The Best of the US Military Bases
What do you think of when you see military bases? Maybe you think of the time you called them home, or perhaps as a civilian, you view US military bases as curious compounds. According to militarybases.com, there are about 300 US military bases, with just over 200 of those located in the United States. Bases serve many purposes, making them invaluable to the military. Their primary purposes are to train troops and to prepare, repair, and store equipment, but each base is unique in its own way.
One of oldest operating US military bases is West Point. It got its name due to its location in West Point, New York. West Point opened its doors to train soldiers in 1794 and proved to be an important defensive fort during the Civil War. West Point is still regarded as one of the most prestigious academies in the nation and is known for the skill and intelligence of its graduates.
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, in Cuba, was the first military facility established overseas. Despite the animosity between Cuba and the U.S., Guantanamo Bay, opened in 1903, serves as one of the most important military facilities the U.S. occupies. It is a key base for fighting drug trafficking, refueling ships, offering refuge to Haitian migrants, and keeping foreign prisoners.
Most Beautiful US Military Bases
Huff Post Politics published a list in 2014 highlighting some of the most beautiful military facilities in the world. Five of the U.S.’s military facilities made the list of fifteen. In the number 1 spot was the Marine Corps base in Kaneohe, Hawaii. President Woodrow Wilson granted the military 300 acres of Hawaiian land to build the facility, but it wasn’t until 1941 that troops began to occupy the area. The base was abandoned after the Pearl Harbor attacks but reopened in 1952 and is considered one of the most secure U.S. military facilities. It is so beautiful that President Barack Obama’s Winter White House is located a little less than a mile away from the base. He visits it often while staying in Hawaii.
Fort Buchanan, located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, came in at number 7 on the list of the most beautiful military facilities. As the only US operated base in Puerto Rico, Fort Buchanan’s main goal is to provide a high quality of life for its occupants. Its motto is “Home Away from Home,” and it is considered one of the best military facilities to live and work on.
Most Strategically Placed US Military Base
Incirlik Air Base, located in Turkey, is currently considered the most strategically placed US military facility because of its proximity to Russia and the Middle East, allowing easy access to crisis hot-spots that the military has recently had to deal with. Unlike other military facilities, where the US owns and runs the facility under regulations from the government of the host country, Turkey and the US co-host the Incirlik base.
In 2014, the Richest published a list titled “Top 10 Most Unusual Military Bases Around the World.” Only one US military facility made the list: Thule Air Force Base. Located in the icy climates of Greenland, Thule is the military’s northernmost facility. Thule is able to detect missiles from around the world, and it is the military’s early warning system. Despite its chilling weather, Thule is located on “a piece of paradise on Earth” (according to militarybases.com), as it features extraordinary icebergs and polar animals for sightseeing.
Low VA Rates realizes that, just as each US military base has its special traits, the soldiers that occupy them are unique too. To learn more about what Low VA Rates does for our troops, contact us or get started online at
