Air Education and Training Command: Shaping the Air Force's Future

The Air Education and Training Command (AETC) plays a vital role in the United States Air Force (USAF) and Space Force. With the motto "Air & Space Force Starts Here!", AETC is responsible for recruiting, training, and educating airmen and officers. This command ensures that the Air Force has skilled individuals ready to fly, fix, plan, defend, and sustain airpower in the face of evolving global challenges.

Historical Overview and Evolution

Established in January 1942, AETC is the second oldest major command in the Air Force. Originally activated as the Army Air Corps Flying Training Command, its initial headquarters was in Washington, D.C. Within a year, the headquarters relocated to Fort Worth, Texas. During World War II, the command oversaw technical and flying training at over 600 installations, factories, and institutions.

The headquarters subsequently moved to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, in 1946, then to Scott AFB, Illinois, in 1949, before finally settling at Randolph AFB, Texas, in 1957. A significant restructuring occurred in July 1993 when Air Training Command and Air University merged to form AETC. This redesignation allowed the command to consolidate training and education aspects of career development. In 2005, the Base Realignment and Closure plan renamed Randolph Air Force Base as Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph.

Mission and Responsibilities

AETC's mission is comprehensive, encompassing recruitment, basic training, technical training, and professional education. The command transforms volunteers into skilled Airmen, ready to serve their country. AETC is the lead command for Aerospace Physiology, managing training curricula and systems to support AP, human performance, and acceleration training requirements for other commands.

Air Force Recruiting Service (AFRS)

AETC's mission begins with the Air Force Recruiting Service (AFRS), headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. AFRS comprises three regional groups and 24 squadrons, with over 1,400 recruiters stationed throughout the United States, including territories like Puerto Rico and Guam, as well as in England, Germany, and Japan. AFRS focuses on recruiting college/university graduates via Air Force Officer Training School (OTS). The Air Force brings in nearly 24,000 active-duty enlisted accessions each year.

Basic Military Training (BMT)

The first stop for all Regular Air Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve Command enlisted personnel is Basic Military Training (BMT) at Lackland AFB, Texas, within the 737th Training Group. This intense, 8 1/2-week course transforms civilians into motivated, disciplined warrior Airmen. JBSA-Lackland conducts the Air Force's only enlisted recruit training program, providing the foundation to serve in the world’s greatest Air Force. The integration of air base training ranges is designed to provide trainees with early, immersive exposure to operational environments. These training ranges introduce Airmen to the fundamentals of airfield operations, air base defense, and mission generation, helping them understand how their individual roles contribute to the Air Force’s ability to defend, operate, generate, and sustain airpower.

Technical Training

After completing BMT, Airmen begin technical training to learn the technical skills needed to perform in their career field specialties. Technical training is conducted primarily at six installations: JBSA-Lackland, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, Goodfellow AFB, Sheppard AFB, Keesler AFB, and Vandenberg SFB. A recently established technical training institute at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, also conducts training in several medical career fields. Each base is responsible for a specific portion of the formal technical training Airmen require to accomplish the Air Force mission. Second Air Force provides centralized management and overarching command and control structure to oversee, prepare and equip Airmen for JSS expeditionary training in a sister service environment. Training is conducted at Army locations called Mobilization Force Generation Installations. The 602nd Training Group (Provisional) establishes detachments at each MFGI as Air Force liaisons and provides location command and control.

Flying Training

Nineteenth Air Force (19 AF) executes operational-level command and control of all formal aircrew flying training missions within AETC and provides world-class Airmen to the Combat Air Forces and Mobility Air Forces. Air Force pilot candidates begin their flying careers with Initial Flight Training (IFT) at Pueblo Memorial Airport, Colorado. Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training is divided into three phases, Academic/Ground Training, Primary Flying Training, and Advanced Flying Training. After the primary phase of specialized training, student pilots are selected for one of three advanced training tracks based on needs of the Air Force and their class standing. Prospective airlift and tanker pilots are assigned to the airlift/tanker track and train in the T-1 Jayhawk. Student pilots headed for bomber or fighter assignments are assigned to the bomber/fighter track and train in the T-38. Both airlift/tanker track and fighter/bomber track training continues at Columbus, Laughlin, or Vance Air Force Bases. Students selected to fly helicopters train in the TH-1H at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

Combat Systems Officer Training

AETC also provides Undergraduate Combat Systems Officer Training; this training takes place at NAS Pensacola, Florida. The Primary phase of UCT utilizes the T-6A and focuses on teaching students the fundamentals of instrument and visual navigation, while developing airmanship, and building a foundation of mission management skills. The advanced phase of training utilizes the CSO modified T-1A aircraft and the T-25 Simulator for Electronic Combat. In this final phase, student training is focused on advanced navigation techniques, radar scope interpretation, the principles of electronic warfare, Crew Resource Management, and the fundamentals of weapons employment.

