Scott Air Force Base

The primary mission of Scott Air Force Base is global mobility. The base provides command and control for all logistics of the United States military in air, over land, and across the sea. Team Scott sets policies and executes all air mobility operations. The installation is responsible for providing United States aeromedical evacuation capabilities, flying C-21 operational support airlift, and operating air refueling missions in the KC-135. Scott Air Force Base supplies forces to theater combatant commanders.

375th Air Mobility Wing

The 375th Air Mobility Wing is AMC's Showcase Wing - Executing Rapid Global Mobility Starts Here!

The 375th Air Mobility Wing has managed the domestic aeromedical evacuation system since 1975 by providing timely airlift of seriously ill or injured military personnel, military family members and other Department of Defense patients to medical treatment centers.

The wing's Operational Support Airlift (OSA) fleet consists of 14 C-21A Learjets at Scott AFB . The 458th Airlift Squadron flies OSA missions that provide transportation for government officials, cargo requiring time-sensitive airlift, and single patient aeromedical evacuation. The 54th Airlift Squadron flies executive travel missions on C-40 aircraft. 

The 375th consists of several staff agencies and four groups: 375th Medical Group, 375th Mission Support Group, 375th Operations Group, and the 375th Communications Group.

Scott AFB Mission Partners

The 375th Air Mobility Wing hosts many mission partners- including U.S. Transportation Command, Cyberspace Capabilities Center, 635th Supply Chain Operations Wing, a Reserve airlift wing (932nd Airlift Wing), and an Air National Guard refueling wing (126th Air Refueling Wing), the Surface Deployment Distribution Command, the Defense Information Systems Agency, the Defense Information Technology Contracting Office, 15th Operational Weather Squadron and the USAF Band of Mid-America, among others. 

On April 6, 1917, the United States Congress declared war on Germany and formally entered World War I which had been raging in Europe since 1914. The entrance into the war meant the U.S. War Department needed to bolster the armed forces which only had 140,000 active duty soldiers and a handful of airplanes. During this time, Secretary of War Newton Baker advocated an expanded role in aviation increasing the number of planes and air fields.

Business and political leaders on both sides of the Mississippi River wanted the Midwest chosen as a site for one of the new “flying fields.” Aerial expert Albert Bond Lambert joined the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce and directors of the Greater Belleville Board of Trade to negotiate a lease agreement for nearly 624 acres of land near the town of Belleville, Illinois.

The War Department signed the lease on June 14, 1917, in which it paid seven landowners $7,400 a year with the option to buy the land for $122,895.Congress appropriated $10 million for the field’s construction and more than 2,000 workmen were given instructions to build sixty buildings in sixty days, lay a mile-long railroad spur, and construct a 1,600 foot landing circle.

During its construction, the field was named in honor of Corporal Frank Scott. In 1911, Corporal Scott and Lieutenant Lewis Rockwell took off on a Wright Type-B biplane at College Park, Maryland. Though the take off and flight went smoothly, the plane developed engine problem during the landing and crashed. Corporal Scott was killed instantly and Lieutenant Rockwell died later that evening. The decision to name the aviation site at Belleville after Corporal Scott is a lasting tribute to those who lost their lives during the early years of military aviation. Today, Scott is the only Air Force base to be named after an enlisted person.

For further history see the installation's homepage.

The Scott community has a total work force of 15K+ personnel-including active duty, civilians, contractors, Air National Guard and Reserves.

Scott Air Force Base is the LARGEST employer in Southwest Illinois injecting $3B+ into the local economy!

• 5,000 Active Duty
• 1,500 AF Reserves 
• 1,100 Air National Guard Members
• 8,200 Family Members
• 5,300 Government Civilians
• 2,400 Contractors
• 39,000 + retired military in surrounding community

Belleville: 40,2013 (2024)

O'Fallon: 31,840 (2024)

Mascoutah: 8,522 (2024)

Scott Air Force Base is home of Air Mobility Command's "Showcase Wing." An assignment here offers you an opportunity to serve in a very dynamic and Joint Total Force environment. Scott is located in southern Illinois and is part of the "Metro-East" portion of the greater St. Louis area, surrounded by the cities of Belleville, OFallon, Shiloh, and Mascoutah in St. Clair County. The base is located near historic Belleville, Ill. approximately 20 miles east of St. Louis, which is the largest city near the base. The Shiloh Gate, our primary vehicle entrance point, is 1.5 miles southeast of Interstate 64 (Exit 19A) at Route 158. The surrounding communities enjoy a moderate cost of living and offer the best of Midwestern living with the excitement of a large metropolitan area just across the mighty Mississippi River.

Located in the Central Time Zone, Scott's weather includes four definite seasons. Temperatures range from the low 90s in the summer to winter nights when temperatures drop into the mid-teens. The wettest months, May and June, average four inches of rainfall each. The average annual precipitation is 38 inches.

People who fly on a commercial airline to Scott AFB will most likely arrive to Lambert - St. Louis International Airport (STL) in St Louis, Missouri.  STL has two terminals with flights arriving daily locations all around the country on Delta, United, American, and Southwest Airlines to name a few of the major airlines.  The airport is approximately 38 miles from the base.  Mid America Airport (BLV) is located in Mascoutah, Illinois and is home to Allegiant Airlines and is another option for arrival although flight schedules are limited.  This airport is located 3.1 miles from the base.     

