Little Rock AFB  In-depth Overview

Little Rock Air Force Base is the home of unrivaled combat airlift. The host unit, the 19th Airlift Wing, reports to Air Mobility Command and provides the Department of Defense the largest C-130 fleet in the world with responsibilities ranging from supplying humanitarian airlift relief to disaster victims, to airdropping supplies and troops into hostile areas.

Three partner units also call LRAFB home, and they are the 314th Airlift Wing, which reports to Air Education and Training Command, the 189th Airlift Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard and the 913th Airlift Group of the Air Force Reserve.

The 19th Airlift Wing executes, generates and supports unrivaled Agile Combat Airlift! The wing is composed of four groups and two flying squadrons - the 41st and 61st Airlift Squadrons. The 41st AS is the Air Force's first active-duty combat-ready C-130J squadron. These squadrons are operational and deploy throughout the world.

19th Operations Group - This group plans, trains, and executes air and space power for operational levels of war.

19th Maintenance Group - The 19th MXG performs all maintenance on assigned C-130 aircraft.

19th Mission Support Group - The 19th Mission Support Group provides support and logistics functions, which include contracting, civil engineering, communications, security forces, force support and logistic readiness squadrons.

19th Medical Group - The medical group provides responsive care and services to the base population and ensures a fit and medically ready active duty force.

19th Wing Staff Agencies - Airlift wing staff includes a variety of agencies that directly support the wing commander, group commanders and the base population.

The 314th Airlift Wing is the nation's tactical airlift "Center of Excellence" and trains C-130J aircrew members from the DoD, U.S. Coast Guard and 47 allied nations. The wing trains more than 1,800 students and is the DoD's largest international flight training program.

The wing is composed of Maintenance and Operations groups and three squadrons (314th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 62nd Airlift Squadron, and the 714th Training Squadron). Students receive training in all C-130 crew positions.

189th Airlift Wing - The 189th Airlift Wing (Air National Guard) works in conjunction with the 314th Airlift Wing to provide C-130H flightline initial qualification training and upgrade training for pilots, navigators, flight engineers and loadmasters. If an emergency occurs, the wing performs the state mission as directed by the Governor of Arkansas.

The 913th Airlift Group (Air Force Reserve Command) began as a Reserve detachment in 2010 then stood up the airlift group in July 2014 as part of the 22nd Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command. The 913th AG is made up of seven squadrons and a group staff, employing nearly 500 people (traditional & full time). About 35% of the 913th AG's workforce is comprised of full-time U.S. Civil Service civilians or Air Reserve Technicians, who maintain dual status as traditional reservists and civil service employees.

Most members of the 913th Airlift Group live locally and contribute to the Central Arkansas economy.

The 29th Weapons Squadron is a geographically separated unit under the USAF Weapons School, Nellis AFB, Nevada. The squadron provides graduate-level instruction for C-130J pilots running 2 courses per year.

On September 9, 1952, the Air Force announced its decision to build a $31 million medium jet bomber base near Jacksonville Arkansas (about 25 miles northeast of Little Rock); construction began on December 8, 1953. By August 1954, the 384th Bombardment Wing (BMW) and 70th Reconnaissance Wing had been selected by Strategic Air Command to reside at the base. As the two wings awaited movement orders, Col. Joseph A. Thomas (the first base commander) worked with various levels of government on construction of the base. Tragically, Colonel Thomas died in the crash of the base's only aircraft, a C-54 that had been assigned for administrative flying. Finally, on September 10, 1955, the base opened to air traffic.

The Air Force officially transferred to Little Rock AFB from SAC to the Tactical Air Command (TAC) on April 1, 1970. On March 4, 1970, the first C-130 arrived on base and began tactical airlift operations and training. On May 31, 1971, the 314th Tactical Airlift Wing (TAW) transferred to Little Rock AFB. Another major change occurred on base in December 1974, when the Air Force reassigned the 314th TAW from TAC to the Military Airlift Command (MAC). Thus, since its opening in 1955, the base has operated under four major commands - SAC, TAC, MAC and ACC.

