Military Bases in Nevada
The inside scoop on raising a military family in Nevada.
Air Force Bases
Creech AFB
Located in Indian Springs, Nevada
Creech AFB in Indian Springs, Nevada, is a critical hub for the United States Air Force, renowned as the center of remotely piloted aircraft operations including the MQ-9 Reaper. The base supports both on-base and off-base housing options, with access to schools and essential amenities in nearby communities.
Nellis AFB
Located in Warm Springs, Nevada
Nellis AFB in Warm Springs, Nevada, serves as a premier U.S. Air Force installation and is home to the USAF Warfare Center. This base is renowned for advanced air combat training, including the Red Flag exercises, and supports a large military community with robust on-base housing, schools, and access to Las Vegas amenities.
Navy Bases
NAS Fallon
Located in Fallon, Nevada
NAS Fallon in Fallon, Nevada serves as the premier training facility for naval aviation, home to the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center and the elite TOPGUN program. The base offers on-base housing, access to quality schools, and a tight-knit military community, with local amenities in nearby Fallon.
Nevada’s Desert Defense Vanguard
For U.S. military members and families on PCS or TDY to Nevada, Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs, Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, and Naval Air Station Fallon in Fallon are premier installations, leading in drone operations, air combat training, and naval aviation. These bases anchor Nevada’s strategic military landscape in the Mojave Desert. This guide to military bases in Nevada offers insights into their roles, historical significance, economic impact, and community support, ensuring a rewarding assignment in the Silver State.
Historical Foundations
Nevada’s military history is rooted in WWII and the Cold War. Nellis Air Force Base, established in 1941 as Las Vegas Army Air Field, trained P-47 Thunderbolt pilots and became a fighter testing hub post-war, renamed for Lt. William H. Nellis, killed in 1944. Naval Air Station Fallon, founded in 1942 as Fallon Auxiliary Air Station, supported WWII carrier pilot training and evolved into the Navy’s TOPGUN school in 1996. Creech Air Force Base, activated in 1943 as Indian Springs Airfield, served as a WWII gunnery range and became a drone operations center in 2005, named for Gen. Wilbur L. Creech. These bases have shaped Nevada’s defense legacy.
Economic Impact
Nevada’s bases contribute over $5 billion annually, employing 20,000 personnel. Nellis Air Force Base, with 14,000 personnel, generates $3 billion in Las Vegas and Clark County, supporting local businesses through training contracts. Creech Air Force Base employs 3,000, adding $800 million to Indian Springs’ economy. Naval Air Station Fallon sustains 3,700 jobs and $700 million in Churchill County. Families access 1,500 housing units, DoDDS schools (e.g., Clark County School District, Churchill County Schools), and TRICARE clinics. MWR programs, like 2025 Nellis Red Flag events and Fallon’s ranch tours, enrich community life.
Key Military Facilities
Creech Air Force Base (Indian Springs): Hosts the 432nd Wing, operating MQ-9 Reapers and RQ-170 Sentinels for global ISR and strike missions, with 3,000 personnel.
Nellis Air Force Base (Las Vegas): Home to the 57th Wing and U.S. Air Force Weapons School, training 10,000 pilots annually on F-35s and F-22s, with 14,000 personnel.
Naval Air Station Fallon (Fallon): Hosts the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center and TOPGUN, training 2,000 naval aviators yearly on F/A-18 Hornets, with 3,700 personnel.
Nevada Test and Training Range (Tonopah): A 2.9-million-acre Air Force range for live-fire and combat simulation, supporting 1,000 personnel and Red Flag exercises.
Hawthorne Army Depot (Hawthorne): Manages munitions storage and demilitarization for the Army, employing 500 personnel across 147,000 acres.
Strategic Importance
Nevada’s bases are pivotal for U.S. and NATO defense. Creech Air Force Base’s 432nd Wing conducts 2,500 MQ-9 and RQ-170 missions annually, providing 30% of Air Force ISR data for global operations, with 2024 enhancements to drone capabilities. Nellis Air Force Base’s 57th Wing hosts 30 Red Flag exercises yearly, training 10,000 pilots for air combat on F-35s and F-22s, with 2025 exercises expanding joint operations. Naval Air Station Fallon’s TOPGUN program trains 2,000 naval aviators, ensuring carrier strike group readiness, with 2025 upgrades to F/A-18 training. The Nevada Test and Training Range supports 5,000 live-fire tests, while Hawthorne Army Depot stores 40% of Army munitions. These bases maintain superiority despite unconfirmed 2024 drone reports near Creech and Nellis.
Notable Distinctions
Nellis Air Force Base, at 11,300 acres, is the Air Force’s premier combat training center, hosting the world’s largest air combat exercise, Red Flag. Creech Air Force Base is the primary hub for MQ-9 Reaper operations, pioneering drone warfare. Naval Air Station Fallon is the Navy’s only TOPGUN training site, with 84,000 acres for carrier simulations. The bases offer 1,500 housing units, school partnerships, and MWR events like Las Vegas’s 2025 air shows and Fallon’s Stillwater Range hikes, fostering vibrant communities in Nevada’s desert landscapes.
U.S. service members on PCS to Nevada or TDY in Nevada will find cutting-edge missions and dynamic communities at Creech, Nellis, and Naval Air Station Fallon. From Las Vegas’s vibrant entertainment to Fallon’s rugged outdoors, Nevada’s bases provide robust support, quality education, and unforgettable cultural experiences for military families.