Welcome to Columbus

Welcome to Columbus Air Force Base, home of the 14th Flying Training Wing of the 19th Air Force, Air Education and Training Command. We're happy you're here. As you become familiar with the base, you'll sense our excitement about our role in training Air Force pilots and keeping the Air Force ready to deploy across the world at a moment's notice. You'll find people ready to help you, whatever your needs. We have a tradition of Southern hospitality and customer service second to none. Again, welcome to Mississippi, where you'll find "The South's Warmest Welcome," and to Columbus AFB, a community of caring people dedicated to training the world's best military pilots.

STARTING OUT
Your assignment to Columbus Air Force Base marks a new beginning, a time of new challenges and opportunities, new friends and new surroundings. Everyone here is committed to ensuring your move is the first of what will be a long line of great experiences at Columbus.

YOUR SPONSOR
If you're a permanent party Air Force member, you'll have a sponsor to help you before your arrival and help you settle in. If you haven't heard from your sponsor, call the Individualized Newcomer Treatment and Orientation (INTRO) manager at DSN 742-2626/2624 or (662) 434-2626/2624.

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
The Airman and Family Readiness Center's relocation assistance program can assist you in getting acquainted with your new duty station. Spouse programs cover everything from how to use health care facilities to weekend getaways. Information on local agencies, organizations, and schools, as well as brochures on tourism attractions and trip-planning services are also available. The Airman and Family Readiness Center also maintains a computer-based information system and videos on military bases around the world. Other resources include foreign language tapes and information for planning your next move.

FORWARDING ADDRESS
You can have mail sent to you in care of General Delivery.

The address is:
General Delivery
Attn: (Your Name)
680 Seventh St., Suite 101
Building 926
Columbus AFB, MS 39710
If you'll be living in government quarters other than military family housing (which gets home mail delivery), you'll be assigned a permanent mailbox upon arrival. The ZIP code for Columbus Air Force Base work centers and mailboxes is 39710; for military family housing, it's 39705.

WHAT TO BRING
When considering what to bring in your hand-carried luggage, nonrated members need airman battle uniforms. Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (SUPT) students need blues and ABUs for their first duty day and will be issued flight suits during the first phase of SUPT. Hand-carry permanent change of station orders and amendments, personnel, medical and flight records and a copy of your household goods shipping and storage inventory from your packers.

EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION
In the event of an emergency while en route to Columbus, call your sponsor, first sergeant or commander through the Columbus Air Force Base command post at (662) 434-7020 or (800) 982-4257. You can also reach an American Red Cross representative through these numbers.

GETTING HERE
Columbus Air Force Base is located off Highway 45 North about 7.5 miles north of where Highway 82 passes through downtown Columbus. The turnoff to our main (east) gate is well marked with a T-37 static display. If you arrive by commercial air, you'll land at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, a 35-minute drive from the base. There is no base-to-airport shuttle, but taxi and airport limousine services are available. In most cases, these fares are reimbursable if included on your travel voucher. Call (662) 327 4422 for airport information.

COLUMBUS FACTS
Telephone
The area code for the Columbus region is 662. The Columbus Air Force Base DSN prefix is 742. To dial base numbers from on and off base, use the prefix 434 and extension. For Columbus Air Force Base directory or operator assistance, dial "0" from base work centers; from off-base telephones and military family housing, call (662) 434 7322. When calling locally off base from a government phone, dial 99 for an outside line; for DSN, dial 94.

Home Page
Visit the Columbus Air Force Base home page at http://www.columbus.af.mil.

Time Zone
Mississippi is in Central Standard Time and observes daylight-saving time from early April until mid November.

Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with average highs of 92 degrees and lows of 68 degrees. Afternoon thunderstorms are common during the spring and summer. Winters are mild, with average temperatures ranging from highs of 54 degrees to lows of 32 degrees.

Duty Day
The duty day for most base support offices is from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Reveille & Retreat
Reveille is played Monday through Friday at 7 a.m. followed by "To the Colors." Reveille signifies the beginning of the official duty day and the raising of the flag. When Reveille sounds, military personnel in uniform are to face the flag or the music if the flag is not visible, and stand at parade rest. At the first note of "To the Colors," come to attention and salute.

Civilian personnel on the installation should face the flag or music and place their right hand over their heart for "To the Colors." All vehicles should come to a stop and remain so until the last note is played.

Retreat is played Monday through Friday at 5 p.m. followed by the National Anthem. Retreat signifies the end of the official duty day and the lowering of the flag. Individuals outdoors and in uniform should face the flag or the music if the flag is not visible, and stand at parade rest during the sounding of Retreat. At the first note of the national anthem, come to attention and salute, holding the position until the last note of the anthem is sounded.

If in civilian clothing, both military members and civilians should take the same actions as in uniform, with a few exceptions: Men will remove their hats with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder with the right hand over the heart. Men without hats and women stand at attention and place their right hand over their heart.

All vehicles should come to a stop and remain so until the last note has ended.

Taps will be played Monday through Friday at 9 p.m. Taps began as a signal for lights or lights out at the end of the day. For these purposes, there are no formal protocol procedures required. However, the playing of Taps continues to be a part of a military funeral/memorial honors ceremony. Upon hearing Taps at a military ceremony, proper protocol dictates those individuals in uniform render a salute until the music is complete. Civilians should remove their headgear and place their hand over their heart.

Note 1: If in the physical fitness uniform, individuals will render the proper salute for Reveille and Retreat.
Note 2: During all ceremonies regarding hoisting, lowering or passing of the flag, members and veterans of the U.S. military are authorized to render a salute while present but not in uniform, according to The National Defense Authorization Act of 2008.

Base Taxi
Taxi service runs from 7:30 a.m to 4:15 p.m. weekdays for official business only. Call (662) 434 7430/7432 for service.