Marine Corps Installations West

Field Medical Training Battalion Instructors conduct a “Casualty Evacuation” drill on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., Nov. 27, 2016. The purpose of the drill is to show participants how to properly evacuate a military service member in a combat zone. (US Marine Corps Video by Lance Cpl Francisco Diaz)

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.

Created in 1978, the Camp Pendleton's Air Facility was re-designated as Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton in 1985. MCAS Camp Pendleton operates a secure Class A airfield and maintains air station facilities, equipment and properties in support of the warfighting forces preparing for combat.

The first air facility in Yuma was constructed in 1928 for military and civilian use. When the United States entered World War II, an air base was erected and by early 1943, Yuma Army Air Base began graduating classes of pilots. The base became one of the busiest flying schools in the nation. At the end of the war, all flight activity here ceased and the area was partially reclaimed by the desert. In 1951, the Air Force reactivated the base, which was later transferred to the Navy in 1959. On July 20, 1962, the Base's designation was changed to Marine Corps Air Station. MCAS Yuma is one of the Marine Corps' premier aviation training bases. With access to 2.8 million acres of bombing and aviation training ranges and superb flying weather, MCAS Yuma supports 80 percent of the Corps' air-to-ground aviation training. Each year, the air station hosts numerous units and aircraft from U.S. and NATO forces. The ideal weather and location along the Colorado River make Yuma and the surrounding area an oasis in the southwestern Sonoran Desert. Nestled in five square miles just southeast of Yuma, the air station is home to a number of tenant units including Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron-1, Marine Aircraft Group-13, Marine Wing Support Squadron-371, Marine Fighter Training Squadron-401, Marine Air Control Squadron-1, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 13 and Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 4 and Combat Service Support Detachment-16. The main runway has been extended to 13,300 feet, or enough concrete for 37 miles of two-lane highway. MAWTS-1 hosts the biannual Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course (WTI) aboard MCAS Yuma and is recognized as the most comprehensive graduate level aviation course of instruction in the world today. On average, over 8,000 U.S. Marines log more than 8,000 flight hours during more than 5,000 sorties each year. WTI trains aviators, infantry, artillery and armory officers in addition to their service support personnel in advanced Marine Air Ground Task Force tactics, techniques and procedures.

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.