Military Bases

 

Does anyone have a file for military bases in the USA?
Going on a 2 month long trip from FL to Alaska meandering thru various states and was planning on staying at military bases campgrounds when possible (retired military).

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It is on this site!

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Thanks

You ask and you shall receive...

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FamCamps

The only problem with that POI is that it only lists FamCamps. Not every base has a FamCamp, and not all FamCamps are on military bases.

Is anyone working on a POI that will list all military bases in the US and Canada? I have found some sites that have the GPS coordinates, but this is usually to the center of the base. It would be nice to have something that pointed to the main gate for people who are PCSing or traveling to visit bases.

I can help with some of this, but with work, school, and family it is hard to do all the work. I am new to all this also, so not sure how to create a new file or a place to keep it so everyone who wants to can work on it.

Thanks for all the information and I look forward to contributing what I can.

Alan

Did a google search and see

Did a google search and see if there is a Military Bases Directory for the USA. Is this it?
http://www.globemaster.de/regbases.html

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Military Bases

flaco wrote:

Does anyone have a file for military bases in the USA?
Going on a 2 month long trip from FL to Alaska meandering thru various states and was planning on staying at military bases campgrounds when possible (retired military).

Try this node - it may help as it has a lot of billeting sites for all services. Have a great trip!!

http://www.poi-factory.com/node/4391

I am not sure if there are other ones out there.

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Sandman --------Nuvi 370

That is a start. I have

That is a start. I have access to the Air Force web site and can get every AF base, but this will help with the other bases. There are no coordinates, so I'll just have to use Google Earth or some other tool to manually add them.

Alan

military base

have you guys thought that it might not be a good idea to create a file for miltary bases? I don't know for security reasons? Just my thought, not to offend anyone. Like I said, just my thought.

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arthur

Arthur, this is all public

Arthur, this is all public informaiton. You can get the information off of Wikipedia with coordinates, or find it on Google Earth if you really need to. I was thinking the same thing at first, but they already have streets loaded in the GPS, it would just make it a little easier for the soldiars or airman to find a base if they needed to.

I would not be using anything that came from a military web site, except the name, and like I said this is all publicaly available informaiton already, jsut streamlined into a nice package.

If anyone feels this is against national security, or would invite problems from our friends in the NSA or Homeland Security, let me know and I will drop it.

Alan

Fort Jackson, SC

I went to Fort Jackson yesterday as my wife had to renew her ID card (I'm retired military). The guard at the gate told me to remove the Blue-tooth headset for my phone from my ear. In addition, no electronic devices are allowed operating in your car while you are at Fort Jackson. That meant my GPS. Maps for the base were NOT available either. So you go by the poor directions given to you and then ask people you see for other directions.

Using a GPS on the Fort would have been god send. Bottom line is I don't know if other bases/forts have the same restrictions use of GPS on premise.

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Mark - Nuvi 265T NUVI 50LM

I hadn't heard that about

I hadn't heard that about Army posts. I know if you have a cell phone on an AF base, you can still use it while driving as long as you use a handsfree device. I drive onto Buckley AFB all the time and they have never told me to turn off my GPS.

I sometimes think the military is going backwards instead of forwards with technology. I am still waiting for them to re-issue stone tablets with chisels and take away the computers... laugh out loud

Depends on the installation

As a member of the military, I might have some insight into this. My TomTom came pre-loaded with street names on my base. And while you can no longer use blue-tooth devices for your cell-phone while driving (hands-free is okay), GPS devices have never been an issue. On some bases the installation commander can set more strict rules, but that only applies to that base.

Military Bases

Try the following links:
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/statefacts/blmd....
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/conus.htm

Both are open source sites and can be accessed by anyone. The first will actually take you to the individual base site where you can find the address and phone # for the base security office or information.
Hope this helps.

Thanks Dave, that will help

Thanks Dave, that will help with the other than AF bases.

