Air Training Command | |
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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 | |
Active | 1946–1993 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Army Air Forces United States Air Force |
Type | Major Command |
Role | Air Force Basic, Flight and Technical training |
Garrison/HQ | Randolph 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]