25 Jun 50 The outbreak of the Korean conflict resulted in skyrocketing USAF training requirements. Subordinate commands within ATC were reinstituted. Flying Training Air Force was formed at Waco, TX, in 1951; Technical Training Air Force in July of that year at Gulfport, MS; and Crew Training Air Force was created in Mar 52 at Randolph AFB, TX. These three commands were discontinued by mid-1958.
3 Jul 50 USAF directed implementation of crew training in ATC, including instruction of fighter, bomber, and interceptor students.
15 Nov 50 Sampson AFB, NY, became a basic military training center when Lackland AFB became seriously overcrowded as the number of men in basic training increased dramatically. More than 19,000 men were sleeping in tents at Lackland, and Senator Lyndon B. Johnson's investigating subcommittee severely criticized the Air Force for accepting more recruits than it could handle. Overcrowding was remedied by reducing basic training from 13 to 8 weeks, suspending enlistments for 2 weeks, and opening additional basic military training centers.
4 Jan 51 Interceptor crew training started at Tyndall AFB, FL.
8 Mar 51 HQ ATC added a new function to its structure, the Guided Missile Training Division.
1 Aug 51 Parks AFB, CA, became a basic military training center.
27 Oct 51 The 3320th Retraining Group was established at Amarillo AFB, TX. The group conducted a program that provided selected Air Force prisoners with an opportunity for restoration to duty. The first retrainees arrived in Feb 52.
31 Mar 52 The command reached its peak military and civilian strength during the Korean conflict; 300,600 men and women, including 133,541 pipeline students, were assigned.
22 Dec 52 B-47 training started at Pinecastle AFB, FL, when Class 53-6A entered combat crew training.
1 Jul 53 BMT input to Parks AFB, CA, was suspended to allow phaseout.
27 Jul 53 Korean conflict ended. During this conflict, the command graduated 11,947 basic pilots.
20 Oct 53 ATC became responsible for directly supporting Air Defense Command in defending the United States against an air attack.
1 Jan 54 Pinecastle AFB, FL, and the B-47 combat crew training mission transferred to Strategic Air Command (SAC).
6 Mar 54 Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson directed the Air Force to assume operational control of Air Force recruiting not later than 1 Jul 54.
11 Mar 54 USAF assigned its recruiting mission to ATC.
12 May 54 Class 55-M at Marana AB, AZ, became the first to use T-34 and T-28 aircraft in primary contract pilot training.
19 Jul 54 Atomic, biological, and chemical warfare delivery training for bomber crews began at Randolph AFB, TX, when Class 54G-ABCD entered training.
1 Sep 54 ATC became responsible for Air Force resident survival training at Stead AFB, NV, and assumed command of the base.
Dec 54 Air Training Command adopted the abbreviation "ATC" instead of "ATRC" after Air Transport Command became Military Air Transport Service in Jun 48.
28 Jan 55 The procurement of nurses was added to the command's and the recruiting wing's missions.
1 Jul 56 The basic military training school which opened 15 Nov 50 at Sampson AFB, NY, was discontinued.
13 Aug 56 Air Training Command was assigned the responsibility for recruiting medical specialists.
1 Jan 57 Parks AFB, CA, transferred from the command, ending basic military training there. Lackland AFB, TX, was the single site for basic military training.
8 Apr 57 Instructor training for "Project Palm," an evaluation of Cessna's T-37 as a primary trainer, began at James Connally AFB, TX.
25 Jun 57 The field training concept, which had been tested for 14 months, was adopted to supplement and eventually supplant the mobile training program that had been a command function since 7 Jul 43.
2 Sep 57 The relocated Air Training Command headquarters was officially opened at Randolph AFB, TX.
1 Jul 58 Luke and Williams AFB, AZ, and Nellis AFB, NV, together with assigned fighter crew training missions, transferred to Tactical Air Command (TAC). McConnell AFB, KS, its bomber and nuclear weapons training programs, transferred to SAC. Additionally, the tanker aircrew training mission, located at Randolph AFB, TX, transferred to SAC. As a result of these transfers, ATC lost 762 aircraft.
1 Nov 58 The responsibility for negotiating with primary flying school contractors was transferred from Air Materiel Command to Air Training Command.
1 Sep 59 Management of Air Force training for foreign students was reassigned from HQ USAF to ATC. Military Assistance Program (MAP) and Latin American programs were now monitored and administered by ATC.
