---
title: 'Air Force Bases in North Carolina: Seymour Johnson, Pope and More'
slug: air-force-bases-in-north-carolina
description: >-
  See every Air Force base in North Carolina, from Seymour Johnson AFB to Pope
  Field, plus 2026 BAH and tax tips. Talk with a local military-friendly agent
  today.
publishedAt: '2026-11-01T09:00:00.000Z'
updatedAt: '2026-11-08T00:00:00.000Z'
author: VeteranPCS
categories:
  - U.S. Military Bases
  - PCS Help
canonical: 'https://www.veteranpcs.com/blog/air-force-bases-in-north-carolina'
componentSlug: us-military-bases
stateSlug: north-carolina
---
# Air Force Bases in North Carolina: Seymour Johnson, Pope and More

If you are looking up Air Force bases in North Carolina, you will find one big answer and two smaller ones. Seymour Johnson Air Force Base (AFB) in Goldsboro is the state's only active-duty Air Force base. Airmen also serve at Pope Field, which is now part of Fort Bragg, and at the North Carolina Air National Guard base in Charlotte. This guide covers what each site does, where it sits, and what 2026 BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) looks like nearby.

Want the full list, including Camp Lejeune and Fort Bragg? Start with our hub guide, [What Military Bases Are in North Carolina?](/blog/what-military-bases-are-in-north-carolina)

## Air Force Bases in North Carolina, at a Glance

| Installation | Nearest town | Best known for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Seymour Johnson AFB | Goldsboro | 4th Fighter Wing (F-15E) and 916th Air Refueling Wing (KC-46A) |
| Pope Army Airfield (Pope Field) | Fort Bragg, near Fayetteville | Air mobility and special tactics units that support the Army |
| Charlotte Air National Guard Base | Charlotte | 145th Airlift Wing (C-17 Globemaster III) |

![Infographic listing North Carolina's three Air Force installations with their nearest towns and main units](/images/blog/air-force-bases-in-north-carolina/nc-air-force-installations.png)
*Where the Air Force serves in North Carolina. Sources: Seymour Johnson AFB; Air Force Reserve Command; Pope Field; 145th Airlift Wing.*

## Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro

Seymour Johnson AFB sits on the south side of Goldsboro in Wayne County, about an hour southeast of Raleigh. It is the home of the 4th Fighter Wing, which flies the F-15E Strike Eagle. The F-15E is a two-seat jet built for both air-to-air and ground-attack missions. The wing runs two combat squadrons plus formal training units that teach new F-15E crews, per a [2026 Air & Space Forces Magazine report on the base](https://www.airandspaceforces.com/seymour-johnson-f-15exs-replace-strike-eagles/).

**What is changing.** In August 2026, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said Seymour Johnson is the planned home for the new F-15EX Eagle II jets in the fiscal year 2027 budget, if Congress approves the money. The F-15Es are planned to stay until the new jets arrive, per the same [Air & Space Forces Magazine report](https://www.airandspaceforces.com/seymour-johnson-f-15exs-replace-strike-eagles/). No delivery date has been set, so treat this as a plan, not a done deal. For families, it points to a fighter mission that stays in Goldsboro for years to come.

**The Reserve tanker wing.** Seymour Johnson also hosts the 916th Air Refueling Wing, an Air Force Reserve unit. It flies the KC-46A Pegasus, a tanker that refuels other aircraft in flight. The wing has about 250 full-time members and about 700 part-time reservists, per the [Air Force Reserve Command's 916th Air Refueling Wing fact sheet](https://www.afrc.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/4478986/916th-air-refueling-wing/).

**Size of the community.** The base's fiscal year 2024 economic impact analysis counted 5,169 active-duty members, 990 Guard and Reserve members, 769 civilian workers and 4,373 family members. It put the base's total yearly economic impact at about $1.2 billion, per the [FY24 Seymour Johnson economic impact analysis hosted by the NC Military Business Center](https://www.ncmbc.us/wp-content/uploads/FY24-EIA-Final.pdf).

For neighborhoods, schools and commute tips around Goldsboro, read our [Seymour Johnson AFB 2026 PCS guide](/blog/pcs-to-seymour-johnson-afb-goldsboro-2026-guide).

Not sure whether to live in Goldsboro, Pikeville or out toward Clayton? [Talk with a Goldsboro-area agent who works with military families](https://www.veteranpcs.com/contact-agent?form=agent&fn=Chad&id=0014x00000W8Pfv&state=north-carolina). There is no cost and no obligation.

## Pope Field at Fort Bragg

Pope was an Air Force base for decades. It first opened as Pope Field in 1919 and became Pope AFB in 1947. On March 1, 2011, the Army took it over under the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) law, and it became Pope Field, per an [Air Force news release on the Pope transfer](https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/114084/army-to-assume-responsibility-for-pope-air-force-base/). Today it is Pope Army Airfield, part of Fort Bragg near Fayetteville. The post took back the Fort Bragg name in February 2025.

Many Airmen still serve at Pope. Air Force units there include the 43d Air Mobility Operations Group, the 18th Air Support Operations Group (which works with the 82nd Airborne Division), the 724th Special Tactics Group, the 21st Special Tactics Squadron, and the 352d Special Warfare Training Squadron, per the [Pope Field About page](https://www.pope.af.mil/About-Us/About-Pope/).

