Regional Counterdrug Training Academy, NAS Meridian, MS

Just 15 miles northeast of downtown Meridian lies Naval Air Station Meridian jet training facility. The main base of NAS Meridian occupies more than 8,000 acres, with an additional 4,000 acres at Joe Williams Field and the target facility SEARAY. The size of NAS Meridian may be compared to that of other major naval air stations such as NAS Pensacola, Fla., which has about 5,000 acres. More than 4,000 military, civilians and dependents work and/or live at the air station.

NAS Meridian supports aviation and technical training, and other tenant activities by providing timely, quality services and facilities in an environmentally safe, secure community. Departments working under the NAS Commanding Officer form the backbone for the entire installation's functioning. The Administrative Services Department provides general administrative services for the command. Responsibilities include: processing military personnel matters with the Personnel Support Activity Detachment, Meridian; processing special requests, leave and TAD orders, evaluations and command correspondence; maintaining command directives and correspondence files; providing duplicating services and messenger systems; and coordinating administrative systems and services throughout the command. The Air Operations Department employs 230 military and civilian personnel to operate McCain Field and Joe Williams Outlying. Their primary mission is to support CTW-1 under-graduate pilot training. Additional services are furnished to support operations for NAS and transient aircrews. Air Traffic Control Division operates the control tower and radar final control systems. They provide flight planning services and issue clearances and instructions to pilots for all phases of military flight operations within the vicinity of the airport. Ground Electronics Maintenance Division (GEMD) ensures all assigned UHF, VHF and FM radio communications, air navigation aids, weather monitoring/reporting equipment and precision approach radars required to conduct safe and effective flight operations around NAS Meridian and its outlying field operate at or above designated performance standards. GEMD also provides sound support services and functions as point of contact for matters related to 3M, frequency management, equipment configuration and computer repair/assistance. HH-1N Huey helicopters are used by the station's Search and Rescue personnel to provide 24-hour rescue coverage of the Eastern Mississippi/Western Alabama area. The 25-member SAR team consists of pilots, aircrewmen and hospital corpsmen who train constantly in first aid, helicopter rappelling and tree extraction. The team also assists in a wide variety of civilian emergencies, such as searching for missing persons, assisting with aircraft and boating mishaps and occasional MEDEVAC missions.

Please visit the NAS Meridian website at https://www.cnet.navy.mil/meridian.