MCB Quantico

Marine Corps Base Quantico is a military installation located close to Triangle, Virginia. The base is operated by the United States Marine Corps and spreads over 260 square kilometers. It is one of the largest installations owned by the US Marine Corps. It covers three different counties. Its size gave it its reputation as the crossroads of the Marines. The base hosts a school, multiple training sites, a prison, research centers, development warehouses, the FBI Academy, the main DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) office and so on. It hosts more than 12,000 inhabitants, counting both military units and civilian families and personnel. The base is commanded by Colonel Daniel J. Choike. The nearby National Museum of the Marine Corps is one of the few local institutions that are open to public.

History

The local area gained some popularity right before the base establishment, as a local company decided to promote the touristic attractions in the area and promoted the place as a great industrial location. The Quantico Shipyards were some of the first facilities built on site. As World War I was quickly gaining popularity in Europe, the Quantico Shipyards began forcing the authorities for the construction of a base. The site was not providing too many financial opportunities, so such an idea was excellent for the local economy. At the same time, the US Marine Corps was already looking for a place for a new installation.

Marine Barracks was established in 1917 and hosted less than 100 military troops. They were mostly used to train Marines for the upcoming World War I. Thousands of individuals went through the local schools before heading to war. By 1920, the popularity of this place was already huge and multiple facilities were raised for the education of the young aspirants. Most of the schools back then were slowly gathered in time to form the local Marine Corps University. Over the years, the base proved its point by developing the first units and aircrafts. The first unit was responsible for the presidential transportation. It was one of the missions that still stand today.

Over the years, MCB Quantico has expanded so much that Quantico is no longer so open to the civilians. Surrounded by the Potomac River and the base, the town has a few access gates left – one through the base, one from the river and another one through a train.

Units

The amazing popularity of MCB Quantico drew the authorities’ attention. Multiple units were deployed on site, including the MC Marathon, the MC Recruiting Command, the MC Training and Education Command, the MC Systems Command or the MC Wounded Warrior Regiment. The associate tenants are not that important since they are not deployed permanently, but for short periods of time only.

When it comes to the local tenant activities, things go even further. MCB Quantico doesn’t just support the Marine Corps schools, but also a few other institutions belonging to other federal agencies. The list includes the DEA training academy, the FBI Academy, Laboratory and HRT, the CID headquarters or the Defense Intelligence Agency. The Marine Raider Museum is also one of the internal tenants.