OSAN AIR BASE
AIR FORCE
South Korea
OSAN AIR BASE
AIR FORCE
South Korea
Osan Air Base
Defend the base, execute contingency operations and sustain the force.
Base Essentials
Osan Air Base is a U.S. Air Force installation in the Republic of Korea, host to the 51st Fighter Wing, which provides combat-ready forces for close air support, air strike control, forward air control-airborne, combat search and rescue, counter air and fire, and interdiction in the defense of the Republic of Korea. It is one of two major airfields operated by the U.S. Air Force in the ROK and the only base on the peninsula entirely planned and built by the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. The base hosts Headquarters Seventh Air Force, the U.S. Air Force component command.
Base Details
Type
Air Force Base
Branch
AIR FORCE
Command
Pacific Air Forces
Status
Active
Est.
—
Acres
—
Active Duty
—
Civilian
—
Population
—
Economic Impact
—
Osan Air Base History
Named After
Coming soon
History
We're currently compiling history information for Osan Air Base.
Units Stationed
Unit
Nickname
Type
51st Fighter Wing
51 FW
Wing
51 FW
Wing
36th Fighter Squadron
36 FS
Squadron
36 FS
Squadron
25th Fighter Squadron
25 FS
Squadron
25 FS
Squadron
51st Operations Support Squadron
51 OSS
Squadron
51 OSS
Squadron
7th Air Force
7 AF
Other
7 AF
Other
5th Reconnaissance Squadron
5 RS
Squadron
5 RS
Squadron
Historic Timeline
1948
51st Fighter Wing activated at Naha, Okinawa
1950
Enters Korean War combat
1951
Battle of Bayonet Hill at Hill 180
1951
Osan-Ni Air Base established
1952
Airfield built and first wing arrives
1956
Renamed Osan Air Base
1971
51st Air Base Wing activated as host unit
1974
Redesignated 51st Composite Wing (Tactical)
1986
Headquarters 7th Air Force activated at Osan
1988
Transition to the F-16
1993
Redesignated 51st Fighter Wing; 25th FS arrives
—
View Key Moments
(11)
1948
51st Fighter Wing activated at Naha, Okinawa
The 51st Fighter Wing was activated at Naha Air Base, Okinawa, and absorbed the resources of the inactivated 301st Fighter Wing, including the 51st Fighter Group.
1950
Enters Korean War combat
Redesignated the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, the wing moved to Itazuke Air Base, Japan, on Sept. 22, 1950 to support the U.S. Eighth Army breakout from the Pusan Perimeter, entering combat over Korea.
1951
Battle of Bayonet Hill at Hill 180
On Feb. 7, 1951, during the Eighth Army's Operation Thunderbolt, Capt. Lewis Millett led a bayonet charge up Hill 180 (now the site of the 51st Fighter Wing headquarters), for which he received the Medal of Honor.
1951
Osan-Ni Air Base established
Established in November 1951, Osan was the only base on the peninsula entirely planned and built by the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, carrying the airfield designation K-55.
1952
Airfield built and first wing arrives
Aviation engineers laid a 9,000-foot concrete runway; the 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing and an F-51 combat squadron arrived Dec. 26, 1952.
1956
Renamed Osan Air Base
On Sept. 18, 1956, the installation was redesignated Osan Air Base, its current name.
1971
51st Air Base Wing activated as host unit
On Nov. 1, 1971, PACAF activated the 51st Air Base Wing to assume host-unit responsibilities at Osan, beginning the 51st's continuing presence on the Korean Peninsula.
1974
Redesignated 51st Composite Wing (Tactical)
On Sept. 30, 1974, the 51st Air Base Wing became the 51st Composite Wing (Tactical) with a new combat mission, gaining the 36th Tactical Fighter Squadron (F-4E) and the 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron (OV-10A).
1986
Headquarters 7th Air Force activated at Osan
On Sept. 8, 1986, Headquarters Seventh Air Force was activated at Osan, replacing the 314th Air Division as the U.S. Air Force component command in the Republic of Korea.
1988
Transition to the F-16
The wing converted from the F-4E to the F-16, with the first F-16C landing at Osan on Aug. 10, 1988.
1993
Redesignated 51st Fighter Wing; 25th FS arrives
On Oct. 1, 1993, the wing returned to its original and current designation, the 51st Fighter Wing; the 25th Fighter Squadron and its A/OA-10s arrived in October 1993.
Phone Directory
Key phone numbers for Osan Air Base.
Osan Air Base Base Gates
Entry points, hours, and access requirements for Osan Air Base.
Gate hours can change suddenly during special exercises, holidays, and operational periods. We always recommend confirming details before you travel.
Visitor Access
What you need to know to get on Osan Air Base.
Visitor Pass Required
Sponsor Required
How are you entering the base?
