Category: Florida

There are 21 military bases in Florida (FL). All military branches have at least one military base in Florida. This includes Air Forces, Army, Coast Guard, Navy, and Marine Corps. Most bases are located near a coast line and works as very important US military forces.

Florida is a pivotal state for the United States military, hosting many bases and installations across all branches of the Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Space Force. The state’s strategic position, extending into the subtropical waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, and its proximity to the Caribbean and Latin America, make it an invaluable asset for defense, training, and operational readiness.

In total, Florida has over 20 military bases, each serving various specialized functions:

Training and Education: Florida’s military installations are renowned for their training facilities. NAS Pensacola is a premier training location for naval aviators and is home to the Naval Education and Training Command. The Army’s 7th Special Forces Group at Eglin AFB and the Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field also focus on specialized combat training.

Testing and Evaluation: The state’s vast ranges and favorable climate facilitate testing and evaluating weapons systems and aircraft. Eglin AFB, in particular, has a massive range used for air-to-ground combat testing, while the Eastern Range at Patrick Space Force Base supports missile and space launches.

Air and Space Operations: Florida is critical in air refueling and space operations. MacDill AFB is a central hub for air refueling missions. In conjunction with Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Patrick Space Force Base is at the forefront of military space launches and satellite operations.

Naval Operations: With its extensive coastline, Florida supports significant naval operations. NAS Jacksonville is a key site for maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare. Naval Station Mayport is one of the few bases on the East Coast capable of hosting an aircraft carrier, making it strategically important for power projection.

Special Operations: Florida is central to U.S. Special Operations, with USSOCOM headquartered at MacDill AFB and AFSOC based at Hurlburt Field. These commands focus on unconventional warfare and global special operations missions.

Research and Development: Many Florida bases are involved in advancing military technology and capabilities. The state’s bases work closely with defense contractors and local industries to develop and refine military hardware and software.

Strategic Proximity: The state’s location allows for rapid deployment to the Caribbean, South America, and beyond. This geographic advantage is crucial for humanitarian missions, counter-narcotics operations, and power projection.

Economic Impact: Florida’s military installations contribute significantly to the state’s economy, providing jobs to thousands of military personnel and civilians, and creating opportunities for local businesses.

Florida’s military bases are diverse and multifaceted, supporting various essential functions from training and education to testing, evaluation, and operational missions. They are known for their specialized capabilities in air and space operations, naval power, special operations, and as a hub for military training. The installations in Florida are integral to the U.S. military’s global reach and national security objectives.

  • USCG Auxiliary 7th District

    District 7 Facts

    • Location: Miami Florida
    • Website:
      Visit Website ›
    • Phone: (305) 415-6683
    • Longitude:
      -80.188406
    • Latitude:
      25.765482
    • DSN:
      N/A

    Located in the Tampa Bay of Florida, Florida District 7 Base is commanded by Rear Admiral William D. Baumgartner. It is the main headquarters of the United States Coast Guard and is responsible for operations of the coast guard in the Florida, Georgia and South Carolina States. It also oversees the patrols in the Caribbean and Puerto Rico. The unit has many high speed aircraft and ships which it uses for this purpose. The unit provides logistic and personnel support for the United States Coast Guard Clearwater Air Station.

    USCG Boats at Auxiliary 7th District

    The Florida coast is a usual route for illegal immigrants entering the United States and Europe and the Florida District 7 works to arrest and stop these illegal immigrants. Most of them usually come by the sea in small boats and ships. The Florida state intercepts these ships and arrest the occupants for later deportation. The Illegal drug trade is also a menace that the Florida District 7 tries to help contain the situation. They patrol the high seas and surrounding areas to make sure that no cocaine or any other illegal drug load comes through.

