About Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Located in the heart of the Pacific Northwest's Puget Sound region, JBLM is the Defense Department's premiere military installation on the West Coast.
JBLM provides world-class installation support to more than 40,000 active, Guard and Reserve Service members and about 15,000 civilian workers. The base supports more than 60,000 family members who live on and off base, as well as almost 30,000 military retirees who live within 50 miles.
Fort Lewis, named after Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark expedition, is one of the largest and most modern military reservations in the United States. Consisting of 87,000 acres (350 km²) of prairie land cut from the glacier-flattened Nisqually Plain, it is the premier military installation in the northwest and is the most requested duty station in the army. Located adjacent to Fort Lewis, JBLM McChord Field is home to the 62nd Airlift wing and a C-17 transport fleet. Also adjacent to Fort Lewis is Camp Murray, Washington National Guard.
JBLM is surrounded by vast recreational opportunities. The Puget Sound offers year round enjoyment of boating, fishing, whale watching and scuba diving, Take a hour and 30 minute scenic drive to the pristine Cascade mountains, or look in any direction is see our most recognizable land mark, Mt. Rainer.
We proudly call Tacoma, Olympia and Seattle our neighbors and encourage all families to explore these beautiful cities. Tacoma, Olympia and Seattle are all accessible via the I-5 interstate. With plenty of activities within minutes of JBLM its easy to see why Joint Base Lewis McChord is the most requested duty station in the Army.
For easy, convenient traveling the SeaTac International Airport is approximately 40 minutes away via the I-5 Interstate. Grey Hound and Amtrak also run locally from down town Tacoma.
Looking to explore even more of the Pacific Northwest, take a short two hour road trip and visit Portland, Or., or fly a kite at family friendly Ocean Shores, where you can drive your vehicle directly onto the beach.
With all that Joint Base Lewis McChord and the Pacific Northwest has to offer, its obvious why so many Service Members choose to retire and call the Pacific Northwest Home.