Florida is known as the sunshine state for great weather and scenic tourism, however it is also a key state for our national defense program. Below are the military bases in Florida and a brief description of each, enjoy.

Military bases in Florida

Eglin Air Force Base

Eglin Air Force Base is home to the Air Armament Center (AAC), which is in charge of development, testing and deployment of all Air Force weapons delivered via air. Some of the programs managed by the AAC are the Joint Direct Attack Monition, HARM Targeting System and Advanced Medium Range Air-to Air Missiles. The 96th Air Base Wing, based here, is tasked with supporting the AAC with services provided by a normal military post. Other units hosted here include the 308th Armament Systems Wing, 53rd Wing, 46th Test Wing and the 7th Special Forces Group.

Hurlburt Field Air Force Base

Hurlburt Field holds a unique arrangement with Eglin AFB. Located 11 miles from Eglin, Hurlburt Field AFB has their own missions, but they share reciprocity with Eglin when it comes to housing and co-share the Air Force widows and veterans housing projects. There are some major units assigned here. The Air Force Special Operations Command takes care of Special Operations for the USAF and deploys Special Operations Forces when called upon anywhere in the world. 1st Special Operations Wing specializes in unconventional warfare, including counter-terrorism and combat search and rescue missions. The ACC 50th Command and Control Wing develops training tactics for improving warfighter readiness. The US Air Force Special Operations School is also located here. This school teaches identified-talented Airmen to qualify as Special Operators in the USAF. It provides highly elite training to prepare soldiers for special ops.

Patrick Air Force Base

Patrick Air Force Base is the home of the 45th Space Wing (45 SW). The 45th manages the launch of rockets at Cape Canaveral, including satellites, commercial payloads for the European Space Agency and other things in support of NASA. Here you will also find AFTAC (Air Force Technical Applications Center), which operates a network of nuclear detection technology. Patrick AFB operates under 5 core competencies: Space Launch Operations Support, Eastern Range Operations, Base and People Support, START Precepts (Synchronize, Trust, Accountability, Recognition and Tenacious Execution), and Expeditionary Readiness.

Tyndall Air Force Base

The 325th Fighter Wing finds its home at Tyndall AFB. This Wing specializes in the F-22 Raptor – they train pilots, battle managers and maintenance personnel for combat. They also train F-22 crew members, intelligence officers and air traffic controllers. The 325th is made up of four groups, including Operations, Maintenance, Mission Support and Medical. Many Tenant groups also occupy this base, including the 16th Electronic Warfare Squadron/Detachment 1, 372nd Training Squadron and the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency.

Macdill Air Force Base

Over 3,000 US Airmen and 12,000 service members from 50 mission partners call MacDill AFB home. The two major units located here are the 6th Air Mobility Wing and the 927th Air Refueling Wing. MacDill is known for providing full-service air fueling operations for all types of aircraft regardless of location.

Homestead Air Reserve Base

Located approximately 25 miles south of Miami, the Air Force Reserve Command 482nd Fighter Wing is hosted here. The 482nd reports to the Tenth Air force station and has F-16 aircraft, pilots and support personnel at the ready for worldwide deployment at a moment’s notice. It’s also used as a platform for support efforts during natural disasters in the southern hemisphere.

Camp Blanding Army Base

Camp Blanding Army Base provides training for many units, including the Florida National Guard, Florida Army National Guard, and the Florida National Guard’s combat brigade. The Florida Air National Guard also uses the premises for ground ops training. It also provides training grounds for law enforcement and ROTC units from Jacksonville University and the University of South Florida . Camp Blanding has live fire ranges capable of handling all types of weapons including mortars. Not only does it several small arm ranges, there is also a crew combat range allowing for entire squadrons to run combat scenarios.

Air Station Clearwater Coast Guard Base

One of the largest air stations run by the US Coast Guard, Clearwater Coast Guard Base is responsible for the airspace and waters around Florida, the Caribbean Basin and the Gulf of Mexico. They also manage two air stations in the Bahamas on Great Inagua and Andros Islands. Working closely with the US Drug Enforcement Agency and the US Office of

Immigrations and Customs, Clearwater provides HH-60J and MH-60T Jayhawk helicopters to assist in fighting drug and human trafficking between the USA and international waters.

District 7 Coast Guard Base

The main goal of the District 7 base is to control drug traffic and the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States. The troops here work in close partnership with the local Immigration and Naturalization agencies. Located in Miami, District 7 finds itself directly within the route illegal immigrants take when trying to reach US soil. They are also well positioned to intercept drug runs that come up from South America. Aided by high speed boats and ships, over 10,000 individuals spread over five group offices work hard to patrol the waters between South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

ISC Miami Coast Guard Base

Integrated Support Command Miami is there to support military personnel, active and retired alike, who require special services. Housing is a large problem in the Miami area due to the high cost of real estate. ISC helps deployed troops and their families find suitable housing based on their specific needs. They are also able to provide health services to reserve and retired individuals. The Miami ISC is responsible for taking care of the needs of the 7th District.

