military bases in virginia
General Military Questions

Military Bases In Virginia

There are a total of 20 active military bases in Virginia, including some of the oldest and most famous in the country.

Most of the bases are Army or Navy, but all five branches are represented with bases in Virginia.

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Army Bases in Virginia

Fort Belvoir

Location: Fairfax, VA

ft belvoir in virginia
Image: Wikimedia.org

In Use: 1917-Present

Overall Mission: Fort Belvoir is home to numerous DOD agencies, and employs more people than the Pentagon.

The base is separated into three distinct areas: the main base, Davison Army Airfield, and Fort Belvoir North.

Many of the base’s functions involve intelligence and readiness.

Units Stationed:

  • 12th Aviation Battalion
  • 1st IO Command
  • 249th Engineer Battalion
  • 701st Military Police Group
  • 902d Military Intelligence Group
  • Acquisition Support Center
  • Army Corps of Engineers
  • Army Cyber Command
  • Army Rapid Equipping Force
  • Defense Acquisition University
  • Defense Intelligence Agency
  • Marine Corps Detachment Fort Belvoir
  • Missile Defense Agency
  • Operational Support Airlift Activity
  • National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

Official Site: https://home.army.mil/belvoir/index.php

Joint Base Langley-Eustis – Fort Eustis

Location: Newport News, Virginia

ft eustis in virginia
Image: Wikimedia.org

In Use: 1918-Present

Overall Mission: In 2010, Fort Eustis was merged with Langley AFB and now comprises the Army portion of the Langley-Eustis Joint Base.

Their primary mission is to provide training and logistical support for the airborne and aviation divisions of the US Army.

Units Stationed:

  • U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command
  • 128th Aviation Brigade
  • 7th Transportation Brigade
  • 53rd Transportation Battalion
  • 567th Transportation Company
  • Installation Management Command, Atlantic
  • Army Training Support Center
  • Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate
  • 597th Transportation Brigade
  • 93rd Signal Brigade
  • 362nd Training Squadron
  • Joint Deployment Training Center
  • NCO Academy
  • US Army Flight Concepts Division

Official Site: https://www.jble.af.mil/

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Fort Gregg-Adams

Location: Prince George, VA

ft lee army base in virginia
Image: Wikimedia.org

In Use: 1917-1924, 1941-Present

Overall Mission: Fort Gregg-Adams is an army garrison in Prince George County, VA.

The base closed briefly in the time between WWI and WWII but reopened when America joined WWII and has remained open since then.

The base hosts the Army Quartermaster School, as well as the Ordnance and Transportation Schools.

Units Stationed:

  • U.S. Army Ordnance School
  • U.S. Army Quartermaster School
  • U.S. Army Transportation School
  • Army Combined Arms Support Command
  • Army Logistics University
  • Kenny Army Health Clinic
  • 12th Military Police Detachment Criminal Investigation Command
  • 23d Quartermaster Brigade
  • ALU Support Battalion
  • 244th Quartermaster Battalion
  • 262n Quartermaster Battalion
  • 266th Quartermaster Battalion
  • 345th Air Force Training Squadron
  • 59th Ordnance Brigade
  • 94th Division

Official Site: https://home.army.mil/lee/index.php

Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall

Location: Arlington, VA

joint base myer henderson hall
Image: Wikimedia.org

In Use: 1791-Present

Overall Mission: Joint Base Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall has existed in some form since 1791, first as Fort McNair, and has absorbed Fort Cass, Fort Myer, and Henderson Hall as part of recent BRAC initiatives.

It is the base of operations for most military and security operations around the nation’s capital.

The honor guard for Arlington Cemetery is also stationed here.

Units Stationed:

  • 3rd US Infantry Regiment
  • United States Army Band
  • National Defense University
  • Headquarters Battalion U.S. Army

Official Site: https://home.army.mil/jbmhh/

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Fort A.P. Hill

Location: Bowling Green, VA

fort ap hill in virginia
Image: Wikimedia.org

In Use: 1941-Present

Overall Mission: Fort A.P. Hill functions as a training and maneuver center, specializing in arms training.

