Intro | Newcomer's Information | HousinG | facilities and services
Morale, welfare & recreation | Commands at NAS KINGSVILLE
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Naval Air Station Kingsville is one of the U.S. Navy’s premier locations for jet aviation training. Located in the heart of Texas ranch land just east of Kingsville, Texas, the base’s primary mission is to train tactical jet pilots for the Navy and Marine Corps.

NAS Kingsville is home to Training Air Wing TWO, which commands two training squadrons: Training Squadron Twenty-One (VT-21), and Training Squadron Twenty-Two (VT-22), which fly the T-45 “Goshawk.” Approximately 200 aviation students report each year to Kingsville for Undergraduate Jet Pilot Training.

As part of a national network of Naval Air Auxiliary Stations, Kingsville was established in 1942 during the Herculean efforts to train pilots for combat missions during World War II. NAS Kingsville was commissioned on July 4, 1942... an Independence Day that was carried out in the context of a national emergency that would affect every aspect of military and civilian life.

Many structures and facilities were intended to be temporary and were constructed under extremely tight deadlines. Some were replaced or expanded during the 1950’s Cold War era, and others were replaced in the ‘70’s and ‘80’s with increased military appropriations. Only one of the original buildings remains today, Quarters A, home to the Commander Training Air Wing TWO. The home serves as a living legacy to the base’s contributions to World War II and the Korean conflict.

NAS Kingsville became an all-jet training base in 1960, and was upgraded to an autonomous Naval Air Station in 1968. With the onset of the Vietnam War, the base increased both its flying activity and training schedule. By 1986, with new aircraft technology innovations, Squadrons VT-21 and VT-22 were providing advanced jet strike training in the TA-4 “Skyhawk,” while VT-23 was providing basic jet training in the T2-C “Buckeye.” Both training courses included carrier operations.

After a major realignment of the Naval Aviation Advanced Training Command, Training Air Wings were established in the 1970s. Training Air Wing ONE at NAS Meridian, Miss., and Training Air Wing TWO were the first two training air wings designated. Training Air Wing TWO was established on Aug. 1, 1971, and headquarted at NAS Kingsville.

In 1992, the T45-A “Goshawk” aircraft was introduced as the sole training aircraft flown at Kingsville. Today, pilots are flying both “A” and “C” model Goshawks... the “C” model being equipped with a new digital “glass cockpit” design.

Approximately 1,835 people are now stationed at NAS Kingsville: 650 military members, an average of 120 student aviators, and 875 civilian and contract employees. There are also nearly 250 U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the base, 42 U.S. Army Reservists and 50 Branch Health Clinic military and civilian personnel.

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