Joint Base Lewis-McChord is one of the largest military installations in the United States, covering close to 415,000 acres of land (including the Yakima Training Center) and employing more than 55,000 military and civilian personnel. It is the largest employer in Pierce County and the third largest employer in all of Washington state. The base has a large, growing residential population and functions as a small city unto itself, complete with autonomous emergency services, commissaries, post offices and various other shops and eateries. It is estimated that more than 250,000 people access the thriving base on a regular basis.

Prior to becoming a joint base under the Base Realignment and Closure Commission in 2010, JBLM was two separate entities, Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base. Fort Lewis, originally called Camp Lewis, was first established in 1917 and was the namesake of Captain Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark fame.

The airfield, originally called Tacoma Field, opened in 1930 and although it was renamed McChord Field in 1940, it remained a part of Fort Lewis until 1947 when the Air Force was created and it became its own base.

Commands and Units

JBLM is home to a multitude of units, as well as a corps headquarters, an airlift wing and an Infantry Division.

• I Corps, which is one of four active-duty Army corps, commands almost all of the Army units at JBLM. It also conducts planning and liaisons with other assigned active and Reserve components throughout the country.
• 7th Infantry Division, which is the first division headquarters at JBLM since 1991, was reactivated in 2012. It oversees three Stryker Brigade Combat Teams, to include the 2nd SBCT and 3rd SBCT. The 17th Field Artillery Brigade and 16th Combat Aviation Brigade are also part of the 7th ID.
• 62nd Airlift Wing, which flies C-17 Globemaster III transport from McChord Field, is made up of the 4th Airlift Squadron, 7th Airlift Squadron, 8th Airlift Squadron and 10th Airlift Squadron; it also has an operational support squadron that includes the 62d Maintenance Group, 62d Mission Support Group and 62d Medical Squadron.

Additionally, these other subordinate units are also assigned to JBLM:         

ARMY

• 42nd Military Police Brigade
• 62nd Medical Brigade
• 201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade
• 555th Engineer Brigade
• 593rd Sustainment Brigade
• 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne)
• 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
• 66th Theater Aviation Command
• Harry H. Lind Noncommissioned Officer Academy
• 4th Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment
• 191st Infantry Brigade
• 189th Infantry Brigade
• 404th Army Field Support Brigade
• Headquarters, 6th Military Police Group (CID)
• 8th Brigade, U.S. Army Cadet Command (ROTC)

AIR FORCE

• 446th Airlift Wing (Air Force Reserves)
• Western Air Defense Sector
• 22nd Special Tactics Squadron
• 262nd Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron
• 361st Recruiting Squadron
• Washington Regional Flight Center
• 627th Air Base Group
• 1st Air Support Operations Group

MEDICAL

• Western Regional Medical Command
• Public Health Command Region-West
• National Center for Telehealth & Technology

Training Area

The Yakima Training Center spans 327,000 acres and is utilized by soldiers for live fire, land warrior system testing and maneuver training. While most of the terrain is undeveloped and covered with rough terrain, the Army has added the Multi-Purpose Range Complex and the Shoot House and Urban Assault Course for training purposes. The Vagabond Army Airfield and Selah Airstrip are located within the YTC, as well an AAFES shoppette, gym and community club for the benefit of the soldiers and families who may be temporarily stationed out there.

Housing

There are currently 16 neighborhoods, each with its own appeal, on Lewis Main and Lewis North and another five located at McChord Field. All on base housing is privatized and managed by Equity Residential and subject to availability.

Neighborhoods on Lewis Main

• Eagle View has 132 homes that are available to enlisted servicemembers. They range from 1,236 to 1,700 in square footage and feature fully fenced yards and attached single-car garages.
• Broadmoor has 169 brick homes that are all listed on the Washington State Historic Register. They are reserved for field grade, senior and general officers.
• Broadmoor Main is one of the smallest neighborhoods and has just 14 houses, which are also listed on the Historic Register. They are available to field grade officers.
• Greenwood is again part of the historic district and has 257 homes with a choice from 11 floor plans. It is conveniently located within walking distance from the commissary, exchange and an elementary school. The homes are available to enlisted servicemembers.
• Parkway, which is located near the main gate and is for enlisted servicemembers, has 206 houses that have all been newly renovated. All have open floor plans and some even feature a northwest rarity ... a basement.
• Town Center is the most popular new community on base and offers its residents the ability to walk to many amenities in an urban setting. The town homes are open to officers and enlisted servicemembers. It is also the only non-smoking community on the entire base.
• Davis Hill and New Hillside both offer enlisted servicemembers ranch-style homes ranging in size from 1,154 to 1,262 square feet. The recently renovated homes also have large backyards and are close to the main gate.
• Clarkdale has 518 renovated duplexes and multiplexes, some of which even have fireplaces and 6-foot high privacy fencing in the backyard. The neighborhood is available to enlisted servicemembers.
• Evergreen and Madigan are both known as more quiet neighborhoods, near the hospital. Evergreen offers 147 single-family houses and is just for enlisted servicemembers. Madigan's 99 homes are for both officers and enlisted servicemembers.
• Discovery Village is one of the newer developments and has 492 duplex and triplex style homes. They have open floor plans and covered porches, as well as large master bedroom suites.  