It is operated by the US Army but is used by all branches of the Armed forces.

Units Stationed:

  • Directorate of Emergency Services
  • Directorate of Family and MWR
  • Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization, and Security
  • Regional Training Support Center
  • Plans and Operations Division Emergency Management
  • Plans, Analysis and Integration Office
  • Directorate of Public Works
  • Directorate of Resource Management
  • Regional Training Support Center
  • Sustainable Range Program

Official Site: https://www.army.mil/aphill

Fort Barfoot

Location: Blackstone, VA

ft pickett in virginia
Image: Dodlive.mil

In Use: 1942-Present

Overall Mission:  Fort Barfoot is an Army National Guard Base and home of the Army National Guard Maneuver Training Center.

The base’s 42000 acres are used for a wide range of maneuver training, including urban operations.

Fort Barfoot also is host to annual NATO exercises between the National Guard and elements of the Canadian Army.

Fort Barfoot was formerly known as “Fort Pickett” and was redesignated in March 2023 in a move to remove the names of Confederate Army leadership from Department of Defense properties. 

Units Stationed:

  • 183rd Regiment

Official Site: https://vaguard.dodlive.mil/fortpickett_history/

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Warrenton Training Center

Location: 4 locations throughout Fauquier County and Culpeper County

In Use: 1951-Present

Overall Mission: Warrenton Training Center is actually a series of four separate intelligence and communication facilities overseen and operated by the US Army.

The CIA, NSA, DoD, and DoS all perform classified operations out of the Warrenton Training Center.

The base is also a key part of the nation’s emergency communication system and tasked with maintaining communication capabilities in the event of all emergencies, including nuclear attack.

Units Stationed:

  • Various Classified Intelligence and Communication Units.

Official Site: N/A

Radford Army Ammunition Plant Army Base

Location: Radford and Dublin, VA

RADFORD ARMY AMMUNITION PLANT Army Base Virginia
Image Source: MilitaryTimes

In Use: 1941-Present

Overall Mission:  The Radford Army Ammunition Plant’s primary mission to develop and manufacture explosives and propellants for air defense, field artillery, and aircraft and naval weapons systems.

While the plant is operated by a civilian contractor, the property is owned by the U.S. Army with LtCol Adrien Humphreys as acting commander.

The site also plays host to a number of civilian defense contractors, including Northrop Grumman and Alexander Arms, 

Units Stationed:

  • U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command
  • US Army Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology Enterprise Systems and Services
  • Defense Contract Audit Agency

Official Site: https://www.jmc.army.mil/Radford/RadfordDefault.aspx

Navy Bases In Virginia

Joint Expeditionary Base, Little Creek-Fort Story

Location: Norfolk, VA

joint expeditionary base little creek fort story
Image: Wikimedia.org

In Use: 1942-Present

Overall Mission: Little Creek-Fort Story Joint Expeditionary Base was created by the Little Creek and Fort Story bases being merged in 2009.

It is the primary base for all Atlantic amphibious forces.

It is the largest amphibious operating base in the world, with over 15,000 personnel and 27 home-ported ships. It is also the home of several Navy SEAL teams.

Units Stationed:

  • Navy Expeditionary Combat Command
  • Amphibious Construction Battalion Two
  • Assault Craft Unit Four
  • Assault Craft Unit Two
  • Commander Naval Beach Group Two
  • Expeditionary Strike Group Two
  • Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic
  • Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group Two
  • Naval Construction Battalion Unit 202
  • Naval Network Warfare Command
  • Naval School of Music
  • Naval Special Warfare Group Four
  • Navy Cyber Forces Command
  • Navy Information Operations Command

Official Site: https://cnrma.cnic.navy.mil/jeb_little_creek_fort_story/

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NSF Dahlgren

Location: Dahlgren, Virginia

nswc dahlgren - military bases in virginia
Image: Wikimedia.org

In Use: 1918-Present

Overall Mission: NSA Dahlgren supports numerous scientific and response force missions across all branches of the U.S. military. 

