About Us

Leadership Team

Headquarters Second Air Force was originally established as Northwest Air District on 19 October, 1940 and was activated two months later on 18 December, 1940 at McChord Field Washington. Northwest Air District was later re-designated Second Air Force on 18 September, 1941. Throughout World War II, Vietnam and parts of the Cold War, Second Air Force was responsible for various bombardment and air defense missions. In 1975, during the post-Vietnam drawdown, the command was inactivated and its missions distributed to 8th and 15th Air Force in Strategic Air Command (SAC). Following the end of the Cold War Second Air Force was reassigned to Air Combat Command (ACC) on 1 June, 1992. On 1 July, 1993 Second Air Force was inactivated and activated again that same day at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi with a change of assignment to Air Education and Training Command (AETC). Its mission became conducting basic military and technical training for Air Force enlisted members and support officers at five wings Air Education and Training Command located at four training bases in the United States.

The command's mission is to build the Airmen we need for America's Air Force. The command trains, develops and inspires the world's premier Airmen in technical training, basic military training, medical and distance learning courses. Second Air Force is responsible for basic military training and technical training for 93% of the Air Force along with joint, and coalition forces at four major installations and 98 operating locations around the world. They also provide oversight and support to Airmen who complete expeditionary skills training prior to filling critical combatant commander deployments at forward operating locations all over the globe.

The first stop for all Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve enlisted Airmen is Basic Military Training (BMT) at Joint Base San Antonio -Lackland, Texas. After completing BMT, Airmen begin technical training in their career field specialties, primarily at five wings located at four major installations: Goodfellow AFB, JBSA-Lackland and Sheppard Air Force bases in Texas; Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. Each base is responsible for a specific portion of the formal technical training Airmen require to accomplish the Air Force mission. Instructors conduct technical training in specialties such as aircraft maintenance, civil engineering, special warfare, medical services, cyber/computer systems, security forces, air traffic control, personnel, intelligence, firefighting, and space and missile operations.

Commissioned officers attend technical training courses for similar career fields at the same locations.

A person wearing a virtual reality headset faces a television screen.

Members from Headquarters Air Force A4 visited Sheppard Air Force Base to get a first-hand look at how new technology is improving the training...

U.S. Air Force Basic Military Training graduates participate in their graduation ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, March 16, 2023. More than 500 Airmen assigned to the 324th Training Squadron graduated from BMTS, March 15-16 2023. Brig. Gen. Terrence Adams, Director, Cyberspace Operations and Warfighter Communications, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Cyber Effects Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., reviewed the ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo by Brian Boisvert)

U.S. Space Force Sgt. Anastacia Lange, 333rd Training Squadron Cyber Warfare Operator course instructor, teaches Tech Sgt. Ryan Simons, 333rd TRS student, how to run commands in Linux Operating Systems at Stennis Hall on Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Jan. 24, 2024.

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Kristina Montgomery, 2nd Air Force command chief, speaks with Master Sgt. Anthony Montano, 312th Training Squadron flight chief, about the different techniques students in training learn to carry out a building rescue at the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, Dec. 8, 2023. The 312th TRS is responsible for training the entire DoD’s fire emergency services and scientific applications specialists. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Evelyn D’Errico)

Candidates tread water with their hands above water

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Austin Findley, 335th Training Squadron master military training leader, oversees Airmen marching at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, August 2, 2023. Findley deployed to Iraq twice at ages 19 and 20 in his career of pavement and construction equipment operation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Trenten Walters)

A - Advance Force Development

Develop Airmen we need focused on the future fight
Grow Airmen technically and professionally throughout their career
Invest in Airmen who build the future force

E - Enhance Lethality and Readiness

Ready foundationally competent Airmen for the force
Optimize student training times and establish standards for effective pipeline management
Create an environment to optimize performance in all aspects of an Airman's life

T - Transform the Way We Learn

Deliver Airmen-centric, mission-focused training
Develop agile and responsive training pipelines for emerging needs
Create an innovation ecosystem to enhance technical training

C - Cultivate an Environment of Excellence

Ensure an environment rooted in dignity and respect
Immerse Airmen and their families into the Air Force way of life
Be the most professional organization in the Air Force

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Mission & History

Priorities