Top 10 Military Bases in Florida -

What comes to mind when I mention the State of Florida?

Disney World?
The Daytona 500?
Alligators?

Florida is a wonderful State and is the home of the Commander of Part Time Commander… Mr Charles Holmes.

So I decided to take a look at military life in the State of Florida. In today’s post, I am going to share what I believe are the top 10 military bases in Florida.

To determine this, I am not just looking a how many personnel are active on that base. I am looking at the various missions and the overall importance of that base.

Let’s take a look at the top 10 military bases in the Sunshine State starting with #10 and working our way to #1.

#10: Tyndall Air Force Base

This base is located approximately 12 miles East of Panama City. This base was first opened in 1941 as part of the U.S. Army and was a gunnery range. In 1947, it became an Air Force base. The base was named after Lieutenant Francis B. Tyndall.

The primary units assigned to Tyndall AFB consist of:

325^th Fighter Wing
44^th Fighter Group
First Air Force
53^rd Weapons Evaluation Group
337^th Air Control Squadron
and the Air Force Civil Engineer Center

#9: Blount Island Command

Blount Island is located just outside of Jacksonville. It is an important Marine Corps logistical base and is set up for rapid deployment of Marine equipment and personnel.

Blount Island Command is under the command of Marine Corps Logistic Command in Albany, Georgia.

Ships can be loaded to keep Marine forces supplied for long periods of time.

#8: Naval Air Station Jacksonville

This Navy Air Station is about 8 miles South of Jacksonville. The area has been used by the United States military since 1917 during World War I.

NAS Jacksonville is home to various Patrol Squadrons and Helicopter Strike Squadrons. U.S. Customs and Border Protection also has a headquarters at NAS Jacksonville.

#7: Naval Air Station Pensacola

It is called The Cradle Of Naval Aviation and home of the Blue Angels.

The area where NAS Pensacola is located has been prime military property since as far back as the 1500’s.

It is the home of Naval Aviation Schools Command.

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#6: Camp Blanding

Built in 1940, Camp Blanding is the primary training base for the Florida National Guard. This base is a primary location for counter drug operations and has around 55,000 acres of training lands.

Many Army ROTC units also use Camp Blanding as a training base.

#5: Patrick Air Force Base

Home to the 45^th Space Wing who controls Cape Canaveral, Patrick Air Force Base is located in Brevard County, Florida.

Also calling Patrick AFB home is:

The 920^th Rescue Wing
The Air Force Technical Applications Center
and the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute

It was named after Major General Mason Patrick.

#4: MacDill Air Force Base

MacDill AFB is about 4 miles South of Tampa. It is an extremely important base. It is home to the 6^th Air Mobility Wing and 927^th Air Refueling Wing. But even more important is the fact that MacDill holds:

United States Central Command Headquarters
United States Special Operations Command Headquarters
United States Marine Forces Central Command Headquarters
and many other joint service tenants

Opened in 1939, this base is named in honor of Colonel Leslie MacDill.

#3: Air Station Clearwater

This is the largest United State’s Coast Guard Air Station. Keeping the area swept of drugs and illegal aliens, this Coast Guard base holds a huge level of importance in Florida.

The crafts at Air Station Clearwater take part in a long list of search and rescue missions yearly.

#2: Naval Air Station Key West

Key West isn’t just Jimmy Buffet land with Tequila and dancing in the sun.

NAS Key West plays an integral part in United States military operations. It is a key training area for air to air combat operations. The Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security and many others use this base as a training area. Not to mention, it is the training site for U.S. Special Forces underwater training.

The U.S. Navy has inhabited this site since early in the 1800’s.

#1: Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division

I put this Orlando training center at #1 because of the huge importance. While not a “base” per say, thousands of men and women are trained yearly on Naval Warfare techniques, strategies and the use of technology.

The center’s mission reads: To be the principal Navy center for research, development, test and evaluation, acquisition and product support of training systems, to provide Inter-service coordination and training systems support for the Army, Marine Corps and Air Force, and to perform such other functions and tasks as directed by higher authority.

Final Thoughts

There you have my opinion of the top 10 military bases in Florida. What is your opinion?

If you have been stationed at any of these, please tell us your story.

If you have any comments or questions, you can post them below.

Thank you and please hit the share buttons and let your social friends see this post.

Sincerely,

Chuck Holmes
Former Army Major (resigned)
Publisher, Part-Time-Commander.com
Email: mrchuckholmes@gmail.com

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