Military bases in Washington state consist of Fairchild Air Force Base,Yakima Training Center,Naval Base Kitsap and more. The state of Washington is located in the north west part of the United States and has a population of over 7 million people. Washington is a beutiful state with mountanous views and lush green forests.
Map of Washington Military Bases
JBLM McChord Field, Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, or JBLM, is located in a scenic area of Washington state near Tacoma. This joint base has a rich history and a significant presence in current US military and international affairs. This base began as Camp Lewis in the late 1910’s, named after the explorer Meriwether Lewis. About a decade later, McChord airfield, originally called Tacoma field, sprung up not far from Camp Lewis. In 2010, the two camps merged together, forming one joint base. The base contains an expansive history museum that further outlines its unique history. It is home to the 62nd Airlift Wing, and employs both active duty soldiers and civilians alike.
Fairchild Air Force Base
Fairchild Air Force is located in Washington state, just a few miles away from Spokane, Washington. Since its establishment in 1942, it has played a key role in our nation’s history and military efforts, acting primarily as a refueling station. It was named for General Muir Fairchild, a Bellingham-born Washington native who served honorably in both world wars before passing away in 1950. Today, the 92nd Air Refueling Wing and the Air National Guard recognize this base as their home, though many other units consider it home as well. Fairchild AFB has a significant role in its local community. Estimates say that it provides over $400 million dollars to the local economy. This base clearly serves active soldiers, reserve units, and US citizens alike. Thank you, Fairchild AFB!
Yakima Training Center
Yakima Training Center is a US Army training base located near – you guessed it – the city of Yakima, Washington. It was created in the early 1940’s, a time when U.S. authorities recognized the looming threat of WWII involvement. Wanting to ensure America’s security and protection, the government established Yakima Training Center as a way to prepare soldiers for combat should the US become involved in the war – which is did soon after. Since then, this training center has served as a facility for maneuvering, live fire training, and other hands-on exercises for the JBLM, Washington National Guard, and other military branches. Its expansive, diverse terrain provides great combat experience for patrons, and allows for a broad range of large-scale training and new equipment orientation. In fact, the largest training exercise to ever take place at the camp (known as BRAVE SHIELD) involved 26,000 soldiers! Its facilities are modeled after both rural and urban landscapes, making the training even more accurate depictions of the real-life combat situations that these soldiers may face. Yakima training Center offers elite training, and it definitely reflects in the skilled US soldiers that train there.
Naval Base Kitsap
Naval Base Kitsap, named for Kitsap County, Washington, where it’s located, is the product of two bases combined in 2004. This base is made of bases in Bangor and Bremerton, and has become the largest Naval base in the Northwest since the merger.
Kitsap’s parent bases have each played a major role in history. Naval Station Bremerton was established in the late 1800’s. It built naval vehicles for US forces in the first World War, and was the only shipyard on the West Coast that could adequately repair warships up until World War II. It even repaired and improved several of the ships that were damaged in the Pearl Harbor attack. Bangor was established in the 1940’s, and thus it began fulfilling its duties to transport ammunition and house submarines. Since these bases were combined, Naval Base Kitsap includes both of these historically significant military sites as well as the Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific.
NAS Whidbey
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island was strategically selected just months before America became involved in World War II. With the pending threat of overseas attacks, the U.S. wanted that they had another base in the Puget Sound area. Whidbey Island proved to be the best choice. Since its establishment, NAS Whidbey has been calls itself home to several Maritime Patrols and Fleet Reconnaissance squadrons, and it has a reputation for being the centers of Naval Air Reserve training.
NS Everett
With beginnings in the early 1980’s, Naval Station Everett is one of the newest, most modern Naval sites. Located in the Puget Sound area, this station has grown and expanded throughout the years. NS Everett contains everything from warships to guided missiles.. Both active and reserve soldiers take advantage of the facilities, all of whom are dedicated to serving and protecting the American people.
Washington State Coast Guard Stations
The Washington State Coast Guard is part of the Thirteenth Coast Guard District, an area which expands across the coast of the entire Pacific Northwest, including Alaska. Their operations began simply in the mid-1800’s with the creation and maintenance of over a dozen lighthouses along the northwest shoreline. Since then, its operations have expanded in size and significance. Today, D13 has spread across Puget Sound and is responsible for everything from rescue missions to safety inspections. A total of 10 Coast Guard stations have operated in Washington in the past, and eight are still running today with its headquarters in Seattle. The men and women who have served and who continue to serve in the Thirteenth Coast Guard District provide vital safety and service to the state of Washington and to our nation.
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