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MILITARY Mississippi’s military, as established in Article 9 of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890, serves under command of the Governor as Commander-in-Chief who, in turn, appoints the Adjutant General to serve as executive director of the Mississippi Military Department.

Mississippi Military Department ...... 513 Mississippi Army Reserve National Guard ...... 515 Air National Guard ...... 515 Special Forces ...... 515 Mississippi State Guard ...... 516 Mississippi Military Command Officers Mississippi Adjutant General ...... 517 Assistant Adjutant General – Army ...... 518 Assistant Adjutant General – Air ...... 518 State Command Sergeant Major ...... 519 Command Chief ...... 519 Mississippi Military Installations Camp McCain Training Center ...... 520 Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center ...... 521 Columbus Air Force Base ...... 521 Keesler Air Force Base ...... 521 Meridian Naval Air Station ...... 522

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Camp Shelby, Hattiesburg

MISSISSIPPI MILITARY DEPARTMENT

The Mississippi Military Department is in order that the organization, training and part of the Mississippi executive branch, discipline of the components of the militia and is a State agency. The Adjutant of this state will at all times conform to the General of Mississippi (TAG) serves as the applicable requirements of the United States executive director and is only subordinate government relating thereto. Orders, rules to the Commander-in-Chief, the Governor and regulations issued hereunder shall have of Mississippi, in matters relating to the full force and effect as part of the military department and the state militia forces. code of this state.” As such, the Adjutant General is a political Mississippi’s militia forces formally appointee and serves at the will and break down into three broad classes: pleasure of the Governor, and his term of The Mississippi National Guard (MSNG), office expires with the term of the Governor. the Mississippi State Guard (MSG), and The Mississippi Code of 1972, Title 33, the unorganized militia. The Mississippi Chapter 3, titled “Military Affairs,” details the National Guard and the Mississippi State duties and responsibilities of the Adjutant Guard are considered organized militia. General of Mississippi, as well as the The Mississippi National Guard is the most Assistant Adjutant Generals, Army and Air. recognizable military force within our The Adjutant General of Mississippi, state borders. via the Mississippi Military Department, is The Mississippi National Guard, consisting expressly authorized to “issue such orders, of the Army and Air National Guard, is rules and regulations as may be necessary primarily a federally-funded and equipped

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militia force serving a dual-mission: in October 2006. This full-time unit’s sole service to the state in times of emergency mission is to respond to weapons of mass as declared by the Governor; service to destruction threats within the state. They are the nation in times of national crisis or fully equipped, fully funded, and serve under war, typically as declared by Presidential the control of the governor. executive order (Hurricane Katrina, Korea), Emergency service at home is, by no Congressional Declaration of War (World means, an easy mission. By nature, it War II), or Congressional Authorization of the invokes emotional involvement, it requires Use of Military Force (Vietnam, Afghanistan). separation from loved ones, and it demands The Army and Air National Guard are both the same professionalism and courage components of the United States Military required by the federal mission. Reserve system . The Mississippi National Guard has served The Mississippi State Guard is most in the Creek War, War of 1812, Mexican War, closely aligned with the traditional concept Civil War, World Wars One and Two, Korea, of state militia: members are volunteers, Operation Desert Storm, Haiti, Bosnia- self-equipped (armed only under special Kosovo, Somalia, Operation Noble Eagle, circumstances, as defined in law), can only Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi operate within the borders of the state, Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. and are unpaid unless activated to assist or The Mississippi Dragoons, under Maj. backfill the Mississippi National Guard. Thomas Hinds, demonstrated the fighting The Guard has a long history of service spirit and resolve of the Mississippi Militia in “homeland defense.” The Mississippi during the War of 1812. Emergency Service Medal has been The 1st Mississippi Regiment of Infantry, authorized for more than 49 different the “Mississippi Rifles” under the command operations, including: 14 hurricanes; seven of a young colonel named Jefferson Davis, floods; five tornados; and numerous civil turned the tide at the Battle of Buena Vista disturbances ranging from the textile strike during the Mexican War. Colonel Davis’s in 1934 to civil strive in the 1960s. command “STAND FAST MISSISSIPPIANS” In 1927, Mississippi Guardsmen remains the motto of the Mississippi Army patrolled 70 miles along the flooded National Guard’s oldest unit, and the Mississippi River Delta, rescuing, evacuating Army’s sixth oldest active regiment, the 1st and providing encampments for more than Battalion, 155th Infantry. 30,000 refugees. In less than 30 minutes at the Battle From September 30 to October 9, 1962, of Shiloh during the Civil War, the 6th President John F. Kennedy federalized Mississippi Infantry lost 300 of 425 men, the the entire Mississippi National Guard in fourth highest loss suffered by a southern connection with the integration of the regiment in a single battle. University of Mississippi. In July 1917, the entire Mississippi National In October 1962, a major portion of the Guard was called into service for World War Mississippi Guard also responded to a major I. Included in the call-up were two regiments chlorine spill at Natchez. of infantry, one regiment of field artillery, The state and federal missions collided for nine troops of cavalry, and one company the first time 42 years later: Operation Iraqi of engineers. The first African-American Freedom and Hurricane Katrina. With more registrants were also drafted for training. than 3,000 Soldiers and Airmen overseas, Mississippi’s oldest Air National Guard the Mississippi National Guard led a historic unit, the 186th Air Refueling Wing in response in 2005 to the worst natural Meridian, was activated at Key Field disaster to hit the United States. on September 27, 1939, as the 153rd As threats to and within our state change, Observation Squadron. Less than 13 months so does the Guard. The Mississippi National later, it was ordered into active service. Guard’s 47th Civil Support Team was certified The Guard was activated again for war on

