between the cities of Columbus, Starkville and West Point, Mississippi. It is a small airport served by Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA)/Delta Connection (flights to and from Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia).
Airport Directions
The Golden Triangle Regional Airport is located approximately 25 miles west of Columbus Air Force Base on U.S. Highway 82 west. No shuttle service is available. Taxi service, airport limousine service and rental car agencies--Avis, Enterprise and Hertz are available.
Amtrak Directions
Amtrak stations are located 72 miles east of Columbus, MS in Tuscaloosa, AL, 96 miles south of Columbus in Meridian, MS and 108 miles west of Columbus in Greenwood, MS.
The Visitors Center is located at the Main (East) Gate. The hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday. Beginning 15 September 2024, Columbus Air Force Base will activate the Trusted Traveler (TT) program for base entry from approximately 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. every day until further notice.
Sponsors are responsible for physically escorting their guests at all times. Sponsors are responsible for ensuring their guests are suitable to enter the installation and would not be denied entry due to past criminal misconduct and are responsible for their guests’ actions while on base. All guests must have a valid REAL ID Act compliant US Identification Card or US Passport to enter the installation.
The Trusted Traveler program applies to:
Trusted Traveler is not authorized for use by contracted service personnel, DBIDS card holders, and foreign nationals. Sponsorship and Base Pass requirements still apply for these categories.
The Main Gate is open 24/7. The South Gate is currently open to inbound/outbound traffic from 6 a.m. - 8 a.m. and outbound traffic only 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Monday thru Friday. It is closed on weekends, holidays and other base wide down days. For questions, you may call 662-434-3161, DSN 312-742-3161.
Columbus AFB is located 8 miles north of downtown Columbus, MS. on U.S. Highway 45 North, then one mile west. All routes are well posted with signs.
Arriving from the East to Columbus AFBIf you are traveling by automobile from the east (Birmingham, AL), take I-59/I-20 south to Tuscaloosa, AL. Take exit 73, (U. S. Highway 82 West/McFarland Blvd). Stay on U.S. 82 West to Columbus, MS. Turn right onto U.S. Highway 45 North to Columbus AFB. Approximately 72 miles from Tuscaloosa, AL.
If arriving from Montgomery, AL, take US Highway 82 West toward Tuscaloosa, AL. Continue to follow US Highway 82 West to Columbus, MS. Take the 18th Avenue exit and turn onto US Highway 45 North, go approx. 7 miles.
Arriving from the South to Columbus AFBTwo routes are available:I-59 North to Meridian, MS. Then U.S. Highway 45 North to Columbus AFB. Approximately 96 miles from Meridian, MS.
I-55 North in Jackson, MS then take Highway 25 North to Starkville, MS and merge onto US Highway 82 East toward Columbus, MS. Approximately 156 miles from Jackson, MS.
Arrival from the West to Columbus AFBI-20 East to Jackson, MS. Then I-55 North to Winona, MS. Exit U.S. Highway 82 East to Columbus, MS. Then U.S. Highway 45 North to Columbus AFB. Approximately 96 miles from Winona, MS.
Arrival from the North to Columbus AFBIf arriving from the North (Memphis, TN), take US Highway 78 east into Mississippi. Take exit 86A onto US Highway 45 South toward Tupelo, MS. Continue on US Highway 45 South to Columbus AFB. Approximately 164 miles from Memphis, TN.
Currently, there is no base transportation on Columbus Air Force Base other than the Base Taxi for official use. Please call 662-434-7430 or DSN 312-742-7430 for vehicle dispatch.
Directory DSN 312-742-1110 or 662-434-1110.