View source for Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst

{{Short description|Military base in New Jersey, United States}}
{{redirect|Rudd Field|the soccer stadium in Massachusetts|Rudd Field (UMass)}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name          = Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst
| ensign        = 
| ensign_size   = 
| native_name   = 
| partof        = <!-- for elements within a larger site -->
| location      = 
| nearest_town  = [[Wrightstown, New Jersey|Wrightstown]] and [[Lakehurst, New Jersey|Lakehurst]], [[New Jersey]]
| country       = the [[United States]]
| image         = File:C-17 2006-05-10 F-2559D-003.jpg
| alt           = A C-17 Globemaster III from the 305th Air Mobility Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, performs touch and go landings while another C-17 prepares for take-off on Wednesday.
| caption       = A [[Boeing C-17 Globemaster III|C-17A Globemaster III]] from the [[305th Air Mobility Wing]] performs touch and go landings while another C-17A prepares for take-off at JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
| image2        = [[File:Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst - Emblem.png|150px]]
| alt2          = 
| caption2      = 
| type          = [[Joint base|US military Joint Base]]
| coordinates   = {{coord|40|00|56|N|074|35|30|W|display=inline,title}} (Air Base)<br>{{coord|40|01|09|N|74|31|22|W|display=inline}} (Army Base)<br>{{Coord|40|02|00|N|074|21|13|W|display=inline}} (Naval Station)
| gridref       = 
| image_map     = 
| image_mapsize = 
| image_map_alt = 
| image_map_caption = 
| pushpin_map   = USA New Jersey Burlington County#New Jersey#USA
| pushpin_mapsize = 
| pushpin_map_alt = 
| pushpin_relief = 
| pushpin_image = 
| pushpin_label = JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_mark  = 
| pushpin_marksize = 
| ownership     = [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]
| operator      = [[United States Air Force|US Air Force]]
| controlledby  = [[Air Mobility Command]] (AMC)
| open_to_public = <!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc -->
| site_other_label = <!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| site_other    = <!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc -->
| site_area     = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc -->
| code          = <!--facility/installation code, applies to US -->
| built         = 1916 (as [[Lakehurst Maxfield Field|Camp Kendrick]])<br>1917 (as [[Fort Dix|Camp Dix]])<br>1937 (as [[McGuire Air Force Base|Fort Dix Airport]])<!-- {{Start date|YYYY}} -->
| used          = {{Start date|2009}} – present (as Joint Base)<!--{{End date|1946}} -->
| builder       = 
| materials     = 
| height        = <!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level -->
| length        = <!-- for border fences or other DMZs -->
| fate          = <!--changed from demolished parameter-->
| condition     = Operational
| battles       = 
| events        = 
| current_commander = [[Colonel (United States)|Colonel]] Anthony L. Smith (USAF)
| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
| garrison      = *[[87th Air Base Wing]] (Host)
*Army Support Activity Dix
*[[Naval Support Activity Lakehurst]]
| occupants     = <!-- squadrons only -->
| designations  = 
| website       = {{URL|https://www.jbmdl.jb.mil}}
<!-- begin airfield information  -->| IATA          = WRI
| ICAO          = KWRI
| FAA           = WRI
| TC            = 
| LID           = 
| GPS           = 
| WMO           = 724096
| elevation     = {{Convert|42.9|m|0}}
| r1-number     = 06/24
| r1-length     = {{Convert|3052.2|m|0}}
| r1-surface    = 
| r2-number     = 18/36
| r2-length     = {{Convert|2172|m|0}}
| r2-surface    = 
| h1-number     = 
| h1-length     = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} -->
| h1-surface    = 
| airfield_other_label = Other Facilities
| airfield_other = See [[Lakehurst Maxfield Field]] for its airfield data.
<!--  end airfield information   -->| footnotes     = '''Source:''' [[Federal Aviation Administration]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aeronav.faa.gov/d-tpp/1913/00150ad.pdf#nameddest=(WRI)|title=Airport Diagram – McGuire Field (Joint Baes McGuire Dix Lakehurst (KWRI)|date=5 December 2019|website=Federal Aviation Administration|access-date=18 December 2019}}</ref>
}}

'''Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst''' ('''JB MDL''') is a United States military facility located {{convert|18|mi|km}} southeast of [[Trenton, New Jersey]]. The base is the only tri-service base in the [[United States Department of Defense]] and includes units from all six armed forces branches.

