--- title: What Military Bases are in Nevada? slug: what-military-bases-are-in-nevada description: >- A guide to active military bases in Nevada, from Nellis Air Force Base to NAS Fallon, plus PCS housing tips, VA-loan guidance, and veteran-friendly agents. publishedAt: '2025-07-06T09:00:00.000Z' updatedAt: '2026-06-19T00:00:00.000Z' author: VeteranPCS categories: - US Military Bases canonical: 'https://www.veteranpcs.com/blog/what-military-bases-are-in-nevada' componentSlug: us-military-bases stateSlug: nevada --- # What Military Bases are in Nevada? Nevada plays a quiet but important role in how the military trains for war. The state is home to **four major active installations**, supporting the **Air Force, Navy, and Army**, plus the vast ranges where pilots and aircrews sharpen their skills. Whether you are **PCSing to Nevada** (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 Nevada Nevada military bases focus on **advanced combat training, remotely piloted aircraft, and munitions storage**. The open desert and wide-open skies give the services room to fly, test, and shoot in ways that are hard to match anywhere else. Many of the people who plan and lead air combat for all the branches pass through Nevada, and thousands of military families move in and out of the state every year on PCS orders. ### Active Military Bases in Nevada - **Nellis Air Force Base** (Las Vegas) - **Creech Air Force Base** (Indian Springs) - **Naval Air Station Fallon** (Fallon) - **Hawthorne Army Depot** (Hawthorne) ## Air Force Bases in Nevada ### Nellis Air Force Base Nellis AFB, just northeast of **Las Vegas**, is one of the busiest and most important training bases in the Air Force. Its host unit, the **99th Air Base Wing**, supports more than **10,000 personnel** across five wings and dozens of tenant units. Nellis is home to the **U.S. Air Force Warfare Center**, which oversees advanced testing and tactics development, and it hosts **Red Flag**, a large combat training exercise that brings together U.S. and allied air forces. Much of that training takes place over the **Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR)**, a 2.9-million-acre range that is the largest contiguous air and ground space available for peacetime military operations. **Key Missions:** - Advanced air combat training and Red Flag exercises - Testing and tactics development for the Air Force - Base support for Nellis and the Nevada Test and Training Range Learn more from the official [99th Air Base Wing fact sheet](https://www.nellis.af.mil/About/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/284154/99th-air-base-wing/) and the [U.S. Air Force Warfare Center fact sheet](https://www.nellis.af.mil/About/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/284150/us-air-force-warfare-center/). ### Creech Air Force Base Creech AFB, in **Indian Springs** about 45 miles northwest of Las Vegas, is the Air Force's main home for **remotely piloted aircraft (RPA)**. The base flies the **MQ-9 Reaper**, an armed, long-endurance aircraft used for strike and intelligence missions. The first Reaper arrived at Creech in **2007**, and aircrews there use satellite links to fly missions around the world without leaving the ground. The base supports both combat operations and quick-reaction humanitarian missions. **Key Missions:** - MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft operations - Global strike and intelligence support - Training for RPA aircrews See the official [MQ-9 Reaper fact sheet](https://www.creech.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/669890/) and the [Air Combat Command report on the first Reaper at Creech](https://www.acc.af.mil/News/Article/202637/first-mq-9-reaper-lands-at-creech-air-force-base/). ## Navy Bases in Nevada ### Naval Air Station Fallon NAS Fallon, in the high desert near **Fallon** east of Reno, is the Navy's premier air-to-air and air-to-ground training base. It is home to the **Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC)**, which leads tactics and training for naval aviation. NAWDC includes the famous **TOPGUN** program, officially the Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor course, which moved to Fallon in **1996**. Today pilots flying the **F/A-18 Super Hornet** and the **F-35C Lightning II** train there before returning to teach the rest of the fleet. **Key Missions:** - Advanced strike fighter tactics training, including TOPGUN - Home of the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center - Carrier air wing training before deployment Learn more on the [NAS Fallon installation page](https://www.cnic.navy.mil/FALLON/) and the [Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center overview](https://www.airpac.navy.mil/Organization/Naval-Aviation-Warfighting-Development-Center/About-Us/). ## Army Bases in Nevada ### Hawthorne Army Depot Hawthorne Army Depot, in **Hawthorne** about 120 miles south of Reno, is the **world's largest ammunition storage depot**. Spread across nearly **150,000 acres**, it receives, stores, and issues conventional munitions, and it also repairs, inspects, and safely disposes of old or surplus ammunition. The site began as a Navy depot in **1928** and transferred to the Army in **1977**, taking its current name in **1994**. **Key Missions:** - Storage of conventional munitions for the joint force - Inspection, maintenance, and renovation of ammunition - Demilitarization and disposal of surplus munitions Read more on the [Joint Munitions Command Hawthorne Army Depot page](https://www.jmc.army.mil/Installations.aspx?id=Hawthorne) and the [Army article on Hawthorne Army Depot](https://www.army.mil/article/223519/hawthorne_army_depot_providing_lethality_that_wins). ## Moving to Nevada? Let Us Help You Find a Home Relocating to Nevada 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 Nevada, **contact us today** to connect with an **agent or lender** who understands the unique needs of military families. ## Plan Your PCS to Nevada Most Nevada orders send families to the Las Vegas area for Nellis or Creech Air Force Base, while NAS Fallon sits in the high desert closer to Reno, so your move depends on where you land. Start by mapping the timeline with the [ultimate PCS checklist and timeline](/blog/the-ultimate-pcs-checklist-and-timeline-for-active-duty-military-personnel), and if this is a first move, our guide on [what you need to know to prepare to PCS](/blog/preparing-to-pcs-what-you-need-to-know) covers the essentials. If you plan to buy, learn [the benefits of a VA loan](/blog/what-are-the-benefits-of-a-va-loan) and read our [complete guide to buying your first home with a VA loan](/blog/complete-guide-to-buying-your-first-home-with-a-va-loan). And because the right local guide makes a difference, here is [why military members should choose a veteran-friendly realtor](/blog/why-military-members-should-choose-a-veteran-friendly-realtor). When you are ready for a local read on a specific base or neighborhood, you can ask Samuel Curby, a VeteranPCS agent in Las Vegas, for current listings and prices. Know another family with orders to Nevada? 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 Nevada? **Nellis Air Force Base**, near Las Vegas, is the largest active base in Nevada, supporting more than **10,000 personnel** along with the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center and the 2.9-million-acre Nevada Test and Training Range. **Hawthorne Army Depot** is also enormous by land area, covering nearly 150,000 acres as the world's largest ammunition storage depot. ### 2. How many military bases are in Nevada? Nevada is home to **four major active installations**, supporting the Air Force, Navy, and Army, along with the large training ranges that surround them. ### 3. What is the main Air Force base in Nevada? **Nellis Air Force Base** is the Air Force's main hub in Nevada. It runs advanced combat training and the Red Flag exercises, while nearby **Creech Air Force Base** handles MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft operations. ### 4. What is the main Navy base in Nevada? **Naval Air Station Fallon**, east of Reno, is the Navy's main base in Nevada. It is home to the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center and the TOPGUN strike fighter tactics program. [**Connect with our Agents & Lenders in Nevada Today**](https://veteranpcs.com/nevada) and make your move stress-free.