10 Apr 59 Northrop's twin-jet T-38, destined to replace the T-33 as a basic pilot training vehicle, was flown for the first time.
27 Nov 59 The first Officer Training School (OTS) class--94 students, entered training at Lackland. ATC operated both OTS and the Officer Candidate School (OCS) between 1959 and 1963. OCS was discontinued on 1 Jul 63. It's final class, 64D, graduated on 21 Jun 63.
1 Apr 60 USAF officially approved the concept of consolidating all phases of pilot training on seven bases, using military instructors throughout the course.
23 Jun 60 Flying activities at Brooks AFB, TX, ended. To that date, Brooks had the oldest continuously active flying establishment in the nation. Its flying mission dated back to World War I Oct 60 ATC motto contest ended with the selection of "Prepare the Man", the motto submitted by Joan W. Bellah, wife of 1Lt Connie G. Bellah of Greenville AFB, MS. Mrs Bellah's entry, one of over 2,000, earned an award of a $500 US Savings Bond. A board of senior officers in HQ ATC selected the command motto which was adopted because it was all-inclusive concerning the ATC mission. Motto was registered with USAF on 2 Dec 60.
21 Apr 61 Lt Clement E. Bellion, Jr., veteran of six years service as a navigator, made his initial flight in a T-37 at Craig AFB, AL. Bellion was the first UPT student to solo in a T-37 14 Sep 61 Class 62-B, the last group of students who started primary pilot training at contract schools, completed basic in T-33s at Air Force bases.
9 Oct 61 Lt Raymond H. Vos, participating in the T-38 test at Randolph AFB, became the first student to solo in a supersonic aircraft.
25 Oct 61 The last pilot aviation cadet graduated in Class 62-B at Webb AFB, TX. This ended aviation cadet pilot training, begun early in World War II. The cadet was William F. Wesson. The last class entering cadets was 61-G2 which graduated on 23 Jun 61. Cadet Wesson broke his leg, however, and did not graduate until Class 62-B.
3 May 62 ATC's PATH FINDER study ended. Formed late in 1961, its purpose was to evaluate ATC's ability to meet future training needs. While not related directly to increased needs in Southeast Asia, it proved useful later in meeting problems arising from those needs.
6 Jun 62 Undergraduate Navigator Training (UNT) at Harlingen AFB, TX, ended with the graduation of Class 62-22N. Thereafter, all new navigators were to be trained at James Connally AFB.
1 Jul 62 Command communications functions were transferred from ATC to Air Force Communications Service.
3 Aug 62 Class 63-A, the first class to receive T-38 training at a UPT base, graduated at Webb AFB.
21 Jun 63 Class 63-D, the final OCS class, graduated. General Hap Arnold had established OCS on 21 Feb 42. The final graduate was 2Lt Fernando Zepeda; the school had produced an estimated 42,500 graduates.
22 Oct 63 Class 64-C, the first to be trained in the T-38, graduated at Reese AFB, TX. 5 Mar 64 The last cadet class (65-15) entered UNT at James Connally AFB.
10 Aug 64 ATC began deploying weapons mechanic officers and airmen to Southeast Asia for 179 days TDY under Project Top Dog.
2 Oct 64 With the enlistment of John J. Jankas, Jr., Chicago, the USAF Recruiting Service recruited the one millionth male enlistee since it became an independent agency. The oath was given by Lt Gen William S. Stone, HQ USAF DCS/Personnel, in Chicago's City Hall, with Mayor Richard J. Daley hosting the affair.
28 Dec 64 - 8 Jan 65 Stead AFB furnished 27 helicopters and 130 personnel to assist civil emergency relief work for victims of floods in northern California and southern Oregon.
1 Apr 65 The Air Force's first standard major air command computer system, using Honeywell H-800/200 equipment, was adopted by ATC at Randolph AFB.
1 Jul 65 HQ USAF Recruiting Service, formerly located at Wright-Patterson AFB, began operating at Randolph AFB.
3 Aug 65 With General Momyer at the controls of a Randolph-based T-38, ATC officially recorded the 500,000th flying hour in Talon trainers.
28 Feb 66 Responsibility for all Reserve and Air National Guard basic military training was transferred from Lackland AFB to Amarillo AFB.
