The State of Washington hosts several major military bases and significant installations of all branches of the military; many in the Northwest Metroplex or right next door. Pierce County is the home of Ft. Lewis and McChord Air Force Base (now officially Joint Base Lewis-McChord). Kitsap County is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Naval Base Kitsap and the Keyport Undersea Warfare Research Station. Island County is the location of Naval Air Station Whidbey, and Snohomish County hosts the Everett Navy Base.

Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base, located on Washington’s south Puget Sound in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, have almost a century of military service.

Camp Lewis was established in 1917 and became Fort Lewis in 1927. McChord Air Force Base started as McChord Army Air Field in 1938 and became McChord Air Force base when the Air Force became a separate military service in 1947.