Air Force bases in Texas are where many Airmen start their careers, from basic training to pilot training, so your next orders may well point here. Texas is home to five Air Force-run installations, including Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA), plus an Air Force Reserve fighter wing at a Navy-run base in Fort Worth. This guide covers what each base does, where it sits, and what your 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) looks like nearby. For every branch's installations in the state, start with our hub post on what military bases are in Texas.
A quick note on terms. A PCS, or Permanent Change of Station, is your official move to a new duty station. BAH is the monthly housing allowance you get when you live off base. Its amount depends on your rank, your ZIP code, and whether you have dependents.
Air Force Bases in Texas, at a Glance
| Base | Nearest city | Host wing | Main mission |
|---|---|---|---|
| JBSA-Lackland | San Antonio | 502nd Air Base Wing (host); 37th Training Wing | Basic Military Training for all enlisted Airmen and Guardians |
| JBSA-Randolph | Universal City (San Antonio area) | 502nd Air Base Wing (host); 12th Flying Training Wing | Air Education and Training Command (AETC) headquarters; pilot instructor training |
| Dyess AFB | Abilene | 7th Bomb Wing | B-1B bomber operations and training; future B-21 base |
| Sheppard AFB | Wichita Falls | 82nd Training Wing | Technical training; Euro-NATO pilot training (80th Flying Training Wing) |
| Goodfellow AFB | San Angelo | 17th Training Wing | Intelligence and firefighter training |
| Laughlin AFB | Del Rio | 47th Flying Training Wing | Undergraduate pilot training |
| NAS JRB Fort Worth | Fort Worth | 301st Fighter Wing (Air Force Reserve tenant) | Reserve fighter wing at a Navy-run base |
Air Force bases in Texas at a glance. Sources: official Air Force, AETC and JBSA fact sheets cited in this guide.
Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA)
Joint Base San Antonio is one joint base made up of several locations around the city. The main ones are JBSA-Lackland, JBSA-Randolph, and JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, plus the Camp Bullis training area. Per the 502nd Air Base Wing fact sheet, the 502nd became the host unit for Lackland and Randolph in 2010 and for Fort Sam Houston later that year. In plain terms, the 502nd runs base support, while other units handle the training missions. Our 2026 JBSA PCS guide covers housing, schools, and commutes in more detail.
JBSA-Lackland
Lackland is where every enlisted Airman and Guardian starts. Per the 37th Training Wing fact sheet, Basic Military Training (BMT) is the only Department of the Air Force site that trains enlisted Airmen and Guardians. The course runs about 7.5 weeks. The 37th Training Wing also runs technical schools, including all Defense Department training for military working dogs and their handlers.
JBSA-Randolph
Randolph is the headquarters of Air Education and Training Command (AETC), the command that recruits, trains, and educates Airmen, per the AETC fact sheet. Randolph is also home to the 12th Flying Training Wing, which trains the instructors who teach new pilots.
Weighing Lackland against Randolph for a home search? Talk with a San Antonio-area agent who works with military families. There is no cost and no obligation.
Dyess AFB (Abilene)
Dyess Air Force Base (AFB) is in Abilene, in West Central Texas. Its host unit is the 7th Bomb Wing, which flies the B-1B Lancer and runs the Air Force's only B-1B formal training unit. The base also hosts the 317th Airlift Wing, which flies C-130J cargo planes.
Big changes are coming. The Air Force picked Dyess as the third home for the new B-21 Raider bomber, per the Dyess announcement of the second and third B-21 bases. In 2026, the base is building new facilities to get ready while it keeps flying the B-1B. For local tips, see our 2026 Dyess AFB PCS guide.
Sheppard AFB (Wichita Falls)
Sheppard AFB, in Wichita Falls, has two big missions. The host 82nd Training Wing teaches technical skills like aircraft maintenance, avionics, civil engineering, and medical jobs to students from every branch.
The second mission is Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT). It is run by the 80th Flying Training Wing. Per the ENJJPT fact sheet, it is the world's only pilot training program staffed and managed by many nations to produce combat pilots for NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Fourteen nations take part, and about 200 student pilots earn their wings each year. Read more in our Wichita Falls and Sheppard AFB guide.
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Goodfellow AFB (San Angelo)
Goodfellow AFB in San Angelo is home to the 17th Training Wing. Per the AETC Goodfellow AFB fact sheet, the wing trains Air Force intelligence specialists and firefighters from all branches. Many Army, Navy, and Marine Corps intelligence troops train there too. Tours here are often short, so our Goodfellow AFB PCS guide is a good next read.