3 Mar 66 The flow of trainees to Chanute and Sheppard AFBs for eight days of basic military instruction was diverted to Amarillo AFB. Chanute and Sheppard thereby stopped conducting basic military training.
12 May 66 ATC acquired Medina Base (sometimes known as Lackland Annex) to house part of the Officer Training School, sentry dog training, a combat confidence course, and air police training.
30 Jun 66 The USAF Chaplain School relocated from Lackland AFB to Maxwell AFB, where Air University assumed responsibility for the function.
26 Jan 67 The one millionth flying hour was flown in the T-38 at Randolph AFB. ATC's commander, Lt Gen Sam Maddux, Jr., and Col Woodard E. Davis, Jr., Commander, 3510th Flying Training Wing, made this historic flight.
3 Feb 67 The last class of the Medical Service School graduated at Gunter AFS, AL. The relocation of the school from Gunter to Sheppard AFB started in Mar 66. The graduation class was composed of 30 students. All future training would be conducted at Sheppard AFB.
1 Mar 67 The Medical Service School completed its move from Gunter to Sheppard AFB.
30 Jun 67 The Air Force Surgeon General, Lt Gen R. L. Bohannon, presented a diploma to the 100,000th student graduate, SSgt Vincent E. Woznaik, from the Medical Service School, since its inception in 1950.
1 Jul 66 The USAF Language School, which had been established at Lackland AFB on 1 Jan 60, was discontinued. In its place, the Army operated the Defense Language Institute at Lackland AFB.
Aug 69 Keesler AFB personnel helped in relief and recovery operations after Hurricane Camille struck the Gulfport, MS, area on 17 Aug 69.
ATC Operations in the 70's
11 May 70 Fourteen T-41s were destroyed and three badly damaged by a devastating tornado that struck the Lubbock, TX, area, mauling the T-41 inventory available to Reese's 3500th Pilot Training Wing.
Aug 71 Project Peace Echo, which started 3 Apr 68, concluded. During the period of its existence, ATC trained 1,297 Israeli Air Force personnel on the F-4 aircraft. That included aircrew transition training, as well as aircraft maintenance and systems training.
1 Apr 72 The Community College of the Air Force established at Randolph AFB. Ultimately, CCAF would confer associate degrees for completion of established programs of study based on the technical courses offered by the command.
Aug 72 Sgt Linda S. Blackley recommended changing the command motto to "Prepare the Airman."
9 Sep 72 Lt Gen George B. Simler and his aide, Capt Gil L. Gillespie, were killed on takeoff from Randolph AFB. General Simler was enroute to assume command of the Military Airlift Command at Scott AFB, IL.
Dec 72 Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredited Schools of Applied Aerospace Sciences at Keesler, Lackland, and Sheppard AFB; the USAF Security Service School at Goodfellow AFB, TX; and the School of Health Care Sciences, USAF, at Sheppard AFB.
13 Feb 73 Lackland, Keesler, and Sheppard, ATC's three Reception Processing Centers for Project Homecoming, were declared ready.
28 Mar 73 North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools announced accreditation of the Schools of Applied Aerospace Sciences at Chanute AFB, IL, and Lowry AFB, CO.
1 Apr 73 Final groups of former prisoners of war landed at ATC's Project Homecoming bases.
23 Sep 74 The last class of Vietnamese T-41 students graduated.
29 Oct 74 The Air Training Command motto "Prepare the Man" was discontinued.
11 Apr 75 The last class of Vietnamese T-37 student pilots graduated at Sheppard AFB.
28 Nov 75 HQ USAF approved joint Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps navigator training at Mather AFB.
1 Dec 75 Dual management of military women in ATC officially ended when the command's last WAF Squadron Section was inactivated at Mather AFB.
14 Jul 76 President Gerald R. Ford approved enabling legislation authorizing the Community College of the Air Force to grant associate-level degrees for college-level academic study. On 9 Dec, the US Office of Education Advisory Committee also voted to extend this privilege to the Community College of the Air Force.
26 Aug 76 The first of two groups of 10 women pilot candidates began flight screening at Hondo Municipal Airport prior to entering undergraduate pilot training at Williams AFB on 29 Sep 76.
30 Nov 76 Capt Connie J. Engel became the first female USAF officer to complete a solo flight in UPT.
12 Jan 77 The US Commissioner of Education made the landmark decision formally authorizing the ATC commander to grant the Associate Degree in Applied Sciences to graduates of the Community College of the Air Force. This marked the first time that a military agency was given the authority to grant degrees to members of the enlisted force.
