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Virginia is home to numerous military installations in the United States, and in this article, we have discussed the military bases in Virginia.
When discussing the largest army in the world, the United States Army must be among the top three. Other countries, such as China, India, Russia, and North Korea, complete the list of the world’s top five largest armies.
The United States has numerous military installations spread across various states within the country. Building military installations at strategic locations is essential, and that is what the United States government has done with states like Virginia.
Virginia’s geographical location makes it a perfect spot for the U.S. to defend its eastern borders. So, how many military bases are in Virginia and where are they located?
In a moment, we will show you each military installation in the state of Virginia and more.
The Pentagon
Virginia is where the Pentagon is located, the Pentagon is the home of the United States Department of Defense and one of the most distinctive buildings in the country.
The building has five floors and is constructed of steel and reinforced concrete. Inside the building are five concentric pentagons with ten corridors all connecting together.
Corridors inside the Pentagon measure over 17 miles. It takes the average person just about seven minutes to walk within two points inside the Pentagon.
The building is the home base of the United States Army, Navy, and Air Force. Currently, over 23,000 service members and civilian personnel are hired at the Pentagon. More than 2,500 maintenance and non-defence personnel are also employed at the Pentagon.
During the 9/11 attack. The Pentagon was one of the terrorist targets. The Pentagon was attacked during 9/11 and it took more than 10 years to complete the renovations.
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Military Bases in Virginia
Military installations in Virginia include the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard bases.
#1. Fort A.P. Hill
Fort A.P. Hill is the first military installation on this list. Located near the town of Bowling Green, Virginia, Fort A.P. Hill is a training and manoeuvre centre owned by the United States Army.
It’s a large military base where the United States reinvigorate its forces. Fort A.P. Hill covers over 75,000 acres. A large portion of the land at Fort A.P. Hill is used as a training field.
Although this military base is owned and operated by the United States Army, it also caters to other military branches.
#2. Fort Belvoir
Fort Belvoir is the headquarters of the Missile Defense Agency, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command.
The military base is located in Fairfax County, Virginia. Conducting military operations and intelligence missions to support the United States Army is the primary objective of this military base.
Most of the units at Fort Belvoir represent the landscape of the U.S. federal government.
#3. Fort Lee Army Base
Fort Lee Army Base is one of the military bases in Virginia. It’s located over 8 miles west of Petersburg, Virginia.
This military base houses various agencies. The U.S. Army Transportation School, United States Army Combined Arms Support Command (CASCOM), U.S. Army Ordnance School, United States Army Quartermaster School, Sustainment Center of Excellence, U.S. Defense Commissary Agency, and Army Logistics University are all agencies at Fort Lee Army Base.
This military base is the third-largest training site of the United States Army.
#4. Fort Pickett
Fort Pickett is a military base located in Virginia. It’s a military installation that offers over 42,000 acres for the Virginia Army National Guard and Army Reserve to train.
This military base accommodates personnel from all branches of the United States military. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard all use this base as a training ground.
Additionally, Fort Pickett is also a facility where non-military agencies such as the FBI, the US Marshals Service, the Civil Air Patrol, and the ATF train.
#5. Radford Army Ammunition Plant
Located in Pulaski and Montgomery Counties, Virginia, Radford Army Ammunition Plant manufactures explosives and propellants for the U.S. military.
They manufacture explosives and propellants to support air defense, field artillery, tanks, aircraft, missiles, as well as naval weapons systems.
Radford Army Ammunition Plant is divided into two facilities. There is a manufacturing facility and a storage facility located 12 miles from the Radford Army Ammunition Plant.
#6. Warrenton Training Center
Established in 1951, Warrenton Training Center is a classified U.S. government communication complex in Virginia.
WTC is made up of four installations which are referred to as Station A, Station B, Station C, and Station D.
Each Station is unique and serves a particular purpose. Station A houses facilities for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), while Station B is used explicitly for electronic testing, communications development, and training in communication.
Station C takes care of coded signals from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Station D handles satellite communications.
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#7. Joint Base Myer Henderson Hall
Joint Base Myer Henderson Hall (JBMHH) is located in Virginia and was created from the merger of Fort Myer, Fort McNair, and Henderson Hall.
JBMHH is one of the military bases in Virginia commanded by the United States Army. It also has resident command of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine.
#8. Medical Center Portsmouth
Since 1830, this centre remains the oldest hospital offering healthcare to the United States military. The United States Navy is responsible for this medical center.
Medical Center Portsmouth is a state-of-the-art facility that provides healthcare and support to men and women serving in the United States military.
#9. Naval Air Station Oceana
This military base was built in 1941 and is located in Virginia Beach Virginia.
Naval Air Station Oceana is under the jurisdiction of the Navy Region Mid-Atlantic. This base is the headquarters of Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic and Carrier Air Wings 1, 3, 7 & 8.
