Mississippi has a strong and steady military presence, much of it along the Gulf Coast. The state is home to six major active installations, supporting the Air Force, Navy, and Army National Guard, plus reserve and tenant units that train and operate alongside them. Whether you are PCSing to Mississippi (Permanent Change of Station, the military term for an official move to a new duty station), thinking about a move, or just curious about military history, this guide gives you a clear overview of the key military bases in the state.
Overview of Military Installations in Mississippi
Mississippi military bases cover a wide range of missions. They include technical training, weather reconnaissance into hurricanes, undergraduate pilot training, Seabee construction operations, ocean and weather science, and large-scale Army maneuver training. The state trains and supports thousands of service members from every branch, and it keeps many military families moving in and out each year on PCS orders.
Active Military Bases in Mississippi
- Keesler Air Force Base
- Columbus Air Force Base
- Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport
- Naval Air Station Meridian
- Stennis Space Center (Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command)
- Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center
Air Force Bases in Mississippi
Keesler Air Force Base
Keesler AFB, in Biloxi on the Gulf Coast, is the "Electronics Training Center of Excellence" for the Air Force. Its host unit, the 81st Training Wing, runs technical training for tens of thousands of students each year across many career fields, teaching not only Air Force members but also Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and federal civilian personnel. Keesler is also home to the 403rd Wing, the Air Force Reserve unit known as the "Hurricane Hunters," which flies into tropical storms and hurricanes to gather weather data for the National Hurricane Center.
Key Missions:
- Technical training in electronics, cyber, and other career fields
- Weather reconnaissance flights into hurricanes
- Joint training for members of all the services
Learn more on the Keesler Air Force Base website and the 403rd Wing Hurricane Hunters page.
Columbus Air Force Base
Columbus AFB, in Columbus in the northeast of the state, is home to the 14th Flying Training Wing, part of Air Education and Training Command. Its mission is to "Train World Class Pilots." The wing runs the 52-week Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training program, which student pilots must complete before earning their wings. The flying mission is carried out by the 14th Operations Group and its squadrons.
Key Missions:
- Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training
- Developing mission-ready Air Force pilots
- Flight training operations and support
See the official Columbus Air Force Base website and the Columbus AETC fact sheet.
Navy Bases in Mississippi
Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport
NCBC Gulfport, in Gulfport on the Gulf Coast, is home to the Atlantic Fleet Seabees, the Navy's construction force. The base exists to maintain facilities and provide support to Naval Construction Force units that deploy from or are homeported there, and it hosts dozens of tenant commands. Gulfport is the base for the 20th Seabee Readiness Group, which helps man, train, and equip Seabee units, and it is also home to the Naval Construction Training Center, where new Seabees learn their trade.
Key Missions:
- Support and home port for Atlantic Fleet Seabee units
- Training for the Naval Construction Force
- Readiness and equipping of deploying Seabee battalions
Learn more on the NCBC Gulfport installation page and the Naval Construction Training Center Gulfport page.
Naval Air Station Meridian
NAS Meridian, northeast of Meridian, is a Navy jet training base. It is home to Training Air Wing One and its training squadrons, where student naval aviators complete intermediate and advanced jet training on their way to earning their wings. The station also hosts the Naval Technical Training Center, which runs schoolhouse training for sailors. The area's open airspace and good flying weather make it a strong place to learn to fly.
Key Missions:
- Intermediate and advanced naval jet pilot training
- Technical training for Navy sailors
- Support for student aviators and tenant commands
See the official NAS Meridian installation page and the Training Air Wing One page at NAS Meridian.
Stennis Space Center
Stennis Space Center, in Hancock County in south Mississippi, is a federal site that NASA operates and that hosts many Navy tenants. It is home to the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, which oversees thousands of personnel who collect and use ocean and weather information to support fleet and joint commanders. The Naval Oceanographic Office, also based there, provides oceanographic products and services across the Department of Defense.
