There are a total of five active military bases in Alabama, including three Army bases, one Air Force base, and one Coast Guard base.
There are no Marine or Navy bases in Alabama, in part because the small area they’d be able to operate from would be overshadowed by the several large bases in nearby Pensacola, FL.
Here are the 5 active bases in Alabama.
Air Force Bases in Alabama
Dannelly Field
Location: Montgomery, Alabama
In Use: 1943- Present
Overall Mission: This base flies the F-16C+ Fighting Falcon. They train units to be combat-ready and aim to be “deployment-ready; anytime, anywhere.”
They do this by practicing air-to-air and air-to-ground missions that support any missions that may take place on the ground.
Units Stationed:
- 187th Fighter Wing
Official Site: https://www.187fw.ang.af.mil/
Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base
Location: Montgomery, AL
In Use: 1910-Present
Overall Mission: Originally the site of the Wright Brothers’ flight school, the core mission of the Maxwell-Gunter Air Force base is training and education.
It is the headquarters of Air University, a key part of AETC, and the center for Joint Professional Military Education.
The base also hosts several air support and evacuation units.
Units Stationed:
- 42nd Air Base Wing
- 908th Airlift Wing
Official Site: https://www.maxwell.af.mil/
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Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base
Location: Birmingham, Alabama
In Use: 1938- Present
Overall Mission: This base trains air force units to be combat-ready and teaches support tactics as well as refueling and airlift mission essentials.
It flies the Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker.
Units Stationed:
- 117th Air Refueling Wing
- National Gaurd Units (for training purposes)
Official Site: https://www.117arw.ang.af.mil/
Army Bases in Alabama
Fort Rucker Army Base
Location: Dale, AL
In Use: 1942-Present
Overall Mission: Fort Rucker Army base is a key site for training Army aviators and airborne soldiers.
It trains aviators on helicopters including the Apache Longbow, Bell Kiowa, Boeing Chinook, and Beechcraft Huron.
It’s also home to the candidate school and career college for warrant officers.
Units Stationed:
- 1st Aviation Brigade
- 110th Aviation Brigade
- 23d Flying Training Squadron
Official Site: https://home.army.mil/rucker/
Redstone Arsenal Army Base
Location: Madison, AL
In Use: 1941-Present
Overall Mission: The Redstone Arsenal base is located just outside Huntsville.
It is currently the base of operation for the Army’s missile programs and includes programs for both testing and development.
It also works closely with NASA and is home to the Marshall Space Flight Center, which tests and develops propulsion methods for NASA.
Units Stationed:
- S. Army Aviation and Missile LCMC
- S. Army Materiel Command
- Missile Defense Agency
- S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command
- Aviation & Missile Research, Development and Engineering Center
Official Site: https://home.army.mil/redstone/
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Anniston Army Depot Base
Location: Bynum, AL
In Use: 1940-Present
Overall Mission: Anniston Army Depot base is located roughly 8 miles outside of Anniston.
It is an army depot, which means its core directives are to produce, store and repair vehicles, and store munitions.
It is the storage site for several chemical weapons and is one of only seven sites authorized to store chemical weapons in the US.
Units Stationed:
- Chemical Activity
- Center of Military History
- Defense Munitions Center
- Defense Distribution Depot.
Official Site: https://www.anad.army.mil/
Coast Guard Bases in Alabama
Coast Guard Aviation Training Center
Location: Mobile, AL
In Use: 1966-Present
Overall Mission: The Coast Guard Aviation Training Center is a training facility attached to the Mobile Regional Airport.
It trains Coast Guard pilots on two different helicopters, the MH-60 Jayhawk and the MH-65 Dolphin, and one plane, the HC-144 Ocean Sentry.
They also perform search and rescue operations, particularly those that need to be carried inland.
The base also hosts the USCG National Strike Force’s Gulf Strike Team, which responds to various emergencies and natural disasters.
Units Stationed:
- USCG National Strike Force, Gulf Strike Team
Official Site: https://www.forcecom.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/FORCECOM-UNITS/ATC/
Related Article – Army Bases in California
Born and raised in Woodbridge, NJ, he graduated from the New Jersey Institute Of Technology with an MBA in eCommerce.His hobbies include beach volleyball, target shooting, and lifting.
Rob is also a Commercially rated pilot and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), with over 1,500 hours of flight time.
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