    USCG Boat Practice in Auxiliary 7th District

    The Caribbean is also known to be a serious drug trade zone. Most of the time, drug dealers conduct their illegal activities in bushes and solitude areas. The aircrafts are also used to patrol the forest areas to track all activities in those secluded places to ensure no illegal drug trade goes on. The division also organizes search and rescue operations in the event of accidents in the sea or in the surrounding zones. There are ambulances available to convey disaster victims to nearby hospitals. They also provide education on boating and boat safety. Additionally, the Base provides safety check services on private vessels. They are also involved in marine environmental protection.

  • Eglin Air Force Base

    Eglin AFB Facts

    • Location: Valparaiso, Florida
    • Website:
      Visit Eglin AFB Website ›
    • Phone: (850) 882-1110
    • Longitude:
      -86.526175
    • Latitude:
      30.483814
    • DSN:
      872-1110

    Established in 1935 as a military base to serve as a United States airforce armament proving land, the Florida Eglin Base is located a few miles from the Fort Walton Beach. It covers a vast land of about 1,900 square kilometers. This land covers 97,963 square miles into the Gulf of Mexico. It provides support for personnel, logistics, information and communications technology, engineering, medical and security services for the surrounding areas. It is also a main source of support for the Air Armament Center as well traditional military services available in tenant units. The Florida Eglin Base was named after a Lieutenant who died in an aircraft crash and is now under the commandership of Colonel Sal M. Nodjomian.

    Eglin Air Force Base Sign At Front Entrance

    Military Practice at Eglin Air Force Base

    The vast land on which the Florida Eglin is a major factor that is responsible for its economic boom. The base is the home of manufacturing of high-tech equipment and products and is toured by many people each year. The Indian Temple Mound Museum, also located near the Base. A lot of tourists troupe to this museum each passing day to see for themselves the Mississippian-period mound. The Civic division of the Florida Eglin Base organizes outreach programs to visit some civilian groups and schools. This is an effort to foster good relationships between the military and civilian society.

    Military plane at Eglin AFB

    The public affairs division organizes tours for civil society groups on request. Additionally, the Base organizes air shows, during which they display their aircraft facilities. Members of the public are allowed to feature in this event. School children are shown round the various departments and military equipment. The tour groups are expected to be numbered from 20 to 40 people and are expected to come up with their own transportation, with an Eglin escort on board each bus. Any group wishing to tour the Florida Eglin Base should inform the unit at least 30 days before the tour date.

  • Corry Station Naval Technical Training Center

    Training Center Corry Facts

    • Location: Pensacola, Florida
    • Website:
      Visit Corry Website ›
    • Phone: (850) 452-3100 x1539
    • Longitude:
      -87.29
    • Latitude:
      30.401667
    • DSN:
      Prefix 922

    Have you ever heard about training center Florida Corry? It is Corry station Naval Technical Training center, a military training base in Florida. Built in 1923 and declared as Corry field, it became popular with aviation training complex for higher skilled of fighter training.  The military base was named such a thing in respecting to Lieutenant Commander William Corry Jr. He was the US Navy in World War 1 and got a Medal of Honor recipient.  This Florida Corry naval base now becomes center of Navy Information Dominance. The CID is a new product of merger of Cryptology Corry Station and Center of Information technology in San Diego.

    Corry Station Naval Soldiers at front of USA Flag

    In fact, the Florida Corry station provides work for 606 personnel of military and 71 civilian employees as well as 7,500 students which are trained every year in the station. This site is also place for the Navy Information Operations Command Pensacola, providing Cryptology support for global units. As the primary base of US Navy for information dominance, it becomes one of the greatest Military information centers in the United States. Because of decommission as active airfield in year of 1958, it becomes popular as premier intelligence base for the US navy.

    Corry Station Naval Interior with Planes
    Corry Station Naval - Coast Guard Helicopter

    The Florida Corry station was established in 1923, in the north of Pensacola. This military base is used for getting training complex for junior pilots. It is particularly developed in slow motion for getting a premier aviation training center and becomes one of the best training facilities for Navy in attempt to get higher skilled fighter plane techniques. The Florida Corry station was used a lot in the time of World War II and the Korean War. It became military base for training the fighter pilots. The Florida Corry station gains a lot of good reputations to support military movement into better.

