--- title: What Military Bases are in South Dakota? slug: what-military-bases-are-in-south-dakota description: >- A guide to the active military bases in South Dakota, led by Ellsworth Air Force Base, plus PCS housing tips, VA-loan guidance, and veteran-friendly agents. publishedAt: '2025-07-23T09:00:00.000Z' 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-dakota' componentSlug: us-military-bases stateSlug: south-dakota --- # What Military Bases are in South Dakota? South Dakota has a small but important military footprint. The state is home to **one major active-duty installation**, **Ellsworth Air Force Base**, plus key **Air National Guard** and **Army National Guard** sites that train and support the force. The **Air Force** leads the active-duty mission here, and the **South Dakota National Guard** rounds out the picture. Whether you are **PCSing to South Dakota** (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 South Dakota South Dakota's military presence centers on **air power**. Ellsworth Air Force Base, near Rapid City, flies the **B-1B Lancer** bomber and has been chosen as the first home for the new **B-21 Raider**. The South Dakota Air National Guard flies the **F-16 Fighting Falcon** from Sioux Falls, and the South Dakota Army National Guard runs its state headquarters at **Camp Rapid** in Rapid City. The active footprint is compact, but Ellsworth gives the state an outsized role in the nation's long-range strike mission, and it keeps military families moving in and out each year on PCS orders. ### Active Military Bases in South Dakota - **Ellsworth Air Force Base** - **Joe Foss Field Air National Guard Base** (114th Fighter Wing) - **Camp Rapid** (South Dakota Army National Guard) ## Air Force Bases in South Dakota ### Ellsworth Air Force Base Ellsworth AFB, in **Box Elder** near Rapid City, is the state's only active-duty installation and one of the most important bomber bases in the country. Its host unit, the **28th Bomb Wing**, is one of only two wings that operate the **B-1B Lancer**. The base is home to roughly **3,800 Airmen and Department of Defense civilians** and operates a fleet of **27 B-1B Lancers**. B-1s from Ellsworth provide deterrent presence, precision strike, and surveillance and reconnaissance around the world. **Key Missions:** - B-1B Lancer bomber operations and training - Long-range global strike and deterrence - Surveillance and reconnaissance support for combatant commands Learn more on the [Ellsworth Air Force Base 28th Operations Group page](https://www.ellsworth.af.mil/Units/28th-Operations-Group/) and the official [28th Bomb Wing fact sheet](https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/1085840/28th-bomb-wing/). ### Ellsworth and the B-21 Raider Ellsworth's role is set to grow. In 2019 the Air Force announced Ellsworth as the **first base to receive the B-21 Raider**, the new stealth bomber being built to replace the B-1B and the B-2 Spirit. The base was officially selected in **2021** as **B-21 Main Operating Base #1**, chosen because it has the space and existing facilities to support both the **B-21 and B-1 missions at the same time** during the transition. This makes Ellsworth the launching point for the next generation of long-range strike, and it means steady investment and growth in the Rapid City area in the years ahead. **Key Missions:** - First main operating base for the B-21 Raider - Bed-down and training for the new stealth bomber - Transition support from the B-1B to the B-21 Read the official [Air Force announcement that Ellsworth is the first B-21 base](https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1797946/air-force-announces-ellsworth-afb-as-first-b-21-base/) and the [Ellsworth selection announcement](https://www.ellsworth.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2654874/ellsworth-officially-selected-as-first-base-to-receive-b-21s/). ## Air National Guard Bases in South Dakota ### Joe Foss Field Air National Guard Base Joe Foss Field, in **Sioux Falls**, is home to the **114th Fighter Wing** of the **South Dakota Air National Guard**. The wing flies the **F-16 Fighting Falcon** and has done so since **1991**. The South Dakota Air National Guard was founded in **1946** by Medal of Honor recipient and former South Dakota governor **Joe Foss**, the World War II Marine fighter ace the field is named for. The wing provides combat-ready airpower that can support active forces during a crisis, an emergency, or war. **Key Missions:** - F-16 Fighting Falcon operations and training - Combat airpower to augment active-duty forces - State support during emergencies and disasters See the official [114th Fighter Wing home page](https://www.114fw.ang.af.mil/) and the [history of the South Dakota Air National Guard](https://www.114fw.ang.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/437541/history-of-the-south-dakota-air-national-guard/). ## Army National Guard Bases in South Dakota ### Camp Rapid Camp Rapid, in **Rapid City**, is the state headquarters for the **South Dakota Army National Guard**. It is an **84-acre training site** first developed in **1924**, set in the **Black Hills** within a short drive of Mount Rushmore. The South Dakota National Guard as a whole has roughly **4,200 Soldiers and Airmen** spread across the state, and Camp Rapid serves as the nerve center for the Army Guard's command, training, and support work. **Key Missions:** - Headquarters for the South Dakota Army National Guard - Training and readiness for Army Guard units - State response for emergencies and disasters Learn more on the [South Dakota National Guard home page](https://sd.ng.mil/) and the [Camp Rapid page](https://sd.ng.mil/Resources/Army-Lodging-Rental-Program/Camp-Rapid/). ## Moving to South Dakota? Let Us Help You Find a Home Relocating to South Dakota 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 South Dakota, **contact us today** to connect with an **agent or lender** who understands the unique needs of military families. ## Plan Your PCS to South Dakota Almost every South Dakota PCS points to Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City, in the Black Hills of the western part of the state, so most families settle around Box Elder, Rapid City, and the surrounding towns. Keep the timeline on track 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. Moving with kids? See our [sanity-saving PCS tips for military families](/blog/pcs-with-kids-10-sanity-saving-tips-every-military-family-needs-to-know). 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 Jessica Davis, a VeteranPCS agent in the Black Hills near Ellsworth, for current listings and prices. Know another family with orders to South Dakota? 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 South Dakota? **Ellsworth Air Force Base**, near Rapid City, is the largest military installation in South Dakota and its only active-duty base. It is home to about **3,800 Airmen and Department of Defense civilians** and the 28th Bomb Wing, which flies the B-1B Lancer bomber. ### 2. How many military bases are in South Dakota? South Dakota has **one major active-duty installation**, Ellsworth Air Force Base, plus key Air National Guard and Army National Guard sites such as Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls and Camp Rapid in Rapid City. ### 3. What does Ellsworth Air Force Base fly, and what is the B-21 future? Ellsworth's 28th Bomb Wing flies the **B-1B Lancer** bomber today. The base has also been selected as the **first main operating base for the B-21 Raider**, the Air Force's new stealth bomber, so Ellsworth will lead the transition from the B-1B to the B-21 in the years ahead. ### 4. What other military presence does South Dakota have? Beyond Ellsworth, South Dakota is home to the **South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th Fighter Wing**, which flies the F-16 Fighting Falcon from Joe Foss Field in Sioux Falls, and the **South Dakota Army National Guard**, headquartered at Camp Rapid in Rapid City. [**Connect with our Agents & Lenders in South Dakota Today**](https://veteranpcs.com/south-dakota) and make your move stress-free.