Upon arrival at STL you can rent a car from several car rental agencies on site, make arrangements for ground transportation UBER or LYFT, or arrange to have your sponsor pick you up.  Please be advised that if you arrive at BLV- ground transportation options are more limited so may be best to have your sponsor pick you up.   

St Louis does have a light rail system called MetroLink. The MetroLink operates several stops ending at the airport to the west and Shiloh-Scott AFB to the east.  You can pick up the train at the airport - updated fare and schedule information is available on the Metrolink website.  When boarding the MetroLink, head toward the Shiloh-Scott Station on the red line. The one-way trip takes approximately one hour and fifteen minutes. Once at the Shiloh-Scott Station, you should have your military identification and current orders ready for verification by the Law Enforcement Desk at the Metrolink gate to Scott AFB - instructions for installation access are prominently displayed. 

Entry Procedures using Metrolink Gate

The following entry procedures are to be used by all personnel requiring entry onto Scott AFB through the Metrolink Gate:

Personnel authorized unescorted access to the installation as defined in SAFBI 31-101, Installation Security Instruction, Chapter 6, are authorized and encouraged to enroll in the Biometrics Hand Geometry entry system. Enrollment is completed at the 375th Security Forces Squadron's Pass and Registration Section located in the Visitors Center located at the Shiloh Gate. Only personnel enrolled in the Biometrics entry system are authorized to sponsor guests onto the installation through the Metrolink Gate. Others not enrolled may use their military ID cards to be read by the 375 SFS desk.

To reach Scott AFB by car from St. Louis-Lambert Airport, you can go one of two ways:

1. Take I-70 East from the airport. Exit on I-64 East going to Illinois/Louisville Kentucky. Exit I-64 East at 19A (Scott AFB exit sign will be seen). Follow it to the second light (Seibert Rd) and turn left and continue to the Shiloh Gate. After passing through the gate, proceed on Scott Drive to Winters Street (the third traffic light) and turn right.  Proceed all the way to the end of this street and lodging will be on your right. 
2. To avoid downtown St. Louis (rush hour, event traffic due to Cardinal games, etc), leave the airport on I-270 (North/East) going toward Illinois. Exit on I-255 (South/West) traveling towards Memphis. Exit on I-64 East. Exit I-64 East at exit 19 A (Scott AFB exit sign will be seen). After passing through the gate, proceed on Scott Drive to Winters Street (the third traffic light) and turn right.  Proceed all the way to the end of this street and lodging will be on your right. 

There are several ways to reach Scott AFB by car.

To reach Scott AFB by car from locations west of St Louis:

1. Take I-70 East. Exit on I-64 East going to Illinois/Louisville Kentucky. Exit I-64 East at 19A (Scott AFB exit sign will be seen). Follow it to the second light (Seibert Rd) and turn left and continue to the Shiloh Gate. After passing through the gate, proceed on Scott Drive to Winters Street (the third traffic light) and turn right.  Proceed all the way to the end of this street and lodging will be on your right. 
2. To avoid downtown St. Louis (rush hour, event traffic due to Cardinal games, etc), take I-270 (North/East) going toward Illinois. Exit on I-255 (South/West) traveling towards Memphis. Exit on I-64 East. Exit I-64 East at exit 19 A (Scott AFB exit sign will be seen). After passing through the gate, proceed on Scott Drive to Winters Street (the third traffic light) and turn right.  Proceed all the way to the end of this street and lodging will be on your right. 

To reach Scott AFB by car from locations east of St Louis:

1. If arriving on I-70 from the east - take IL-4 exit, Exit 21, toward Staunton/Lebanon.  Turn left onto State Route 4 and follow into the town of Lebanon.  Turn right onto W. McAllister St/US-50W.  Turn left to stay on US-50W which turns into Air Mobility Drive/IL-158.  Follow it to the second light (Seibert Rd) and turn left and continue to the Shiloh Gate. 
2. If arriving on I-64 from the east - exit I-64 West at exit 19A - Scott AFB sign will be seen.  Follow Air Mobility Drive/IL-158 to the second light (Seibert Rd) and turn left and continue to the Shiloh Gate. 

To reach Scott AFB by car from locations south of St Louis:

1. If arriving on I-55N from the south - in St Louis - follow the exits to I-64E and exit I-64 at exit 19A for Scott AFB.
2. If arriving on I-44E from the west - you will take I-55N into St Louis - follow the exits to I-64E and exit I-64 at exit 19A for Scott AFB. 

To reach Scott AFB by car from locations north of St Louis:

1. If arriving on I-55S from locations north- in St Louis - follow the exits to I-64E and exit I-64 at exit 19A for Scott AFB. 

• Shiloh Gate (Scott AFB main gate on Seibert Road and location of the Visitor Control Center) connects to IL 158 with follow on to I-64. The Shiloh Gate is the only 24 hour access point for Scott AFB.
• Belleville Gate is on the south side of the base connecting with IL 161, the Belleville Gate is closed nightly from 8:00 p.m to 5:30 a.m. (Monday-Friday) and closes from 6:00 p.m. to 530 a.m. on (Saturdays).
• Mascoutah Gate is open to commercial vehicles only.
• Cardinal Creek Gate (to the north of the base) is only open during morning/evening commute hours. 
• Patriot's Landing Gate is normally closed to all traffic.

The Phone number to the Base Operator is 618-256-1110 or DSN 312-576-1110.