Currently, over 10,500 Navy service members are at Navy Air Station Oceana. When you include the families of service members at this base, you have about 20,000 people living in this base.
#10. Naval Station Norfolk
We have seen the U.S. Navy stationed at Pearl Harbor during World War II. However, Naval Station Norfolk is a naval station with the highest concentration of the U.S. Navy force.
NSN spans over 7 miles and its mission remains to support the United States Atlantic Fleet. Naval Station Norfolk supports about 75 ships, 5 carriers, 134 aircraft, 5 destroyers, 4 frigates, 7 submarines, 8 amphibious assault commands, and 24 guided missile destroyers.
#11. Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads
Although Naval Station Norfolk and Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads (NSAHR) are located near each other, they are distinct entities.
NSA HR has the largest concentration of fleet headquarters and communication facilities outside of Washington D.C.
To mention a few, there is the headquarters of the U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Naval Reserve Forces Command, and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command.
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#12. Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division
We are still discussing military bases in Virginia and we want to look at NSWCDD.
Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division oversees analysis, test and evaluation, as well as research and certification of complex naval warfare systems.
NSWDD is a facility leading research aimed at training service members for scientific warfare. Service members acquire skills in areas such as physics, mathematics, laser, computer, mechanical, and biotechnology.
#13. Naval Weapons Station Yorktown
Naval Weapons Station Yorktown is one of the United States Navy’s strategic facilities.
According to reports, combat and supply ships are often seen leaving and arriving at this station. NWS Yorktown is also responsible for storing large deposits of ammunition needed to support the Atlantic Fleet.
#14. Navigation Center Coast Guard Base
Next on our list of military bases in Virginia is Navigation Center Coast Guard Base.
Located in Alexandria, Virginia, this base is under the United States Coast Guard. It utilizes the most advanced technologies and the ultimate mission of this base is to ensure the safety of the county’s waters.
#15. Sector Hampton Roads Coast Guard Base
Sector Hampton Roads has a mission and that is to ensure the implementation of national and environmental defence. Many operations are performed at this base and the majority of the operations focus on search and rescue.
Service members at this military installation work tirelessly to uphold the value of the U.S. Coast Guard.
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#16. Telecom Systems Command Coast Guard
We are still discussing the military bases in Virginia, let’s look at the importance of communication in the military.
The United States Coast Guard needs active and adequate communication to function. Be it research and rescue, law enforcement investigations or clean-ups, communication is key and every guardsman needs it to stay in contact with other service members.
Telecom Systems Command is available to ensure advanced communications systems wherever it’s needed. This system is essential when it comes to communications and the U.S. Coast Guard needs the best communication system to function.
#17. Marine Corps Base Quantico
Marine Corps Base Quantico (MCB) is one of the military bases in Virginia. It’s located near Triangle, Virginia and covers over 55,000 acres of southern Prince William County.
MCB is a military installation owned by the United States Marine Corps for over 100 years. The base is where some war-fighting techniques were created for the U.S. Marine Corps.
This military base is home to several active-duty combat units and it also offers officer training, as well as career development for the U.S. Marines.
#18. Surface Combat Systems Center Wallops Island Navy Base
This is a small military installation that consists of a hard team of 300 military, civilian, and contractor staff. They all work closely to ensure technical engineering and training support to the fleet.
#19. Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story
Established on October 1, 2009, Joint Expedition Base Little Creek-Fort Story is a joint base of the United States military situated in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
JEBLC-FS was formed from the merger of the former U.S. Army post Fort Story and Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek.
#20. Joint Base Langley-Eustis
Here is another joint base established on October 1, 2010.
Joint Base Langley-Eustis is a military facility located close to Hampton and Newport News, Virginia.
This base was formed from the merger of the United States Air Force’s Langley Air Force Base and the U.S. Army’s Fort Eustis.
How Many Military Bases are in Virginia
The question of “how many military bases are in Virginia” is best answered by recognizing the state’s massive and dense concentration of military installations, which makes a simple count difficult due to the distinctions between major bases, annexes, and joint bases.
However, based on official and regional data, the most cited number for major and significant installations is:
A fact sheet from the Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program states that Virginia has 27 military bases representing every single service branch.
It is important to understand what this number includes and where the military presence is concentrated:
The Concentration: Hampton Roads
The Hampton Roads region, which includes cities like Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Hampton, is home to one of the largest concentrations of military assets in the world.
- This region alone contains over 16 bases and support facilities, including the headquarters of major commands.
- It is home to the world’s largest naval base, Naval Station Norfolk (NS Norfolk).
The Breakdown by Type of Installation
The total count includes facilities that range from major hubs to specialized centers:
- Major Joint Bases (3):
- Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE): Combines Langley AFB (Air Force) and Fort Eustis (Army).
