There are numerous types of military installations in the US serving various roles. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and recently Space Force each have a wide range of facilities, each designed to support specific functions and operations of the armed forces.  Some examples include:

• Army bases serve as training centers, headquarters, and logistical support hubs.
• Navy bases include shipyards, naval air stations, and training facilities.
• Air Force bases serve as airfields, training centers, and strategic command centers.
• Joint bases support integrated military activities and joint training exercises.
• Reserve and National Guard bases, armories, and centers are used by the reserve components of the military, including the Army National Guard, Air National Guard, and Reserve units from various branches.
• Strategic Command Centers serve as critical command and control centers for strategic military operations.
• Ranges, proving ground, DoD Research Laboratories, sites, arsenals, barracks, and depots are some of the other names for military installations with specific missions.

Every military installation has at least one operational mission, and sustainment of that mission to ensure “readiness” is every installation commander’s primary concern. Most bases have units with different missions. Broadly, speaking base functions can be categorized as the following:

• Training and education.
• Operational home stations for warfighting units.
• Logistics, maintenance, and deployment support.
• Research and testing.

A clear understanding of a military base’s mission is essential for effective community planning, economic development, emergency preparedness, and overall community well-being.  Operational and training bases use the land and air space for warfighting simulation which raises specific encroachment issues.  Whereas a headquarters or logistics depot have more similarities to commercial or industrial tenants.  Training bases have large numbers of typically young men and women visiting for a short period of time while an operational center houses large numbers of families. Environmental and quality-of-life issues differ based on functions.

The chain of command differs based on the service and mission.  Communities need to understand the reporting structure of base leadership external to the base.  The base could report to a command structure at another base. Each branch of the military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force) has a Secretary who reports to the Secretary of Defense.  Depending on the mission, the base has a different office in the Pentagon making decisions which impact the base [1].  It is imperative to work with Congressional offices to know and understand the chain of command external to the base who are making important mission decisions. This is discussed further in Module Six.

[1] Herrera, J. (2020). Defense Primer: Military Installations Management IF11263. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service.

Each military base, no matter what service, will have a commander that serves as the city manager and “mayor.”  This may not be the senior officer on the installation or even the installation commander.  They are typically Colonels (Army, Air Force, Marines) and Captains (Navy, Coast Guard). The core of this commanders’ mission is to provide city functional and mission support services to the senior commander, installation-specific mission and objectives, and the installation community[1]. As an example, Army bases have a Post Commander that is usually the senior commander at the base, and he/she will have a subordinate Garrison Commander that acts as the mayor or city manager of the post.  Community leaders need to be prepared to interact with both the senior Post Commander and the Garrison Commander.

For the Navy, Installation Commanding Officers (ICO) are basically mayors like the Army example above and are the “face of the Navy” with local governments, industry, and the public [2]. They are responsible for providing all the “city services” (facilities, housing, fire/emergency services, public works, etc.) to “tenant commands” that all have their own missions and reporting chains. Depending on the tenant’s mission, they might interact with the community or not.  The ICO reports to the Navy region commander, who reports to Commander, Navy Installations Command.

Most Air Force installations have a base or installation commander who leads a “Wing [3].”  Wings consist of multiple “Groups,” usually commanded by Colonels as well.  Installations can have multiple wings, but only one installation commander. The Wing Commander serves as the mayor of the base in that the Wing Commander is responsible for both the primary mission of the base and the installation itself.  The Mission Support Group Commander is akin to the City Manager.  He or she is responsible for the buildings, roads, mechanical infrastructure, and personnel functions that keep the base running.  Additional Group Commanders will run more specific mission areas.  Many bases will host more senior leaders (military General Officers or senior civilian leaders) who serve larger functions but are not specifically in charge of the base itself.

[1] Paine, J. (2022). Garrison Imperatives: A Proposal. Military Review (October), 1-8.

[2] Interview (2024) William Whitmore, Director Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Gulfport

[3] Interview (2024) Billy E. Pope, Jr., Col, Commander 81^st Training Wing

Without a long-standing relationship with the installation, it can be challenging to find the correct contact for boundary spanning issues.  The installation “mayor” is ultimately in charge, but he/she is focused on the missions and the inner workings of the base.  The services handle community affairs differently [1].

• Navy or Marine Corp typically has a Community Plans and Liaison Officer (CPLO) and a Public Affairs Officer (for public, but also supports CPLO with government and industry engagement)
• Air Force Base have Community Planners
• Army has Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Managers or the Director of Public Works

Base commanders are essential to support and get engaged with the community, but often base planning staff have more longevity and technical expertise[2].  Having the base planning staff serve as ex officio members of community planning boards is an approach used by the best practice communities.

 Keys to Success:

• Maintaining relationship continuity and understanding the mission.
• Understand how your base operates and who are key contacts.
• Have military personnel serve as members or ex-officio members on community planning boards.

[1] Covi, M. (2022). Best Practices and Guidance for Engaging with Military Installations for Climate Resilience in Defense Communities. Athens, GA: University of Georgia Marine Extension and Sea Grant.

[2] National Association of Development Organizations. (2023). Economic Development Districts and Military Installations: Partnerships for Future Planning and Community Cooperation. Washington, DC: National Association of Development Organizations.

The next four modules will explore the components of the military base ecosystem.  Module 4 will explore the internal community’s activities of defense community development.  Specifically, the following will be explored:

• Civic culture
• Community Support Organizations

The functions of the military base support ecosystem explored in Module 4:

• Provide continuity.
• Support the base mission.
• Provide community-based solutions to base problems.
• Promote reciprocal engagement.