Jan 77 The ATC commander established the "Buck Stop" program as a formal effort within ATC to move decision-making to the lowest possible level of command.
18 Mar 77 All 10 members of the first group of women undergraduate pilot students completed Phase I, T-37 training, and began Phase II, flying the supersonic T-38 Talon.
30 Mar 77 The position of Commander, Air Training Command, was elevated to the grade of general. Gen John W. Roberts received his fourth star and became ATC's first four-star commander.
25 Apr 77 Community College of the Air Force awarded its first college degrees in ceremonies at Lackland AFB, marking the first time enlisted service members received college degrees issued by the military.Ê(1 Apr - 1 Jun 79 Community College of the Air Force relocated from Lackland Training Annex to Maxwell AFB.)
2 May 77 1Lt Christine E. Schott became the first female UPT student to solo in the T-38 aircraft.
2 Sep 77 The tradition of an all-male USAF pilot force ended when 36 male and 10 female officers received their wings at Williams AFB.
12 Oct 77 The first five women navigators in the Air Force, members of UNT Class 78-01, received their wings, along with one female Coast Guard class member.
8 May 78 Five civilians entered the ATC NCO Academy, becoming the first civilians to attend the NCO Academy.
15 May 78 ATC assumed command of Air University, previously a separate major command, headquartered at Maxwell AFB.
18 Dec 78 The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accredited all of the ATC NCO Leadership Schools.
31 Jan 79 ATC assumed responsibility for the Rotary Wing Qualification Course at Fort Rucker, AL. The course, formerly a Military Airlift Command responsibility, trained fixed-wing pilots to fly helicopters.
31 Dec 79 ATC completed 1979 with no aircraft accident fatalities. This was the first year in which the command had no fatalities in aircraft accidents.
ATC Operations in the 80's
29 May 80 1Lt Mary L. Wittick became the first woman to enter USAF helicopter pilot training with UPT-H Class 81-05 at Fort Rucker, AL.
11 Jun 80 The Secretary of Defense announced that Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) would be conducted at Sheppard AFB.
12 Dec 80 The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools voted unanimously to accredit the Community College of the Air Force as a degree-granting institution, ending two and one-half years of evaluation and consideration.
1 Oct 81 The ENJJPT program began at Sheppard AFB.
17 Dec 82 CMSgt Bobby G. Renfroe became the first enlisted man named as the Senior NCO Academy commandant.
1 Jul 83 Air University was realigned from ATC and redesignated as a major air command. Two primary education functions remained under ATC--Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps and Community College of the Air Force. With the realignment of AU, ATC also lost Maxwell AFB and Gunter AFS.
11 Feb 85 Official roll-out of the T-46A Next Generation Trainer.
2 Sep 85 Hurricane Elena struck the Gulf Coast near Keesler AFB causing extensive damage; however, most of the technical training facilities were spared. Training came to a halt, and HQ ATC directed Lackland not to send BMT graduates to Keesler for several days. The interruption in training lasted less than a week.
1 Oct 85 Formal beginning of the PACER CLASSIC program for upgrading the T-38.
20 Nov 85 The first female student to enter ENJJPT, Ensign Petronella Speerstra from The Netherlands, began training in Class 87-02. This was a significant development as the NATO course was designed to produce fighter pilots.
1 Jan 86 Air Training Information Systems Division was activated to integrate the management of information. Air Force Communications Command exercised administrative management of the unit, while ATC retained operational control. ATC's DCS/Information Systems, the 3302d Computer Services Squadron, AFCC's Detachment 7, and other local AFCC resources went into the formation of ATISD.
15 Jul 86 Specialized undergraduate navigator training (SUNT) replaced the standard navigator training, when the new course began at Mather AFB. Under SUNT, the students received a 65-day core program, then moved to one of three training tracks--fighter, attack, reconnaissance; tanker, transport, bomber; or electronic warfare training.
28 Aug 86 When Lt Gen John A. Shaud assumed command of ATC, the position reverted to a three-star billet. The command would regain a four-star commander's billet in 1992 with the assignment of Gen Henry Viccellio, Jr., as commander.
9 Oct 86 ATC initiated an undergraduate space training program at Lowry AFB, CO, providing a basic preparation for space operational assignments.