I have a DoD ID / CAC
Active duty, civilian employee, retiree, or dependent.
I'm visiting someone
Sponsored visit — a DoD ID holder will vouch for you.
I need a day pass
No sponsor — process through the Visitor Control Center.
Commercial / Delivery
Truck drivers, contractors, and vendors.
Quick summary
Visitors without a DoD ID must be sponsored and get a pass at the 51 SFS Pass & Registration office in Building 765 (Mon-Fri 0800-1600). A long-term unescorted pass is valid 90 days, with documents submitted at least 60 days ahead. After hours, a sponsor can get a 4-Day Visitor Control Pass at the Morin Gate Visitor Center or Main Walk-In Gate with two forms of ID.
Latest News
Our coverage, local headlines, and upcoming events around Osan Air Base.
MyBaseGuide · Military News
Malmstrom AFB PCB Levels Raise Cancer Risk for Missileers
Read
MyBaseGuide · Information
What the Space Academy Means for NASA, the Space Force, and the Industry
Read
18h ago
MyBaseGuide · Childcare
DoDEA High Schools Are Adding a Classical Western Civ Class. Here’s What Changes
Read
19h ago
MyBaseGuide · Career & Pay
Marines Have Until September 30th to Update Their Official Religious Affiliations
Read
20h ago
MyBaseGuide · Lifestyle
Where I Was, and What Followed: A Personal Reflection on 9/11 and Pearl Harbor
Read
22h ago
PCS & Newcomers
Everything you need to know for your move to Osan Air Base.
Welcome center hours and contact details can change. We recommend confirming before you visit or call.
Military and Family Readiness Center
Hours
Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.; Sat and Sun closed; all U.S. holidays and Wing Training Days closed
In-Processing
Your unit CSS (Commander's Support Staff) schedules your base in-processing appointment; contact your unit CSS for details regarding time and location. Before arrival, personnel with orders to Osan AB may join the Osan AB Pre-arrival Orientation brief via Zoom at 8 a.m. Korean Standard Time, held monthly usually on the first Tuesday, by registering at 51fss.fsh.relocation@us.af.mil. At Incheon International Airport all USFK personnel are prohibited from wearing OCPs or service-equivalent uniforms and must wear Class A/B or service-equivalent uniforms; contact the Joint Personnel Processing Center (JPRC) service desk for transportation. The FSS bus to Osan takes approximately one and a half to two hours and costs $40 (cash only, reimbursable) per person one way. The Military and Family Readiness Center provides Newcomers Orientation, Smooth Move briefing, Pre-arrival Orientation briefings, Loan Locker, and Sponsorship training.
Trusted Base Intel. Since 1966.
Join 200,000+ personnel for base news, PCS tips, exclusive discounts, and critical benefits info.
Always free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Open PCS Entitlements Estimator
PCS Checklist
Download Full Base Guide PDF
Sponsor Program Information
Temporary Lodging Details
PCS Checklist
Trusted Base Intel. Since 1966.
Join 200,000+ personnel for base news, PCS tips, exclusive discounts, and critical benefits info.
Always free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sponsor Program Information
Temporary Lodging Details
Housing & BAH
On-post housing, cost of living, and BAH info for Osan Air Base.
On-Base Housing
Housing Management Office, 51st Civil Engineer Squadron (government-owned and managed; no privatized housing partner), Building 600, Room 101, Osan AB
Visit website2026 BAH Calculator
Dependency Status
With Dependents
$XX,XXX per year
E-5
Location
Select a grade and location above
Data Sources
BAH rates: Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO), effective January 1, 2026. Rates set annually by DoD based on rental survey data.
View Full BAH Rates
Schools & Education
K-12 schools, colleges, and education resources near Osan Air Base.
School Liaison Officer
School Liaison Office
1
Elementary Schools
View schools
1
High Schools
View schools
2
Colleges & Universities
View colleges
Education Resources
Notes, tuition & more
Education Benefits
Check Your GI Bill Eligibility
Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, and more.
Where To Live
Osan Air Base sits in Pyeongtaek City, Gyeonggi Do, South Korea, about 4.7 miles southwest of the town of Osan and roughly 40 miles south of Seoul. The base adjoins the Songtan area (population about 110,000), which merged into Pyeongtaek (population over 500,000). U.S. families live either in on-base military family housing or off base in the surrounding Pyeongtaek and Songtan communities; the cost of living off base varies with the U.S. dollar to Korean won exchange rate, with Pyeongtaek used as the reference point for cost comparisons.
Songtan
Urban
Area immediately adjacent to the base's main gate, population about 110,000, which merged with Pyeongtaek. Common off-base living area for personnel assigned to Osan.