It also includes the Naval Surace Warfare Center, which is tasked with the research, development, and testing of surface-to-surface munitions.

Almost 5,000 scientists and engineers are stationed at the base, along with 36 Navy destroyers and 41 Aegis BMD ships. 

Units Stationed:

  • NSWC Dahlgren Division
  • Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center
  • Aegis Training and Readiness Center
  • Center for Surface Combat Systems

Official Site: https://ndw.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NSA-South-Potomac/Installations/NSF-Dahlgren/ 

Naval Station Norfolk

Location: Norfolk, VA

naval station norfolk navy base in virginia
Image: Wikimedia.org

In Use: 1917-Present

Overall Mission: Naval Station Norfolk is the headquarters and home port of Fleet Forces Command.

The base supports 75 ships, 134 aircraft, over 82,000 personnel, 112,000 family members, and 39,000 civilian contractors.

It oversees the operation of 3,100 ships, and over 100,000 flight operations every year.

Units Stationed:

  • Navy Warfare Development Command
  • Navy Region Mid-Atlantic
  • Navy Expeditionary Combat Command
  • Naval Reserve Force
  • Navy Fleet Readiness Centers
  • Naval Surface Force Atlantic
  • Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Atlantic
  • Navy Exchange Command
  • Naval Safety Center
  • Carrier Strike Groups 2, 8, 10, and 12
  • Destroyer Squadrons 2, 22, 26, and 28
  • Submarine Squadron 6
  • USNS Ships: Apache, Arctic, Big Horn, Comfort, Grapple, Grasp, Leroy Grumman, Kanawha, Laramie, Lewis and Clark, Patuxent, Sacagawea, Supply, Zeus

Official Site: https://cnrma.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAVSTA-Norfolk/

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Norfolk Naval Shipyard

Location: Portsmouth, VA

norfolk naval shipyard
Image: Wikimedia.org

In Use: 1767-Present

Overall Mission: Norfolk Naval Shipyard began life as Gosport shipyard, and has throughout its life been controlled by the British, American, and Confederate armies.

Its current mission is the repair and modernization of US Navy ships, with a particular focus on nuclear ships and submarines.

It is currently the only East Coast facility that builds and refuels nuclear aircraft carriers and is one of only a few in the nation capable of dry-docking an aircraft carrier.

Units Stationed:

N/A

Official Site: https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/Shipyards/Norfolk/

Naval Air Station Oceana

Location: Virginia Beach, VA

nas oceana navy base in virginia
Image: Wikimedia.org

In Use: 1941-Present

Overall Mission: NAS Oceana is a master jet base, and hosts all navy fighter squadrons operating in the East Coast/Atlantic region.

There are a total of 14 strike fighter squadrons based out of NAS Oceana, as well as a number support and training squadrons and ground units.

NAS Oceana also operates a carrier landing training platform, which enables training pilots on landing on a carrier without the risks to equipment or personnel associated with training on a ship under sail.

Units Stationed:

  • Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic
  • Strike Fighter Weapons School Atlantic
  • Carrier Air Wing 1, 3, 7, and 8
  • Landing Signal Officer School
  • Fleet Readiness Center Mid-Atlantic

Official Site: https://cnrma.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAS-Oceana/

Naval Weapons Station Yorktown

Location: Yorktown, VA

yorktown naval weapons station
Image: Wikimedia.org

In Use: 1918-Present

Overall Mission: The primary purpose of NWS Yorktown is the storage and loading of weapons and ammunition.

It is host to a number of different units, which work together to provide logistical and technical support to Atlantic operations, as well as supplies and ordnance.

Units Stationed:

  • Navy Munitions Command Atlantic
  • Naval Ophthalmic Support and Training Activity
  • Marine Corps Security Force Regiment
  • Fleet Industrial Supply Center
  • Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group
  • Naval Expeditionary Medical Support Command
  • Navy Cargo Handling Battalion One
  • Various departments of the above.

