What is JBLM?

For those outside our area or for people that are not in the military, JBLM can seem like a random acronym.  It stands for Joint Base Lewis McChord and is the name given when McChord Airforce Base was joined with Fort Lewis Army in 2010.    For locals, we see C17s in their regular flight patterns in the sky and are continually reminded of the South Puget Sound’s military connection.  For non-locals, here is a quick list of facts:

1.  JBLM has 45,000 service members and civilian workers.
2. JBLM supports over 120,000 military retirees and more than 29,000 family members.
3. The joint base has a population of over 200,000 inhabitants, which is the fourth largest military installment worldwide (when measured by on base inhabitants).
4.  The base is located 40 miles south of Seattle, WA.
5. There are 12 joint bases in the US Military.
6. The joint base practice started from BRAC ( Base Realignment and Closure) in 1993 which established the first joint reserve bases at Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, and Fort Worth, Texas.
7. Medical care is provided to inhabitants through a 200+ bed hospital called Madigan Army Medical Center.

Looking for a ride to the airport from JBLM?  Looking for directions or more information, head to the visitor’s center.