Follow-on Training

AETC also provides follow-on training for most Air Force aircrew in their assigned aircraft. Pilots assigned to fighter aircraft complete the Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals Course, flying the T-38C. Students then move on to train in the F-15 Eagle at Kingsley Field, Oregon or in the F-16 Fighting Falcon at Luke AFB, Arizona, Tucson Air National Guard Base, Arizona, or JBSA-Lackland, Texas. Students assigned to the KC-135 Stratotanker or C-17 Globemaster III aircraft are trained at Altus AFB, Oklahoma. Aircrews assigned to fly the C-130 train at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, and aircrews assigned to fly MC-130H Combat Talon II, MC-130J Commando II, MC-130P Combat Shadow, HC-130 Combat King, UH-1N Huey, HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters or CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, receive their training at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. AETC also provides enlisted aircrew training for a wide variety of aircrew specialties including flight engineers, air-to-air refueling boom operators, loadmasters, aerial gunners, airborne communications specialists, as well as the newest career enlisted aviator specialty - RPA sensor operator. Flight engineers train at Little Rock AFB, boom operators train at Altus AFB, and loadmasters train at Altus, Little Rock or JBSA-Lackland. Helicopter and tilt-rotor special mission aviators train at Kirtland AFB, and airborne communications specialists train at Keesler AFB.

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Air University (AU)

Air University, with headquarters at Maxwell AFB, provides the full spectrum of Air Force education, from pre-commissioning to the highest levels of professional military education, including degree-granting and professional continuing education for officers, enlisted members, and civilians throughout their careers. AU has responsibility for the Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development. The Holm Center Commander provides direction for two of the Air Force's three commissioning programs - the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps and Officer Training School. Officer Training School is located at Maxwell AFB, and provides basic officer training, a nine-week program designed to commission about 500-700 new second lieutenants annually. OTS also conducts a five-week commissioned officer training program for about 1,300 new judge advocates, chaplains, and medical officers each year.

AU’s officer PME schools, overseen by the Carl A. Spaatz Center for Officer Education, prepare students from the Air Force, its sister services and allied nations for more responsible positions as they progress through their careers. Geared toward teaching the skills necessary for air and space operations in support of a joint campaign, as well as leadership and command, the course focuses on shaping and molding tomorrow’s leaders and commanders. The School of Advanced Air and Space Studies is a 50-week, follow-on school for selected graduates of intermediate-level Department of Defense professional military education schools. SAASS creates warrior-scholars with a superior ability to develop, evaluate, and employ airpower with the complex environment of modern war.

The Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education is responsible for the instructional programs and faculty development for all Air Force enlisted PME programs. The Community College of the Air Force offers and awards job-related associate in applied science degrees and other academic credentials that enhance mission readiness, contribute to recruiting, assist in retention, and support the career transitions of Air Force enlisted members. The Ira C. Eaker College for Professional Development provides world-class, multi-discipline technical training and professional continuing education to Air Force and other Department of Defense personnel, as well as international students. The Curtis E. LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education develops and publishes Air Force doctrine, teaches doctrine through in-residence and distance learning courses, and advocates airpower through visionary wargaming. The LeMay Center assists in the development, analysis, and wargaming of the concepts, doctrine, and strategy of air and space power.

Other Key Functions

AETC is the Department of Defense’s Executive Agent for the Defense English Language Program and the Defense Language Institute English Language Center. As the Lead Command for DLIELC, AETC manages, operates, funds and provides personnel for DLIELC. AETC is the executive agent for all Air Force sponsored international training and education.

Installations and Personnel

More than 48,000 active duty and Air Reserve Component members and 14,000 civilian personnel make up AETC. The command also has more than 9,000 contractors assigned. Air Education and Training Command comprises the Air Force Accessions Center, Second Air Force, Nineteenth Air Force, and the Air University, operating 12 major installations, with numerous tenant and geographically separated units across the globe. Its active‑duty wings include the 17th TRW (Goodfellow AFB), 37th TRW (JBSA-Lackland), 42nd ABW (Maxwell AFB), 47th FTW (Laughlin AFB), 56th FW (Luke AFB), 58th SOW (Kirtland AFB), 71st FTW (Vance AFB), 80th FTW (Sheppard AFB), 81st TRW (Keesler AFB), 82nd TRW (Sheppard AFB), and 97th AMW (Altus AFB).

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Modernization and Future Focus

AETC is committed to modernizing its training methods to prepare Airmen for future operational challenges. This includes integrating air base training ranges into Basic Military Training to provide early, immersive exposure to operational environments. These training ranges introduce Airmen to the fundamentals of airfield operations, air base defense, and mission generation, helping them understand how their individual roles contribute to the Air Force’s ability to defend, operate, generate, and sustain airpower. This approach aims to instill airmindedness and build a stronger connection between initial training and real-world mission requirements.

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