Forbes Field Air National Guard Base

Forbes Field Air National Guard Base sits about three miles south of Topeka, Kansas, in Shawnee County, and is home to the Kansas Air National Guard 190th Air Refueling Wing. The installation began in 1941 as Topeka Army Air Field and was renamed Forbes Air Force Base in 1949 in honor of Major Daniel Forbes, an Air Force test pilot from Carbondale, Kansas. The site served as an active Air Force base until it closed in that role in 1973, after which the Air National Guard continued operations there. The 190th relocated to Forbes Field in 1967 and today flies the KC-135 in an air refueling mission. Over its long service, the base supported reconnaissance, strategic, and mobility roles under commands that included Strategic Air Command and, later, Air Mobility Command.

As at many installations with a long flying history, environmental reviews at Forbes Field have raised concerns about potential exposure to certain chemicals associated with past operations, particularly firefighting activities. The Air Force has evaluated several locations on the base as part of its broader effort to investigate and sequence environmental restoration work.

1. AFFF: AFFF (aqueous film forming foam) was used at Forbes Field for firefighting training purposes. This class of foam is effective on fuel fires but is a primary source of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds discussed below. Exposure to constituents of AFFF has been associated with a range of health concerns, which is why the foam has drawn close regulatory attention.
2. PFAS: PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large family of synthetic chemicals valued for their resistance to heat, water, and oil. At Forbes Field, PFAS are linked to historical AFFF use during firefighting training. Because these compounds break down very slowly, they are sometimes called forever chemicals, and concerns have been raised about their potential to persist in soil and groundwater.
3. PFOS: PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) is one of the most studied PFAS compounds and was a common ingredient in older firefighting foams. Its presence at the base reflects the same training-related foam use. PFOS has been associated in some studies with potential health effects, and it is among the substances tracked in PFAS site investigations.
4. PFOA: PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) is another widely recognized PFAS compound connected to legacy foam formulations and industrial uses. As with PFOS, concerns about potential exposure relate to its persistence and the difficulty of removing it from the environment once released.

Forbes Field is not listed on the National Priorities List as a federal Superfund site. The Air Force completed a Relative Risk Site Evaluation of eight PFAS-suspected sites tied to AFFF firefighting-training use, with one site scored medium and seven scored low, to help sequence environmental restoration. A fact sheet describing the evaluation was made available for public review and comment, and restoration work proceeds under the Department of Defense environmental restoration program in coordination with regulators. The Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority, which shares the field, has reported limiting traditional foam to emergencies and moving toward a fluorine-free alternative.

Veterans, Guard members, and others who served or worked at Forbes Field and who have questions about possible exposure are encouraged to stay informed as investigations continue and to speak with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs about available health resources and benefits. The VA can offer guidance on screening, registries, and individual circumstances, and tracking official updates from environmental agencies remains a sensible step.