Official Site: https://cnrma.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/WPNSTA-Yorktown/

Air Force Bases In Virginia

Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Langley AFB

Location: Hampton, Virginia

langley air force base in virginia
Image: Wikimedia.org

In Use: 1917-Present

Overall Mission: Langley is currently the USAF portion of Joint Base Langley-Eustis.

The mission of the USAF at Langley-Eustis Joint Base is to have aircraft ready for immediate global deployment to secure American air superiority.

The base houses approximately one-quarter of all F-22 Raptors in operation by the USAF.

Units Stationed:

  • 633rd Air Base Wing
  • 1st Fighter Wing
  • 192nd Fighter Wing
  • 94th Fighter Squadron
  • 71st Fighter Training Squadron
  • Air Force Command and Control Integration Center
  • Air Combat Command
  • F-22 Raptor Demo Team

Official Site: https://www.jble.af.mil/

Marine Corps Bases In Virginia

Marine Corps Base Quantico

Location: Quantico, VA

quantico marine corps base
Image: Wikimedia.org

In Use: 1917-Present

Overall Mission: MCB Quantico is primarily a training, education, and strategy facility, and is the home of the Marine Officer training school.

The DEA and FBI also have their primary training facilities on MCD Quantico.

The base also hosts the US Marine Corps’ Combat Development Command, which is responsible for developing and testing strategies for the US Marines.

Units Stationed:

  • Marine Corps Embassy Security Group
  • Marine Corps Marathon
  • Marine Corps Combat Development Command
  • Marine Corps Recruiting Command
  • Manpower and Reserve Affairs Division, Headquarters Marine Corps
  • Marine Corps Systems Command
  • Marine Corps Training and Education Command
  • Marine Corps Cyber Operations Group
  • Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment
  • Several intelligence and law enforcement schools and facilities.

Official Site: https://www.quantico.marines.mil/

Coast Guard Bases In Virginia

USCG Base Portsmouth

Location: Portsmouth, VA

coast guard station portsmouth virginia
Image: Wikimedia.org

In Use: 2011-Present

Overall Mission: USCG Base Portsmouth is the result of the closure and combination of three smaller Coast Guard bases.

Its primary missions are search and rescue and hurricane readiness.

Units Stationed:

  • N/A

Official Site: https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Director-of-Operational-Logistics-DOL/Bases/Base-portsmouth/

USCG Station Cape Charles

Location: Cape Charles, VA

Coast Guard Station Cape Charles
Image Source: Public Domain

In Use: Present

Overall Mission: USCG Cape Charles monitors the outer banks of Cape Charles, as well as the Cape Charles lighthouse.

Units Stationed:

  • Search and Rescue units, including aircraft and watercraft.

Official Site: https://www.atlanticarea.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/District-5/District-Units/Sector-Virginia/Area-of-Responsibility/

USCG Air Station Washington

Location: Arlington, VA

Coast Guard Station Washington
Image Source: Wikimedia

In Use: 2003-Present

Overall Mission: USCG Air Station Washington houses the Commandant of the Coast Guard, and is responsible for transporting USCG and other key personnel.

Units Stationed:

  • USCG Commandant
  • C-37A Gulfstream V

Official Site:  https://www.atlanticarea.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/District-5/District-Units/Sector-Maryland-National-Capital-Region/sites/Station-Washington/

USCG Training Center Yorktown

Location: Yorktown VA

coast guard training center yorktown - military bases in virginia
Image: Wikimedia.org

In Use: 1957-Present

Overall Mission: USCG Training Center Yorktown (often abbreviated TCY) is the major training facility for the US Coast Guard.

They provide onsite training for A Schools for the Coast Guard and other agencies, as well as sending trainers to other facilities.

They also produce assessment and standardization programs for all other Coast Guard bases.

Units Stationed:

  • USCG Force Readiness Command

Official Site: https://www.forcecom.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/FORCECOM-UNITS/TraCen-Yorktown/

Rob V.
Virginia Military Bases

Virginia Military Bases

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Virginia is home to 19 major US military bases. Learn more about each VA military base, including ones for the Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard.
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