Virginia hosts one of the largest concentrations of U.S. Army installations in the country, supporting training, logistics, intelligence, engineering, and administrative functions near the nation’s capital and along the East Coast.
Major active Army bases include Fort Belvoir (home to multiple major commands and agencies), Fort Gregg-Adams (formerly Fort Lee, Quartermaster and Ordnance Schools), Fort Eustis (Transportation School and logistics hub), Fort Walker (formerly Fort A.P. Hill, maneuver training), and Fort Myer/Henderson Hall (ceremonial and administrative support as part of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall).
These installations play critical roles in officer and enlisted training, sustainment, joint operations with the Pentagon and other DoD agencies, and support for the National Capital Region.
With proximity to Washington D.C., Virginia bases often host high-level headquarters, research activities, and rapid-response units.
In this updated guide for 2026, we detail the primary active Army installations in Virginia, their missions, key units, locations, and recent developments or name changes.
Active Army Bases in Virginia
The following bases in Virginia are still being used by the US Army today:
Fort Belvoir Army Base
In Use: 1917- Present
Overall Mission: Fort Belvoir’s main mission is to “provide installation base support to enable mission readiness.”
Units Stationed:
- 29th Infantry Division
- 1st Information Operations Command
- Army Intelligence and Security Command
- Military Intelligence Readiness Command
- Defense Logistics Agency
- Defense Threat Reduction Agency
- Missile Defense Agency
- National Geo-Spatial Intelligence Agency
- Aerospace Data Facility East
- 12th Aviation Battalion
- 75h MP Detachment
- 212th Military Police Department
Official Site: https://home.army.mil/belvoir/
US Army Garrison Fort Lee
In Use: 1917-1924, 1941- Present
Overall Mission: Fort Lee is an Army base that is filled with rich history. Today, their main missions are in base operations and mission readiness.
Units Stationed:
- Combined Arms Support Command Center of Excellence
- Army Logistics University
- US Army Quartermaster School
- US Army Transportation School
- US Army Ordnance School
- Defense Commissary Agency
Official Site: https://home.army.mil/lee/index.php
Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall
In Use: 1791 as Fort McNair, 1863 as Fort Cass, 1941 as Henderson Hall- Present
Overall Mission: This joint branch base has a mission to secure its joint community, sustain installation of infrastructure, and support existing infrastructure partners.
Units Stationed:
- 3rd US Infantry Regiment
- US Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard
- US Army Band
Official Site: https://home.army.mil/jbmhh/index.php
Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett
In Use: 1942- Present
Overall Mission: Fort Pickett aims to train National Guard troops through use of their forward operation base, fire range, EST, training village, urban assault, and more.
Units Stationed:
- Army National Guard Maneuver Training Center
Official Site: https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/fortpickett_history/
Fort AP Hill Army Base
In Use: 1941- Present
Overall Mission: Fort AP Hill aims to provide “ready, prompt, and sustained land dominance across a full spectrum of conflict,” both as part of the US Army and as a part of a joint force when applicable.
Units Stationed:
- II Corps
- VII Corps
- 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment
- Engineer Officer Candidate School
- Regional Training Support Center
- Sustainable Range Program
Official Site: https://www.army.mil/aphill
Inactive Army Bases in Virginia
As mentioned above, some bases in Virginia are no longer being used for Army purposes. One of the Army bases below is now a national monument, while the other two are being used by different branches of the US military:
Fort Monroe Army Base
In Use: 1823- 2011
Overall Mission: Fort Monroe was built due to its excellent defense location, and later served as a Conferatre base, early artillery school, and lastly was home to the US Army Training and Doctrine Command before becoming a national monument in 2011.
Units Stationed:
- Artillery School of Practice/ Artillery School of the US Army
- Harbor Defenses of Chesapeake Bay
- Army Training Headquarters
- Fort Monroe National Monument
Official Site: N/A
Fort Story Army Base
In Use: 2005- Present (Navy Use)
Overall Mission: This former historic Army Base now serves as Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek – Fort Story, a training base that is mainly used by the US Navy.
Units Stationed:
- US Navy’s Atlantic Fleet
Official Site: https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrma/installations/jeb_little_creek_fort_story.html/
Joint Base Langley Eustis
In Use: 1918-1919 (Army), 2010- Present (Air Force)
Overall Mission: This base started as Fort Eustis, an army base, and is now an Air Force base that aims to pay tribute to its Army founding and history.
Units Stationed:
- 633rd Air Base Wing
- Medical Group
- Mission Support Group
Official Site: https://www.jble.af.mil
What People Get Wrong About US Army Bases in Virginia
Many assume Virginia has only a handful of Army bases focused around the Pentagon.
In reality, the state hosts several large, distinct installations with specialized missions: Fort Belvoir (engineering, intelligence, personnel), Fort Gregg-Adams (logistics and sustainment training), Fort Eustis (transportation and rail operations), Fort Walker (large training ranges), and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall (ceremonial and administrative); smaller sites like Arlington National Cemetery support also exist but are not traditional bases.
Another misconception is that Fort Belvoir is primarily an administrative post with little operational activity.
Fort Belvoir is one of the Army’s largest installations by population and scope, housing the Engineering School, Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) elements, Defense Logistics Agency, and multiple tenant agencies; it supports over 145 mission partners and serves as a major hub for Army and DoD functions in the National Capital Region.
People often think Fort Gregg-Adams is still called Fort Lee or has limited training roles.
The base was renamed Fort Gregg-Adams in 2023 to honor two Black Army officers; it remains the home of the Army Sustainment Center of Excellence, including the Quartermaster, Ordnance, and Transportation Schools, training thousands of soldiers annually in logistics, supply, maintenance, and ammunition management.
Some believe all Virginia Army bases are close together or clustered near D.C.
While Fort Belvoir and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall are in the Northern Virginia/D.C. area, Fort Gregg-Adams is south near Petersburg, Fort Eustis is in Newport News on the Virginia Peninsula, and Fort Walker is in Caroline County—spanning from northern to central Virginia with diverse terrain and missions.
Finally, a common view is that the Army presence in Virginia has declined due to name changes or BRAC rounds.
Despite past realignments and recent renamings, Virginia’s Army installations remain robust and growing in importance (e.g., expanded logistics training at Fort Gregg-Adams, continued engineering/intelligence roles at Belvoir); no major closures have occurred, and the state continues to support key Army functions.
Clarifying these points provides an accurate understanding of Virginia’s vital, diverse Army basing footprint.
Zach currently resides in Syracuse, New York, and is very active in politics and local news media.
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