--- title: What Military Bases are in South Carolina? slug: what-military-bases-are-in-south-carolina description: >- A PCS guide to South Carolina military bases, from Fort Jackson to Joint Base Charleston, plus housing tips, VA-loan help, and veteran-friendly agents. publishedAt: '2026-06-26T09:00:00.000Z' updatedAt: '2026-06-19T00:00:00.000Z' author: VeteranPCS categories: - US Military Bases canonical: 'https://www.veteranpcs.com/blog/what-military-bases-are-in-south-carolina' componentSlug: us-military-bases stateSlug: south-carolina --- # What Military Bases are in South Carolina? South Carolina has a long and proud military history, and it is still a busy training hub today. The state is home to **six major active-duty installations**, supporting the **Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps**, along with an Air National Guard fighter base. Two of these posts train a large share of the people who join the U.S. military each year. Whether you are **PCSing to South Carolina, weighing a move, or just curious about the bases here**, this guide gives you a clear overview of each one. PCS stands for **Permanent Change of Station**, the military term for a move to a new duty assignment. ## Overview of Military Installations in South Carolina South Carolina's bases support a **wide range of missions**, from training new Soldiers and Marines to flying cargo aircraft and fighter jets. The state covers both the coast, near Charleston and Beaufort, and the inland Midlands region, near Columbia and Sumter. That means a move to one base can feel very different from a move to another. ### Active Military Bases in South Carolina - **Fort Jackson** (Columbia) - **Joint Base Charleston** (Charleston) - **Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island** (Parris Island) - **Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort** (Beaufort) - **Shaw Air Force Base** (Sumter) - **McEntire Joint National Guard Base** (Eastover) ## Army Bases in South Carolina ### Fort Jackson Fort Jackson, just outside **Columbia**, is the **U.S. Army's largest and most active Initial Entry Training center**. It trains more than half of all Soldiers who enter **Basic Combat Training (BCT)** each year, and roughly 60 percent of the women joining the Army. Basic Combat Training is the first stage of Army training, where civilians learn to become Soldiers. On any given day, about 10,000 people are training on the post, and around 1,000 Soldiers graduate every week. ([home.army.mil/jackson](https://home.army.mil/jackson/my-fort/basic-combat-training)) **Key Missions:** - Basic Combat Training for new Soldiers - Training a large share of the Army's female recruits - Advanced individual training and Army schools ## Marine Corps Bases in South Carolina ### Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) Parris Island has trained Marines since **November 1, 1915**. About **20,000 recruits** come here each year for **13 weeks** of demanding training to earn the title of United States Marine. Parris Island handles entry-level training for **100 percent of female Marines** and about **50 percent of the men**. The depot also runs schools for drill instructors and rifle marksmanship training. ([mcrdpi.marines.mil](https://www.mcrdpi.marines.mil/Recruit-Training/)) **Key Missions:** - Recruit training in field and combat skills - Training drill instructors and field staff - Rifle marksmanship training ### Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Beaufort sits on about **7,000 acres** near the coastal town of **Beaufort**, roughly 70 miles southwest of Charleston. It is home to several **F/A-18 Hornet** fighter squadrons and an **F-35B Lightning II** squadron. The F-35B is the Marine Corps version of the jet, built for short takeoffs and vertical landings. In October 2024, a Beaufort squadron received the station's first operational F-35B. ([beaufort.marines.mil](https://www.beaufort.marines.mil/About/)) **Key Missions:** - Fighter aircraft operations and readiness - F/A-18 and F-35B squadron support - Air-to-ground combat training ## Air Force Bases in South Carolina ### Joint Base Charleston Joint Base Charleston combines an **Air Force** side and a **Navy** side under one command, the **628th Air Base Wing**. The base's **437th Airlift Wing** flies **40 C-17A Globemaster III** cargo aircraft, giving the Air Force its global airlift reach. The Navy side includes the **Naval Weapons Station Charleston**. The mix of air and sea missions makes