The facility is an amalgamation of the [[United States Air Force]]'s [[McGuire Air Force Base]], the [[United States Army]]'s [[Fort Dix]] and the [[United States Navy]]'s [[Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst]], which were merged on 1 October 2009.

It was established in accordance with congressional legislation implementing the recommendations of the 2005 [[Base Realignment and Closure Commission]]. The legislation ordered the consolidation of the three facilities which were adjoining, but separate military installations, into a single [[joint base]], one of 12 formed in the United States as a result of the law.

The installation commander is Air Force Colonel Anthony L. Smith.<ref>{{cite web |last1=DiMascio |first1=Sabatino |title=JB MDL Change of Command 2023 |url=https://www.jbmdl.jb.mil/News/Article/3433123/jb-mdl-change-of-command-2023/ |publisher=87th ABW Public Affairs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713181400/https://www.jbmdl.jb.mil/News/Article/3433123/jb-mdl-change-of-command-2023/ |archive-date=13 July 2023}}</ref>

==Overview==
The contiguous {{convert|42,000|acre}} of JB MDL (65+ square miles) are home to more than 80 mission partners and 40 mission commanders providing a wide range of combat capability. The base spans more than {{convert|20|mi|0}}, from east to west. It is situated in [[List of counties in New Jersey|the two largest counties in New Jersey]], [[Burlington County, New Jersey|Burlington]] and [[Ocean County, New Jersey|Ocean]], and includes portions of eight municipalities: the borough of [[Wrightstown, New Jersey|Wrightstown]] and the townships of [[New Hanover Township, New Jersey|New Hanover]], [[North Hanover Township, New Jersey|North Hanover]], [[Pemberton Township, New Jersey|Pemberton]], and [[Springfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey|Springfield]], in Burlington County, and the townships of [[Jackson Township, New Jersey|Jackson]], [[Manchester Township, New Jersey|Manchester]], and [[Plumsted Township, New Jersey|Plumsted]] in Ocean County. The [[87th Air Base Wing]] provides installation management support for 3,933 facilities with an approximate value of $9.3 billion in physical infrastructure. More than 44,000 airmen, soldiers, sailors, marines, Coast Guardsmen, civilians, and their family members live and work on and around JB MDL, which has an economic impact on the state of New Jersey.<ref name="JBMDL">{{Cite web|url=https://www.jbmdl.jb.mil/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722184233/http://www.jointbasemdl.af.mil/units/index.asp|url-status= dead|title=Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst|archivedate=22 July 2011|website=www.jbmdl.jb.mil}}</ref>

==McGuire/McGuire AFB==
: ''See: [[McGuire Air Force Base]] for additional information and history.''
The base originated in 1941 as '''Fort Dix Army Air Force Base'''. Closed briefly after [[World War II]], it reopened in 1948 as '''McGuire Air Force Base'''. The base was named after Major [[Thomas B. McGuire, Jr.]], [[Medal of Honor]] recipient, and the second leading ace in American history.<ref name="McGuire">[http://newpreview.afnews.af.mil/mcguire/units/mcguire/index.asp Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst McGuire] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20121212033135/http://newpreview.afnews.af.mil/mcguire/units/mcguire/index.asp |date=12 December 2012 }}</ref>

McGuire grew famous as the Air Force's "Gateway to the East", when its core mission became global mobility in 1945. In 1992, it became part of the newly reorganized Air Mobility Command.<ref name="McGuire"/>

The [[305th Air Mobility Wing]] served as the host wing from October 1994 to March 2009, when the newly activated 87th Air Base Wing assumed installation command. The 305th, along with the [[108th Air Wing]] (NJANG), [[621st Contingency Response Wing]], and the [[514th Air Mobility Wing]] (AFRC), has supported every major type of air mobility mission over the past 15 years.<ref name="McGuire"/>

