Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, Texas
Naval Air Station (NAS) Corpus Christi located in South Texas on the southeast side of the city. Corpus Christi and the surrounding region is culturally rich and diverse, offers excellent educational opportunities, beautiful climate, land- and sea-based recreation, a strong economy, exceptional healthcare facilities, and affordable living that is "exceptionally friendly" to the military.
The mission of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi is to support the aviation training activities and the operations of tenants by operating and maintaining station facilities and providing all services and materials needed to maintain that support .
The official step leading to the construction of the Naval Air Station was initiated by the 75th Congress in 1938. A board found that a lack of training facilities capable of meeting an emergency demand for pilots constituted a grave situation. They recommended the establishment of a second air training station, and further, that it be located on Corpus Christi Bay.
NAS Corpus Christi was commissioned by its first skipper, Captain Alva Berhard, on March 12, 1941. The first flight training started on May 5, 1941. Former President George Bush was in the third graduating class, June 1943, commissioned just three days before his 19th birthday, which made him the youngest naval aviator to that date.
In 1941, 800 instructors provided training for more than 300 cadets a month. The training rate nearly doubled after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. By the end of World War II, more than 35,000 naval aviators had earned their wings here. Corpus Christi was the only primary, basic and advanced training facility in existence in the United States. At one time it was the largest pilot training facility in the world.
Today, the training program is much longer, approximately 18 months, due to the increased complexity of today's aircraft. Currently, Training Air Wing FOUR produces approximately 600 newly qualified aviators each year.
| Active Duty 2,836 | Commands 22 | Family Members 7,090 |
| Retirees 12,255 | Reserve & Guard 1,185 | Retirees Family members 12,555 |
| Civilian Employees 4,403 | Reserve & Guard Family members 2,963 | Grand Total 43,287 |