There is no shortage of impressive options when it comes to the biggest and most expansive military bases in the United States. From coast to coast, our country is home to some of the world’s most advanced and well-equipped military bases. But which one is the biggest?
Keep reading to find out the answer.
Top 7 Largest Military Base In US
1. Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg is the top-ranked military installation in the world. North Carolina in the United States is where this is situated. It is also regarded as the hub of the military world by military aficionados. Nearly 54,000 more than 260,000 residents of Fort Bragg are serving soldiers.
163,000 acres, or 254.6 square miles, make up the entirety of Fort Bragg. The base’s main post extends over 19 kilometers. This indicates that it is roughly the size of 123 football fields. It’s really impressive to think about, no?
Around the middle of June 1918, Col. Edward P. King and his collaborator T. Wayland Vaughan from the forestry service established Fort Bragg in the North Carolina town of Fayetteville. Its primary purpose at the time, when it was still called Camp Bragg, was to support artillery training.
When the United States had a third-rate military presence and was planning to set up camps around the nation for the military buildup in 1917 and the relocation of the doughboys in 1918, this military base was created.
Fort Bragg’s location was deemed acceptable for setup and to accommodate year-round training because it met the necessary criteria: pure water supply, good soil, competent rail system, and nice weather.
It served as a location for long-range artillery testing equipment before quickly transitioning into a National Guard training facility equipped with balloon detachments and aircraft.
The facility was given the new designation of Fort Bragg and became a permanent military installation by the end of September 1922. It subsequently turned into one of the most important institutions when World War 2 broke out after being upgraded and expanded with more durable features, including brick barracks and paved sidewalks.
The 82nd Airborne Division and eventually the XVIII Airborne Corps made Fort Bragg their home following the war. The “Home of the Airborne” got its moniker as a result. The Womack Army Medical Center, the US Army Special Operations Command, the US Army Forces Command, and the US Army Reserve Command are located there at the moment.
2. Fort Campbell
On the line separating Tennessee and Kentucky is Fort Campbell. It is more particularly located between Hopkinsville and Clarksville and has a population of 234 900 people. William Bowen Campbell, a brigadier general in the Union Army, inspired the naming of this post in 1941.
Up to the end of World War II, Fort Campbell served as the headquarters for the 26th Infantry Division and the IV Armored Corps, as well as a training facility for the 12, 14, and 20 Armed Divisions.
The prestigious 101st Airborne Division, widely known as the “Screaming Eagles,” trained there for air assault. Among the numerous organizations that Fort Campbell serves is the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
The overall land area of Fort Campbell is 102,414 acres as of 2019. (164 square miles).
3. Fort Hood
Fort Hood is the biggest army base in texas. Totaling 217,000 personnel, including 45,414 active soldiers, it supports the Tank Destroyer Tactical and Firing Center.
Around September 1942, when Fort Hood first opened, it could shelter 38,000 soldiers. Honorable General John Bell Hood, a member of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, is the name of the camp.
With over 40,000 soldiers and 4,000 prisoners of war, the station was expanded and given the name “North Camp Hood” in January 1943 during the Second World War.
Fort Hood evolved as a training ground and a field of experimentation for new groups, strategies, and tools in the 1970s.
Then, it served as a hub for anti-war activities during the Vietnam War and the War on Terror. It is now the base with the largest armored post with active-duty military personnel. It covers 214,000 acres (335 square miles) and is used for year-round training on the land and in the air.
4. Joint Base Lewis — McChord
There are 209,000 people living on this installation in the Pacific Northwest, including veterans, family members, and active duty troops. Joint Base Lewis-McChord is the fourth largest army base in the world by population.
This base is the outcome of a merger, as suggested by the name. U.S. Army Fort Lewis and U.S. McChord Air Force Base collaborated in February 2010 to implement the 2005 Base Realignment & Closure Commission’s recommendation.
Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark Expedition was honored when Camp Lewis was established in May 1917. It is impressive that it provided support for troops during the Gulf Wars, Cold War, Vietnam War, and World Wars.
North of Fort Lewis, McChord was later built as an open airfield. Colonel William Caldwell McChord is honored by its name. McChord, which orchestrated the strike that sank a Japanese submarine during World War II, was the largest US bomber training facility at the time.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord is currently home to the I Corps and 62d Airlift Wing and serves as a discipline and mobilization hub for all military services on its 410,000 acres. Additionally, it is the sole power projection facility west of the Rocky Mountains.
5. Fort Benning
Fort Benning, which is situated in Georgia and Alabama, is listed last. More specifically, the base is split between Phoenix City and Columbus.
