Texas is the second largest state in the US in terms of sheer size and population, second only to California (in population) and Alaska.
Being on the southern border, it also happens to be strategically important to our southern defense.
With that said, there are a number of Air Force bases located in Texas.
Some of them are quite small, and others are absolutely enormous.
Below is a list of all 7 Air Force bases in the state of Texas, ranked in no particular order.
Air Force Bases in Texas
1. Dyess Air Force Base
Location: Abilene, Texas
In Use: 1942 – present (Built in 1952, formerly known as Tye Army Air Field)
Overall Mission: It serves as an emergency landing stage for NASA Space Shuttle orbiter and also provides airlift support and deliver bombs to combatant commanders. This base also serves as a training center for Air Force B-1 crews.
Units Stationed at Dyess Air Force Base:
- 7th Bomb Wing
- 307th Bomb Wing
- 317th Airlift Wing
- 53rd Wing
- 57th Wing
Official Site: https://www.dyess.af.mil/
2. Lackland Air Force Base
Location: Bexar County, Texas
In Use: 1941 – present (Built in 1941, originally part of Kelly field)
Overall Mission: This is the largest training wing for different Air Force units in US. It gives basic military training to those enlisted to join the Air Force.
Units Stationed at Lackland Air Force Base:
- 502d Installation Support Group
- 37th Training Wing
- Inter-American Air Forces Academy
- Defense Language Institute
- Twenty-Fifth Air Force
- Twenty-Fourth Air Force
Official Site: https://www.jbsa.mil/
3. Goodfellow Air Force Base
Location: San Angelo, Texas
In Use: 1940 – Present
Overall Mission: It is home to 17th Training Wing. This base trains members of different branches of the U.S. military including Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps in intelligence and cryptology.
Units Stationed At Goodfellow Air Force Base:
- 17th Training Wing
- 111th Military Intelligence Brigade (US Army)
- US Army Engineer School
- Center for Information Warfare Training Detachment (US Navy)
Official Site: https://www.goodfellow.af.mil/
4. Laughlin Air Force Base
Location; Del Rio, Texas
In Use: 1943 – Present (Built in 1943, originally known as Laughlin Army Air Field)
Overall Mission: It hosts 47th Flying Training Wing and serves a training center for Air Force’s undergraduate pilots thereby producing mission-ready Airmen.
Units Stationed At Laughlin Air Force Base:
- 47th Flying Training Wing
- 340th Flying Training Group
Official Site: https://www.laughlin.af.mil/
5. Sheppard Air Force Base
Location: Wichita Falls, Texas
In Use: 1941 – Present
Overall Mission: This is home to 82d Training Wing, whose purpose is to recruit and train Airmen and also equip them with education that enables them to deliver Air Force objectives. It is the largest training base within AETC.
Units Stationed At Sheppard Air Force Base:
- 82d Training Wing
- 80th Flying Training Wing
Official Site: https://www.sheppard.af.mil/
6. Joint Base San Antonio
Location: San Antonio, Texas
In Use: 1918 – Present
Overall Mission: It provides housing options to support the transition of Air Force recruits and also offer a platform for easy integration with the military community.
Lackland Air Force Base is actually a part of Joint Base San Antonio, as well as Fort Sam Houston, Randolph Air Force Base, and Camp Bullis and Stanley.
Official Site: https://www.jbsa.mil/
7. Randolph Air Force Base
Location: Universal City, Texas
In Use: 1930 – Present (Built in 1928)
Overall Mission: It is the headquarters of the AETC and AFPC. It serves as a training base for Air Force pilots on how to fly T 6A Texan II, T 1A Jayhawk, and the T 38C Talon. This is also home to the 12th Flying Training Wing, the 902-nd Mission Support Group, and the 359-th Medical Group.
Units Stationed At Sheppard Air Force Base:
- 902d Mission Support Group
- 12th Flying Training Wing
- 359th Medical Group
- Air Education and Training Command headquarters
Official Site: https://www.jbsa.mil/
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General FAQ
How many military bases are in Texas?
There are currently 25 active military bases in Texas. By branch, there are 6 Air Force bases, 12 Army bases, 5 Navy / Marine Corps bases, and 2 major Coast Guard stations.
Does Dallas have a military base?
No. The closest military base to Dallas, TX would be Naval Sir Station Fort Worth Joint reserve base. It's located in Carswell, TX, and is just under 42 miles from Dallas.
What's the largest military base in Texas?
Located in Killeen, TX, Fort Hood is the largest military base in Texas. In fact, at over 214,000 acres in size, it's actually one of the largest military bases in the world.
How many military bases are closed in Texas?
As of January 2020, there are 98 decommissioned bases in the state of Texas.
