Holloman Air Force Base is home to the 49th Wing which is responsible for training F-16 pilots, supporting Air Transportable Clinics and Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources. The base is located near Alamogordo, New Mexico, and has a long history of military operations there.
Find information about Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico including the main commercial and DSN numbers for the base, information on basic services, base transportation, lodging for TDY and PCSing personnel, and inprocessing.
Mission & Units
Holloman Air Force Base is an Air Education And Training Command base and maintains the world’s longest aircraft testing track. The 846th Test Squadron there set a world land speed record “for a railed vehicle” clocking in at 6,453 miles per hour which is the equivalent of Mach 8.5. The base operated as an Air Combat Command base until 2018 when it was redesignated under Air Education And Training Command. The base hosts operational squadrons including airframes such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon, MQ-1, and MQ-9. The base also supports agencies responsible for scientific and technical support for the DoD.
Major units at Holloman AFB include:
- 16th Training Squadron
- 29th Attack Squadron
- 44th Fighter Group
- 49th Aerospace Medicine
- 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- 49th Civil Engineering Squadron
- 49th Communications Squadron
- 49th Comptroller Squadron
- 49th Dental Squadron
- 49th Force Support Squadron
- 49th Logistics Readiness Squadron
- 49th Maintenance Operations Squadron
- 49th Maintenance Squadron
- 49th Materiel Maintenance Group
- 49th Materiel Maintenance Squadron
- 49th Materiel Maintenance Support Squadron
- 49th Medical Group
- 49th Medical Operations Squadron
- 49th Medical Support Squadron
- 49th Mission Support Group
- 49th Operations Group
- 49th Operations Support Squadron
- 49th Security Forces Squadron
- 49th Wing
- 4th Space Control Squadron
- 7th Fighter Squadron
- 849th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- 96th Test Group
- Air Force Office of Special Investigations
- Area Defense Counsel
- Army Air Operations
- Corps of Engineers
- DECA
- Det 4 ACC Training Support Squadron
- DFAS
- German Air Force Flying Training Center
History
Holloman AFB got its start in 1942 as Alamogordo Air Field. It was originally intended as a training area for British Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian, Royal Australian, and Royal New Zealand pilots. It operated as an Army Air Base during World War Two and would train B-17 crews and B-24 Liberator crews for wartime missions. At the end of the war, plans were scrapped that included the base becoming a B-29 Stratofortress base–instead, the operation was declared inactive.
Sometime in 1948 the facility was redesignated as Holloman Air Force Base and would become a test area for drones, missiles, and UAV type hardware. Holloman would become known as an Air Force Missile Development Center base for 25 years. Among the most well-known work at the base?
As part of testing and training work there, Lieutenant Colonel John Stapp would earn the title “fastest man alive” after his experiences in a “rocket test sled”. Another record set there; Captain Joseph Kittinger, Jr. achieved fame for the highest open gondola manned flight, highest balloon flight, highest bailout, and longest free fall jump.
There were fighter operations at Holloman, too. Units and missions included:
- 366th Tactical Fighter Wing
- 49th Tactical Fighter Wing
- 479th Training Wing
Holloman would host the F-117 until it was retired, and in contemporary times the base flies F-22 Raptors, is responsible for supporting “air transportable medical clinics”. Holloman also hosts the German Air Force Tactical Training Center, supporting nearly 700 personnel and 25 Tornado fighter jets. The base was realigned from Air Combat Command jurisdiction in 2018 to Air Education And Training Command.
Contacts
Holloman AFB Main Address And Phone Numbers
490 1st Street
Building 29, Suite 1500
Holloman AFB, NM 88330
Holloman AFB Contact Phone Numbers
- Airman and Family Readiness Center (575) 572-7754
- Barracks/Single Service Member Housing (575) 572-3295
- Base Operator (575) 572-1110
- Child Development Center (575) 572-3753
- Dental Clinic (575) 572-3742
- Emergency 911
- Employment Assistance Program (575) 572-7754
- Family Advocacy (575) 572-7061
- Family Advocacy Nurse (575) 572-7061
- Family Center (575) 572-7754
- Hospital/Medical Treatment Facility (575) 572-5587
- ID/CAC Card Processing (575) 572-7506
- Information and Referral Services (575) 572-7754
- Legal Services/JAG (575) 572-7217
- NAF Human Resources Program (575) 572-5454
- School Age Care Program (575) 572-1136
- SNAIC – EFMP Enrollment (505) 572-7700
- Suicide Prevention Hotline (800) 273-8255
- Welcome/Visitors Center (575) 572-5951
- Youth Center (575) 572-3753
Surrounding Area
Holloman AFB is roughly 10 miles west of Alamogordo, New Mexico. Alamogordo, New Mexico. Located roughly an hour away from White Sands Missile Range,
White Sands Missile Range is approximately 20 minutes from Alamagordo, New Mexico. The local area is full of Southwestern cuisine, desert trails, Oliver Lee State Park, and Dog Canyon Trail. Some will make the trek to McGinn’s PistachioLand, known as the home of the World’s Largest Pistachio. plus the Pistachio Tree Ranch & Arena Blanca Winery.
