--- title: What Military Bases are in Washington? slug: what-military-bases-are-in-washington description: >- A guide to active military bases in Washington, including JBLM and Naval Base Kitsap, with PCS housing help, VA-loan guidance, and veteran-friendly agents. publishedAt: '2026-06-24T09:00:00.000Z' updatedAt: '2026-06-19T00:00:00.000Z' author: VeteranPCS categories: - US Military Bases canonical: 'https://www.veteranpcs.com/blog/what-military-bases-are-in-washington' componentSlug: us-military-bases stateSlug: washington --- # What Military Bases are in Washington? Washington State sits at the center of America's defense in the Pacific Northwest. It is home to **seven major active military installations** that support the **Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard**. From the South Sound to the Kitsap Peninsula to eastern Washington, these bases handle everything from submarine patrols to air refueling to search and rescue. Whether you are **PCSing to Washington**, weighing a move, or just curious about the state's military presence, this guide walks you through the key bases. A **PCS** is a Permanent Change of Station, the military term for moving from one duty station to another. ## Overview of Military Installations in Washington Washington's bases cover a wide mix of missions. The state hosts the only Army power-projection platform west of the Rocky Mountains, the West Coast home of the Navy's submarine fleet, and the largest tanker unit in the Air Force. Many of these installations sit on or near the water, which reflects how much the Navy and Coast Guard rely on the Puget Sound region. ### Active Military Bases in Washington - **Joint Base Lewis-McChord** (Army and Air Force, near Tacoma) - **Naval Base Kitsap** (Navy, Bremerton and Bangor/Silverdale) - **Naval Air Station Whidbey Island** (Navy, Oak Harbor) - **Naval Station Everett** (Navy, Everett) - **Fairchild Air Force Base** (Air Force, near Spokane) - **Yakima Training Center** (Army, near Yakima) - **Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound** (Coast Guard, Seattle) ## Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Army in Washington ### Joint Base Lewis-McChord Joint Base Lewis-McChord, often called **JBLM**, is the Department of Defense's premier military installation on the West Coast. It began operating in **October 2010** when Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base combined into one joint base. Today it supports the **Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines**, and it is the only Army power-projection platform west of the Rocky Mountains, according to the [JBLM mission page](https://home.army.mil/lewis-mcchord/about/mission). The Army side traces its roots to Fort Lewis, while the Air Force side runs airlift missions through the **62nd Airlift Wing** based at McChord Field. **Key Missions:** - Training and mobilization for all military branches - Deployment operations and power projection on the West Coast - Air mobility and airlift through McChord Field ### Yakima Training Center The Yakima Training Center sits in eastern Washington and works as a training arm of JBLM. It is a **327,000-acre** training site with **25 ranges**, including a Multi-Purpose Range Complex and a Shoot House. Military training support is its primary mission, and units from all branches and components, plus allied forces, train here to build readiness, according to the [Yakima Training Center site](https://home.army.mil/yakima/). The site was renamed from the Yakima Firing Center in 1990 to better describe its mission. **Key Missions:** - Live-fire and maneuver training - Range support for all branches and allied units - Building and sustaining unit readiness ## Navy Bases in Washington ### Naval Base Kitsap Naval Base Kitsap, or **NBK**, is the Navy's main installation on the Kitsap Peninsula, spread across **Bremerton, Bangor, Keyport, Manchester, and Jackson Park**. Its mission is to support the warfighter by providing reliable base services for ships, submarines, and shore commands, according to the [NBK mission page](https://cnrnw.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAVBASE-Kitsap/About/Mission-and-Vision/). Bangor is a key homeport for the Navy's ballistic-missile submarine fleet, while Bremerton supports surface ships and ship repair at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. **Key Missions:** - Homeport and support for submarines and surface ships - Base operating services for fleet and shore commands - Ship maintenance and repair ### Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, or **NAS Whidbey Island**, in Oak Harbor is the premier naval aviation installation in the Pacific Northwest. It is the home of all Navy tactical electronic attack squadrons flying the **EA-18G Growler**, the aircraft built for airborne electronic attack. The base also hosts eight Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance squadrons flying the **P-8 Poseidon** and other patrol aircraft, according to the [NAS Whidbey Island site](https://cnrnw.