Scott Air Force Base

Scott Air Force Base
source
Name	Scott Air Force Base
Location	Shiloh, Illinois, St. Clair County, Illinois
Nearest town	Belleville, Illinois
Country	United States
Type	United States Air Force base
Operator	United States Air Force
Controlled by	Air Mobility Command
Built	1917
Used	1917–present
Condition	Active
Garrison	18th Air Force, 618th Air Operations Center, Air Mobility Command headquarters
Occupants	United States Transportation Command elements, Air Force Reserve Command units

Scott Air Force Base

Scott Air Force Base is an active United States Air Force installation in southwestern Illinois that serves as a major hub for airlift, aeromedical evacuation, and communications operations. Established during World War I as a training field, the base evolved through World War II, the Cold War, and post-9/11 operations into a joint, multi-service center that hosts elements of Air Mobility Command, United States Transportation Command, and other federal organizations. Scott AFB supports strategic mobility, command and control, and theater sustainment for operations across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

History

Scott traces its origins to 1917 when the base was activated for pilot training during World War I, shortly after the United States entered World War I. Renamed in 1917 for Corporal Frank S. Scott, the first enlisted American airman to die in an aviation accident, the field expanded during World War II to support training for Army Air Forces units and transient aircraft supporting the European Theater of Operations and the Pacific Theater. During the Cold War, Scott hosted NATO-related airlift and logistics functions and became a focal point for the consolidation of air mobility capabilities under organizational changes culminating in the establishment of Air Mobility Command in 1992. Post-Cold War reorganizations brought headquarters functions for United States Transportation Command and headquarters elements of Air Force Reserve Command to Scott, while contingency operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom further shaped the base’s mission and infrastructure.

Geography and Facilities

Located near Belleville, Illinois and adjacent to the Shiloh, Illinois municipal area, the base occupies land in St. Clair County, Illinois and lies within the Metro-East region of the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. Scott’s airfield infrastructure includes runways and taxiways capable of handling strategic airlift from platforms associated with Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, McDonnell Douglas C-141 Starlifter (historic), and other cargo aircraft. Facilities range from command headquarters buildings that host staff from United States Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command, and the Defense Information Systems Agency to hangars, maintenance depots, and the Scott Medical Center supporting aeromedical evacuation operations. On-base training ranges, vehicle maintenance shops, and a joint-use air traffic control complex support daily flight operations and regional contingency staging.

Units and Mission

Scott functions as a joint base for several major commands. Primary tenant units include headquarters of Air Mobility Command and elements of United States Transportation Command, alongside the 375th Air Mobility Wing (historical association), the 18th Air Force staff, and Reserve organizations from Air Force Reserve Command. The mission set encompasses strategic global mobility, aeromedical evacuation, communications, and command-and-control functions supporting operations in conjunction with partners such as United States Northern Command and allied organizations from NATO. Scott also hosts specialized units focused on logistics planning, global distribution, and information systems that interface with agencies like the Defense Logistics Agency and the Joint Chiefs of Staff for theater sustainment and deployment operations.

Operations and Training

Operational activities at Scott include coordination of aeromedical evacuation missions, planning and control of airlift sorties, and training in logistics and mobility tactics. The base supports exercises and deployments involving units that have participated in Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. Training programs and exercises often integrate personnel from Air Force Reserve Command, Air National Guard, and active-duty components, as well as joint exercises with United States Army and United States Navy elements. Aircrew proficiency, maintenance qualifications, and command post exercises are conducted regularly, supported by simulation facilities and instruction from squadrons experienced in global distribution and theater airlift doctrine.

Base Infrastructure and Support

Scott’s infrastructure includes an airfield complex, centralized command facilities, maintenance and logistics depots, and the Scott Medical Center for critical care and aeromedical support. Support organizations provide logistics, contracting, civil engineering, and base operations services; these entities coordinate with federal partners like the General Services Administration for construction and facility management. The installation maintains vehicle fleets, munitions handling capabilities for airlift manifests, and life support systems that include water, power, and communications networks tied to national defense information systems. Security forces elements enforce force protection and collaborate with local law enforcement agencies including the St. Clair County Sheriff and municipal police for mutual aid.

Housing and Community Services

On-base housing, family support centers, and morale, welfare, and recreation programs serve military personnel, Department of Defense civilians, and families. Community services include schools that coordinate with the Illinois State Board of Education and nearby school districts, medical and dental clinics, religious support from multiple faith groups, and retail amenities that align with Army and Air Force Exchange Service operations. The surrounding communities of Belleville, Illinois, O’Fallon, Illinois, and Shiloh, Illinois provide additional housing, commercial, and recreational resources, while veterans’ organizations and United Service Organizations maintain outreach and support programs for service members and retirees.

Environmental and Safety Programs

Scott implements environmental stewardship and safety programs addressing airfield emissions, hazardous materials handling, and fuel storage in coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Remediation efforts and natural resource management programs balance training and operational needs with protections for local wetlands and wildlife, and the installation operates fire and emergency response teams trained for aviation-related incidents. Occupational safety, industrial hygiene, and flight safety offices enforce standards aligned with Department of Defense directives to mitigate risks associated with maintenance, munitions handling, and airspace operations.

Category:United States Air Force bases Category:Installations of the United States Air Force by state