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November 25, 1940, and served with honor MS ARMY RESERVE NATIONAL GUARD on battlefields throughout Europe and the Command: JFH, MSNG (-) & Overhead (6) Pacific. The 31st Infantry (Dixie) Division JFH, MSNG (-) & Overhead was again called on to serve in the Korean 47th Civil Support Team Conflict. Almost 95 percent of the Mississippi 102nd MPAD National Guard units were mobilized. Recruiting & Retention In July 1953, the Mississippi Air National 41st Army Band Guard’s 172nd Airlift Wing was formed at 154th Regiment RTI Hawkins Field in Jackson. It is recognized as Command: 66th Troop Command (12) the first Air National Guard unit in the nation 66th Troop Command to use night photo reconnaissance, the first 1-111th Aviation Battalion ANG unit to have an aeromedical evacuation 1-151st Aviation Battalion mission, and the first Mississippi National 1-185th Aviation Battalion Guard unit to enlist females. 1-204th ADA (Avenger) During Operation Desert Shield/Desert 168th Engineer Brigade Storm, Mississippi was the largest National 185th Theater Aviation Brigade Guard contributor to the war effort. Over 2/20th Special Forces Group 6,500 Mississippi National Guard members, 210th Finance Battalion representing 70 units and 57 communities, 232nd AOD served on active duty during the Persian Gulf Co C (-), 1-114th Aviation Battalion Crisis, with more than 1,300 deployed to Special Operations Detachment Saudi Arabia. (SOD) South In support of Operations Noble Eagle, Command: 184th Expeditionary Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Iraqi Sustainment Command (1) Freedom, and New Dawn, the Mississippi 184th Expeditionary Sustainment National Guard has mobilized over 10,000 Command service members, with every deployable unit Command: 155th Heavy Brigade participating. Combat Team (8) From protecting the skies over Washington 155th Heavy Brigade Combat Team D.C. with the 1st Battalion, 204th Air Defense 106th Brigade Support Battalion Artillery; to patrolling the streets and 1-155 Combined Arms Battalion conducting historic elections with the 155th 1-198th Armor Reconnaissance Battalion Armored Brigade Combat Team in Iraq; to 155th Brigade Special Troops Battalion hunting the Taliban in Afghanistan with the 155th Brigade HQ & Headquarters Co. 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group; to 2-198th Combined Arms Battalion conducting theater-level logistics for all of 2-114th Field Artillery Southwest Asia with the 184th Sustainment Command; and to conducting combat AIR NATIONAL GUARD aeromedical evacuation missions with the 172d Airlift Wing 172nd Airlift Wing, the Mississippi National 186th Air Refueling Wing Guard continues her faithful service the citizens of Mississippi and the United States SPECIAL FORCES of America. DET 1-2/20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) The soldiers who make up the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) of the Army National Guard are unique professionals with an unconventional method for waging war and an innovative approach to serving their state and country. Known as the “quiet professionals,” these Special Forces soldiers radiate an aura of

