Marine Corps Installations West

United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) K-9 handlers demonstrate their capabilities on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 30, 2016. Part of the "How We Support the Warfighter" Web Series. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl Francisco Diaz)

U.S. Marine LtCol. David M. Moreau relinquishes command of 1st Marine Raider Support Battalion to LtCol. Richard M. Martin, at the 41 Area parade deck, Camp Pendleton, Calif., on June 20th, 2016. A Change of Command Ceremony is a military tradition that represents a formal transfer of authority and responsibility for a unit from one Commanding Officer to another. (U.S. Marine Corps motion media by Cpl. Karla J. Lara/MCIWEST-MCB CamPen Combat Camera/Released)

U.S. Marine Col. Christopher J. Williams relinquishes command of School of Infantry-West to LtCol Lance A. Jackola at the SOI-West parade deck, Camp Pendleton, Calif. June 16th, 2016. A Change of Command Ceremony is a military tradition that represents a formal transfer of authority and responsibility for a unit from one Commanding Officer to another.(U.S Marine Corps Imagery by Lance Cpl Cody R. Woods, MCIWEST-MCB Combat Camera Camp Pendleton/ Released)

Students and Staff of Fallbrook High School discuss the importance of the School Liason Program at Fallbrook, Calif., on 22 March, 2016. The school liaison program’s mission is to coordinate community resources in effort to reduce the impact of the surrounding mobile lifestyle of military school-aged children. (U.S. Marine Corps motion media by Cpl. Karla J. Lara, MCIWEST-MCB CamPen Combat Camera/Released)

Overview Marine Corps Installations West (MCIWEST)is comprised of five Marine Corps installations throughout California and Arizona. Our bases and air stations are fundamental to the combat readiness of Marine operating forces and integral to the quality of life for our Marines, Sailors, and their families. With a primary goal of consistent level of support to installations, the region maintains an outward focus on all matters that affect the collective installations to include encroachment, environmental policy and initiatives, and energy sustainability. It is the collective leveraging of the region that optimizes the installation's ability to provide uninterrupted support to the operator. MCIWEST truly embraces a paradigm of partnership within the western region. California, Arizona, and Nevada account for 67% of the Department of Defense (DOD) Military Use Airspace and ranges, and 85% of the Marine Corps' ground training areas and ranges. Additionally, 80% of the Marine Corp's real-estate resides in the western region. As Marines we value our relationships with the local community, and as a result continue to be considerate and responsible neighbors. We assist in disaster response, support local charities, volunteer in community organizations, provide habitat refuge for endangered species, and continuously seek new ways to be the best stewards of our environment. The Marines, Sailors and civilians aboard our installations are involved with community partners who work diligently to ensure that whenever possible our presence benefits our surrounding communities. Environment It is a common misconception that training Marines and maintaining sustainable habitats for endangered species, as well as preserving valuable real-estate, are mutually exclusive. Due to expanding urbanization and the suitable habitats that our training grounds provide, more than a dozen species of plants and animals have made our installations their home. Furthermore, our installations are home to dozens of historic preservation sites. Our installations take great pride in preserving Arizona and southern California's natural resources. We are committed to responsible stewardship of the environment through programs that ensure the proper balance between the operational needs of the Marine Corps and the protection and preservation of the environment for future generations.

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton was established in 1942, and has served as a training facility for hundreds of thousands of Marines from World War II through the War on Terror. Camp Pendleton serves as the Marine Corps' primary amphibious training base and the home to I Marine Expeditionary Force, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Logistics Group and many tenant units. The coastal and mountain terrain support a variety of military training. Fleet Marine Force units use Camp Pendleton's coastline, ranges and training areas to enhance and maintain combat readiness. The Base also provides specialized schools and training as directed by the Commandant of the Marine Corps. Several schools are located on Camp Pendleton including Assault Amphibian School Battalion, School of Infantry-West, Field Medical Service School and Marine Corps University academies. Following recruit graduation, enlisted Marines receive basic infantry training here before assignment to other specialized units throughout the Corps. More than 40,000 military family members occupy base housing complexes. However, with a daytime population of 70,000 military and civilian personnel, the Marines, Sailors and their families rely on the surrounding communities for retail goods and services not available on Base. Camp Pendleton's mission is to provide exceptional support services to our tenant organizations and external units so that they may be better prepared to successfully accomplish their missions.

In use by the military since 1917, Miramar served briefly as a Marine Corps air station from 1945 to 1947 before transitioning to the Navy. Following a Base Realignment and Closure Committee recommendation in 1993, the installation was transferred back to the Corps and on Oct. 1, 1997, became a Marine Corps air station once again. Today, MCAS Miramar is the West Coast home of Marine aviation. MCAS Miramar is home to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, whose roughly 17,000 Marines operate the F/A-18 Hornet, KC-130J Hercules, CH-53 Super Stallion and MV-22 Osprey from the air station. MCAS Miramar is home to a number of the military's most state-of-the-art training facilities. Importantly, many of these facilities are not only used to train military personnel, but are also shared with local law enforcement personnel and personnel from other federal, county and city agencies for training. The majority of MCAS Miramar's training facilities are located aboard East Miramar, a 15,000 acre spread of hilly, chaparral desert that contains five small-arms ranges, a nuclear, biological, and chemical training facility, and an aircraft fire rescue training site. The land itself supports training in land navigation, convoy operations, and related ground training exercises. MCAS Miramar Community: MCAS Miramar hosts and supports a variety of community outreach events, from fun-runs and charity events to base tours. These events give San Diegans an opportunity to interact face-to-face with the Marines who share their community. As an award-winning, world-class air show, the Miramar Air Show is the highlight of the air station's annual schedule of activities. The thrilling, three-day event draws hundreds of thousands from around the world to witness the finest in civilian and military aviation. The show is free for all attendees, but funds raised though premium seating and corporate sponsors go to quality of life projects and programs to further morale and welfare of service members and families assigned to the air station.

In 1942, the Marine Corps planners chose Barstow as a secure inland site to protect critical supplies and equipment against possible Japanese attack. In November 1978, the Base was re-designated to its present title of Marine Corps Logistics Base to emphasize its broad logistics support mission. Barstow offers 3 million square feet of covered storage and approximately 30 million square feet of open lot storage. These facilities house half of the Marine Corps' capability for ground maintenance and supply. At Barstow, military and civilian personnel support Marine Corps forces west of the Mississippi, the Far East and Asia with logistics, maintenance and transportation. The installation ensures that equipment is stored, tested, distributed and maintained to best support the operating forces. The desert climate, with its low humidity and lack of precipitation, helps preserves facilities and equipment. Cost savings are achieved from the lack of climate control. Barstow is located close to ground, air and rail transportation nodes to allow for faster delivery to southwestern military installations.