Texas has one of the largest military footprints in the country. The state is home to eleven major active installations, supporting the Army, Air Force, and Navy, plus reserve and joint units that train alongside them. Whether you are PCSing to Texas (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 Texas
Texas military bases cover a wide range of missions. They include pilot training, basic training, armored and aviation operations, intelligence and firefighter training, and depot-level repair of helicopters and combat vehicles. The state trains a large share of the people who fly, fix, and fight for all the services, and it keeps thousands of military families moving in and out every year on PCS orders.
Active Military Bases in Texas
- Joint Base San Antonio (Fort Sam Houston, Lackland, and Randolph)
- Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood)
- Fort Bliss
- Sheppard Air Force Base
- Dyess Air Force Base
- Goodfellow Air Force Base
- Laughlin Air Force Base
- Naval Air Station Corpus Christi
- Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth
- Red River Army Depot
- Corpus Christi Army Depot
Army Bases in Texas
Fort Cavazos
Fort Cavazos, in Central Texas near Killeen, was known as Fort Hood until it was redesignated in 2023 to honor Gen. Richard E. Cavazos, the first Hispanic American to earn the rank of four-star general. Set in more than 340 square miles, it is the home of III Armored Corps, the 1st Cavalry Division, and 1st Army Division West, with more than 34,500 soldiers and airmen stationed there. It is one of the largest active-duty armored posts in the force.
Key Missions:
- Armored and mounted warfare operations
- Multi-domain operations and global deployment
- Training and readiness for Army combat units
Learn more from the official Fort Cavazos mission and vision page and the Fort Cavazos redesignation page.
Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss sits in West Texas inside the city limits of El Paso and is home to roughly 90,000 soldiers and family members. It is the home of the 1st Armored Division, nicknamed "Old Ironsides," which the post calls "America's Tank Division." Fort Bliss units routinely support operations around the world.
Key Missions:
- Armored division operations and deployment
- Air defense and combat training
- Support for global combatant commands
See the official 1st Armored Division page and the Fort Bliss garrison page.
Red River Army Depot
Red River Army Depot, near Texarkana, was established in 1941. Today it is a major repair and rebuild center for ground combat and tactical vehicles. It is the Army's center of excellence for platforms such as the HMMWV (Humvee), the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the HIMARS rocket system, and the family of medium tactical trucks.
Key Missions:
- Repair and rebuild of tactical and combat vehicles
- Sustainment of ground combat systems
- Industrial support for the joint warfighter
Read more on the Red River Army Depot website and the TACOM Red River overview.
Corpus Christi Army Depot
Located on Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi Army Depot is the Army's main center for helicopter repair and overhaul. It is the largest industrial employer in South Texas and services aircraft including the UH-60 Black Hawk, CH-47 Chinook, and AH-64 Apache.
Key Missions:
- Overhaul and repair of Army helicopters
- Engine and component remanufacturing
- Aviation readiness support for the joint force
Details are on the Corpus Christi Army Depot About page.
Air Force Bases in Texas
Joint Base San Antonio
Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) is one of the largest joint bases in the Department of Defense. The Air Force is the lead service, and JBSA brings together three main locations with hundreds of mission partners.
- JBSA-Lackland is known as the "Gateway to the Air Force." It is home to the 37th Training Wing, the largest training wing in the Air Force, which runs Basic Military Training for new Air Force and Space Force recruits.
- JBSA-Fort Sam Houston is the home of Army medicine. It hosts the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence and Brooke Army Medical Center, training tens of thousands of medical personnel each year.
- JBSA-Randolph has been a flying training base since 1930. It is home to Headquarters Air Education and Training Command, the Air Force Personnel Center, and the 12th Flying Training Wing, which trains the instructors who teach others to fly.
Key Missions:
- Basic Military Training for the Air Force and Space Force
- Military medical education and care
- Pilot and instructor flight training
See the official Joint Base San Antonio website and the JBSA-Randolph fact sheet.
Sheppard Air Force Base
Sheppard AFB, in Wichita Falls, is the largest and most diverse training base in the Air Education and Training Command. Its host unit, the 82nd Training Wing, runs the largest technical training operation in the Air Force, teaching skills such as aircraft maintenance and munitions. Sheppard also hosts an international pilot training program.
Key Missions:
- Technical training for Air Force career fields
- Aircraft maintenance and munitions training
- International pilot training
Learn more on the Sheppard Air Force Base website and the Sheppard AETC fact sheet.
Dyess Air Force Base
Dyess AFB, in Abilene, is named for Lt. Col. William Edwin Dyess, a Texas native captured on Bataan in 1942. Its host unit, the 7th Bomb Wing, flies the B-1B Lancer bomber, and the 317th Airlift Wing flies the C-130J Super Hercules cargo plane.
Key Missions:
- B-1B bomber operations and training
- C-130 airlift and aircrew training
- Global strike and rapid airlift support