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competence and reserve. After being tested Guard families, and assuming other duties in every type of hazardous environment and until the full mobilization ceases. State Guard through dangerous, unconventional, direct personnel may, at the request of the Adjutant action and counter-terrorist missions around General of Mississippi, be trained in the the world, the quiet men of the Special protection of life and property of the citizens Forces have no need to broadcast their of Mississippi due to natural disasters. deeds, their record speaks for itself. The U.S. Constitution, U.S. Code, Title 32, Section 109, authorized the states to MISSISSIPPI STATE GUARD organize a State Defense Force (SDF) as The mission of the Mississippi State Guard provided by its laws. The Mississippi Code is to establish and maintain an all-volunteer of 1972, Chapter 5, paragraph 33-5-1 thru formal military organization as the state’s 33-5-53 authorizes the establishment of the reserve to the Mississippi National Guard Mississippi State Guard. (MSNG). The State Guard is to assist the The State Defense Force concept came Mississippi National Guard with in-state into prominence when the National Guard missions, as directed by the Governor and was called up to serve in World War II. the Adjutant General of Mississippi. The The State Guard was most recently called State Guard is tasked with assuming the to duty to assist with relief efforts associated mission of the Mississippi National Guard with Operation Secure Magnolia – Hurricane should they be fully mobilized outside the Katrina (2005) & Operation Secure Magnolia state. The State Guard is similarly tasked with – Hurricane Gustav (2008). securing armories, providing assistance to

Changing of the Guard, 184th Expeditionary Sustainment Command

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Adjutant General Vice President for Strategic Planning. Major Gen. Augustus L. Collins When Governor Phil Bryant took office in January 2012, he appointed Collins the Major General Augustus L. “Leon” Collins Adjutant General of Mississippi. He was is the Adjutant General of Mississippi and promoted to the rank of Major General on serves as the Commanding General of March 14, 2012. both the Mississippi Army and Air National Collins is a 2007 inductee into the Guard. He is responsible for providing the University of Mississippi Alumni Hall of Fame. State of Mississippi and the United States He was the 2006 Mississippi Trailblazer of the of America with a ready force of more than Year. He is a 2006 inductee into the Mississippi 12,275 Citizen Soldiers and Airmen, equipped Military Academy Officer Candidate School and trained to respond to any contingency, Hall of Fame. He has twice been awarded natural or man-made. General Collins directs the National Guard Bureau’s Minuteman the Mississippi Military Department and Award. He was awarded the Distinguished oversees the development and coordination Citizen Award by Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity of all policies, plans, and programs of the Inc. in 2009. He was also the 2012 recipient Mississippi National Guard in concert with of the Sam Haskell Spirit of America Award the Governor and legislature of the State. presented by the Mississippi Trailblazers. General Collins began his career when His many military awards and decorations: he enlisted in the Mississippi Army National the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Guard’s Company B, 1st Battalion, 198th Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, Armor Regiment in March 1977. He was the Army Achievement Medal, the Military commissioned in July 1980 upon completion Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, of Officer Candidate School. He has served in the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Mississippi various command and staff positions in units Magnolia Cross, the Order of Saint George at every level to include Company, Battalion, Medallion for excellence in Armor and the Regiment, Brigade, and the Adjutant Combat Action Badge. General’s primary staff in both a traditional Collins currently serves on the Board of and Active Guard Reserve status. Directors of Friends of Mississippi Veterans General Collins served on active duty in and the Board of Directors for MINACT Inc. Operation Desert Shield/Storm, as well as He previously served on the Mississippi commanding the 155th Armored Brigade Commission on Judicial Performance and the Combat Team during combat operations in Governor’s Commission for Physical Fitness Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004-2006. and Sports. He is a member of the Beta Collins was promoted to Brigadier General Gamma Boule of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and on May 10, 2005 while in Iraq, making him was inducted into the National Collegiate the first African American to attain the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. rank of general officer in the history of the Collins is a member of New Hope Baptist Mississippi National Guard. Church in Jackson, where he serves on the Following his deployment to Iraq, Collins was Deacon Board. assigned as Director of Mobilization, United Collins received an Associate of Arts degree States Army Forces Command, Fort McPherson, from Northeast Mississippi Junior College, a GA. He held the post from February 2006 until Bachelor of Business Administration degree he retired in October 2007. from the University of Mississippi, a Master Upon his retirement from the military, he of Business Administration degree from was appointed by Governor Haley Barbour Jackson State University, a Master of Strategic to serve as one of the three Commissioners Studies from the United States Army War for the Mississippi Worker’s Compensation College and has completed the General and Commission. He held the post until July 2010 Flag Officer Homeland Security Program at when he accepted a position with MINACT Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School Incorporated where he served as the Executive of Government.

