Fairchild Air Force Base
Fairchild Air Force Base, located west of Spokane, Washington, is a cornerstone of the United States Air Force’s global reach, primarily serving as a vital aerial refueling hub. Its host unit is the 92nd Air Refueling Wing (92 ARW), which falls under Air Mobility Command (AMC). The 92 ARW operates a substantial fleet of KC-135R Stratotankers, providing crucial in-flight refueling services that enable U.S. and allied aircraft to project power and conduct sustained operations worldwide.2 Beyond its core refueling mission, the wing also supports rapid and reliable passenger and cargo airlift, as well as aeromedical evacuations, making it a multifaceted asset for both conventional and strategic deterrence missions.
Fairchild’s importance extends beyond the active duty component, as it also hosts several key tenant units.4Most notably, the base is home to the 141st Air Refueling Wing (141 ARW) of the Washington Air National Guard, which also operates KC-135R Stratotankers and contributes significantly to the overall refueling capability. Additionally, Fairchild is the site of the 336th Training Group, which houses the Air Force’s renowned Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) School, a vital program that trains aircrew on survival skills in diverse and challenging environments. Other tenant units include the 36th Rescue Squadron (operating UH-1N helicopters for search and rescue) and the 509th Weapons Squadron (a geographically separated unit of the USAF Weapons School focused on KC-135 combat tactics). This combination of active duty, Air National Guard, and specialized training units solidifies Fairchild’s role as a critical operational and training installation for the Air Force.
