Military Bases in Texas
Your unofficial field manual for Texas.
Air Force Bases
Dyess AFB
Located in Abilene, Texas
Dyess AFB sits just west of Abilene, Texas, serving as a key installation for the U.S. Air Force. Home to the B-1B Lancer bombers and C-130J Super Hercules, the base supports global strike and airlift missions.
Goodfellow AFB
Located in Goodfellow Afb, Texas
Goodfellow AFB sits in Goodfellow Afb, Texas, and serves the U.S. Air Force as a premier intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance training center. The base is known for its technical schools, on-base housing options, and access to local amenities and schools.
JBSA Fort Sam Houston
Located in Fort Sam Houston, Texas
JBSA Fort Sam Houston in Fort Sam Houston, Texas, is a key installation for the U.S. Army and part of Joint Base San Antonio. Known as the "Home of Army Medicine," it houses major medical training commands and offers robust on-base and off-base housing, top-rated schools, and access to San Antonio amenities.
Lackland AFB
Located in Lackland Afb, Texas
Lackland AFB in Lackland Afb, Texas, is a major U.S. Air Force installation known as the "Gateway to the Air Force." This base is home to all Air Force enlisted Basic Military Training, with robust on-base housing, strong local school options, and easy access to San Antonio amenities. Lackland AFB has a reputation for its critical training mission and large, diverse community.
Laughlin AFB
Located in Laughlin Afb, Texas
Laughlin AFB in Laughlin Afb, Texas, is a premier U.S. Air Force installation recognized as the busiest pilot training base in the country. Home to the 47th Flying Training Wing, it specializes in undergraduate pilot training for the Air Force and allied nations.
Randolph AFB
Located in Randolph A F B, Texas
Randolph AFB in Randolph A F B, Texas, is a key U.S. Air Force installation known as the "Showplace of the Air Force." It serves as headquarters for Air Education and Training Command, focusing on pilot instructor training and professional military education. On-base housing, nearby schools, and family amenities support a vibrant community.
Sheppard AFB
Located in Sheppard Af Base, Texas
Sheppard AFB in Sheppard Af Base, Texas, is a major U.S. Air Force installation renowned for its technical and pilot training programs. Home to the 82nd Training Wing and the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program, it supports both U.S. and allied airmen.
Army Bases
Fort Bliss
Located in El Paso, Texas
Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, is a major U.S. Army installation known for its vast training areas and as the home of the 1st Armored Division. The base offers a mix of on-base and off-base housing, with access to quality schools and amenities in the surrounding El Paso community.
Fort Hood
Located in Killeen, Texas
Fort Hood sits in Killeen, Texas and is one of the largest active-duty armored posts in the United States Army. The base is home to the III Armored Corps and supports a large military community with on-base housing, multiple schools, and robust local amenities.
Navy Bases
NAS Corpus Christi
Located in Corpus Christi, Texas
NAS Corpus Christi in Corpus Christi, Texas, is a major U.S. Navy installation known for its role in naval aviation training. The base is home to the Chief of Naval Air Training and supports student aviators from across the country.
NAS Fort Worth JRB
Located in Fort Worth, Texas
NAS Fort Worth JRB in Fort Worth, Texas, is a key joint reserve base supporting Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Army, and Texas Air National Guard units. The installation is known for its strategic air operations, robust reserve presence, and proximity to top-rated schools and family-friendly neighborhoods.
NAS Kingsville
Located in Kingsville, Texas
NAS Kingsville in Kingsville, Texas, is a premier U.S. Navy installation dedicated to advanced jet pilot training. This base is home to Training Air Wing TWO, supporting student aviators and their families with on-base housing, quality schools, and access to local amenities.
Texas Military Installations
Texas’s military bases, including Dyess Air Force Base, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Laughlin Air Force Base, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Sheppard Air Force Base, Fort Bliss, Fort Hood, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, and Naval Air Station Kingsville, are vital hubs for PCS and TDY assignments. With 15 major installations across Air Force, Army, and Navy, Texas is a cornerstone of U.S. defense, blending historic roots with cutting-edge missions. This guide to bases highlights Texas’s strategic, economic, and community contributions for U.S. military members and families.
Historical Pillars
Texas’s military legacy spans frontier defense to modern warfare. Fort Bliss, established in 1848 near El Paso, guarded the Mexican border and trained anti-aircraft units during WWII, per the U.S. Army. Dyess Air Force Base, opened in 1942 as Tye Army Air Field, supported B-25 Mitchell training and was renamed for Lt. Col. William E. Dyess, killed in 1943. Fort Sam Houston, founded in 1876, became a medical training hub by WWI and joined Joint Base San Antonio in 2010. These bases, rooted in Texas’s strategic geography, have shaped U.S. military history.
Economic Engine
Texas’s bases contribute over $150 billion annually to the state’s economy, employing more than 677,000 personnel, per the Texas Governor’s Office. Joint Base San Antonio, encompassing Fort Sam Houston, Lackland, and Randolph, supports 80,000 jobs and $30 billion in San Antonio’s economy, per JBSA data. Fort Bliss in El Paso generates $6 billion and 47,000 jobs, while Fort Hood in Killeen adds $25 billion and 60,000 jobs. Dyess AFB in Abilene employs 5,400, and Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls sustains 6,200. NAS Corpus Christi and NAS Kingsville drive $2 billion in coastal economies, supporting schools and infrastructure through federal aid and contracts.
Additional Military Facilities
Camp Bullis (San Antonio): A 27,990-acre JBSA training site for the 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry, specializing in urban warfare and medical training.
Red River Army Depot (Texarkana): A maintenance hub for the Army’s TACOM Life Cycle Management Command, repairing Stryker vehicles and MRAPs.
Camp Mabry (Austin): Headquarters for the Texas National Guard’s 36th Infantry Division, supporting disaster response and training.
Strategic Backbone
Texas’s bases span critical defense missions. Dyess AFB hosts the 7th Bomb Wing with B-1B Lancers and the 317th Airlift Wing with C-130J Super Hercules, per the Air Force. Goodfellow AFB trains 12,000 intelligence and cyber specialists annually via the 17th Training Wing. JBSA-Fort Sam Houston leads medical training with the Army Medical Center of Excellence, while JBSA-Lackland conducts basic training for 35,000 Airmen yearly. JBSA-Randolph trains pilots with the 12th Flying Training Wing’s T-38 Talons. Sheppard AFB educates 60,000 students via the 82nd Training Wing, and Laughlin AFB trains 300 pilots annually with T-6 Texans. Fort Bliss hosts the 1st Armored Division, and Fort Hood supports the III Armored Corps. NAS Corpus Christi and NAS Kingsville train naval aviators with T-45 Goshawks, while NAS Fort Worth JRB operates F-35C Lightning IIs for joint reserves.
Notable Distinctions
Fort Hood, at 335 square miles, is the world’s largest military base by area, hosting 45,000 troops and the III Armored Corps, per the Army. Naval Air Station Fort Worth JRB is the first joint reserve base, supporting 11,000 personnel across all branches. Sheppard AFB is the Air Force’s largest technical training center, educating 60,000 students yearly. These bases, with 12,000 family housing units and 15 DoDDS schools statewide, offer unmatched support for U.S. families.
Service members on PCS to Texas or TDY in Texas will find diverse missions and vibrant communities. From San Antonio’s historic charm to Corpus Christi’s coastal allure, Texas’s bases provide robust support, top-tier schools, and unparalleled opportunities for military families.