=== McGuire organizations ===
* [[87th Air Base Wing]]  (Host organization for JB MDL)
* [[305th Air Mobility Wing]] ([[Boeing C-17 Globemaster III|C-17]] Airlift, [[Boeing KC-46 Pegasus|KC-46 Pegasus]] Air Refueling)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shay |first1=Stuart |title=2nd ARS says goodbye to KC-10 |url=https://www.jbmdl.jb.mil/News/Article/2683328/2nd-ars-says-goodbye-to-kc-10/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713180401/https://www.jbmdl.jb.mil/News/Article/2683328/2nd-ars-says-goodbye-to-kc-10/ |archive-date=13 July 2023}}</ref>
* [[621st Contingency Response Wing]] (Rapid Response unit of Air Mobility Command)
* [[514th Air Mobility Wing]] ([[Boeing C-17 Globemaster III|C-17]] Airlift, [[Boeing KC-46 Pegasus|KC-46 Pegasus]] Air Refueling<ref>{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Sean |title=End of an Era for the 514th Air Mobility Wing|url=https://www.514amw.afrc.af.mil/News/Display/Article/3254836/end-of-an-era-for-the-514th-air-mobility-wing/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221227032649/https://www.514amw.afrc.af.mil/News/Display/Article/3254836/end-of-an-era-for-the-514th-air-mobility-wing/ |archive-date=27 December 2022}}</ref>) ([[Air Force Reserve Command]])
* [[108th Wing]]  ([[Boeing KC-46 Pegasus|KC-46 Pegasus]] Air Refueling, [[Boeing C-32|C-32B]]) ([[New Jersey Air National Guard]])
* [[57th Weapons Squadron]] ([[USAF Weapons School]] C-17 training unit, GSU from [[Nellis AFB]], Nevada)
* [[List of United States Air Force recruiting squadrons|314th Recruiting Squadron]] ([[Air Force Recruiting Service]])
* [[Civil Air Patrol|HQ New Jersey Wing, Civil Air Patrol]]
* Detachment 1, [[373rd Training Squadron]]
Source:<ref name="McGuire"/>

== Dix ==
: ''See: [[Fort Dix]] for additional information and history.''
The facility originated in 1917 as '''Camp Dix''', named in honor of Major General [[John Adams Dix]], a veteran of the [[War of 1812]] and the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], and a former [[United States Senator]], [[Secretary of the Treasury]] and [[Governor of New York]].<ref name="Dix">[http://newpreview.afnews.af.mil/mcguire/units/dix/index.asp Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Dix] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714183309/http://newpreview.afnews.af.mil/mcguire/units/dix/index.asp |date=14 July 2014 }}</ref> It was renamed '''Fort Dix''' in 1939.

Dix has a history of mobilizing, training and demobilizing Soldiers from as early as [[World War I]]  through the present day. In 1978, the first female recruits entered basic training at Fort Dix. In 1991, Dix trained [[Kuwait]]i civilians in basic military skills so they could take part in their country's liberation.<ref name="Dix"/>

Dix ended its active Army training mission in 1988 due to [[Base Realignment and Closure Commission]] recommendations. It began a new mission of mobilizing, deploying and demobilizing Soldiers and providing training areas for [[United States Army Reserve|Army Reserve]] and [[Army National Guard of the United States|Army National Guard]] Soldiers.<ref name="Dix"/>

In 1994, the [[United States Air Force Expeditionary Center]] was established as the [[Air Mobility Warfare Center]] on Dix.<ref name="Dix"/>

===Fort Dix organizations===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Army Support Activity]]
* [[Marine Aircraft Group 49]] (MAG-49), [[4th Marine Aircraft Wing|Marine Air Reserve]]
* [[Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 772]] ([[HMH-772]]), Marine Air Reserve
* [[Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 773]] ([[HMLA-773]]), Marine Air Reserve
* [[99th Infantry Division (United States)|99th Regional Support Command]], [[U.S. Army Reserve]]
* [[404th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne)]], U.S. Army Reserve 
* [[75th Innovation Command|2d Brigade, 75th Innovation Command]], U.S. Army Reserve
* [[Deployable Operations Group|U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Team]]
* [[U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center]], Air Mobility Command
* [[Military Entrance Processing Station|Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) Fort Dix]]
* [[NCO Academy Fort Dix]], U.S. Army Reserve
* [[Navy Reserve Center Fort Dix]], [[U.S. Navy Reserve|Navy Reserve Forces Command]]
* [[174th Infantry Brigade (United States)|174th Infantry Brigade]], U.S. Army Reserve
* [[VR-64|Fleet Logistics Support Squadron SIX FOUR]] (VR-64), [[Naval Air Force Reserve]]
* [[244th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade|244th Aviation Brigade]], [[Army Reserve Aviation Command]]
* [[14th Marine Regiment (United States)|Battery G, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment]], [[U.S. Marine Corps Reserve]]
* Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ), [[New Jersey Army National Guard]] (NJARNG)
* NJARNG Observer Coach/Trainer Operations Group
{{div col end}}
Source:<ref name="Dix"/>

== Lakehurst ==
: ''See: [[Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst]] for additional information and history.''
[[File:Sikorsky CH-53E (USMC) (7177791200).jpg|thumb|A [[Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion|CH-53E Super Stallion]] slingloads a [[Humvee]].]]