The base and its mission remained primarily unchanged until August 1987, when the 308th SMW was inactivated. The 314th TAW remained the host unit, supporting global airlift and providing primary C-130 training for U.S. aircrews as well as crews from friendly foreign nations. In June 1992, the 314th AW was aligned under the newly formed Air Mobility Command, the successor to MAC. Then again in October 1993, the 314th AW transferred to Air Combat Command (ACC). On April 1, 1997, the 314th AW transferred to the Air Education and Training Command (AETC). For more information, please Little Rock AFB's homepage. Find out more in a detailed history of LRAFB.

• 6,995 military members
• 5,582 family members
• 1,316 civilians

Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway metro: 738,235; Jacksonville: 29,305; Cabot: 26,655.

The base population of 13,893 people includes 6,995 military and 1,316 civilian members and 5,582 family members live and work here.

Sponsorship

A sponsor is someone from your gaining unit who is assigned to you to assist you in settling into your new location. A sponsor is assigned through your gaining unit within 60 days of leaving your losing base. Sponsors are supposed to be available for you for whatever needs you may have, so be sure to voice what it is that is needed/expected out of your sponsor.

A Military Postal Service Center, with only incoming mail boxes is located in Bldg 988. It is open from 10:00am - 2:00pm, Monday through Friday. A locator card must be filled out to receive mail at the general delivery address-you may call to have one filled out over the phone at (501) 987-3478. To receive mail for general delivery, use the following address: Your name, General Delivery, PSC Box 2400, Little Rock AFB, AR 72099-4399. If you are going to reside in the dormitory on a permanent basis, you can request a PSC mailbox in advance. Just send your sponsor one copy of your orders and request the sponsor obtain a PSC box assignment from the Postal Service Center for you. To reach the general delivery office you may call (501) 987-3478 if you have any questions.

Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas consists of more than 6,000 acres and one runway. It is located in Pulaski County next to the city of Jacksonville in central Arkansas. Jacksonville has a population of approximately 29,000 people. It is 15 miles north of Little Rock. The base operator's phone number is 501-987-1110 or DSN 312-731-1110.

The aircraft on permanent display at the Vandenberg gate is noted as not only the last C-130 out of Saigon, but also the C-130 that holds the record for the most passengers onboard. As the fall of Saigon was happening around them, with 100s of other aircraft set on fire, this aircraft was rushed by a multitude of people as the last means of escape from the chaos.

When it took off, it held a total of 452 people onboard. There were 32 people on the flight deck and the rest were passengers in the cargo area. The normal capacity for the aircraft was four on the flight deck and 90 in the cargo area. They did manage to take off after dumping some fuel, then they got lost, but eventually landed safely in Thailand. One of the children who managed to get on the aircraft later went on to get his U.S. citizenship, go to college and work as an engineer at Lockheed Martin, the company that makes the C-130.

Airports

If you arrive by commercial airline, you will land at Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport which is approximately 20 miles from the base. Transportation is not provided to the base. If you drive from the Airport, you will need to take Loop 440 North (toward Jacksonville) to Highway 67/167 North to Jacksonville. Then you would take exit #11b. Next, turn right and drive approximately 2 miles to the main base gate.

Directions if Driving to the Base

From Interstate 30 or 40, take U.S. Highway 67/167, exit # 155, to the air base. When you reach Jacksonville, take the air base exit #11B to reach the main gate. You can stop at the Visitor Center at the gate to get a base map and talk to them about directions to your desired locations.

Directions to the Military and Family Readiness Center from the Main Gate

After entering the main gate, drive down Vandenburg and take the first left on to Arnold Drive. You will pass the base shoppette / gas station on the left and go through the traffic light. The large brick building on your left is the new Walters Community Support Center (Bldg. 940) which includes the Library, the Welcome Center and the Military and Family Readiness Center.

The base operator can be reached by calling 501-987-1110, or DSN 312-731-1110.