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Collins is married to the former Debra Officer. As a member of the Air National Fitzgerald. They have two sons, William and Guard, General Lutz commanded three units: Benjamin. an Air Expeditionary medical unit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, an aeromedical evacuation ASSISTANT ADJUTANT GENERAL squadron and a medical squadron. In 2004, Brigadier Gen. Mitchell L. Brown she transferred to the Air Force Reserve Brigadier General Mitchell L. Brown was Individual Mobilization Augmentee program appointed Assistant Adjutant General – after serving over 21 years in the Mississippi Army, in January 2012. As the Assistant Air National Guard. During her Air Force Adjutant General, he guides the formulation, Reserve tour she served as the Health development and implementation of Services Administrator to the 81st Medical all programs and policies affecting the Group at Keesler Air Force Base. In October Mississippi Army National Guard and its 2005 she returned to the Air National nearly 10,000 citizen soldiers. Guard as Special Assistant to the Mississippi As an Enlisted Soldier, he served in Adjutant General. In March 2006, she was Europe with the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor, assigned as the Air National Guard Assistant in Vietnam with Company P, 75th Infantry to the 59th Medical Wing at Lackland Air (Ranger), and with the 2nd Battalion, Force Base. On December 1, 2008, she 20th Special Forces Group, Mississippi served as the Air National Guard Assistant to Army National Guard. General Brown was the Chief Nurse of the Air Force at Bolling Air commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, Force Base, Washington, District of Columbia. Infantry, on April 12, 1977, through the General Lutz was appointed to her current Infantry Officer Candidate School at position in December 2011. Fort Benning, Georgia. He has served in command and staff positions at every level, STATE COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR including Commander, 2nd Battalion, 20th Sergeant Major George M. Miller Special Forces Group, Chief of Staff, State Command Sergeant Major George M. Area Command, Mississippi Army National Miller was appointed as the 6th State Guard, and most recently as Director, Joint Command Sergeant Major for the Mississippi Staff, Joint Force Headquarters, Mississippi Army National Guard (MSARNG) on National Guard. December 3, 2010. As the State Command Sergeant Major, Miller serves as the Senior ASSISTANT ADJUTANT GENERAL Enlist Advisor to the Assistant Adjutant AIR NATIONAL GUARD General, Army, and to the Adjutant General Major General Catherine S. Lutz of Mississippi regarding all enlisted-related Major General Catherine S. Lutz is matters, particularly in areas affecting soldier the Assistant Adjutant General for Air, training and quality of life. He also travels Mississippi Air National Guard, also serving with the Adjutant General visiting Mississippi as commander, Mississippi Air National Guardsmen deployed around the world, Guard. General Lutz is responsible to the including Afghanistan and Iraq. Adjutant General for directing Air National Command Sergeant Major George M. Guard operations and establishing policy to Miller began his military career on November ensure mission readiness of two airlift wings, 7, 1976 where he enlisted in the Mississippi combat readiness training center, air support Army National Guard, 123rd Medical operations squadron, air control squadron Company, in Tupelo, Mississippi. He attended and civil engineer squadron. Basic Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky and General Lutz was commissioned in the Advance Individual Training at Fort Rucker, Mississippi Air National Guard in 1982 as Alabama. During his military career he served a Flight Nurse; and in 1987 she was re- with the 123rd Medical Company, 323rd commissioned as a Medical Service Corps Aviation Company, 1-185th Aviation Battalion