You can also get a taste of local history and space exploration; the International Space Hall of Fame and White Sands Missile Range Museum are both family-friendly attractions as is the New Mexico Museum of Space History. You can also try the Alameda Park Zoo, said to be one of the oldest (if not THE oldest) zoo in the American Southwest.
Inprocessing and Check-In
All PCSing airmen are directed to contact their sponsor and command support staff for unit-specific check-in procedures. Your sponsor will let you know that inprocessing begins immediately and at the gaining unit, but ultimately you will end up paying a visit to the Military Personnel Flight–be sure to have all required hand-carried documents such as your travel orders, all amendments, medical records, education records, etc. when you visit the base for the first time to check in at Holloman.
Health Care
The 49th Medical Group provides medical services for active duty service members, dependents, retirees, etc. This facility is a primary care/preventive care clinic–for emergency services dial 9-1-1. Emergency services are available at Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center in Alamogordo. Holloman AFB is in the TRICARE West region–contact your TRICARE rep to discuss care options in the network off base. Make appointments via the online portal.
Child Care
Holloman AFB has three Child Development Centers to choose from. Demand is high and parents are advised to contact the CDC as soon as they have orders to sign up for waiting lists, and learn what current requirements are for care. The three CDCs on base are:
- Child Development Center West with care services for children 6 months to 5 years. 575-572-7551.
- Child Development Center East offers care for children 6 weeks to 5 years of age. 575-572-7505.
- The Enrichment Center offers a Part Day Enrichment Program for children ages 4 and 5. There are also Before and After School programs for kindergartners. 575-572-5286.
Household Goods
Inbound troops are directed to track and manage their inbound household goods headed to Holloman via the Defense Personal Property System at Move.mil. You can get local assistance from the Holloman AFB Household Goods/Transportation Office at (575) 572-5228.
Dependent And Retiree ID Card Renewal, Replacement, New Issue
ID card services are provided by the 49th Force Support Squadron. Two forms of valid and unexpired ID are required for most services and your ID may be required to be REAL ID Act compliant. Appointments are strongly encouraged due to demand, mission requirements, etc. Call (575) 572-7506 or DSN 312-572-7506. Dependents may require the presence of the sponsor or a valid Power of Attorney or acceptable alternative.
Schools
The Alamogordo Public School District serves Holloman AFB–attendance at any local school is dependent on address and the school district informs parents which school your child will attend. Students who live off-base may be permitted to attend school at an on-base school on a case-by-case basis.
There are three districts in the local area: Alamogordo, Cloudcroft and Tularosa. For transfer requirements and other information, contact the Holloman School Liaison Office at 575-572-3944 or DSN 312-572-3944 to learn about immunization requirements, school records transfer, etc.
Housing
Inbound PCSing troops are advised to use the Air Force Housing website to begin the house hunting process. Do not enter into legally binding housing agreements in the local community without checking in with the Holloman Housing Management Office; if you are a geographic bachelor or single/unaccompanied PCSing to Holloman, check with your sponsor but know that in general, on-base housing is required for unaccompanied Airmen in the ranks of E-1 to E-3 and E-4 with less than 3 years of service.
E-4s with greater than 3 years of service will be allowed to find housing off-base. Call 575-572-2285 to learn more.
PCS and TDY Lodging
Temporary lodging is provided by the Holloman Lodging Office. Demand is high and all inbound PCS and TDY troops are advised to make reservations as far in advance as possible. You are not required to have a hard copy of your orders to make reservations, call the Holloman Lodging Office at 575-572-3311 or DSN 312-572-3311 to make reservations. Limited pet facilities are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Ask first.
Transportation
There is no base transportation offered at the time of this writing, and all privately owned vehicles entering the base are subject to 100% ID checks, searches, etc. Holloman AFB is approximately six miles from Alamogordo–White Sands Regional Airport with the following airports also in the general area:
- El Paso International Airport (74 miles)
- Roswell International Air Center (96 miles)
Depending on when you arrive and the time of year, the usual ride sharing and commercial transportation services may be available. It may be wise to arrange travel or learn more about local options from your sponsor ahead of time. Some commercial shuttles may offer you a flat rate for travel to the installation; ask your sponsor which operator is the most reliable and military-friendly if you aren’t sure which option to use from the airport.
Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License
New Mexico State law requires all drivers to carry liability insurance, and out-of-state drivers including military members stationed here may be required to register cars once residency has been established. If you register to vote in New Mexico or otherwise establish residency, you will need to review current New Mexico requirements and procedures to register a privately owned vehicle.
Active duty service members and spouses of active-duty military may take advantage of an automatic extension to their driver’s license expiration date. Your license will not expire for the duration of military service plus 31 additional days. However you must renew the license in person before the end of the extra 31 days.