It was named after Brigadier General Henry L. Benning, a Confederate soldier who served during the Civil War, when it was established in October 1918. The base was initially built as a place for soldiers to train; by the 1950s, it had produced the top infantry training program in the country.
To develop advanced abilities, Fort Benning also opened air assault and ranger schools. It has also housed the Maneuver Center of Excellence since 2005.
It is now the location of the United States Armor and Infantry. As a result, it is often called the “Home of the Infantry“. The U.S. Armour and Infantry are stationed in Fort Benning, which has a 284 square mile area. The base serves as a foundation for projecting power and may quickly send troops into battle via road, rail, or air.
6. Fort Bliss
All members of the combined team are trained at Fort Bliss and sent out all over the world.
As a result, Fort Bliss is a full-spectrum operation and a member of the team developing the country’s military strategy.
- Location: El Paso, Texas
- Base Size: 1,700 Square Miles
- Population: 162,419
Home to the 1st Armored Division in Fort Bliss. The 1st Armored Division deploys and manages land operations with other units.
Also known as “Old Ironsides,” the 1st Armored Division. The United States Army’s oldest armor division is this one.
The 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command (AAMDC) are also located in Fort Bliss.
The 72-hour mission is how the AAMDC organization runs.
The AAMDC also comprises four brigades, each of which has distinct but complementary missions.
At Fort Bliss lies the 93rd Military Police Battalion, also known as the War Eagles.
The 93rd, among other things, enhances the capabilities of Special Reaction Teams, assists deployed military police soldiers and conducts training rotations.
The Mobilization Brigade is also based at Fort Bliss.
Both mobilization and demobilization are handled by the Mobilization Brigade. Consider this Division to be the executive branch of the supporting units.
There are other additional units in Fort Bliss as well. These include the Conus Replacement Center, the Joint Modernization Command, and the 407th Army Field Support Battalion.
7. White Sands Missile Range
Despite having a small population, the White Sands Missile Range is noteworthy because of its sheer expanse.
- Location: New Mexico
- Base Size: 3,200 square miles
- Population: 5,350
In 1945, the Trinity Site at the White Sands Missile Range witnessed the first nuclear test.
Nearly 20 miles to the east of Las Cruces, New Mexico, in the Tularosa Basin is the location of the missile range.
Additionally, Fort Bliss is located in El Paso, which is around 45 miles away.
Although the region is accessible by car, the Army shuts roads when conducting testing.
The Army currently conducts its missile testing and recovery operations in White Sands.
It is the largest open-air range owned by the Department of Defense.
All branches of the armed forces and our partners have access to White Sands.
It provides a location for the development, testing, and evaluation of weapons by defense and technology researchers. Additionally, White Sands Missile Range has plenty of room for training.
Other Military Bases Worth Knowing
1. The Highest Military Base In The World
Here is a brief segment about India’s home to the highest military base in the world as an added bonus before this essay comes to a close. More specifically, this base is located on the Siachen Glacier in the Kashmir state. Soldiers are stationed at the glacier’s 6,700m (21,981 ft)-high edge during the continuing combat.
The Lauca National Park in Putra, Chile, is home to the second-highest military installation. Its height is 4,350m or 14,271 feet.
2. The military installation in one of the world’s largest salt deserts
In Utah’s Great Salt Lake Desert, there lies a distinctive military station called the Dugway Proving Ground. It began at 127,000 acres during the Pearl Harbor attack and increased to about 800,000 acres, which is equivalent to Rhode Island’s size.
It can be used as a testing ground for biological and chemical weapons as well as military smoke bombs due to its immense size. It was used as a facility for making incendiary bombs during the Second World War.
Even mock communities were constructed on the station to aid with equipment testing. The US National Register of Historic Places has ruins of them.
FAQs?
What Is The Biggest Military Base In The US?
The first stop should be Fort Bragg in North Carolina if you’re seeking the largest military installation in the country. If you consider the population, Fort Bragg is the largest military installation among all the branches. Training, outfitting, and deploying a diverse range of combatants is the goal of Fort Bragg.
How Many Acres Is Fort Bragg?
Fort Bragg (population: 270,811, area: 163,000 acres)
In terms of population, Fort Bragg is the largest US Army installation. The base is where the 82nd Airborne is stationed; it is located in North Carolina, west of Fayetteville.
What Is The Biggest Air Force Base In The US?
One of those places is Eglin Air Force Base. The largest Air Force post in the world, Eglin AFB, is situated on the picturesque Emerald Coast of Northwest Florida between Pensacola and Panama City. It boasts over 700 acres of diverse landscape, including pine forests, wetlands, and white sand beaches.
Conclusion
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