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(Air Assault), 185th Theater Aviation Brigade, with the 186th Tactical Reconnaissance and 66th Troop Command. Group in November 1971. From June 1973 Command Sergeant Major Miller served to October 1987, he served in numerous as the Command Sergeant Major for the positions for the 186th, including: Career 1-185th Aviation Battalion (Air Assault), Control Technician, NCOIC of the Quality 185th Theater Aviation Brigade, and 66th Force Section, Base Career Advisor, NCOIC of Troop Command. He deployed in 2007- Personnel Utilization, and NCOIC of Customer 2008 with the 1-185th Aviation Battalion Assistance. From April 1989 to January (Air Assault) to Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo as 2005, he served as the Military Personnel the Multi- National Task Force East Aviation Flight Superintendent, 186th Air Refueling Command Sergeant Major. Wing. In January 2005, he was selected to Command Sergeant Major Miller attended serve as the Personnel Manager, Joint Force Saltillo High School and continued his Headquarters, Mississippi Air National Guard. education at Itawamba Community College. Chief Myers resumed responsibility as the He completed his civilian education at the State Command Chief Master Sergeant for the King School of Aeronautics in Nashville, Mississippi Air National Guard on May 1, 2010. Tennessee. Command Sergeant Major Miller is a 1997 graduate of the United States COMMAND CHIEF Army Sergeants Major Academy. Command Chief Warrant Officer 5 Sergeant Major Miller was employed at the Howard E. “Gene” Touchstone, Jr. Army Aviation Support Facility for the past 28 Chief Warrant Officer 5 Howard E. “Gene” years as an Aircraft Technical Inspector. Touchstone, Jr., was appointed as the 5th Command Chief Warrant Officer (CCWO) COMMAND CHIEF of the Mississippi Army National Guard on Master Sergeant Ricky L. Myers March 1, 2009. He serves as the Adjutant Chief Master Sergeant Ricky L. Myers is the General’s personal adviser on all Warrant 10th Command Chief Master Sergeant for Officer-related matters, particularly in areas the Mississippi Air National Guard assigned affecting professional career management; to the Joint Force Headquarters, Mississippi recruiting, training, assignments and Air National Guard, Jackson. Chief Myers mentoring. His primary mission is to is responsible for reviewing promotion, coordinate with the state military personnel retention, and assignment policy affecting office, the recruiting and retention office and over 2,300 enlisted personnel; conducting subordinate commanders to implement a counseling and interviewing sessions comprehensive Warrant Officer Recruiting through a visitation program to 29 units; Program. In addition, he establishes and and identifying issues and recommending maintains Warrant Officer mentorship and action directly to commanders. He is a counselor programs within the state. liaison between the enlisted personnel, the CW5 Touchstone is a 1970 graduate of Adjutant General and the Assistant Adjutant Richton High School. He began his military General for Air/Commander, Mississippi Air career when he enlisted in the Mississippi National Guard. Army National Guard on March 3, 1971. He Myers began his military career by completed basic training and Light Wheel enlisting in the Mississippi Air National Vehicle Driver (64C) advanced individual Guard on July 6, 1971, and has served in training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. On variety of positions throughout his career. October 8, 1975, he transferred to the Texas After completing Basic Military Training at Army National Guard as an Administrative Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, he attended Specialist in Headquarters and Headquarters the Personnel Specialist Course at Keesler Company, 2nd Battalion, 141st Infantry Air Force Base in Biloxi. He accepted an Air Battalion, Corpus Christi, Texas. He was Technician position as a Personnel Specialist discharged from the Texas Army National Guard on March 2, 1977.