If you have orders to Pope, you will live, shop and use services as part of the Fort Bragg community. Our [Fort Bragg 2026 PCS guide](/blog/pcs-to-fort-bragg-2026-guide) covers housing and schools, and our [Fort Bragg buy vs. rent breakdown](/blog/fort-bragg-bah-2026-buy-vs-rent) runs the numbers. For the Army side of the post, see [Army bases in North Carolina](/blog/army-bases-in-north-carolina).

## Charlotte Air National Guard Base

The 145th Airlift Wing of the North Carolina Air National Guard is based at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The wing switched from C-130s to the C-17 Globemaster III in 2018 and flies global airlift missions, per the [145th Airlift Wing About page](https://www.145aw.ang.af.mil/About-Us). Most members are part-time Guard Airmen who live in the Charlotte area, but the wing also has full-time staff.

## What BAH Covers Near North Carolina's Air Force Bases

BAH is a monthly, tax-free payment to help cover housing off base. It depends on your pay grade, your duty ZIP code and whether you have dependents. Here are 2026 rates from the [DTMO BAH rate lookup](https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing/BAH-Rate-Lookup/). Each cell shows with dependents first, then without.

| Location | Rate area | E-5 | E-7 | O-3 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Seymour Johnson AFB (Goldsboro) | NC183 | $1,521 / $1,428 | $2,052 / $1,539 | $2,226 / $1,794 |
| Fort Bragg and Pope Field | NC182 | $1,806 / $1,527 | $2,094 / $1,722 | $2,175 / $1,956 |

![Grouped bar chart comparing 2026 with-dependents BAH for E-5, E-7 and O-3 at Seymour Johnson AFB and Fort Bragg](/images/blog/air-force-bases-in-north-carolina/nc-air-force-bah-2026.png)
*2026 monthly BAH with dependents near North Carolina's Air Force installations. Source: Defense Travel Management Office BAH rate lookup.*

A few things stand out:

- An E-5 with dependents gets $285 more a month at Fort Bragg and Pope than at Seymour Johnson.
- At the O-3 level, Seymour Johnson pays a little more with dependents: $2,226 against $2,175.
- At Seymour Johnson, an E-7 with dependents gets $513 more a month than an E-7 without dependents.

BAH is meant to cover typical rent and utilities, not a dream home. To turn your rate into a price range, read [how much house you can afford on BAH](/blog/how-much-house-can-you-afford-on-bah). For what changed this year, see our post on [2026 BAH rates](/blog/2026-bah-rates-what-changed-and-how-to-check-yours).

## Buying a Home Near North Carolina's Air Force Bases

**Use your VA loan.** A VA loan is a home loan backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Per the [VA's purchase loan page](https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/loan-types/purchase-loan/), you can buy with no down payment as long as the price is not higher than the home's appraised value, and you do not pay private mortgage insurance. Our [North Carolina military buyer's guide](/blog/pcs-to-north-carolina-military-buyers-guide) walks through the steps.

**Know the North Carolina tax rules.** If your legal residence is in another state, North Carolina does not tax your military pay while you are stationed here on orders, per the [North Carolina Department of Revenue's armed forces page](https://www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/individual-income-tax/filing-topics/armed-forces-information). Other income you earn in the state can still be taxed. Retirees with 20 or more years of service, or a medical retirement, can deduct their military retirement pay, per the [NCDOR military retirement page](https://www.ncdor.gov/taxes-forms/individual-income-tax/filing-topics/military-retirement). For property tax breaks, see our guide to [North Carolina veteran property tax exemptions](/blog/north-carolina-veteran-property-tax-exemptions-2026).

**Check noise zones.** Fighter jets are loud. Near Seymour Johnson and Pope, ask your agent to check the aircraft noise and accident potential zones before you make an offer. These can affect resale value and comfort.

If a Marine Corps posting is also on your list, see our guide to [Marine Corps bases in North Carolina](/blog/marine-corps-bases-in-north-carolina).

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How many Air Force bases are in North Carolina?

North Carolina has one active-duty Air Force base: Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro. Airmen also serve at Pope Field on Fort Bragg and at the 145th Airlift Wing's Air National Guard base in Charlotte.

### What aircraft fly at Seymour Johnson AFB?

The 4th Fighter Wing flies the F-15E Strike Eagle. The 916th Air Refueling Wing, a Reserve unit, flies the KC-46A Pegasus tanker. The base is the planned home for future F-15EX jets if Congress funds them.

### Is Pope still an Air Force base?

No. Pope became part of the Army's Fort Bragg on March 1, 2011, and is now called Pope Army Airfield or Pope Field. Several Air Force units still serve there.

### Which has higher BAH, Seymour Johnson or Fort Bragg?

It depends on rank. In 2026, junior enlisted members with dependents get more at Fort Bragg and Pope. An O-3 with dependents gets slightly more at Seymour Johnson.

Know an Airman with North Carolina orders? Share this guide with your military network.

*This content is for informational purposes. Consult a professional for personal financial decisions.*