1 Nov 86 Air Training Information Systems Division was redesignated as Air Training Communications Division.
14 Nov 86 ATC reassigned Officer Training School from the headquarters to the Air Force Military Training Center at Lackland AFB.
1 Jan 87 HQ ATC realigned its Readiness Division from DCS/Plans and Requirements to DCS/Operations, and DCS/Operations became DCS/Operations and Readiness.
16 Feb 87 The Army and Air Force combined medical assets in the San Antonio area to form the San Antonio Joint Military Medical Command (SA-JMMC), with the unit assigned to HQ ATC. JMMC included the Air Force's largest medical center, Wilford Hall, and the Army's second largest medical facility, Brooke Army Medical Center. To assist with the headquarters management, ATC activated the 3313th Medical Services Squadron at Randolph on 1 March.
1 Apr 87 HQ ATC disestablished its Assistant Chief of Staff (ACS), Commissioning Programs, moving the responsibility to the DCS/Recruiting Service, which became the DCS/Recruiting Service and Commissioning Programs. Recruiting also gained management responsibility for Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps and Officer Training School. The ACS/Commissioning Programs' responsibilities for CCAF moved to the DCS/Technical Training. Responsibility for undergraduate space training moved from DCS/Technical Training to DCS/Operations.
30 Apr 87 The Air Force implemented Rivet Workforce, a service-wide program to create a more flexible, survivable, and mobile workforce better able to support the USAF fighting needs across the full spectrum of possible conflict.
8 Jun 87 The Foreign Military Training Affairs Group became a direct reporting unit of DCS/Plans and Requirements instead of reporting to the ATC commander.
26 Jun 87 DCS/Plans and Requirements gained responsibility for the Defense Language Institute English Language Center and Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training.
1 Oct 87 ATC activated the Civilian Automated Training Office (CATO) at Lackland AFB to centralize all civilian training activities in the command.
Nov 88 General Robert C. Oaks, the ATC commander, directed a broad area review of all undergraduate and graduate training programs in the command "to improve the quality of flying training through the next decadeÉ."
1 Apr 89 ATC inactivated the San Antonio Contracting Center (SACC). SACC had been created in 1977 to provide centralized contracting support for the military installations in the San Antonio area. Contracting responsibilities reverted to each of the bases.
1 May 89 ATC inactivated the 3306th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Edwards AFB, CA, and activated the 3306th Training Development and Evaluation Squadron in its place. The new designation better described the mission of the unit, which was to evaluate weapon systems from a training perspective.
Aug 89 Because of its success with the flying training broad area review (BAR), ATC announced that it would undertake a BAR of technical training.
1 Oct 89 ATC inactivated the San Antonio Real Property Maintenance Agency (SARPMA). SARPMA had been formed in 1978 by consolidating the civil engineering (CE) organizations from the city's five military bases. CE responsibilities returned to each of the bases.
ATC/AETC Operations in the 90's
May 90 The Chief of Staff of the Air Force directed a reduction in the size of Air Force management structure. During the year, HQ ATC realigned its DCS/Security Police as a directorate under the Inspector General, reassigned many of its direct reporting units to the newly activated 3300th Training Support Group, and inactivated the 3313th Medical Service and 3314th Management Engineering Squadrons.
10 Aug 90 - 4 Jan 91 ATC deployed 397 people to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Shield and provided additional people to backfill other commands in the United States. 1 Oct 90 ATC redesignated the Foreign Military Training Affairs Group at Randolph AFB as the Air Force Security Assistance Training Group. On this date, the command also inactivated the DoD Military Working Dog Agency at Lackland AFB to centralize the procurement and training of working dogs for all of the military services.
Jan - Mar 91 ATC undertook several actions in support of Operation Desert Storm. These included deploying over 3,000 people to other commands and helping with the mobilization of thousands of reservists and retirees. The 11th Contingency Hospital, an Air Force Reserve unit assigned to ATC, deployed to RAF Little Rissington, United Kingdom. The command also established blood donor centers at Chanute, Keesler, Lackland, and Sheppard. By the end of April, the command had shipped over 6,000 pints of blood.
5 Apr 91 ATC initiated a new merit assignment ranking system that allowed UPT students to select their assignments.
1 Jul 91 ATC reassigned the 1st Flight Screening Squadron at Hondo, Texas, from the Officer Training School at Lackland to the 12th Flying Training Wing at Randolph AFB.