Blount Island Command Marine Corps

This installation is less of a base and more of a logistics center. Considered the hub of the Marine Corps’ Maritime Prepositioning Force, its mission is to support Marine expeditionary forces by planning, coordinating and executing logistics procedures. Ships are loaded with combat ready equipment and sent to sea, where they await their orders. Once orders are received, they deliver their cargo and return to port. The work is completed by approximately 1,000 civilians led by 250 military troops. These personnel work hard and take pride in their relationship with Marine war fighters.

Training Center Corry Navy Base

Located on 600 acres in Myrtle Grove, this Navy base hosts the Center for Information Warfare Training (CIWT) of the United States Navy. The CIWT trains cryptologic and information systems technicians, intelligence specialists and has special courses for officers to learn information intelligence and cryptologic warfare. Students come here to train from all over the world. They work in support of the Department of Defense and are among the few facilities open to civilians.

Naval Air Station Jacksonville Navy Base

NAS Jacksonville is actually more of a military airport, harboring 16 aviation units, 17 shore commands and several other agencies. Units of note that call this base home are Patrol Squadron 5, Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 58, Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron 3 and the US Customs Border Protection.

Naval Air Station Key West Navy Base

Because NAS Key West is based on the southernmost island of the Florida Keys, it’s a supreme location for naval training. This base is known for its superior flying weather and is a great location for marine pursuits. Personnel here are instrumental in support of a wide range of programs, such as engineering research and development, surveillance radar, weather forecasting and even anti-drug smuggling efforts.

Naval Station Mayport Navy Base

NS Mayport one of the most productive installations in the country. Mayport is unique in that it’s home to a busy seaport and also serves as an air facility. The harbor has the ability to harbor 34 ships, and the air facility boats an 8,000 ft. runway that is qualified to handle just about any aircraft the Department of Defense has. It hosts four aircraft squadrons: Jaguars, Grandmasters, Jaguars and Vipers. The ships are divided into cruisers, frigates and destroyers, and include some of the most popular ships such as the USS Philippine Sea, the USS Samuel B. Roberts and the USS Boone. It is also home to the Navy’s 4th Fleet, which was reactivated in 2008.

Naval Air Station Pensacola Navy Base

Known as the Naval Aviation Cradle, this base can be found right in the Pensacola city limits. This base is probably most famous as being the home base of the Blue Angels, a squadron trained to perform impressive flight demonstrations for the public. NAS Pensacola is also known for it’s advanced training programs for the Navy and Marines, Coast Guard aviators and Naval Flight Officers.

Naval Air Station Whiting Field Navy Base

This station is a state-of-the-art training facility relied upon by several branches of the US Armed Forces. Officially run by the US Navy, the Air Force, Coast Guard and Marines all benefit from sending trainees to this installation. Allied countries

also send pilots here for training. It occupies over 8.000 acres of land total – almost 6,000 of which is in Pensacola proper. Over 10,000 pilots have received their training here, including US Astronauts John Glenn USMC and Neil Armstrong.

Autec Complex Navy Base

AUTEC stands for the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center. They are known for executing the most innovative undersea technique tests and training in the United States. The complex has three different testing areas – the Weapons Range, the Acoustic Range and the FORACS Range (Fleet Operational Readiness Accuracy Check Site). These three ranges are located in what is known as TOTO (the Tongue of the Ocean), a basin of deep ocean with depths as much as 6,000 feet. All testing here is done underwater, testing the most high-tech weapons for accuracy and precision.

Naval Air Warfare Center Navy Base

Located in Orlando, this Navy Base is one of the smallest in the United States. Its mission is to create training programs for military personnel in both undersea and surface operations. Also known as the Naval Air Warfare Center Training System, it employs about 1,000 scientists, contractors, engineers and support personnel.

Naval Air Station Panama City Navy Base

NAS Panama City is located in the northwestern part of Florida. Under the command of the US Navy, the facility occupies about 2.7 square kilometers, not counting the waterways under their control. The primary mission of this base is to support the Navy and the Department of Defense and establish a connection with the Gulf of Mexico. Here you will find the Center for Surface Warfare, a training center for Diving Salvage and the Coastal Operations Institute.

Naval Hospital Jacksonville Navy Base

This Naval hospital can handle any medical procedure and/or emergency both on hospital ground and in the field. It is a full medical program that treats all personnel in the surrounding area, including retired service members and families of active sailors and marines. Their mission is to provide exceptional healthcare to any member of the armed services in need.