--- title: What Military Bases are in Missouri? slug: what-military-bases-are-in-missouri description: >- A guide to active military bases in Missouri, from Fort Leonard Wood to Whiteman Air Force Base, plus PCS tips, VA-loan help, and veteran-friendly agents. publishedAt: '2026-07-01T09:00:00.000Z' updatedAt: '2026-06-19T00:00:00.000Z' author: VeteranPCS categories: - US Military Bases canonical: 'https://www.veteranpcs.com/blog/what-military-bases-are-in-missouri' componentSlug: us-military-bases stateSlug: missouri --- # What Military Bases are in Missouri? Missouri sits in the heart of the country and plays a key role in training and defense. The state is home to **four major active installations**, supporting the **Army, Air Force, and Air National Guard**, plus reserve and joint units that train alongside them. Whether you are **PCSing to Missouri** (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 Missouri Missouri military bases cover a wide range of missions. They include **basic combat training, engineer and military police schools, chemical defense training, stealth bomber operations, and tactical airlift**. The state trains tens of thousands of service members from every branch each year, and it is the only place in the country where the **B-2 Spirit** stealth bomber is based. Thousands of military families move in and out of Missouri every year on PCS orders. ### Active Military Bases in Missouri - **Fort Leonard Wood** - **Whiteman Air Force Base** - **Rosecrans Air National Guard Base (139th Airlift Wing)** - **131st Bomb Wing, Missouri Air National Guard (Whiteman and Jefferson Barracks)** ## Army Bases in Missouri ### Fort Leonard Wood Fort Leonard Wood sits in the Missouri Ozarks near **Waynesville and St. Robert**, inside the Mark Twain National Forest, and covers more than **96 square miles**. It is the home of the **U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence (MSCoE)**. The post grew from a small basic training camp more than 80 years ago into a premier Army center that trains nearly **80,000 military and civilians each year**. It is the first installation to bring together three Army schools, the **Engineer School**, the **Military Police School**, and the **Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) School**, under one roof. Fort Leonard Wood is also one of the Army's locations for **Basic Combat Training** and hosts large Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy detachments. **Key Missions:** - Engineer, Military Police, and CBRN training - Basic Combat Training for new Soldiers - Joint training across all the services Learn more from the official [Fort Leonard Wood mission and vision page](https://home.army.mil/wood/about/mission) and the [U.S. Army Engineer School page](https://home.army.mil/wood/units-tenants/USAES). ## Air Force Bases in Missouri ### Whiteman Air Force Base Whiteman AFB, near **Knob Noster** in west-central Missouri, is home to the **509th Bomb Wing**, part of **Air Force Global Strike Command**. It is the only base in the world that flies the **B-2 Spirit**, the nation's long-range stealth bomber, and the wing is made up of roughly **5,600 military members and 2,000 civilian employees**. The 509th can deliver both conventional and nuclear weapons anywhere in the world, and it trains every B-2 pilot in the Air Force. The first operational B-2, named **"The Spirit of Missouri,"** arrived at Whiteman in 1993. **Key Missions:** - B-2 Spirit stealth bomber operations - Nuclear deterrence and global strike - Training for all B-2 aircrews See the official [509th Bomb Wing fact sheet](https://www.whiteman.af.mil/About/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/323963/509th-bomb-wing/) and the [B-2 Spirit fact sheet](https://www.whiteman.af.mil/About/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/886024/b-2-spirit/). ## Air National Guard Bases in Missouri ### Rosecrans Air National Guard Base (139th Airlift Wing) Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, in **St. Joseph**, is home to the **139th Airlift Wing** of the Missouri Air National Guard. Its flying unit, the **180th Airlift Squadron**, operates the **C-130 Hercules** cargo plane. The base is also the home of the **Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center (AATTC)**, which teaches tactical airlift skills to aircrews from across the services and allied nations. **Key Missions:** - Tactical airlift with the C-130 Hercules - Advanced airlift tactics training - State emergency and disaster response Learn more on the [139th Airlift Wing history page](https://www.139aw.ang.