15 Jul 91 The 502d Air Force Band at Keesler AFB and the 505th at Chanute AFB inactivated, leaving ATC with one band, the 539th at Lackland AFB.
1 Oct 91 The San Antonio Joint Military Medical Command inactivated, and Wilford Hall became a direct reporting unit to HQ ATC. Also on this date, ATC inactivated Air Training Communications Division as the last step in its effort to integrate communications and computer systems functions.
18 Jan 92 Air Training Command receives its first T-1A Jayhawk trainer aircraft at Reese AFB, Texas. With the T-1A, ATC would implement its new specialized undergraduate pilot training program. Phase I training began at Reese in July.
20 Feb 92 In testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen Merrill A. McPeak, announced that 1992 would be devoted to the Year of Training. 1 Apr 92 The Community College of the Air Force graduated its 100,000th student, TSgt Gordon J. Wiese.
29 Apr 92 The Air Force announced it had chosen a variant of the Slingsby Firefly as its enhanced flight screener aircraft. The new aircraft, designated the T-3A, would replace the T-41.
23 Aug 92 Hurricane Andrew devastated Homestead AFB, Florida. As an interim measure, the Air Force moved the Inter-American Air Forces Academy to Lackland AFB, Texas, and water survival training to Tyndall AFB, Florida. As a result of the 1993 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommendations, IAAFA was permanently moved to Lackland, transferring from Air Combat Command to Air Training Command in June 1993. Water survival training moved to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, in 1994.
1 Dec 92 USAF weather training classes began at Keesler AFB, Mississippi, after moving from Chanute AFB, Illinois, which was scheduled to close in 1993.
15 Dec 92 The 12th Flying Training Wing at Randolph AFB, Texas, activated the 558th Flying Training Squadron to conduct specialized undergraduate navigator training, a mission that was moved to Randolph because of the 1993 closure of Mather AFB, California.
12 Apr 93 The Air Staff approved moving small missile maintenance training from Lowry AFB, Colorado, which would close in 1994, to Vandenberg AFB, California, where it would be consolidated with large missile maintenance training.
1 Jul 93 Air Training Command and Air University underwent significant changes. The USAF consolidated aircrew training within ATC and transferred associated bases from Air Combat Command and Air Mobility Command. AU lost its major command status when it is subordinated to Air Training Command, and ATC was redesignated as Air Education and Training Command. The command activated Second Air Force to manage its technical training programs and Nineteenth Air Force to manage its flying training programs. The training centers were redesignated as training wings, and Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center became the 59th Medical Wing.
16 Aug 93 Fire training began at Goodfellow AFB, Texas, after moving from Chanute AFB, Illinois.
8 Sep 93 AETC began a joint pilot training program with the Navy at Reese AFB, Texas. Navy instructor pilots arrived at Reese in September, and the first students entered the program in June 1994.
1 Oct 93 Chanute, Mather, and Williams AFBs closed. The USAFÕs Officer Training School moved from Lackland AFB to Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
15 Dec 93 AETC activated the College for Enlisted Professional Military Education as an AU subordinate unit to consolidate enlisted PME under a single manager. Major command NCO academies and the USAF Senior NCO Academy came under the newly established CEPME.
3 Feb 94 Air Education and Training Command received its first T-3A enhanced flight screener aircraft at Hondo Field, Texas.
10 Feb 94 1st Lt Jeannie Flynn became the Air Force's first female fighter pilot, having graduated from F-15E combat crew training at Luke AFB, Arizona.
17 Mar 94 As a part of the Year of Training initiative, all new recruits had to attend technical training school immediately following basic military training. The last recruit to bypass technical training and receive a direct duty assignment graduated from BMT on this date.
1 Apr 94 The 56th Fighter Wing designation transferred from Air Combat Command to Air Education and Training Command, and AETC used it to assume the assets and host unit responsibilities of the 58th Fighter Wing at Luke AFB, Arizona. At the same time, AETC moves the 58th Fighter Wing designation from Luke to Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, and redesignated the 58th as a Special Operations Wing. The 58th assumed the assets and the mission of the 542d Crew Training Wing, which inactivated on this date.
22 Jun 94 Air Education and Training Command began C-17 operational aircrew training at Altus AFB, Oklahoma.
1 Jul 94 Flying training returned to Keesler AFB, Mississippi, for the first time since 1973 when AETC activated the 45th Airlift Squadron. The squadron was equipped with C-12 and C-21 aircraft.
