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FACTSHEET | July 30, 2014

12th Flying Training Wing

Mission

The 12th Flying Training Wing is the Source of America's Airpower, delivering unrivaled airpower leaders for the future of the U.S. Air Force. The wing, which is headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, consists of three flying groups and a maintenance directorate spanning more than 1,600 miles.

The 12th FTW is responsible for four single-source aviation pipelines. These pipelines include combat systems officer training, pilot instructor training, as well as remotely piloted aircraft pilot indoctrination and basic sensor operator qualification. The wing manages all airmanship programs for the U.S. Air Force Academy and serves as the single screening point for all hopeful aviators to include pilots, RPA pilots and CSOs. The wing also hosts the introduction to fighter fundamentals program as well as conducts electronic warfare training for the U.S. Air Force and multi-national forces.

Each year, the wing graduates more than 1200 Joint and Allied Instructor Pilots and Combat Systems operators, undergrad Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) pilots and enlisted sensor operators thru 27 different syllabi. The wing also trains more than 2,500 U.S. Air Force Academy cadets and 2,200 undergraduate flight training candidates.

12th Operations Group

The 12th Operations Group conducts training in three different aircraft. The group contains one support squadron and five flying squadrons. The unit's missions include pilot instructor training, introduction to fighter fundamentals student and instructor pilot training, weapons systems officer training, and remotely piloted aircraft pilot and basic
sensor operator training.

12th Operations Support Squadron

The 12th Operations Support Squadron is responsible for pilot instructor training and introduction to fighter fundamentals academic and simulator training, scheduling, air traffic control, airfield management, flight records, registrar, weather, airspace management, international training and aircrew flight equipment for all 12th OG training.

99th Flying Training Squadron

The 99th Flying Training Squadron is the Department of Defense's sole provider for T-1A pilot instructor training. Additionally, the squadron provides initial qualification training for instructor combat systems officers. The squadron flies 8,700 hours annually in a fleet of 17 T-1A aircraft and trains more than 130 U.S. Air Force, civilian pilots and CSOs annually to supply instructors for Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training and Undergraduate CSO Training for the Air Force. Instructor pilots trained here will later instruct students in JSUPT who are destined for tanker, mobility, and reconnaissance aircraft. ICSOs trained here will instruct students who will support missions in a variety of aircraft as Combat Systems Officers.

435th Fighter Training Squadron

The 435th Fighter Training Squadron conducts Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals student training in the T-38C Talon aircraft and trains IFF instructors for AETC at large. After graduating from either undergraduate pilot training or undergraduate combat systems officer training, pilots and CSOs go through the 435th's 10-week program to prepare them for follow on assignments in the Combat Air Forces' F-15E, F-16, A-10, F-22, or F-15C aircraft. The syllabus is tailored toward the student's follow-on formal training unit and includes training in basic fighter maneuvers as well as basic surface attack and low level navigation.

558th Flying Training Squadron

The 558th Flying Training Squadron is the home of the Air Force's only undergraduate remotely piloted aircraft training program providing three distinct courses for officer and enlisted aircrew: Remotely Piloted Aircraft Instrument Qualification Course, Remotely Piloted Aircraft Fundamentals Course, and the Basic Sensor Operator Course. Graduates of this training move on to formal training units at Holloman AFB, N.M. or Beale AFB, Calif. The squadron also has a military training flight which is responsible for the oversight and mentorship of non-prior service enlisted Airmen.

559th Flying Training Squadron

The 559th Flying Training Squadron provides T-6A Pilot Instructor Training for Joint Primary Pilot Training and CSO training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. The squadron flies more than 16,000 hours annually in a fleet of 38 T-6A aircraft and qualifies more than 225 U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine and allied pilots annually.

560th Flying Training Squadron

The 560th Flying Training Squadron qualifies fighter and bomber pilots as instructor pilots in the T-38C Talon. The squadron executes 13 syllabi to train Air Force instructor pilots, Air Force and U.S. Navy test pilot school candidates, allied nation fighter and instructor pilots, and Air Force pilots identified for transition to fighter aircraft. The squadron currently flies a total of 9,700 hours annually in a fleet of 39 aircraft and produces an average of 132 graduates per year.

306th Flying Training Group

The 306th Flying Training Group, located at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., provides management and oversight of USAFA airmanship programs involving 2,500 cadets annually and of the U.S. Air Force Initial Flight Screening program involving approximately 2,200 undergraduate flight training candidates annually. The group ensures powered flight, soaring and parachuting courses contribute measurably to the leadership and character development of cadets. Additionally, the group ensures quality flight screening and identifies those officers with the ability to succeed in follow-on undergraduate flight training.

