The United States Air Force ranks number three in the US Armed Forces for the largest troop count. With just over 300,000 active duty service members, the US Navy beats out the Air Force with a force of around 350,000, and the US Army is the unchallenged leader with over 450,000 troops. As one of the most important branches of the Department of Defense, the Air Force has many of its staff stationed on the largest bases in the American Military.

Among the seven largest bases by troop count, some are very well known, and others are less so. Each of these military installations is vital to the combined national defense infrastructure. The USAF recently became the highest-funded branch, surpassing the Army in 2025. Much of that funding goes into maintaining and improving these enormous bases, many of which are joint facilities with the other branches.

From vast logistic bases that facilitate enormous airlift operations to highly classified research and development campuses, each one of these installations is unique. Let’s go down the list and break down exactly which Air Force Base has the most manpower and what its mission is.

1

Joint Base San Antonio

67,000 troops

Joint Base San Antonio is the largest single Department of Defense installation by population, serving as a vast military hub that combines three major facilities in the San Antonio area: Fort Sam Houston, Lackland Air Force Base, and Randolph Air Force Base. The base falls under the command of the USAF 502nd Air Base Wing.

JBSA-Lackland is the sole location for all Air Force (and Space Force) enlisted Basic Military Training. The 37th Training Wing, the largest training wing in the Air Force, trains and graduates more than 80,000 students annually. JBSA-Randolph is home to the headquarters of Air Education and Training Command, which is the ‘First Command’ of the Air Force.

The 12th Flying Training Wing at JBSA-Randolph is responsible for several key aviation pipelines, including training all Air Force instructor pilots, remotely piloted aircraft pilots, and basic sensor operators. JBSA-Lackland hosts the headquarters of the Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber), which is the Air Force’s information warfare numbered air force. It also houses the Defense Language Institute English Language Center for US and allied students.

2

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson

40,000 troops

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, is a crucial strategic power projection platform for US interests in the Arctic and Pacific regions. It was formed by the 2010 merger of Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson Army post.JBER supports a large military-affiliated community of over 40,000 people in total, including active-duty personnel, civilians, contractors, retirees, and family members.

JBER is home to the Headquarters for the Alaskan Command and the Alaskan NORAD Region. JBER-based F-22s frequently intercept foreign aircraft near Alaskan airspace. The 3rd Wing provides combat-ready airpower for the Indo-Pacific region as the principal and largest operational Air Force unit at JBER. The 3rd Wing operates the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighter, the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III transport, and the Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS.

The 673d Air Base Wing is the host unit for the entire joint base. The Alaska Air National Guard plays a crucial ‘Total Force’ role at JBER, conducting Combat Search and Rescue using HC-130J Combat King II aircraft and HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters. It also performs strategic airlift with C-17s and aerial refueling with Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers.

3

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

38,000 troops

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, is one of the largest and most important Air Force installations in the United States, known for its massive workforce comprising military, civilian, and contractor personnel. It serves as a major hub for research, development, and logistics. A large majority of the workforce is comprised of civilian employees and contractors, who are integral to the base’s mission of managing weapons systems and conducting scientific research.

This base serves as the headquarters for Air Force Materiel Command, which is responsible for the ‘cradle-to-grave’ management of Air Force weapon systems, covering research, development, acquisition, and sustainment. The Air Force Research Laboratory is the Air Force’s premier laboratory for leading scientific research and technology development, and its workforce is heavily concentrated at the base.

The National Air and Space Intelligence Center is the Department of Defense’s primary source for analyzing foreign air and space threats. This base is home to the 445th Airlift Wing of the Air Force Reserve Command, which flies C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. Additionally, located nearby is the National Museum of the US Air Force, which is the world’s largest and oldest military aviation museum.

4

Hill Air Force Base

27,000 troops

Hill Air Force Base in Northern Utah is a massive military installation and a vital hub for logistics, sustainment, and F-35 operations. It is the largest single-site employer in Utah and one of the largest Air Force bases by population. Hill AFB has a large and diverse workforce totaling approximately 27,000 employees. The base is primarily associated with the Air Force Materiel Command, but the Ogden Air Logistics Complex is the base’s largest organization.

It provides worldwide logistics, support, maintenance, and distribution for a wide range of aircraft and weapon systems. The 75th Air Base Wing (75 ABW) is the host unit, while the 388th and 419th are the active and reserve fighter wings, respectively, which operate the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II. Ogden is responsible for depot maintenance on the F-35 Lightning II, F-22 Raptor, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and A-10 Thunderbolt II, among others.

It also works on the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. The base is a central location for the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent (Sentinel) program, the nation’s next-generation ICBM system. Hill AFB is responsible for operating the Utah Test and Training Range, which is the largest contiguous block of overland supersonic-authorized restricted airspace in the continental US, used for extensive testing and training.

5

Eglin Air Force Base

20,000 troops

Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida Panhandle is the US Air Force’s largest installation by land area and a primary location for the testing and development of conventional air-delivered weapons. Its mission requires a very large and diverse workforce. Eglin AFB supports a vast ‘Team Eglin’ community. The total workforce is estimated to be over 20,000 military, civilian, and contractor personnel providing direct mission support.

The host unit, the 96th Test Wing, is responsible for testing all Air Force air-delivered weapons, navigation, and guidance systems. The base is home to the AFRL Munitions Directorate, a global leader in advancing weapons science and technology, and the McKinley Climatic Laboratory. The 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin is a joint graduate flying and maintenance training wing for the F-35 Lightning II. It trains pilots and maintainers for the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy.

The base supports nearby special operations forces at Hurlburt Field and hosts the Air Force Reserve’s 919th Special Operations Wing at Duke Field. Eglin hosts several non-Air Force units, including the Army’s 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and the 6th Ranger Training Battalion, which conducts the final phase of Ranger training.

6

Nellis Air Force Base

14,000 troops

Nellis Air Force Base, located in Southern Nevada just outside Las Vegas, is a primary hub for advanced combat aviation training and is home to the Air Force Warfare Center, making it one of the largest single employers in the region. Nellis is known as ‘Home of the Fighter Pilot’ and is the USAF’s premier hub for advanced combat aviation training. The base oversees large-scale, realistic combat training exercises like Red Flag and Green Flag-West.

Nellis manages the vast Nevada Test and Training Range complex, a 5,000-square-mile area of airspace and land that provides an unparalleled environment for military training and testing. The base is even the official home of the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron, the ‘Thunderbirds.’ Its vast workforce supports extensive flight operations and training ranges. The total workforce, including military, civilian, and contractors, is in the range of 14,000 to 15,000 employees.

7

Travis Air Force Base

13,000 troops

Travis Air Force Base in Northern California, often referred to as the ‘Gateway to the Pacific,’ is the US military’s busiest air terminal and the largest wing in the Air Force’s Air Mobility Command in terms of personnel. Its primary mission is to provide rapid global mobility through strategic airlift and air refueling.

Travis AFB maintains a large and integrated ‘Total Force’ team of over 13,000 military members and civilian employees. The 60th Air Mobility Wing operates a versatile fleet of C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, and KC-46 Pegasus aircraft to provide global reach capabilities.

The 60th Medical Group manages the David Grant USAF Medical Center, the flagship hospital of the Air Force Medical Service. It employs over 2,400 military and civilian personnel. The 621st Contingency Response Wing is America’s only wing of its kind, ready to deploy within 12 hours to support global operations or humanitarian efforts.