6 Jul 94 The 59th Medical Wing (formerly, Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center) at Lackland deployed nearly 100 staff members to Grand Turk Island in support of Operation Sea Signal, the resettlement of Cuban and Haitian refugees. Altogether, AETC deployed 487 people during the last six months of 1994 to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the Caribbean in support of Sea Signal.
Sept 94 The 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland deployed 27 people in support of Operation Restore Democracy in Haiti.
1 Oct 94 Lowry AFB, Colorado, closed. Air Education and Training Command activated the 381st Training Group at Vandenberg AFB, California, to manage consolidated space and missile training for the Air Force.
27 Jan 95 The first joint specialized undergraduate pilot training class graduated at Reese AFB, Texas, with two Navy officers in the class.
31 Mar 95 Air Education and Training Command inactivated the 550th Fighter Squadron at Luke AFB, Arizona, as its F-15E training program transferred to Air Combat Command. Apr 95 The Community College of the Air Force granted its first degrees to Army, Navy, and Marine Corps students.
19 Apr 95 Luke AFB, Arizona, sent 62 firefighters to Oklahoma City to assist with rescue efforts following the car bombing of the federal building. Three aircraft from Randolph AFB, Texas, flew emergency support missions to transport US Army and USAF medical personnel to Oklahoma City to assist victims of the federal building bombing.
22 Jun 95 The Base Realignment and Closure Commission identified Reese AFB, Texas, for closure in 1997. AETC would move its joint pilot training program to Vance AFB, Oklahoma, during 1996. Secretary of the Air Force Sheila Widnall announced the selection of the Beech MK II as the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System. AETC expected the first aircraft to be delivered to Randolph AFB in fiscal year 1999.
14 Dec 95 The 59th Medical Wing at Lackland AFB deployed two critical care transport teams, consisting of three people each, to Bosnia.
25 Jan 96 The 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus AFB, Mississippi, received its first T-1A Jayhawk, the last specialized undergraduate pilot training (SUPT) wing to do so. The delivery marked the end of AETCÕs transition to SUPT that began in January 1992.
28 Mar 96 A U.S. Navy commander took command of the 8th Flying Training Squadron, becoming the first Navy officer to command a squadron at Vance AFB, Oklahoma. 31 Jul 96 The Air Force awarded three contracts worth $750 million for the T-38 Avionics Upgrade Program, which included improved avionics systems, new aircrew training devices, and contractor logistics support. Aug 96 Lackland AFB began a month-long, over-night, field training exercise for basic trainees at ÒDiamondback Ridge,Ó a simulated bare base located on Medina Annex.
1 Apr 97 AETC took over the C-130 schoolhouse when it gained the 314th Airlift Wing and Little Rock AFB, AR from ACC.
2 May 97 With the graduation of Class 97-08 at Columbus AFB, MS, AETC completed the transition to specialized undergraduate pilot training that the command had begun in July 1992 at Reese AFB, TX.
25 Jul 97 General Lloyd W. Newton, AETC commander, suspended all T-3A flights and ordered a Broad Area review of the Enhanced Flight Screening program. The move followed the three fatal T-3A crashes at the Air Force Academy.
12 Sep 97 Air University activated the Air and Space Basic Course (ABC) School at Maxwell AFB, AL. Later it became the Aerospace Basic Course under the Squadron Officer College. 30 Sep 97 AETC inactivated the 64th Flying Training Wing at Reese AFB, TX before the base closed the following day.
15 Jul 98 The initial flight of the first production T-6A Texan II took place at Raytheon's Beech Field in Wichita, KS. Eventually, the T-6A would replace the Air ForceÕs T-37 and the Navy's T-34 as the main element of the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS).
7 Dec 98 The U.S. Department of Education gave its approval for the resident Air War College (AWC) and Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) to award master's degrees to their graduates.
1 Oct 99 AETC initiated Warrior Week at Lackland AFB to give basic military trainees a taste of life under the Expeditionary Aerospace Force (EAF) concept.Ê It marked the biggest change in basic military training in over 50 years.
8 Oct 99 AETC announced an end to T-3A flying training operations. In place of the Enhanced Flight Screening program, the command intended to expand the fledgling Introductory Flight Training program conducted by fixed base operators across the country.
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