  • USCG Air Station Clearwater

    USCG Air Station Clearwater Facts

    • Location: St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport in Clearwater, Florida
    • Website:
      Visit Clearwater Website ›
    • Phone: (727) 535-1437
    • Longitude:
      -82.758536
    • Latitude:
      27.976766
    • DSN:
      N/A

    The Florida Clearwater had begun after the conversion of St, Petersburg or Clearwater international Airport into US Station Clearwater of Coast Guard Air. It finally became headquarter to helicopters and aircrafts. In 1987, the Florida Clearwater was declared to be the biggest air station of Coast Guard by the development of drug prohibition mission and OPBAT. This mission brought a result in the task of near about twelve HH-60J helicopters and most recent in Coast Guard fleet along with the Boosted Personnel power to the present level of five hundred women and men.

    Air Station Clearwater Planes Landing

    In this period, the Florida Clearwater comes with HC-130s to give support for the increasing law enforcement attempts. The crews of air station Clearwater helicopter could fly an average of 400 search and rescue cases every year along the coasts of Bahamas, Florida and others. Indeed, it comes up with a lot of history and operation which have used in Florida. In 1986, Clearwater did operation HUNTER. The drug interdiction was then buried and now it was called as OPBAT (Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos). The most notable mission for Florida Clearwater air station was in 1986 in the time of the release of Space Shuttle Challenger. The crews took quick respond by arriving on scene immediately while debris from blast falling down. Through this incident, it was awarded to be a shoreline Guard Unit recommendation.USCG Planes crossing Clearwater area

    USCG Air Station Clearwater Full View

    When President Clinton declared a renewed attempt against Drugs War in 1997, the Florida Clearwater made quick respond by doing some operations of Gulf Shield, Frontier lance and Frontier Shield. These ways are used at inhibiting the expansion of migrants and illegal drugs. Just by the time, the glory of Florida Clearwater never runs out, it becomes more arise with new challenge at good tasks which are given.

  • Camp Blanding

    Camp Blanding Facts

    • Location: Clay County, Florida near the city of Starke
    • Website:
      Visit Website ›
    • Phone: (904) 682-3357
    • Longitude:
      -81.98
    • Latitude:
      29.955
    • DSN:
      N/A

    Florida Camp Blanding is closely associated with army training facility in the world war. As originally built as public training reservation in a year of 1939, it is particularly built for supporting the Florida National Guard. However along with the demand of mobilization of forces and quick expansion of US army, the Florida Camp Blanding is required to be a federal reservation. It was then rebuilt for bigger area to accommodate two entire infantry divisions plus a lot of separate units. Before the conversion, the camp building was previously used to train dozens of army troops. There it includes cavalry, infantry, field artillery, tanks destroyer, medical and engineer and so on.

    CAMP BLANDING FL Front sign

    All specialist troops were trained in Florida Camp Blanding. Between 1944 and 1945, a great percentage of people were sent to reload the ranks of the formation of combat infantry. Also the Florida Camp Blanding was used for hospital with 2800 beds, prisoner from Germany and The separation center. After the war, camp blending were reverted to strictly under state control. Nowadays, the camp is universal training center for reserve components, active component trainings and National Guard.

    Camp Blanding Snipper Practice
    Camp Blanding Tank at front yard

    The Florida Camp Blanding was built to dedicate the reminiscent of World War II service. There you will find museum that is used to collect and exhibit some artifacts and objects about traditions of camp Blanding, heritage, and history as well as global campaigns. In reminiscent of history in Florida Camp Blanding, the story about German prisoners is revealed. The US government has granted 25 million dollars for paying for German prisoners up to 80 cents on daily payment in canteen checks while getting payment at labor wage rates. In 1946, the German prisoners were sent home since the POW camp was already closed. Few years later, several places were declared to be historical sites.