The Nineteenth Air Force (19 AF) is an active Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force. During the Cold War it was a component of Tactical Air Command, with a mission of command and control over deployed USAF forces in support of United States foreign policy initiatives. The command was reactivated in 1993 under Air Education and Training Command with a mission of conducting AETC's flying training.
19th Air Force was inactivated on 9 July 2012 as a cost-cutting measure by the Secretary of the Air Force, but was reactivated on 1 October 2014 when it was determined that the cost-cutting measures did not reap the savings expected. AETC commander General Robin Rand directed the reactivation to consolidate the management of the AETC flying mission again under a Numbered Air Force instead of the AETC Headquarters.
History
Cold War
Origins
In the aftermath of the Korean War in 1953, the United States Air Force began to institutionalize a quick response force to deploy personnel, aircraft and equipment to bases with minimal facilities and to develop an air refueling capacity for its fighter aircraft.
From this initiatives, Tactical Air Command (TAC) developed the Composite Air Strike Force (CASF), a small tactical air force composed of a command element and of fighter, reconnaissance, tanker, troop carrier, and communications support units. While it could fight, if necessary, the principal function of the CASF was to deter Communist aggression in such areas as the Middle East or Latin America, beyond the reach of American forces already stationed overseas. Its primary characteristic was fast reaction, and it would be as self-sufficient as possible. Each of its elements would prepare and store flyaway kits of spare parts and supplies, and each of its members would have specific deployment tasks assigned. Upon arrival in-theater, the unit would be able to sustain operations for 30 days on minimum logistics support, with the addition of required food, fuel, and munitions. Air-to-air refueling not only made rapid response possible, it enabled the various elements of the CASF to maintain themselves economically on their home bases until the need to deploy arose. Once the CASF concept was fully implemented and tested by the late 1950s, the first strike elements of a CASF could arrive in the Middle East within 16 hours of notification, with the total force in place and ready for operations in 48 hours. In the Far East the lead elements would arrive within 36 hours, with the full force in operational status within 72 hours.
- ENJJPT is located at Sheppard AFB, Texas. The entire course lasts about 54 weeks. Students learn with, and are taught by, USAF officers and officers from various air forces of our European allies. Student pilots first fly the T-6 Texan II mastering contact, instrument, low-level and formation flying. Next, they train on the supersonic T-38 Talon and continue building the skills necessary to become a fighter pilot.
Lineage
- Established as Nineteenth Air Force on 1 July 1955
: Activated on 8 July 1955
: Inactivated on 2 July 1973
- Re-activated on 1 July 1993
: Inactivated on 13 July 2012
- Re-activated on 1 October 2014
Assignments
- Tactical Air Command*, 8 July 1955 – 2 July 1973
: Attached to: Ninth Air Force, 8 July 1955 – 30 June 1957
- Air Education and Training Command, 8 June 1993 – 9 July 2012, 1 October 2014–
<small>Note: In its first two years, Nineteenth Air Force was directly attached to Ninth Air Force. On 1 July 1957 it moved to the direct control of TAC headquarters but it maintained its working relationship with the Ninth Air Force, whose support enabled the Nineteenth to retain its small footprint</small>
Stations
- Foster AFB, Texas, 8 July 1955
- Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina, 1 September 1958 – 2 July 1973
- Randolph AFB, Texas, 8 June 1993 – 9 July 2012, 1 October 2014 – Present
AETC Components
- 12th Flying Training Wing, Randolph AFB, TX
- 14th Flying Training Wing, Columbus AFB, MS
- 33d Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, FL
- 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin AFB, TX
- 49th Wing, Holloman AFB, NM
- 54th Fighter Group, Holloman AFB, NM
- 56th Fighter Wing, Luke AFB, AZ
- 58th Special Operations Wing, Kirtland AFB, NM
- 71st Flying Training Wing, Vance AFB, OK
- 80th Flying Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, TX
- 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus AFB, Ok
- 314th Airlift Wing, Little Rock AFB, AR
- 336th Training Group, Fairchild AFB, WA
- 479th Flying Training Group, NAS Pensacola, FL
List of commanders
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!colspan=2|Commander
!colspan=3|Term
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!Portrait
!Name
!Took office
!Left office
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