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Military

The defense industry plays a vital role in the Fredericksburg Region, with three installations providing for the operational readiness of the United States military. Representing a total of more than 230 years of military and defense presence in the region, these installations are providing leadership in engineering and technology for the next generation of surface combatant ships, interagency coordination of national security measures, and training and testing for all services.

They also serve as integrators of homeland defense technologies for the future of warfighting. The region’s defense industry provides nearly 32,000 jobs and has an economic impact exceeding $1.2 billion.

Fort A.P. Hill
Fort A.P. Hill is an all-purpose, year-round 76,000-acre military training center in Caroline County that provides tactically realistic training for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines.

It includes a 28,000-acre live-fire range complex capable of accommodating all traditional small arms plus mortar, artillery, and combined running fire, hover fire and terrain flight aerial gunnery. Unencumbered by environmental constraints, A.P. Hill is used extensively for Army and joint warfighter training exercises as well as interagency use.

A.P. Hill is one of the largest installations in the northeastern United States and is the range and training center nearest the National Capital Region. It is one of only two installations in the northeastern U.S. capable of training a large maneuver force. It hosts between 500,000 and 800,000 man-days of training annually, representing nearly 70,000 military personnel. Its annual operating budget is approximately $25 million.

Naval Support Facility Dahlgren
Naval Support Facility (NSF) Dahlgren, Virginia is located in King George County. Dahlgren provides critical expertise in the science and engineering of naval warfare systems. Commands located at Dahlgren are steeped in joint or coalition warfare development, operations and leadership.

NSF Dahlgren consists of approximately 4,300 acres and employs over 3,700 civilians, approximately 500 military personnel and more than 4,000 badged contractors. Its operating budget runs at roughly $1 billion. Major organizations on the base include the host command, Naval Support Activity South Potomac, as well as supported commands: Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, the Center for Surface Combat Systems, the Aegis Training and Readiness Center, the Joint Warfare Analysis Center and the U.S. Air Force 20th Space Control Squadron Detachment.

Dahlgren is the Navy’s technology and development leader for guns, projectiles, and fuzes. It pioneered the development of fire control and targeting software for strategic nuclear weapons for the United States and United Kingdom submarines. Dahlgren represents the Navy’s knowledge base in Tomahawk Weapon System computer programs and provides the naval expertise for all aspects of chemical, biological, and radiological defense.

Marine Corps Base Quantico
Marine Corps Base Quantico, where vital concepts, training, and equipment of the future are developed, has been the initial training ground for thousands of Marines since its establishment in Stafford County in 1917. Some of the most important techniques in warfighting were born at Quantico – including amphibious warfare, for which the Marine Corps is renowned.

MCB Quantico is home to the Marine Cops Combat Development Command and numerous tenant organizations. The base staff provides infrastructure, operational, and community services support to these organizations and to the military members, families, and civilians who live and work on base. The base is also a key player in support of overall Marine Corps objectives and programs, and plays host to scores of training events, conferences, symposia and other special events.

MCB Quantico employs more than 13,000 military and civilian personnel and is subdivided into 18 training areas.

It serves as a focal point for professional military education within the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps University provides an academic platform to shape leaders throughout their military careers. The National Museum of the Marine Corps, the centerpiece of the Marine Corps Heritage Center, opened in Fall 2006. The design was inspired by the famous Iwo Jima Flag-raising of World War II.