Western Washington, defined as all of Washington west of the Cascade Mountains, hosts the vast majority of the Northwest's military installations. Three out of the five services: the Navy, Army and Air Force, have bases in Western Washington. Although the Coast Guard and Marine Corps do not have any bases in the area, there are Marines and Coast-Guardsmen stationed in the area.
Located south of Tacoma in Pierce County, Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) is one of 12 joint Army-Air Force bases in the U.S. The bases formerly known as Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base became JBLM on Feb.1st, 2010 and will reach full operational capacity on Oct. 1st, 2010 according to the JBLM website.
JBLM is composed of Army and Air Force units. The largest Army unit is I Corps. I Corps is composed of many different units, including the 2nd Infantry Division, the 3rd, 4th and 5th Stryker Brigades and the 2nd Battalion of the 75th Rangers.
The largest Air Force unit at JBLM is the 62nd Airlift Wing. Together with the 446th Airlift Wing (a reserve unit) the 62nd Airlift Wing operates 50 C-17 Globemaster III transport jets.
Joint Base Lewis McChord
2140 Liggett Ave.
Fort Lewis, WA 98433
253-967-3314
lewis.army.mil
According to the base's website, Naval Base Kitsap is the largest naval organization in Navy Region Northwest. The base hosts both surface ships and submarines and has installations in Bremerton, Bangor and Keyport as well as various other properties around Washington and the Northwest. Some of the ships which call NBK home are the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis, eight Ohio class nuclear ballistic missile submarines and four attack submarines.
Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton
1100 Hunley Road
Silverdale, WA 98315
360-476-3711
cnic.navy.mil/kitsap
Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey is located on Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound. NAS Whidbey Island is home to all of the Navy's tactical electronic attack squadrons, which fly the EA-6B Prowler and EA-18G Growler. Four P-3 Orion Maritime Patrol squadrons and two EP-3E Aries Fleet Reconnaissance squadrons are also stationed at NAS Whidbey Island. NAS Whidbey Island has a combined population of 9,900 military personnel and civilians.
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
3730 North Charles Porter Ave.
Oak Harbor, WA 98278
360-257-2211
naswi.ahf.nmci.navy.mil
Naval Station (NS) Everett is the most modern installation in the Navy, according to the base's website. The first ships to be home-ported at NS Everett arrived on Sept. 3, 1994. As of 2010, eight ships call NS Everett home, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.
Naval Station Everett
2000 W. Marine View
Everett, WA 98207
425-304-3000
cnic.navy.mil/everett
