Greater
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Military Resources
Fairchild Air Force Base is comprised of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing (host wing), the 141st Air Refueling Wing (Washington Air National Guard), the 336th Training Group (Air Education and Training Command), the Armed Forces Reserve Center, and 15 other tenant organizations/mission partners. Team Fairchild encompasses more than 6,500 Air Force active duty, Air National Guard, Army Guard and Reserve members, and civilian employees.
The 92nd Air Refueling Wing provides air refueling, rapid and reliable passenger and cargo airlift, and aeromedical evacuation missions supporting U.S. and coalition conventional operations as well as strategic deterrence missions. The wing employs forces globally in support of Combatant Commands and services appropriate U.S. government agencies and allies to advance U.S. interests around the world.
As the U.S. Air Force’s Super Tanker Wing, the 92nd Air Refueling Wing currently has 68 KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft assigned. The KC-135 provides the core air refueling capability for the U.S. Air Force and has excelled in this role for more than 60 years. This capability provides air refueling support to Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied nation aircraft. The KC-135 is also capable of transporting litter and ambulatory patients during aeromedical evacuations.
These aircraft and the dedicated members of Team Fairchild actively support homeland defense, combat, and humanitarian missions. The 92nd Air Refueling Wing is proud to provide Global Reach for America through responsive, precise air refueling and operational support for the full range of military operations.
*Photo Credit: Rogue Heart Media
Fairchild is Home to the 92nd and 141st Air Refueling Wings
Fairchild maintains a stellar reputation while playing a pivotal role in national defense, offering critical support to national and global operations, including Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and Inherent Resolve. In recognition of Fairchild’s superior performance, the 92nd Refueling Wing earned the Omaha Trophy, awarded annually by US Strategic Command to recognize operational excellence, in 2016 and again in 2017, the first time in the trophy’s 46-year history it has been awarded in consecutive years to the same wing.
Additionally, Fairchild is home to the USAF’s only survival school, preparing over 12,500 aircrew members and SERE instructors annually. The 336th Training Group consists of the USAF Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) School and the 36th Rescue Flight. In addition to on-base Survival School facilities, over 500,000 acres of rugged mountains north of the base in the Colville and Kaniksu National Forests are used for the wilderness survival simulations.
The unwavering support offered by Eastern Washington to its base, Airmen, and their families can be seen in numerous ways. Fairchild has earned the Abilene Trophy, awarded annually by Air Mobility Command to the community that is most supportive of its local Air Force Base, four times since 2000. (2000, 2006, 2013, 2017) No other base has earned the trophy more times in that span. In addition, the Tampa Bay Defense Alliance Trophy was awarded to Spokane and Fairchild in 2021.
Forward Fairchild
Forward Fairchild is a committee of Greater Spokane Incorporated that convenes business, community, and military leaders from all branches to maintain strong relationships with the base, provides advocacy support, and works with the Washington Military Alliance on state-wide Department of Defense issues. The Fairchild Honorary Commander Program matches approximately 40 business leaders with officers at Fairchild to introduce the officers to Spokane and the surrounding region. The Lilac Festival is a weeklong celebration of our armed forces taking place every May, culminating with the annual Armed Forces Torchlight Parade, the largest in the nation. Spokane has several local organizations that offer direct support to military members, their families and veterans. One such organization is Operation Spokane Heroes which offers discounted goods, services, and emergency financial assistance to veterans and current service-members in need.
Operation Fly Together
The Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, built in 1995, was named in honor of our area veterans. It hosts a Veterans Day Ceremony each November and several Veterans Memorials.
The Operation Fly Together campaign stems from a historic agreement between Team Fairchild and the baseball team, designed to celebrate the KC-135 tanker, build pride for the base’s critical functions and help better the lives of Veterans from all services that have settled in the Spokane region. Fairchild Air Force Base’s interest in this partnership is to help better the lives of the veterans from all services that have settled in the Spokane region.