New Jersey has a small but important military footprint. The state is home to four major active installations, supporting the Air Force, Army, Navy, and Coast Guard, including the one base where all three of the largest services share the same fence line. Whether you are PCSing to New Jersey (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 New Jersey
New Jersey military bases cover a wide range of missions. They include global airlift and air refueling, soldier training and mobilization, naval air support and ordnance delivery to the fleet, armament research, and Coast Guard recruit training. The state is centrally located between New York City and Philadelphia, which keeps thousands of military families moving in and out every year on PCS orders.
Active Military Bases in New Jersey
- Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (Air Force McGuire, Army Dix, and Navy Lakehurst)
- Naval Weapons Station Earle
- Picatinny Arsenal
- U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May
Joint Bases in New Jersey
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB MDL), in central New Jersey, is the Department of Defense's only tri-service base. McGuire Air Force Base, Fort Dix, and Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst merged on October 1, 2009, under Air Force management, while each service kept its own mission and identity. The Air Force is the lead service through the 87th Air Base Wing, which provides installation support, and the 305th Air Mobility Wing, which flies global airlift and air refueling missions. The Army side conducts soldier training and mobilization, and the Navy side at Lakehurst designs and tests aircraft carrier catapults, arresting gear, and other naval air support equipment.
Key Missions:
- Global airlift and air refueling for the Air Force
- Army soldier training and mobilization
- Naval air support equipment design and testing
Learn more from the official Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst fact sheet and the 305th Air Mobility Wing fact sheet.
Army Bases in New Jersey
Picatinny Arsenal
Picatinny Arsenal, in Morris County in northern New Jersey, is the Joint Center of Excellence for Guns and Ammunition. The team there leads the research, development, acquisition, and lifecycle management of advanced conventional weapons and ammunition for all branches of the military. Its work covers small, medium, and large caliber ammunition, precision-guided munitions, mortars, fire control systems, howitzers, warheads, and fuzes. The Armaments Center based there employs more than 3,200 civilian engineers, scientists, and support personnel.
Key Missions:
- Research and development of weapons and ammunition
- Lifecycle management of conventional armament systems
- Engineering support for the joint warfighter
See the official About Picatinny Arsenal page and the DEVCOM Armaments Center page.
Navy Bases in New Jersey
Naval Weapons Station Earle
Naval Weapons Station Earle, in Colts Neck in Monmouth County, is the Navy's main East Coast site for providing ordnance to the fleet. The station spans almost 12,000 acres and connects an inland Mainside to a Waterfront pier complex on Raritan Bay by a 15-mile Navy-controlled rail and road corridor. Its pier complex is one of the longest finger piers in the world. Earle supports the Carrier Strike Group ordnance mission and serves as the operational base for several Military Sealift Command combat logistics ships. Its largest tenant is Navy Munitions Command, which carries out the station's primary mission.
Key Missions:
- Loading and delivering ordnance to the fleet
- Operational support for combat logistics ships
- Munitions handling, storage, and rail transport
Learn more on the NWS Earle About page and the NWS Earle installation page.
