Little Rock Air Force Base
Little Rock Air Force Base is the home of Task Force Rock, the
world's C-130 Tactical Airlift Center of Excellence. Task
Force Rock's mission is to replenish, project, and sustain
expeditionary C-130 combat power from home station or while deployed
in the field.
Two wings, an airlift group and an advanced C-130 tactics school
accomplish that mission.
The host wing, the 314th Airlift Wing, reports to Air Education
and Training Command and trains aircrews to fly the C-130 Hercules.
The wing operates the world's largest C-130 base and the
ÒschoolhouseÓ where C-130 students from all of America's
armed forces and those of 27 allied nations learn to fly and fix
the C-130. The 314 Airlift Wing also commands a C-21A learjet training
squadron that is located at Kessler Air Force Base, Mississippi.
The 314th Airlift Wing is composed of four groups: operations, maintenance,
mission support and medical.
The 189th Airlift Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard also trains
C-130 aircrews; additionally, the wing exclusively trains all C-130
instructors for all of America's armed forces. In times of
emergency as declared by the governor of Arkansas, the group performs
the state mission as directed by the state adjutant general.
Two associate units, the 463rd Airlift Group and United States Air
Force Mobility Weapons School, report to Air Mobility Command. The
463rd AC is an operational C-130 group that flies airlift missions
around the world, including missions to support Operation Enduring
Freedom in Afghanistan.
The mobility weapons school provides advanced C-130 tactics training
to qualified air crews through the USAF Mobility Weapons School.
About 18 students graduate each year from the WIC; they form the
nucleus of weapon-system instructors for U.S. C-130 units around
the world.
Little Rock Air Force Base opened in October 1955. The base consists
of more than 6,000 acres and 12,000-foot runway. The base population
of more than 11,400 active duty, Air National Guard, reserve, students,
civilian employees and family members live and work on the base.
The base is in the city of Jacksonville, AR, which has about 30,000
people. Jacksonville provides many services to the base, such as
civilian police and ambulance support.
The City of Little Rock is 14 miles to the south and the largest
city in Arkansas, with a population of more than 174,000 people.
North Little Rock, the third largest city in Arkansas, is three
miles closer to the base and supports a population of more than
61,000. All three cities are in Pulaski County, located in the middle
of the state.
The base has 1,535 military family housing units for people assigned
to the base; it also has 121 visiting officer quarters, 160 visiting
airman quarters and 110 additional visiting quarters. The base also
has 11 dormitories that can house approximately 900 single airmen.
There are no on-base transient living facilities for single or married
members.
Medical care is available on base. The 314th Medical Group offers
health care in flight surgery, primary care, dental, pediatrics,
optometry, mental health and acute care. A modern health and wellness
center aggressively promotes wellness habits among the base populace.
The base education center is associated with seven colleges and
universities. Programs offered at the education center lead to high-school
equivalency certificates, and associate, bachelor and graduate degrees.
Education services also include vocational-technical training. Courses
are offered to military members, their family members and civilian
community members.
Little Rock Air Force Base is situated in the Pulaski County Special
School District. Two public schools serve the on-base elementary
school children: Harry Tolleson Elementary, located just outside
the base, is for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Arnold
Drive Elementary is located on base, also for students in kindergarten
through sixth grade. Students in grades 7-12 attend schools in the
communities surrounding the base.
The base chapel provides a religious facility for military members
and performs services for all faith groups. The chapel sanctuary
seats 450 people. In addition, a variety of other religious activities
as well as pastoral counseling are available.
A full host of services facilities are available on base, including
the Top of the Rock club, the Thomas Community Activities Center
and the brand new, state-of-the-art fitness and sports center, which
provides up-to-date equipment, programs and recreational sports
for base members.
Services facilities also include a youth center, auto hobby shop,
skills development center, library, child development center, auto
hobby shop, skills development center, 18-hole golf course and a
24 lane bowling facility.
A 37-acre lake and picnic area are located on base. The Arkansas
Game and Fish Commission each year restocks the two lakes with a
variety of fish. Although swimming and skiing are not allowed, base
members and their guests may fish in the lakes.
A 70,000-square foot commissary is located near base housing. Delicatessen
and fresh bakery products are available in addition to other meat,
produce and grocery items.
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