Neighborhoods on Lewis North

• Beachwood and Beachwood II are both open to officers and enlisted servicemembers. The homes, which span from 1,160 to 1,700 square feet, were either just built in 2003 or have been recently renovated. The communities are also within walking distance of an elementary school.
• Meriwether Landing
• Van Autreve, which was formally called Sergeant Major Row, has only 87 homes but they all boast top-of-the-line kitchen appliances and one-car detached garages. Square footage ranges from 1,400 up to 2,291 and there are six floor plans to choose from.

Neighborhoods on McChord Field

• Westcott Hills is a smaller community with just 32 single-family homes for field grade and senior officers. They have between 2,189 and 2,389 square feet and all have two-car garages.
• Cascade Village is brand new and is open to senior enlisted, company and field grade officers.
• Carter Lake is currently undergoing renovations. It is a diverse neighborhood with houses ranging in size from 952 to 2,102 square feet and is intended for E1-E9 families.
• Heartwood is open to E1-E6 families and the duplexes there were all recently renovated.
• Olympic Grove is available to E5-E6 families and offers duplex homes that have coveted fenced-in yards.

Healthcare

Madigan Army Health Center is a premier hospital located right on Lewis Main. They provide primary care, pediatric care, pre- and post-natal care, a 24-hour emergency room, as well as surgical and specialty clinics. MAMC has a large pharmacy onsite, a drive-thru refill window and four other pharmacies across the base. There are also satellite clinics available for the patients specifically assigned there, like the Nisqually Clinic, Winder Family Clinic and the Madigan Annex on Lewis Main, the Okubo Family Medicine and Dental Clinic on Lewis North and the McChord Field Medical Clinic.

Base Shopping

In addition to the commissaries, exchanges and class VI establishments located on both Lewis Main and McChord Field, JBLM also offers residents two first-rate thrift stores, as well as access to popular restaurants like Burger King, Cinnabon, Pizza Hut, Subway, Einstein Bros Bagels, Starbucks and Popeye's. Domino's will also deliver pizza to anywhere on base from its two locations inside the gates.

Those with JBLM access can also patronize GNC Supplement Center, Game Stop, or utilize the services at the UPS Store, Shur-Kleen Car Wash, Enterprise Car Rental and Firestone Auto Center, all of which have multiple locations on the base. JBLM's central location in Pierce County and near Thurston County also means that there is no lack of eateries, grocery stores and countless retail options just outside the gates.

Recreation and Amenities

JBLM residents and anyone with proper military ID can take advantage of the amenities and activities located across the base.

Get a great deal on recent and current movies at Carey Theater on Lewis Main and on weekends; the McChord Theater shows movies for free.

Bowling Arena Lanes on Lewis Main and Sounders Lanes on McChord Field both offer discounted rates to bowl a few frames with the family or to join a league.

If golf is more your game, you can play 18 beautiful holes at either Eagles Pride on Lewis Main or Whispering Firs on McChord Field. Both offer discounted rates to active-duty and retirees.

AFC Arena offers a rink for anyone wanting to skate or blade indoors at a low price. The spot is also available for parties and is home to the popular Battle Bean coffee shop.

The Commons, which has a splash park and an ADA-compliant playground, provides a reprieve from the hot days of summer for kids on Lewis Main.

Adults age 18 and older can play too at the Warrior Zone on Lewis North. The recreational facility offers state-of-the-art gaming, billiards, WiFi throughout and even has a patio with an outdoor fire pit.

Both the Lewis Army Museum and McChord Air Museum are open to the public and offer free admission. They contain a treasure trove of history, antiques and military memorabilia reflecting the Army and the Air Force, respectively.

Head outside with Northwest Adventure Center, Lewis Main and Adventures Unlimited, McChord Field. Trips are routinely planned every weekend (during the summer there are also weekday trips) for minimal costs and range from kayaking and hiking to bungee jumping and family-friendly trips to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. 

Residents and anyone with proper military or dependent ID can stay fit at any of the fitness centers located across base. Classes are also offered at no additional cost and personal training sessions can be arranged. Jensen Family Health & Fitness Center, McVeigh Sports & Fitness Center, Sheridan Sports & Fitness Center and Soldiers Field House Sports & Fitness Center all on Lewis Main; Wilson Sports & Fitness Center, Lewis North and McChord Main Fitness Center and Annex, McChord Field.

JBLM also offers pools that can be used for laps, water aerobics or just having fun and cooling off. Keeler Pool, Kimbro Pool, and Soldiers Field House Pool are all indoor and on Lewis Main; there is also the McChord Outdoor Pool, McChord Field, which is only open during the summer.

Children's Education

All of the schools located on JBLM are part of the Clover Park School District, which also encompasses the nearby city of Lakewood. There are six schools on JBLM: Beachwood Elementary School, Carter Lake Elementary School, Clarkmoor Elementary School, Evergreen Elementary School, Greenwood Elementary School and Hillside Elementary. For middle school and high school, on-base students are bused to off-base schools within the Clover Park School District.

Continuing Education

For adults, the base offers secondary education at the David. L. Stone Army Education Center on Lewis-Main, the John D. "Bud" Hawk CMH Army Education Center on Lewis-North, and the Air Force Education and Training Section on McChord Field. All three facilities offer bachelor and graduate level programs through a handful of colleges and universities, large computer labs, academic testing and basic skills classes, as well as other resources for servicemembers, veterans and dependents. 

See Also

Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base merged Jan. 31, 2010