What Military Bases are in Louisiana?
Louisiana, known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning natural beauty, is also home to a significant number of military bases. These bases play a crucial role in supporting national defense, hosting various military units, and providing training facilities for servicemen and women. In this article, we will take a closer look at the military bases in Louisiana, including their locations, sizes, and primary functions.
Active Duty Bases
There are several active-duty military bases in Louisiana, which are operated by the United States Armed Forces.
- Barksdale Air Force Base: Located in Bossier City, Louisiana, Barksdale AFB is a primary base for the USAF’s 8th Air Force and the 19th Air Force. The base has a total area of 6,500 acres and is home to around 15,000 personnel.
- Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field: Situated near Fort Polk, Eglin AFB is an auxiliary field of the 33rd Fighter Wing and is primarily used for training and testing of aircraft and equipment.
- Fort Polk: Located in Leesville, Louisiana, Fort Polk is a United States Army base that serves as the home of the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). The base has a total area of 135,000 acres and is home to around 10,000 personnel.
- Jackson Barracks: Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, Jackson Barracks is a United States Army base that serves as the home of the 225th Engineer Battalion. The base has a total area of 24 acres and is home to around 300 personnel.
- Kisatchie Forestry Camp: Situated near Fort Polk, Kisatchie Forestry Camp is a US Forest Service facility used for training and testing of personnel.
- Lake Fausse Pointe : Located in St. Martin Parish, Lake Fausse Pointe is a United States Coast Guard base that serves as the home of the Coast Guard’s Seaport Security Unit (SSU). The base has a total area of 1,600 acres and is home to around 100 personnel.
- Leesville Army Aviation Technical Test Center: Located near Fort Polk, this center is used for the testing and evaluation of military aircraft and helicopters.
- New Orleans Joint Reserve Naval Base: Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, this base serves as the homeport for the US Navy’s Naval Reserve and the Coast Guard Reserve. The base has a total area of 10 acres and is home to around 100 personnel.
- Shreveport Air Depot: Located in Shreveport, Louisiana, the Shreveport Air Depot is a US Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) facility that provides maintenance and logistics support for military aircraft and equipment.
Reserve and National Guard Bases
In addition to the active-duty bases mentioned earlier, Louisiana is also home to several Reserve and National Guard bases.
- Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport: Located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport serves as the homebase for the 226th Engineering Installation Squadron (Air National Guard).
- Baton Rouge General Hospital: Located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Baton Rouge General Hospital serves as the primary medical center for the Louisiana National Guard.
- Charleston Air Force Base : Located in Charleston, Louisiana, Charleston AFB is a Air National Guard base that is home to the 199th Fighter Squadron. The base has a total area of 1,500 acres and is home to around 300 personnel.
- Lake Charles Regional Airport : Located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Lake Charles Regional Airport serves as the homebase for the 122nd Fighter Wing (Air National Guard).
- New Orleans Armory : Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, the New Orleans Armory serves as the homebase for the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Army National Guard).
Other Military Installations
**Other Military Installations**
In addition to the bases mentioned earlier, Louisiana is also home to several other military installations that provide support services, training facilities, and historical sites.
* **Anderson Memorial Training Site**: Located near Fort Polk, this training site is used by the **US Army Special Forces** for **survival, evasion, resistance, and escape (SERE) training**.
* **Camp Beauregard**: Located in Alexandria, Louisiana, Camp Beauregard is a **US Army** training site that provides **mobilization and training facilities** for military personnel.
* **Fort Pike**: Located in St. Bernard Parish, Fort Pike is a **US Army** installation that serves as a **training site for the US Army Corps of Engineers**.
* **Jackson’s Landing**: Located in Westwego, Louisiana, Jackson’s Landing is a **US Army** installation that serves as a **mobilization and training site** for military personnel.
* **Kisatchie National Forest**: Located in central Louisiana, the Kisatchie National Forest is a **US Forest Service** facility that is used for **training** and **testing** by the military.
* **Minden Army Depot**: Located in Minden, Louisiana, the Minden Army Depot is a **US Army** installation that provides **maintenance and storage facilities** for military equipment.
* **Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans**: Located in New Orleans, Louisiana, this base serves as the **homeport for the US Navy’s Naval Reserve** and the **Coast Guard Reserve**. The base has a total area of **10 acres** and is home to around **100 personnel**.
* **Port Fourchon**: Located in Lafourche Parish, Port Fourchon is a **US Coast Guard** facility that serves as the **primary port for offshore oil and gas operations**.
* **Shreveport Naval Reserve Center**: Located in Shreveport, Louisiana, the Shreveport Naval Reserve Center serves as the **homeport for the US Navy’s Naval Reserve** and provides **training facilities** for military personnel.
**In Conclusion**
Louisiana is home to a diverse range of military bases, reserve and national guard units, and other military installations that play a crucial role in supporting national defense and military operations. From active-duty bases like Barksdale AFB and Fort Polk to reserve and national guard units like the 226th Engineering Installation Squadron and the 122nd Fighter Wing, Louisiana is an important hub for military activity in the United States.
**Table: List of Military Bases in Louisiana**
| Base Name | Location | Primary Function | Size (Acres) | Personnel |
| — | — | — | — | — |
| Barksdale AFB | Bossier City | USAF’s 8th Air Force, 19th Air Force | 6,500 | 15,000 |
| Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field | Fort Polk | Training and testing | N/A | N/A |
| Fort Polk | Leesville | US Army’s Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) | 135,000 | 10,000 |
| Jackson Barracks | New Orleans | US Army’s 225th Engineer Battalion | 24 | 300 |
| Lake Fausse Pointe | St. Martin Parish | US Coast Guard’s Seaport Security Unit (SSU) | 1,600 | 100 |
| Leesville Army Aviation Technical Test Center | Fort Polk | Testing and evaluation of military aircraft | N/A | N/A |
| New Orleans Joint Reserve Naval Base | New Orleans | US Navy’s Naval Reserve, Coast Guard Reserve | 10 | 100 |
| Shreveport Air Depot | Shreveport | US Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) maintenance and logistics support | N/A | N/A |
| Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport | Baton Rouge | 226th Engineering Installation Squadron (Air National Guard) | N/A | N/A |
| Charleston Air Force Base | Charleston | 199th Fighter Squadron (Air National Guard) | 1,500 | 300 |
| Lake Charles Regional Airport | Lake Charles | 122nd Fighter Wing (Air National Guard) | N/A | N/A |
| New Orleans Armory | New Orleans | 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Army National Guard) | N/A | N/A |
Note: The table only includes the main military bases and installations in Louisiana and does not include smaller training sites, national guard units, or Coast Guard facilities.