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MILITARY INSTALLATIONS fuel and ammunition. Camp McCain has facilities for over 1200 troops, including over Camp McCain Training Center, 120 maid service beds, five dining facilities, Grenada classrooms, and administrative/supply areas. Camp McCain is a Mississippi National The Ration Breakdown Activity provides Guard training site covering 13,000 acres. A-rations, operational rations, and ice. Camp Training at the facility includes tank McCain provides janitorial, kitchen and maneuvers, artillery training and general general supply for customer units. The Retail training for National Guard troops. Fuel Point supplies JP-8. The Ammo Transfer In 1942, the United States Army opened Activity supports any and all ammunition that the major training facility on a 42,000-acre can be fired on Camp McCain. site in Grenada County. The facility was The House of Representatives passed a named Camp McCain in honor of a famous defense appropriations bill in November 2001 family of military men from neighboring which included $6 million for the Mississippi Carroll County, including Carroll county Army National Guard for improvements to native Major General Henry P. McCain. Camp McCain. The Fiscal Year 2002 Defense Troops for the Army’s 87th and 94th divisions Appropriations Act contains $3.8 million for trained at Camp McCain before being sent the National Guard to upgrade Camp McCain into combat in Europe. At the peak of its Road and Greensboro Road. Another $2.2 expansion, Camp McCain served as many as million will be provided for construction 50,000 troops. projects on the base. The work will include The US Forest Service permitted 5,874 construction of a weapons cleaning facility, acres to the Army in December 1942 to vehicle maintenance building, infantry live- be utilized as the Oxford Bombing Range fire range improvements, and work on roads to provide the Army Air Forces with a site leading to training areas. for testing bomb dropping mechanisms. In Camp McCain has worked for 10 years on August 1943, the USFS permitted 30,617 natural resource management. One of the acres (including the bombing range area) main concerns at the facility was erosion to the Army for use as a maneuver area control on tank and artillery training sites and for bivouac and maneuver purposes. The roadside erosion. Scientists recommended maneuver area remained active until 1947. and implemented erosion control practices, Currently, most of the site is forest land such as seeding and fertilization, on roadsides within the Holly Springs National Forest. and training sites. Both techniques worked Camp McCain also served as a prisoner to increase plant cover, enhance wildlife of war camp for captured German soldiers, foods and provide wildlife habitat. Through housing 7,700. The Camp closed on October the diligent work of scientists and military 15, 1944, and all but 3,000 acres of the site personnel, 26 protected state and federally was sold. The camp was deactivated after listed plants and animals, game species and the war and most of the buildings were more than 100 species of nongame birds now dismantled and some sold to municipalities have a more suitable habitat. and colleges. Camp McCain today functions as an Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training important Army National Guard training site, Center, Hattiesburg but with only one-tenth of its original area The largest state-owned training site and capacity. In 1947, the Mississippi National in the nation, Camp Shelby’s wartime Guard prevailed upon the U.S. Government mission is to serve as a major, independent to retain part of the camp for small arms mobilization station of the United States training. The rifle ranges and 3000 acres were Army Forces Command. retained under state control, and the rest sold. Established in 1917 and covering 136,000 The Camp McCain Logistics division acres, the Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training provides housing, subsistence, general supply, Center is the annual training location for

