Barksdale AFB is the only Air Force base whose units – Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), 8th Air Force (8AF), and the Joint Global Strike Operations Center ( J-GSOC) – organize, train, equip, and execute the Air Force’s institutional missions: Strategic operations and long-range strike. The effects of these missions were responsible for the successful end to World War II and led to the establishment of the Air Force as a separate service in 1947.
Barksdale is also unique as the only Air Force base hosting a major command (AFGSC), numbered Air Force (8AF), operational command ( J-GSOC), and combat wings (2BW and 307BW), and also uniquely capable of conducting both conventional and nuclear operations. In addition to its operational missions, Barksdale also conducts initial B-52 flight qualification training.
Barksdale Forward has worked for over three decades to ensure the base remains a vital asset to our region and our nation’s defense.
The Barksdale Forward mission is to grow the role of Barksdale Air Force Base in our economy and national security, protect the operational integrity of the base, advocate for its continued growth and investment, and educate the public on its strategic importance.
Exploring the roots of Shreveport and Bossier City leads history buffs to the mighty Red River, which runs between the two cities, and immerses them in Louisiana’s rich traditions of food, family, and heritage.
Festivals& Events Yearly
Local Eateries
Visitors Annually