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAS-Whidbey-Island/). **Key Missions:** - Airborne electronic attack with the EA-18G Growler - Maritime patrol and reconnaissance - Naval aviation training and support ### Naval Station Everett Naval Station Everett, or **NS Everett**, is a deep-water Navy port on Puget Sound. It serves as a homeport for **Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers** that deploy with carrier strike groups, according to the [Navy's announcement on Everett](https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases/display-pressreleases/Article/2642745/naval-station-everett-future-homeport-for-new-constellation-class-frigates/). The Navy has also named Everett as the future homeport for the next generation of **Constellation-class guided-missile frigates**, a new class of small surface combatant ships. **Key Missions:** - Homeport for guided-missile destroyers - Fleet support for carrier strike group operations - Future homeport for new guided-missile frigates ## Air Force Bases in Washington ### Fairchild Air Force Base Fairchild Air Force Base sits just west of Spokane in eastern Washington. Its most prominent mission is **air refueling**, and it is home to the **92nd Air Refueling Wing**, the largest **KC-135 Stratotanker** unit in the Air Force, according to the [Team Fairchild fact sheet](https://www.fairchild.af.mil/Information/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/238995/team-fairchild/). The base is also home to the **U.S. Air Force Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) school**, run by the 336th Training Group, which trains aircrews to survive and return home if they are ever isolated, according to the [Survival School fact sheet](https://www.fairchild.af.mil/Information/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/238992/us-air-force-survival-school/). **Key Missions:** - Aerial refueling with the KC-135 Stratotanker - Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) training - Personnel recovery support ## Coast Guard in Washington ### Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, based in Seattle, oversees Coast Guard operations across the busy waters of Puget Sound and northwest Washington. The sector handles **search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, marine safety, and waterway management**, and it runs the Puget Sound Vessel Traffic Service that helps keep ship traffic moving safely, according to the [Sector Puget Sound page](https://www.pacificarea.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/District-13/Units/Sector-Puget-Sound/). Coast Guard Base Seattle provides logistics and support for units across the region. **Key Missions:** - Search and rescue operations - Maritime law enforcement and port security - Vessel traffic service and waterway safety ## Moving to Washington? Let Us Help You Find a Home Relocating to Washington for a military assignment comes with its own challenges, but **VeteranPCS** is here to help. Whether you need help understanding **VA home loans**, finding **military-friendly communities**, or working with **experienced real estate agents**, we are focused on making your **PCS move smooth**. A **VA loan** is a home loan backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs that often requires no down payment. 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 Washington, **contact us today** to connect with an **agent or lender** who understands the unique needs of military families. ## Plan Your PCS to Washington Washington's bases run from the South Sound to the Puget Sound peninsula, so where you settle depends on your gate. Families headed to the Army's largest West Coast post can read our [2026 guide to PCSing to Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM)](/blog/pcs-to-joint-base-lewis-mcchord-jblm-2026-guide), while those bound for the Kitsap Peninsula should see our [guide to PCSing to Bremerton and Naval Base Kitsap](/blog/pcs-to-bremerton-naval-base-kitsap-2026-guide) and our roundup of the [best communities for military families near Naval Base Kitsap](/blog/top-communities-for-military-families-near-naval-base-kitsap). Keep the move organized with the [ultimate PCS checklist and timeline](/blog/the-ultimate-pcs-checklist-and-timeline-for-active-duty-military-personnel), and if you plan to buy, start with [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 Mandy Klebe, a VeteranPCS agent in the Tacoma area, for current listings and prices. Know another family with orders to Washington? 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 Washington? Washington is home to **seven major active military installations**, supporting the **Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard**. ### 2. What is the largest military base in Washington? **Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM)**, near Tacoma, is the largest and is the Department of Defense's premier military installation on the West Coast. ### 3. What Navy bases are in Washington? Washington has three main Navy installations: **Naval Base Kitsap** on the Kitsap Peninsula, **Naval Air Station Whidbey Island** in Oak Harbor, and **Naval Station Everett**. ### 4. Is there an Air Force base in Washington? Yes. **Fairchild Air Force Base**, near Spokane, is home to the **92nd Air Refueling Wing** and the Air Force's **Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) school**. [**Connect with our Agents & Lenders in Washington Today**](https://veteranpcs.com/washington) and make your move stress-free.