The United States created a constitution based upon relieving its citizenry of the injustices visited upon them by the British. As such, this meant soldiers had to have dedicated housing in the form of barracks, usually located on a military base. Today, we’re looking at America’s oldest military bases.
Are Soldiers Allowed to Live Off-Base?
They certainly are, it mostly depends on the pay grade and relationship status of a soldier as to whether they choose to live off-base. Married couples with children are more likely to opt for their own home over trying to make things work at the barracks.
Why Do Soldiers Need Dedicated Housing?
Before the Industrial Revolution, it wasn’t uncommon to send troops to scour the landscape for food and shelter. The specter of modernity requires troops to be fed, housed and attended to as they set about their tasks. Further, it is forbidden under the Third Amendment for troops to seek housing from the populace.
22. Fort Sill Army Base
Fort Sill Army Base, located in Lawton, Oklahoma, was opened in 1869 and is home to the United States Army Field Artillery School and one of four locations for Army Basic Combat Training.
21. Naval Submarine Base New London
Naval Submarine Base New London, located in Groton, Connecticut, was opened in 1868 and is the “Home of the Submarine Force” for the US Navy.
20. Francis E Warren Air Force Base
The Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, located in Cheyenne, Wyoming, was opened in 1867 and is one of three strategic missile bases in the U.S.
19. Fort Myer Army Base
Fort Myer Army Base, located in Arlington, Virginia, was opened in 1863 and is home to those who work in and around the US Capital.
18. Rock Island Arsenal Army Base
The Rock Island Arsenal Army Base, located in Arsenal Island, Illinois, was opened in 1862 and is home to the United States First Army.
17. MCRD Parris Island Marine Corps Base
MCRD Parris Island Marine Corps Base, located in Port Royal, South Carolina was opened in 1861 and is home to Marine Corps training for enlisted recruits.
16. Fort Riley Army Base
Fort Riley Army Base, located in Riley, Kansas, was opened in 1853 and has been home to various Army divisions since World War I.
15. Yuma Proving Ground Army Base
The Yuma Proving Ground Army Base, located in Yuma County, Arizona, was opened in 1850 and is one of the largest army installations in the world.
14. Fort Bliss Army Base
The Fort Bliss Army Base, located in El Paso, Texas, was opened in 1849 and is the largest base in FORSCOM (United States Army Forces Command).
13. Presidio of Monterey Army Base
The Presidio of Monterey Army Base, located in Monterey, California, was opened in 1846 and is the current home to the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center.
12. Naval Academy Navy Base
The Naval Academy Navy Base in Portsmouth, Virginia was opened in 1845 and is the second oldest service academy. The base educates midshipmen for service in the US Navy and Marine Corps.
11. Fort Hamilton Army Base
The Fort Hamilton Army Base, located in Brooklyn, New York, was opened in 1831 and is located to provide military support to the New York metropolitan area.
10. Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
The Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, located in Portsmouth, Virginia, was opened in 1830 and remains the oldest continuously running hospital in the Navy medical system.
9. Fort Leavenworth Army Base
The Fort Leavenworth Army Base, located in Leavenworth, Kansas was opened in 1827 and is home to US Army Training and Doctrine Command.
8. Naval Hospital Pensacola
The Naval Hospital Pensacola, located in Pensacola, Florida, was opened in 1826 and is responsible for training those who serve in the Information Warfare Corps.
7. Pensacola Naval Air Station
The Pensacola Naval Air Station, located in Pensacola, Florida, was opened in 1826 and is an initial training base for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard officers for flight training.
6. Key West Naval Air Station
The Key West Naval Air Station, located in Key West, Florida, was opened in 1823 and is one of the primary locations for teach air-to-air combat training.
5. Watervliet Arsenal Army Base
The Watervliet Arsenal Army Base, located in Watervliet, New York, was opened in 1813 and still produces much of the army’s artillery, including cannons, mortars, and tanks.
4. Portsmouth Shipyard Navy Base
The Portsmouth Shipyard Navy Base, located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire was opened in 1800 and is the nation’s oldest continuously operational shipyard that currently works on modernizing our submarine fleet.
3. Norfolk Naval Shipyard Navy Base
The Norfolk Naval Shipyard Navy Base, located in Portsmouth, Virginia was opened in 1794 and is the largest facility belonging to the US Navy.
2. US Military Academy Army Base West Point
The US Military Academy Army Base West Point, located in West Point, New York, was opened in 1790 and is the oldest US service academy for commissioning officers into the US Army.
1. Carlisle Barracks Army Base
The Carlisle Barracks Army Base, located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, dates back to 1745 when it was created by British soldiers and repurposed in 1776 for the Continental Army. Today, it’s home to the United States Army War College.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Benny Marty/Shutterstock.com.
