Kansas is a Midwestern state known as the Sun flower state or the Jay Hawk state. Kansas is home to the Kansas national guard an important support unit to our national defense. Below are more military bases in Kansas and their locations.
Map of Military Bases in Kansas
Fort Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth, established in 1827, is the oldest United States Army Post west of Washington D.C. and is considered the “Intellectual Center of the Army.” In 1866, Fort Leavenworth was the base of African-American soldiers, known as the Buffalo Soldiers, in the Army’s 10th Cavalry Regiment. Today, the fort is home to the Military Corrections Complex and the United States Disciplinary Barracks, which is the Department of Defense’s only maximum security prison.
Fort Riley
Fort Riley, established in 1887, is an Army fort that was named after Major General Bennett C. Riley. When it was first built, Fort Riley was the home of the United States Cavalry School. While the 10th Cavalry Regiment of the Buffalo Soldiers was stationed at Fort Leavenworth, the 9th Cavalry Regiment of Buffalo Soldiers was stationed at Fort Riley. During World War I, 50,000 soldiers were stationed at the base, and it is believed that the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic began because of sick soldiers at Fort Riley.
Until 2006, Fort Riley was the headquarters of the 24th Infantry Division called “America’s War fighting Center.” In 2006, the 1st Infantry Division, famously called the “Big Red One,” returned from Germany to Kansas and is stationed there today.
Great Plains Joint Training Area
The Great Plains Joint Training Area is an extension of Fort Riley. It is located about 65 miles from Fort Riley, and it provides over 30,000 acres for Army training. The Great Plains Joint Training Area is home to the Smoky Hill Range, which is used for training, and “Crisis City,” which is a complex that is used to help the state prepare for potential terrorist attacks and respond to natural disasters and other emergencies.
The Great Plains Joint Training Area is a joint base because it is used by military, government, and civilian organizations.
McConnell Air Force Base
McConnell Air Force Base was established in 1924 for the National Air Congress. Throughout the history of the base, it has been the home for many bombers used by the Air Force. During World War II, the McConnell Air Force Base was the home of the B-29 Superfortress, and in the Cold War, it was the home of the Boeing B-47 Stratojet, the Titan II Ballistic Missiles, and other tactical fighter aircraft.
The McConnell Air Force Base has been a key base for the international War on Terror, and as of 2014, the base became the home of the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus. The Air Mobility command and the 22nd Air Refueling Wing are also stationed at the McConnell Air Force Base.
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