Lakehurst history begins as a munitions-testing site for the [[Imperial Russian Army]] in 1916. It was then gained by the United States Army as '''Camp Kendrick''' during [[World War I]]. The [[United States Navy]] purchased the property in 1921 for use as an airship station and renamed it '''Naval Air Station Lakehurst'''.<ref name="Lakehurst">{{Cite web |url=http://newpreview.afnews.af.mil/mcguire/units/lakehurst/index.asp |title=Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Lakehurst |access-date=18 June 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121212210920/http://newpreview.afnews.af.mil/mcguire/units/lakehurst/index.asp |archive-date=12 December 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Navy's lighter-than-air program was conducted at Lakehurst through the 1930s. It was the site of the 1937 [[LZ 129 Hindenburg]] [[Hindenburg disaster|airship disaster]].  During [[World War II]], anti-submarine patrol blimps were operated from Lakehurst. Since the 1950s, [[Aviation Boatswain's Mate]]s have been trained at Lakehurst to operate catapults and arresting systems on aircraft carriers. Lakehurst conducts the unique mission of supporting and developing the Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment and Support Equipment for naval aviation. The Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System and the Advanced Arresting Gear system that will replace the existing steam catapults and the Mk-7 arresting gear are being developed and tested at Lakehurst at full-scale shipboard representative test facilities here.<ref name="Lakehurst"/>

=== Lakehurst organizations ===
* [[NAVAIR]]
* [[NAWCAD]]
* Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Detachment Lakehurst (CNATT DET Lakehurst)
* [[Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 21]] (NMCB 21)
* [[Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Battalion, 1st U.S. Army Recruiting Brigade]]
* [[EAGLE FLAG]]
* [[150th Aviation Regiment (United States)|1st Battalion (Assault), 150th Aviation Regiment]], NJARNG
Source:<ref name="Lakehurst"/>

==History==
The [[Hindenburg disaster]] took place on Thursday, 6 May 1937, as the German passenger airship LZ 129 ''Hindenburg'' caught fire and was destroyed during its attempt to dock with its mooring mast at the then-Naval Air Station Lakehurst.{{cn|date=April 2022}}

==Education==
The [[U.S. Census Bureau]] lists "Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst" in Burlington County as having its own school district.<ref name=CensusSDmap>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st34_nj/schooldistrict_maps/c34005_burlington/DC20SD_C34005.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Ocean County, NJ|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|accessdate=7 August 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st34_nj/schooldistrict_maps/c34005_burlington/DC20SD_C34005_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> Students attend area school district public schools, as the [[Department of Defense Education Activity]] (DoDEA) does not operate any schools on the joint base. Students in Lakehurst are zoned to [[Lakehurst School District]] and [[Manchester Township High School]] (of [[Manchester Township School District]]). Students on McGuire and Dix may attend one of the following, with all siblings in a family taking the same choice: [[North Hanover Township School District]] (Pre-Kindergarten through grade 6), [[Northern Burlington County Regional School District]] (grades 7-12), and [[Pemberton Township School District]] (K-12).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/military-installation/joint-base-mcguire-dix-lakehurst/education/education|title=Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst  Education|publisher=[[Military One Source]]|accessdate=7 August 2022}} - This is a [[.mil]] site.</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
* {{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst}}
* {{Official website|https://www.jbmdl.jb.mil/}}
*{{FAA-diagram|KWRI}}
*[https://gomdl.com/ Go.MDL.com] – 87th Force Support Squadron

{{US Air Force navbox}}
{{Air Mobility Command}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst}}
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Burlington County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Ocean County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Joint bases of the U.S. Department of Defense]]
[[Category:Military installations in New Jersey]]
[[Category:2009 establishments in New Jersey]]
[[Category:Wrightstown, New Jersey]]
[[Category:New Hanover Township, New Jersey]]
[[Category:North Hanover Township, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Pemberton Township, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Springfield Township, Burlington County, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Jackson Township, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Manchester Township, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Plumsted Township, New Jersey]]