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National Guard and Reserve units located facility in the world. in Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. Six months before the Pearl Harbor However, units from across the country attack, the War Department announced a also use its assets to support a variety pilot training base would be established in of missions, hosting as many as 100,000 Columbus. On August 12, 1941, Columbus personnel each year. officials leased the tract of land to the United The Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training States for $1 per year. Columbus was initially Center was established during World War I assigned to the AAF Southeast Training and has served almost continuously since then Center with the Army Air Force Pilot School as a training site. (Advanced Twin-Engine) activated (phase 3 The post was named in honor of Isaac pilot training). The school’s mission was to Shelby, Indian fighter, Revolutionary War train cadets to fly transports and bombers. hero and 1st Governor of Kentucky, by the During World War II, the training load first troops to train here, the 38th Division. gradually increased until Columbus was The famous Japanese-American 442nd graduating 195 pilots per month. A total of Regimental Combat Team and the 100th 7,766 students came to Columbus for pilot Battalion trained here in preparation for training during the war. World War II. Women’s Army Corps (WAC) units also trained at Camp Shelby. The post Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi contained a large convalescent hospital and Keesler Air Force Base is a United States had a prisoner of war camp which housed Air Force base located in Biloxi. Established soldiers of the famous German Afrika Corps. in 1941 as Keesler Army Airfield, the base is During the Korean War, Camp Shelby was named in honor of aviator 2nd Lt. Samuel established as an emergency railhead facility. Reeves Keesler, Jr., a Mississippi native killed In the summer of 1954, non-divisional in France during World War I. National Guard units trained at Camp Shelby. The base is home of Headquarters, Second In 1956, it was designated a permanent Air Force (2 AF) and the 81st Training Wing training site by Continental Army. Over 5,000 (81 TW) of the Air Education and Training troops were processed through Camp Shelby Command (AETC). during Desert Storm operations. On average, Keesler has 4,700 students on base at a time. Much of the training they Columbus Air Force Base, Columbus receive is in the field of electronics, such Established in 1941 as the Air Corps as wideband maintenance, ground radio, Advanced Flying School, Columbus AFB is information technology, avionics, cryptography. now home to the 14th Flying Training Wing The 81st Training Wing also trains (14 FTW) assigned to the Air Education and personnel in the field of meteorology, to Training Command Nineteenth Air Force. The include observing, weather analysis and 14 FTW’s mission is to provide specialized forecasting, radar operations, air traffic undergraduate pilot training for U.S. Air control, Aviation Resource Management Force and allied officers. (ARMS), and tropical cyclone forecasting. The commander of the 14 FTW is Col. Barre The 81st Medical Group is also located at Seguin. The Command Chief Master Sergeant the base and operates the second largest is Chief Master Sergeant Zefrem Smith. medical center in the Air Force. The base closed after the WWII and Keesler AFB is one of the largest technical remained inactive until 1951, when it was training wings in AETC, with four training reopened as a contract flying school to train squadrons located in the training building pilots during the Korean War. complex known as “the triangle,” the 334th, About half the pilots in the Air Force 335th, 336th, and the 338th. today went through basic and primary flight The Tuskegee Airmen were trained at training at Columbus AFB. Columbus AFB is Keesler. In fact, more than 7,000 African- home to the busiest military air traffic control American soldiers were stationed at Keesler

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Field by the autumn of 1943. These soldiers Training Squadron SEVEN (VT-7) arrived at included pre-aviation cadets, radio operators, NAAS Meridian July 12, 1961, then split to aviation technicians, bombardiers, and form its sister squadron, Training Squadron aviation mechanics. NINE (VT-9) on December 15. In early 1956, Keesler entered the missile In September 1965, hundreds of planes age by opening a ground support training from Florida bases arrived to escape the wrath program for the Atlas missile. In 1958, all of Hurricane Betsy. The Naval Auxiliary Air control tower operator, radio maintenance, Station continued to grow, and by July 1968, and general radio operator courses came the station became a full Naval Air Station. under Keesler’s already broad technical In 1968, and again in 1969, 300 aircraft from training roof. Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida arrived to During the early 1960s, Keesler lost many escape the fury and destruction of Hurricane of its airborne training courses, but Keesler Gladys and Hurricane Camille, respectively. still remained the largest training base In April 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, throughout the 1970s. accompanied by Senator John C. Stennis and On August 29, 2005, Keesler sustained a many other high-ranking military and civilian direct hit from Hurricane Katrina, which made officials, attended the dedication of the its third Gulf Coast landfall as a Category new Naval Technical Training Center (NTTC). 5 storm approximately 30 miles (48 km) Known locally as the Stennis Center, it was west. Although non-essential personnel and officially commissioned April 17, 1974. Hurricane Hunter planes had been evacuated NAS Meridian was selected and upgraded in advance, “drastic damage” was sustained to a Major Shore Command on October 1, by the base’s industrial and housing areas. 1982. In March 1984, NAS Meridian was one Due to storm surge, about half the base was of 15 installations chosen for the Department under water. By August 31, however, relief of Defense Model Installation Program. flights were landing at the base. The Air Operations Department employs 230 military and civilian personnel to Meridian Naval Air Station, Meridian operate NAS Meridian/McCain Field and Naval Air Station Meridian is one of the Naval Outlying Landing Field (NOLF) Joe Navy’s two jet strike pilot training bases. Williams. Their primary mission is to support Commissioned in 1961, the Naval Auxiliary Commander, Training Air Wing ONE, the Air Station’s operations area was named wing’s subordinate training squadrons and McCain Field in honor of the late Admiral its associated T-45 Goshawk aircraft in the John S. McCain, Sr. of Teoc. conduct of undergraduate strike pilot training.

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