306th Operations Support Squadron

The 306th OSS provides operations support for the U.S. Air Force Academy's airmanship programs, as well as the Academy's airfield. The squadron manages all aerial events, airfield operations, airspace issues, aircrew flight equipment, as well as tours and orientation rides. The 306th OSS is also the representative of the cadet remotely piloted aircraft program.

1st Flying Training Squadron

Doss Aviation has the contract for U.S. Air Force Initial Flight Screening in Pueblo, Colo. This program provides screening for all U.S. Air Force pilot, combat systems officer, and remotely piloted aircraft pilot candidates before their follow-on training. The 1st FTS screens nearly 2,200 students in a fleet of 44 DA-20s each year.

94th Flying Training Squadron

The 94th FTS conducts more than 15,000 training and competition glider sorties annually, focused on developing officership, leadership, and character of more than 4,000 U.S. Air Force Academy and ROTC cadets. Currently 500 cadets per year take a basic solo course in sailplanes (Airmanship 251). The soaring resources currently include 21 sailplanes and five tow aircraft.

98th Flying Training Squadron

The 98th FTS conducts parachute training for 1,200 Academy and ROTC cadets annually. This training focuses on safety and emergency procedures, which enhance student confidence and maximize performance under extremely stressful conditions. In addition to basic jump training (Airmanship 490), 98th FTS also oversees the Airmanship 491 "Wings of Green" and Airmanship 492 "Wings of Blue" competitive and demonstration parachute programs. Training is conducted using three UV-18Bs, or "Twin Otters."

557th Flying Training Squadron

The 557th FTS conducts more than 12,600 training and competition hours annually, focused on developing officership, leadership, and character of more than 4,000 U.S. Air Force Academy cadets. It operates airmanship training courses designed to introduce cadets to flight, and provides them with an opportunity to solo in a T-53 Kadet 2, a light, general aviation aircraft. 557th FTS oversees the Airmanship 420 "Powered Flight" program as well as the Airmanship 465 "Cadet Flying Team" program.

479th Flying Training Group

The 479th Flying Training Group, located at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., is the U.S. Air Force's only training pipeline for combat systems officers. The 479th Operations Support Squadron, 455th Flying Training Squadron, and the 451st Flying Training Squadron work in concert to graduate more than 350 CSOs annually. These CSOs are trained to perform duties as electronic warfare officers, weapon systems officers, and panel navigators. In addition to overseeing the CSO training program, the 479th FTG also oversees an intelligence flight.

479th Operations Support Squadron

The 479th Operations Support Squadron supports the primary and advanced phases of the undergraduate combat systems officer training. The squadron conducts academic training, scheduling, aviation resource management, communications, current operations, aircrew flight equipment, and flight physiology functions for the group. The 479th OSS is the home of two T-1A simulators, three T-6A simulators, and 18 T-25 simulators. The 479th OSS also conducts advanced graduate electronic warfare training for U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, NATO and international military personnel.

455th Flying Training Squadron

The 455th Flying Training Squadron conducts the primary phase of undergraduate combat systems officer training using a fleet of 22 T-6A Texan II aircraft. The squadron annually trains more than 350 CSO students annually, providing instruction in basic airmanship, flight discipline, crew coordination, crew resource management, and mission management. The 455th FTS also conducts theater indoctrination training for newly assigned instructor pilots.

451st Flying Training Squadron

The 451st Flying Training Squadron conducts advanced undergraduate combat systems officer training in 21 modified T-1A Jayhawk aircraft in addition to the T-25 training device. The modified T-1A holds an additional student and instructor station in the aft section of the aircraft. The aft training stations receive flight information from the aircraft's avionics, global positioning system, flight instruments and simulated threats are introduced to provide a virtual threat environment to students.

The unit trains more than 350 active duty, guard and reserve officers in advanced navigation, electronic warfare and weapon systems employment to meet service and combatant commander operational requirements. Trainees come to the 451st upon completion of primary training in the 455th FTS. Graduates of the 451st FTS follow-on to formal training units throughout the combat, mobility and special operations air forces. The 451st FTS also conducts Instructor CSO mission qualification training for newly assigned Instructor CSOs assigned to the 479th Flying Training Group.

12th Maintenance Directorate

The Maintenance Directorate executes more than 40,000 flight hours annually supporting six training operations squadrons. The agency is responsible for overall fleet health for 187 aircraft assigned at both JBSA-Randolph and Naval Air Station Pensacola. The directorate provides on-equipment and off-equipment maintenance support for T-1A, T-6C and T-38C aircraft. Aircraft maintenance is performed using 20 separate facilities including management of the base Repair Cycle Management Program, avionics, electrical and aerospace ground equipment, Quality Assurance, as well as aircraft sheet metal and structural fabrication and repair. The directorate also operates a Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory, the regional paint blasting facility, oversees the Transient Alert function and T-38C, T-6A and T-1A Contractor Operated and Maintained Base Supply functions.

(Current as of July 2014)