Charleston one of the state's busiest installations. ([jbcharleston.jb.mil](https://www.jbcharleston.jb.mil/About-Us/)) **Key Missions:** - Global airlift with C-17A Globemaster III aircraft - Joint Air Force and Navy base support - Naval Weapons Station operations ### Shaw Air Force Base Shaw Air Force Base lies about **eight miles northwest of Sumter**. It is home to the **20th Fighter Wing**, which flies the **F-16 Fighting Falcon** and provides combat-ready airpower around the world. Shaw also hosts the headquarters for **Ninth Air Force** and **U.S. Army Central (ARCENT)**, making it an important command center as well as a flying base. ([shaw.af.mil](https://www.shaw.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/663885/shaw-air-force-base/)) **Key Missions:** - F-16 Fighting Falcon combat operations - Headquarters for Ninth Air Force and U.S. Army Central - Worldwide combat readiness ### McEntire Joint National Guard Base McEntire Joint National Guard Base, near **Eastover** in the Columbia area, is home to the **169th Fighter Wing** of the **South Carolina Air National Guard**, known as the **"Swamp Foxes."** The wing flies the **F-16 Fighting Falcon** and has deployed its jets and Airmen overseas for combat and training missions, including to Osan Air Base in South Korea. ([169fw.ang.af.mil](https://www.169fw.ang.af.mil/)) **Key Missions:** - F-16 Fighting Falcon operations - Air National Guard readiness and deployments - Combat air support ## Moving to South Carolina? Let Us Help You Find a Home Relocating to South Carolina for a military assignment comes with its own challenges, but **VeteranPCS** is here to help. Whether you need help navigating **VA home loans**, finding **military-friendly communities**, or working with an **experienced real estate agent**, we are committed to making your **PCS move smooth**. Our network of **veteran and military-friendly real estate agents** can help 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 South Carolina, **contact us today** to connect with an **agent or lender** who understands the unique needs of military families. ## Plan Your PCS to South Carolina South Carolina spans the Lowcountry coast and the Midlands, so a move to Charleston feels very different from one to Columbia or Sumter. Families headed to the coast can read our [2026 military family guide to PCSing to Joint Base Charleston](/blog/pcs-to-charleston-sc-military-family-guide-to-joint-base-charleston), and because many South Carolina moves happen long-distance, our guide to [buying a home sight unseen during a PCS move](/blog/buying-a-home-sight-unseen-during-a-pcs-move) is worth a read. Keep the move organized with the [ultimate PCS checklist and timeline](/blog/the-ultimate-pcs-checklist-and-timeline-for-active-duty-military-personnel), come prepared with the [10 essential questions for first-time military home buyers](/blog/10-essential-questions-for-first-time-military-home-buyers), and if you plan to buy, review [the benefits of a VA loan](/blog/what-are-the-benefits-of-a-va-loan). When you are ready for a local read on a specific base or neighborhood, you can ask Christina Walsh, a VeteranPCS agent in the Columbia area, for current listings and prices. Know another family with orders to South Carolina? Share this guide with your military network so they can plan their move too. ## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ### 1. How many military bases are in South Carolina? South Carolina is home to **six major active-duty military installations**, supporting the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, plus an Air National Guard fighter base. ### 2. What is the main Army base in South Carolina? **Fort Jackson**, near Columbia, is the Army's largest Basic Combat Training installation. It trains more than half of all Soldiers entering basic training each year. ### 3. Are there Marine Corps bases in South Carolina? Yes. **Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island** trains new Marine recruits, and **Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort** is home to F/A-18 and F-35B fighter squadrons. ### 4. What is Joint Base Charleston? **Joint Base Charleston** is a combined Air Force and Navy installation. Its Air Force side flies C-17A Globemaster III cargo aircraft, and its Navy side includes the Naval Weapons Station Charleston. [**Connect with our Agents & Lenders in South Carolina Today**](https://veteranpcs.com/south-carolina) and make your move stress-free.