Air Training Command

Air Training Command

Undergraduate Pilot Training Class photo, Class 81-05,
Reese AFB, Texas, c. 1981

Vietnam War Basic Training on the M-1 carbine Dry Fire range, Lackland AFB, Texas, 1960s

Entrance sign to Lowry AFB Technical Training Center, Colorado, about 1957
Active1946–1993
Country United States
Branch  United States Army Air Forces
 United States Air Force
TypeMajor Command
RoleAir Force Basic, Flight and Technical training
Garrison/HQRandolph Air Force Base, Texas
Nickname(s)ATC
Motto(s)Prepare the Man
Decorations
Air Force Organizational Excellence Award (9x)[1]
Insignia
Emblem of Air Training Command

The Air Training Command (ATC) is a former United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command designation. It was headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, but was initially formed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. It was re-designated as Air Education and Training Command (AETC) following a merger with Air University (AU) on 1 July 1993.[2]

ATC was organized on 1 July 1946 as a re-designation of Army Air Forces Training Command (AAFTC) as part of the re-organization of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) after World War II.[2]

For nearly 50 years, ATC was the primary training organization of the United States Air Force from its inception as an independent service in September 1947. It provided pilot and aircrew training; technical training, and enlisted and officer basic training.[2]

At the end of the Cold War, it was merged with Air University (AU) in July 1993 as part of a major top-to-bottom reorganization of the USAF. Personnel, equipment and resources of both organizations were re-designated as Air Education and Training Command (AETC), which assumed the mission of both organizations, but retained AU as a subordinate organization within AETC.[2]

  1. ^ "AFHRA Air Training Command Lineage & History". Archived from the original on 21 April 2014. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Manning, Thomas A. (2005), History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas. OCLC 71006954, 29991467