Laughlin AFB (Del Rio)
Laughlin AFB sits near Del Rio, close to the Mexico border. Its 47th Flying Training Wing runs Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, the course where new Air Force pilots earn their wings. About 400 pilots earn their wings there each year, per the AETC Laughlin AFB fact sheet. Del Rio is a small town, so housing choices are limited. Start your search early.
NAS JRB Fort Worth and the 301st Fighter Wing
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NAS JRB) Fort Worth is run by the Navy, but the Air Force has a big presence there. The Air Force Reserve's 301st Fighter Wing calls it home. It is the Reserve's first stand-alone F-35 unit and welcomed its first F-35A, per Air Force Reserve Command. If you are headed there, check our list of the best neighborhoods near NAS JRB Fort Worth.
What BAH Covers Near Texas Air Force Bases
Here are 2026 monthly BAH rates from the DTMO BAH rate lookup. DTMO is the Defense Travel Management Office. Each cell shows the rate with dependents first, then without.
| Location | Rate area | E-5 | E-7 | O-3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Antonio (Lackland, Randolph) | TX285 | $1,869 / $1,500 | $2,112 / $1,731 | $2,127 / $2,007 |
| Abilene (Dyess AFB) | TX270 | $1,872 / $1,545 | $2,844 / $2,133 | $2,859 / $2,475 |
| Wichita Falls (Sheppard AFB) | TX288 | $1,491 / $1,182 | $2,190 / $1,644 | $2,325 / $1,887 |
| San Angelo (Goodfellow AFB) | TX284 | $1,578 / $1,230 | $1,965 / $1,473 | $2,193 / $1,740 |
| Del Rio (Laughlin AFB) | TX278 | $1,470 / $1,209 | $1,854 / $1,392 | $2,121 / $1,686 |
| Fort Worth (NAS JRB Fort Worth) | TX356 | $2,118 / $1,656 | $2,445 / $1,941 | $2,460 / $2,310 |
2026 BAH with dependents near Texas Air Force bases. Source: DoD DTMO BAH rate lookup.
Dyess stands out. Its E-7 and O-3 rates with dependents are the highest on this list, even above Fort Worth and San Antonio. For E-5s, Fort Worth pays the most. Rates change each January, so check your exact numbers in our post on 2026 BAH rates and how to check yours.
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We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.Buying a Home Near Texas Air Force Bases
Know how a VA loan works. A VA loan is a home loan backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Most eligible buyers can purchase with no down payment and no private mortgage insurance, per the VA purchase loan page. Our guide to Texas VA loan benefits for military homebuyers walks through the steps.
Plan for property taxes. Texas has no personal income tax, which helps your paycheck. But local property taxes run high, so factor them into your monthly payment. Veterans with a disability rating may qualify for big breaks, as explained in our post on Texas veteran property tax exemptions for 2026.
Match the home to your tour length. Many Texas Air Force bases are training bases. Student tours at Goodfellow, Sheppard, and Laughlin can be short. Renting may make more sense for a short stay. Buying can pay off on a longer tour, or if the home will make a good rental after you leave. If you are looking at San Antonio, read our top five things to know about buying near JBSA. Heading to an Army post instead? See our companion guide to Army bases in Texas.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Air Force bases are in Texas?
Texas has five Air Force-run installations: Joint Base San Antonio, Dyess AFB, Sheppard AFB, Goodfellow AFB, and Laughlin AFB. JBSA includes both Lackland and Randolph. The Air Force Reserve's 301st Fighter Wing is also based at NAS JRB Fort Worth, which the Navy runs.
Where is Air Force basic training?
All enlisted Air Force and Space Force basic training happens at JBSA-Lackland in San Antonio. The course lasts about 7.5 weeks.
Which Texas Air Force base has the highest BAH?
For 2026, Dyess AFB in Abilene has the highest with-dependents BAH for E-7 ($2,844) and O-3 ($2,859) on our list. For E-5, Fort Worth is highest at $2,118.
Is JBSA one base or three?
It is one joint base with several locations. JBSA-Lackland, JBSA-Randolph, and JBSA-Fort Sam Houston share one host unit, the 502nd Air Base Wing, and one BAH rate area.
Do I have to live on base at a training base?
Not always. Your rank, family size, and base housing wait lists all play a part. Ask your gaining base's housing office early, and compare that with what your BAH can cover off base.
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This content is for informational purposes. Consult a professional for personal financial decisions.