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/452075/139th-airlift-wing-history/) and the [Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center page](https://www.139aw.ang.af.mil/Units/AATTC/). ### 131st Bomb Wing, Missouri Air National Guard The **131st Bomb Wing** is the only Air National Guard unit in the country that flies and maintains the **B-2 Spirit** stealth bomber, and it is the only nuclear-certified Air National Guard bomb wing. It works side by side with the active-duty 509th Bomb Wing at **Whiteman Air Force Base**, with about **1,200 military members**. The wing also has units at **Jefferson Barracks** and **Lambert-St. Louis International Airport**, and it traces its roots to a St. Louis observation squadron formed in 1923. **Key Missions:** - B-2 global strike and combat support - State defense and disaster response in Missouri - Air operations and combat communications support See the official [131st Bomb Wing fact sheet](https://www.131bw.ang.af.mil/About/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/865473/131st-bomb-wing-missouri-air-national-guard/) and the [131st Bomb Wing history page](https://www.131bw.ang.af.mil/About/History/). ## Moving to Missouri? Let Us Help You Find a Home Relocating to Missouri for a military assignment comes with unique challenges, but **VeteranPCS** is here to help. Whether you need help understanding a **VA Loan** (a home loan backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, often with no down payment), finding **military-friendly communities**, or working with **experienced real estate agents**, we are committed to making your **PCS move** simple. Our network of **veteran and military-friendly real estate agents** can assist with: - Finding **on-base or off-base housing** - Connecting with **VA loan specialists** - Understanding the **best communities near each installation** If you are getting ready to move to Missouri, **contact us today** to connect with an **agent or lender** who understands the unique needs of military families. ## Plan Your PCS to Missouri Missouri is a big state, so your move looks different depending on whether your orders point to Fort Leonard Wood in the Ozarks, Whiteman Air Force Base near Kansas City, or somewhere in between. If you are weighing the eastern side of the state, our guide to the [cost of living in St. Louis for military families](/blog/cost-of-living-in-st-louis-for-military-families) helps you budget, and Kansas City-area families can also read our [Fort Leavenworth PCS guide](/blog/pcs-to-fort-leavenworth-complete-guide-for-military-families) just across the state line. Keep the move organized with the [ultimate PCS checklist and timeline](/blog/the-ultimate-pcs-checklist-and-timeline-for-active-duty-military-personnel), and if you plan to buy, start with [the benefits of a VA loan](/blog/what-are-the-benefits-of-a-va-loan) and our [complete guide to buying your first home with a VA loan](/blog/complete-guide-to-buying-your-first-home-with-a-va-loan). When you are ready for a local read on a specific base or neighborhood, you can ask Ashley Morrison, a VeteranPCS agent near Fort Leonard Wood, for current listings and prices. Know another family with orders to Missouri? Share this guide with your military network so they can plan their move too. ## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ### 1. What is the largest military base in Missouri? **Fort Leonard Wood**, near Waynesville and St. Robert, is the largest military installation in Missouri. It covers more than **96 square miles** in the Ozarks and trains nearly 80,000 military and civilians each year as the home of the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence. ### 2. How many military bases are in Missouri? Missouri is home to **four major active installations**, supporting the Army, Air Force, and Air National Guard, along with reserve and joint units. ### 3. What is the main Army base in Missouri? **Fort Leonard Wood** is the main Army base in Missouri. It is home to the Army's Engineer, Military Police, and CBRN schools and is one of the Army's locations for Basic Combat Training. ### 4. What is the main Air Force base in Missouri? **Whiteman Air Force Base**, near Knob Noster, is the Air Force's main base in Missouri. It is home to the 509th Bomb Wing and is the only base in the world that flies the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. [**Connect with our Agents & Lenders in Missouri Today**](https://veteranpcs.com/missouri) and make your move stress-free.