Nearest community to the base gate, merged into Pyeongtaek City
Pyeongtaek
Urban
The host city for Osan Air Base, population over 500,000, in Gyeonggi Do. Used as the reference point for off-base cost-of-living comparisons.
Host city of the installation; primary off-base residential area
Osan City
Urban
City of over 240,000 population; the base is located 4.7 miles southwest of the town of Osan, for which it is named, despite not lying within it.
The base is named for this nearby city, not located within it
Taxes & Finance
State tax policy and financial info for service members at Osan Air Base.
State Income Tax
Military Pay
Retirement Pay
Vehicle Tax
Vehicle Registration
Coming soon
View Details
Property Tax
Coming soon
View Details
Spouse Income Tax
Coming soon
View Details
Combat Zone
Coming soon
View Details
Latest Videos from MyBaseGuide
View all
Pet Policies at Osan Air Base
Pet policies, vet services, and resources at Osan Air Base.
Emergency Vet
Coming soon
On-Base Vet Clinic
Coming soon
Restricted Breeds
—
Prohibited Animals
—
Dog Parks
—
Boarding & Kennels
—
Pet Guidance
Required Vaccinations
Pet Shipping Tips
Facilities & Services
On-base services and facilities at Osan Air Base.
Commissary
1
Osan AB Commissary
Click2Go Available
Exchange
BX
Medical
Coming soon
Childcare & Youth
CDC Available
Youth Programs
MWR & Recreation
3
Fitness Center
Golf Course
Employment & Education
Coming soon
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Osan Air Base.
01
What are the gate hours?
Coming soon
02
How do I get a visitor pass?
Coming soon
03
What is the cost of living like?
Coming soon
04
Are there on-base housing options?
Coming soon
05
What schools are nearby?
Coming soon
More AIR FORCE Installations
Explore other AIR FORCE bases and installations.
Air Force Academy
Colorado Springs, CO
Altus AFB
Altus, OK
Andersen AFB
Yigo, GU
Arnold AFB
Tullahoma, TN
Aviano AB
Aviano, Pordenone
Barksdale AFB
Bossier City, LA
Beale AFB
Marysville, CA
Cannon AFB
Clovis, NM
Columbus AFB
Columbus, MS
Davis-Monthan AFB
Tucson, AZ
Dover AFB
Dover, DE
Dyess AFB
Abilene, TX
Edwards AFB
Rosamond, CA
Eglin AFB
Valparaiso, FL
Eielson AFB
Fairbanks, AK
Ellsworth AFB
Box Elder, SD
F.E. Warren AFB
Cheyenne, WY
Fairchild AFB
Airway Heights, WA
Goodfellow AFB
San Angelo, TX
Grand Forks AFB
Grand Forks, ND
Hanscom AFB
Bedford, MA
Hawaii – Air Force
Honolulu, HI
Hill AFB
Clearfield, UT
Holloman AFB
Alamogordo, NM
Homestead ARB
Homestead, FL
Hurlburt Field
Mary Esther, FL
Joint Base Andrews
Camp Springs, MD
Kadena Air Base
Kadena, Okinawa, Japan
Keesler AFB
Biloxi, MS
Kirtland AFB
Albuquerque, NM
Kunsan Air Base
Gunsan, South Korea
Lackland AFB
San Antonio, TX
Laughlin AFB
Del Rio, TX
Little Rock AFB
Jacksonville, AR
Luke AFB
Glendale, AZ
MacDill AFB
Tampa, FL
Malmstrom AFB
Great Falls, MT
March ARB
Moreno Valley, CA
Maxwell-Gunter AFB
Montgomery, AL
McConnell AFB
Wichita, KS
Minot AFB
Minot, ND
Misawa Air Base
Misawa, Aomori, Japan
Moody AFB
Valdosta, GA
Mountain Home AFB
Mountain Home, ID
Nellis & Creech AFB
Las Vegas, NV
Offutt AFB
Bellevue, NE
RAF Lakenheath
Brandon, United Kingdom
RAF Mildenhall
Mildenhall, United Kingdom
Ramstein Air Base
Ramstein-Miesenbach, Rhineland-Palatinate
Robins AFB
Warner Robins, GA
Scott AFB
Belleville, IL
Seymour Johnson AFB
Goldsboro, NC
Shaw AFB
Sumter, SC
Sheppard AFB
Wichita Falls, TX
Tinker AFB
Oklahoma City, OK
Travis AFB
Fairfield, CA
Tyndall AFB
Panama City, FL
Vance AFB
Enid, OK
Westover ARB
Chicopee, MA
Whiteman AFB
Knob Noster, MO
Wright Patterson AFB
Dayton, OH
Yokota Air Base
Fussa, Tokyo, Japan
Data & Methodology
How we source this −
Information is compiled from DoD publications, official installation websites, and reviewed by military personnel. Independent publication — not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense.