Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center

Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center is situated five miles north-northeast of Gulfport, Mississippi, and shares facilities with the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport. Established in 1942 as Gulfport Army Airfield, the site originally served as a training base for the Air Corps Flying Training Command. During World War II, the facility conducted technical training and functioned as a replacement training site for B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator units, as well as B-29 Superfortress aircrew transition training. Following a period in reserve status starting in 1946 and conveyance to the City of Gulfport in 1949, the site was reactivated in 1951 as Gulfport Air Force Base. It served as the headquarters for the Technical Training Air Force until 1958, when the installation was transferred to the Mississippi Air National Guard.

The U.S. Air Force operates the center under the control of the Mississippi Air National Guard. The installation hosts deployments for Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command units. Stationed tenant units include the 255th Air Control Squadron, which provides Ground Control Intercept and air control capabilities, and the 209th Civil Engineer Squadron. The 209th is a geographically separated unit of the 172nd Airlift Wing and falls under Air Force Special Operations Command when activated. It maintains a Rapid Runway Repair site and a fire training facility. The 1108th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group of the Mississippi Army National Guard is co-located at the facility and operates an aviation maintenance depot for combat and transport helicopters.

The center utilizes instrumented offshore airspace for air-to-air engagement recording and integrates with an air-to-ground range at nearby Camp Shelby for ground attack training. All ranges and drop zones are managed via the Air Combat Training System, which provides electronic threat and scoring capabilities. Infrastructure includes housing for approximately 1,000 personnel. The flight line ramp space is configured to support various aircraft types, including heavy transport aircraft, tankers, and squadrons of fighter aircraft.