Military Bases in the United States

Where to find military bases in the Unites States. Includes Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy bases.

Bases by Military Branch

Air Force Bases in the United States
The aerial warfare branch of the United States military was part of the U.S. Army, and known as the Army Air Force, until it became a separate branch on September 18, 1947.

Army Bases in the United States
The largest and oldest branch of the United States military has its roots in the Continental Army formed on June 14, 1775 to fight the British during the Revolutionary War. After the United States of America was established as an independent nation, the U.S. Army was created on June 3, 1784.

Marine Bases in the United States
The United States Marin Corps is responsible for providing strong force international warfare from sea and operating amphibious warfare ships around the world. It has its roots in the Continental Marines formed on November 10, 1775 to fight the British during the Revolutionary War. After the United States of America was established as an independent nation, the United States Marine Corps was established on July 11, 1798.

Navy Bases in the United States
The naval warfare branch of the United States military has its roots in the Continental Navy established on October 13, 1775 to fight the British during the Revolutionary War. That Navy was disbanded after the war and the U.S. was without a formal Navy until permanent standing navy was established by the Naval Act of 1794. That act ordered the construction of six ships the first 3 of which were the USS United Stastes, the USS Constellation, and the USS Constitution.

Coast Guard Stations in the United States
The coastal defense and maritime law enforcement and branch of the United States Military was established on August 4, 1790. It is structurally organized under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime but can be transferred to the Department of the Navy during wartime. That transfer happened in 1917 during World War I and in 1941 during World War II. The U.S. Coast Guard operates in both domestic and international waters.

Largest U.S. Military Bases by Population

01. Fort Bragg Army Base
POPULATION: Greater than 238,000
PHYSICAL SIZE: About 163,000 acres
LOCATION: West of Fayetteville, North Carolina

02. Fort Campbell Army Base
POPULATION: Greater than 234,000
PHYSICAL SIZE: About 105,000 acres
LOCATION: In both Kentucky and Tennessee (spans the border)
BETWEEN: Hopkinsville Kentucky and Clarksville, Tennessee

03. Fort Hood Army Base
POPULATION: Greater than 217,000
PHYSICAL SIZE: About 215,000 acres
LOCATION: Town of Killeen in Central Texas
BETWEEN: About halfway between Austin and Waco

04. Lewis-McChord Joint Military Base
POPULATION: Greater than 209,000
PHYSICAL SIZE: About 414,000 acres
LOCATION: About 9 miles southwest of Tacoma, Washington State
The Jonit Base Lewis-McCord was formed on February 1, 2010 when the Base Realignment and Closure Commission merged the McChord Air Force Base with the Fort Lewis Army Base.

05. Fort Benning Army Base
POPULATION: Greater than 107,000
PHYSICAL SIZE: About 182,000 acres
LOCATION: About 7 miles south of Columbus, Georgia

U.S. Military Organizational Structure

Organization of the Military Branches
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
--- Department of the Air Force
--- Department of the Army
--- Department of the Navy
-------- Marine Corps Headquarters
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
-------- Coast Guard (transferred to Navy when at war)

Military Commands of the U.S.
- Africa Command (AFRICOM)
- Central Command (CENTCOM) Middle East
- European Command (EUCOM)
- Northern Command (NORTHCOM) North America
- Pacific Command (PACOM)
- Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) Caribbean + Central & South America
- Special Operations Command (SOCOM)
- Strategic Command (STRATCOM)
- Transportation Command (TRANSCOM)
FORMER COMMANDS:
- Joint Forces Command (JFCOM) 1999-2011

More About U.S. Military Bases

- Military Bases Dot Com Web Site
- Wikipedia "U.S. Military Bases" List
- Wikipedia "U.S. Military Installations" Category

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