- Joint Base Myer–Henderson Hall (JBM-HH): Combines Fort Myer (Army) and Henderson Hall (Marine Corps).
- Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek–Fort Story (JEB LCFS): Combines Little Creek (Navy) and Fort Story (Army).
- Other Major Installations include key Army forts (Fort Belvoir, Fort Gregg-Adams), Marine Corps Base Quantico, Naval Air Station Oceana, and the Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown.
In summary, while the total number of installations is around 27, the overall military footprint is far larger, with dozens of associated facilities, detachments, and National Guard armories across the Commonwealth.
Current Economic Impact of Military Bases in Virginia (2024 Figures)
Military installations and the defense sector are powerful economic engines for the Commonwealth of Virginia, particularly in the Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia regions.
- Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE) Impact: The total economic impact of JBLE in Fiscal Year 2024 surged to $4.51 billion.
- This total economic activity supports 38,166 total jobs (direct and indirect).
- Direct spending includes $1.76 billion in military and civilian payroll.
- The FY24 analysis now includes Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) for military personnel, providing a more accurate picture of military spending that fuels the local housing, retail, and service markets.
- Marine Corps Base Quantico Impact (2023): The total economic impact across its surrounding communities in Northern Virginia (Prince William, Stafford, Fauquier, Fairfax, and Spotsylvania counties) was nearly $7 billion.
- In Prince William County alone, the impact was $3.2 billion in direct impact and $2.7 billion in indirect impact.
- Overall Virginia Defense Spending: Historically, Virginia receives one of the largest shares of Department of Defense (DoD) spending in the nation. Defense spending is a critical part of Virginia’s economy, accounting for a large percentage of its Gross State Product.
Key Features of Military Bases in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads
Virginia’s military installations are distinguished by their size, specialized missions, and concentration of high-level command structures.
Hampton Roads Region (Coastal Virginia)
This region hosts one of the world’s largest concentrations of military assets, supporting all six branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
| Installation | Branch/Key Feature | Key Mission/Function |
| Naval Station Norfolk | U.S. Navy | World’s Largest Naval Base by supported military population. Homeport to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet (aircraft carriers, destroyers, amphibious ships, etc.). |
| Joint Base Langley-Eustis (JBLE) | U.S. Air Force & Army | Home to Air Combat Command and the 1st Fighter Wing (Air Force), and the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and U.S. Army Transportation Corps (Army). |
| Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana | U.S. Navy | Navy’s East Coast Master Jet Base, home to numerous F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet squadrons. |
| Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story | U.S. Navy/Army Joint Base | Premier East Coast installation for housing and training the nation’s Expeditionary and Special Operations Forces. |
| Command Centers | Multi-Branch/NATO | Home to NATO’s Allied Command Transformation (the only NATO command on U.S. soil) and four different U.S. 4-star commands. |
Northern Virginia (Quantico, etc.)
| Installation | Branch/Key Feature | Key Mission/Function |
| Marine Corps Base Quantico | U.S. Marine Corps | Known as the “Crossroads of the Marine Corps.” It serves as a hub for Marine Corps training, education, and development, featuring the Marine Corps University and the FBI Academy. |
| The Pentagon | DoD Headquarters | Known as the “Crossroads of the Marine Corps.” It serves as a hub for Marine Corps training, education, and development, featuring the Marine Corps University and the FBI Academy. |
| Rivanna Station (Central VA) | Intelligence Community | Hosts key intelligence agencies, including the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the National Ground Intelligence Center (NGIC), and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). |
Virginia’s Role in US National Defense Strategy
Virginia is widely considered the “cornerstone” and a preeminent contributor to the U.S. national defense strategy due to the unmatched concentration of critical assets and missions within the state.
Intelligence: The presence of a significant intelligence community footprint, particularly in Northern and Central Virginia (like Rivanna Station), is vital for national security and intelligence gathering.
Command and Control: The presence of the Pentagon and central four-star command headquarters in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia makes the state the nerve center for global military operations and strategic decision-making.
Naval Power Projection: As the home to the world’s most extensive naval base and the center of the Atlantic Fleet, Virginia is essential for global maritime security and force projection.
Military Training and Doctrine: Bases like Quantico (Marine Corps development and training) and JBLE (Army Training and Doctrine Command) are crucial for developing the future force structure and military strategy, with a focus on modern concepts such as rapid maneuver capabilities and agility.
Industrial Base and Innovation: Virginia’s private sector is a strategic asset, housing defense contractors and being the only state in the nation capable of building nuclear-powered aircraft carriers (Newport News Shipyard). The state also actively pursues new defense opportunities in space technology and Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) missions.
Conclusion
Virginia’s geographical location is a strategic spot for the United States to protect its eastern borders. The state of Virginia is home to various military installations and some of these bases even train non-military personnel.
