Altus AFB

Since its activation as a multi-engine flight training school in 1943, Altus Air Force Base has been the cornerstone of southwestern Oklahoma for 80 years. With an average of more than 300 days of weather conducive flying each year and a generally flat landscape with few obstructions, the 97th Air Mobility Wing is the ideal location to carry out its mission: “We Train Exceptional Mobility Airmen.” Now referred to as “Mobility’s Hometown,” the 97th AMW trains over 2,000 air mobility students annually, to include students from 16 different foreign nations. Our vision is that we continue to execute “A Premier Installation Forging the World's Most Inspired, Proficient, and Adaptive Mobility Warriors to Deliver Airpower for America.”

Altus Air Force Base is comprised of four groups and 18 squadrons of Airmen (Active Duty, Reserve, Guard, and Civilian). The wing is also an award-winning installation, winning the Commander in Chief’s Award for Installation Excellence, Major General Eubank Award, Air Force Food Service Excellence Award, Air Force’s Best Patient Safety Program Award, the Department of Defense’s Patient Engagement Award, the AETC Medical Home of the Year, three AETC Safety Awards, 19th Air Force’s Top Gray Tail of the Year, Outstanding Weather Organization Award, and the Aircrew Flight Equipment Large Program of the Year. 

The 97th Operations Group oversees the three squadrons directly supporting the wing’s flying-training mission. The 58th Airlift Squadron is comprised of instructor pilots and loadmasters who train Airmen on the C-17 Globemaster III. The 54th Air Refueling Squadron trains pilots and boom operators on the KC-135 Stratotanker. Finally, the 56th Air Refueling Squadron is home to the formal training unit for pilots and boom operators on the Air Force’s newest addition to air mobility: the KC-46 Pegasus. These three air mobility schoolhouses conduct initial and advanced specialty training programs for airland, airdrop, and air refueling mobility forces, providing global reach for combat and contingency operations, as well as relief operations.  

The mission support group provides direct mission support to the three mobility aircraft along with base-wide infrastructure, to include communications, civil engineering, law enforcement, force/fire protection, contracting, disaster response, and other agencies to support the mission of the base.

The wing’s medical group ensures maximum wartime readiness and combat capability by promoting the health, safety and morale of active duty personnel, increasing the overall wellness of the base and local community.

The 97th AMW is also home to the unique, all-civilian maintenance group, responsible for all aircraft maintenance, sortie generation and maintenance support for the Air Force’s sole C-17, KC-135 and KC-46 formal aircrew training schools. 

The wing commander’s priorities are Airmen, Mission and Culture.

As the wing moves into the twenty-first century, it continues to perform the same basic mission that it started back in 1943, providing a safe and comfortable location to train Airmen on the intricacies of operating multi-engine aircraft.

See: https://www.altus.af.mil/About-Us/

Passports and Visas

Ensure member and/or dependents have the required passports and/or visa prior to final out-processing. Member and/or dependents are not allowed to final out-process without the required passports/visas in hand for themselves (if applicable) and/or dependents. Members electing the accompanied tour will not be permitted to out-process without having the required passports/visas in hand for themselves (if applicable) and/or dependents.

Passports are only required for dependents unless specifically stated in your Personnel Processing Codes (PPC)

Apply for Official / No-Fee passports upon receipt of PCS orders. Passport processing time can take 6-8 weeks from the date submitted to the Department of State. Tourist Passports are NOT acceptable for Military PCS moves.

These actions are necessary to prevent unforeseen hardships to the military members and their families. Therefore, as a last reiteration, it is essential, members do not out-process without having the appropriate passports/visas for themselves (if applicable) and/or dependents.

Required Documents Needed for your Passport Appointment:

1.  Completed Passport Application (DS11 for NEW Passports/DS82 for RENEWALS):

https://pptform.state.gov/PassportWizardMain.aspx#%7B%22__s%22%3A%22rp2qMfr0lzQSbtImPFkzMJt%2FYVX92R9vqXAgq8RHl%2Bq0S9rnSM1kjgBE83gG1Sz%2FiOIpceXXQcs4waipWJSd8pAxQTQ7WJFiNT5bkmioIIsBBNRpKw6lr5QZsTQ%3D%22%7D

2. Proof of citizenship: (Only one is needed) Note: Proof of Citizenship will be mailed out with application

• Born in the United States:
• Fully-Valid, Undamaged U.S. passport (can be expired)
• U.S. Birth Certificate
• Born outside the United States:
• Fully-valid, undamaged U.S. passport (can be expired)
• Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
• Certificate of Naturalization
• Certificate of Citizenship

3. Photo Identification: Valid or expired, undamaged U.S. passport book or passport card (Only one needed below)

• In-state, fully valid driver's license or enhanced driver's license with photo
• In-state, fully valid learner's permit with photo
• In-state, fully valid non-driver ID with photo
• Temporary driver's license with photo 
• Certificate of Naturalization 
• Certificate of Citizenship 
• Government employee ID (city, county, state, or federal)
• U.S. military or military dependent ID
• Current (valid) foreign passport
• Matricula Consular (Mexican Consular ID) - commonly used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
• U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) - commonly used by a parent of a U.S. citizen child applicant
• Trusted Traveler IDs (including valid Global Entry, FAST, SENTRI, and NEXUS cards)
• Enhanced Tribal Cards and Native American tribal photo IDs

4.  Two 2x2 Photos:

• Can be processed through PA, Building 87 – first floor (Walk-Ins Only Commercial: 580-481-7700; Hours of Operation: 0900-1630)

5.  PCS or TDY orders

6. Exception to policy Letter (If you DO NOT have PCS/TDY orders) (Received by UDM, signed by Commander)

Defense Service Network (DSN) Dialing Instructions

The DSN is the provider of long-distance communications service for the Department of Defense (DoD).

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.

For the Base Most Commonly used Numbers, please call the Military & Family Readiness Center at 580-481-6761 (DSN: 866-6761). 

Please note that long distance charges may be incurred.