Alan

Military Bases

There is a POI for USAF Bases located at:
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/11334

Thanks

Dave, again you come up with some great information. I didn't even think about looking in the Government section for those.

I have sent the uploader an e-mail to see if he wants to merge what I also gather since I am also adding ANG and Reserve bases.

Thanks again.

Alan

Military Bases

Are you adding for the entire US or just certain states? I added a POI file for MDARNG armories a while ago. I would be interested in more as I end up traveling quite a lot.

I hope that isn't true

mstarn wrote:

I went to Fort Jackson yesterday as my wife had to renew her ID card (I'm retired military). The guard at the gate told me to remove the Blue-tooth headset for my phone from my ear. In addition, no electronic devices are allowed operating in your car while you are at Fort Jackson. That meant my GPS. Maps for the base were NOT available either. So you go by the poor directions given to you and then ask people you see for other directions.

Using a GPS on the Fort would have been god send. Bottom line is I don't know if other bases/forts have the same restrictions use of GPS on premise.

That sounds ridiculous and I hope it was just a matter of a contracted gate guard misunderstanding his instructions. Think of all the electronics associated with your car as you drive. To discontinue use is crazy. No cell phone (most posts you can use them as you drive but must have hands free)- but no restriction on a passenger, no portable tv's or dvd's for the kiddies, what about that camera. Lets not even get into the electronics hardwired into the vehicle itself. how about that bicycle that follows the same rules of the road- no head light or tail light- no speedometer. If I find the time this week I will call the provost marshal at Fort Jackson and ask if this is so, or if the gate guard is screwy. Unbelievable.

Tim

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R/Tim NUVI 660, ETREX Vista, Rhino 120, zumo 660, nuvi 3790

Mil Bases

All Bases are governed by the same or very similiar "regulations" which set the baseline or minimum requirements. However, the base commander can add to those regs as he sees fit. Usually this is in response to accident or incident statistics. A lot of commanders tend to error on the side of caution as it pertains to "safety" issues and overact with their additions to the regs.

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NEVTEQ did POIs of all the military installation for the U.S. government. Unfortunately, they are not in a downloadable formate for the GPSr.

http://www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/ismart/MHF-MI/

Look in the book / map section

flaco wrote:

Does anyone have a file for military bases in the USA?
Going on a 2 month long trip from FL to Alaska meandering thru various states and was planning on staying at military bases campgrounds when possible (retired military).

Check out the BX or PX at your closest or next stop. I've seen these books in the map section in the books and magazine isle.
There are books that list military bases/posts and amenities such as FamCamp, billeting, phone numbers etc.
From this you could make your custom poi's (and share) and as a bonus you'll have a hard copy.

(Ret AF)

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........Garmin StreetPilot c550 / Nüvi 765...........

I am planning on doing the

I am planning on doing the entire country. I am about halfway through the AF bases, and plan on starting the Army bases next. I hope to be able to sort them by state, but still learning some of this stuff, so it might go through a few iterations before I get done.

Alan

Correct

Dave MP wrote:

All Bases are governed by the same or very similiar "regulations" which set the baseline or minimum requirements. However, the base commander can add to those regs as he sees fit. Usually this is in response to accident or incident statistics. A lot of commanders tend to error on the side of caution as it pertains to "safety" issues and overact with their additions to the regs.

Dave, you are correct. The term "commander discretion" comes to mind when I hear these things.

Alan

Bases

Unfortunately that "discretion" isn't proofed by an NCO (common sense)
LOL

Look in the book / map section

The maps / books that you would be looking for are located at this site also.
http://militaryliving.com/

I disagree

abeebe wrote:

I hadn't heard that about Army posts. I know if you have a cell phone on an AF base, you can still use it while driving as long as you use a handsfree device. I drive onto Buckley AFB all the time and they have never told me to turn off my GPS.

I sometimes think the military is going backwards instead of forwards with technology. I am still waiting for them to re-issue stone tablets with chisels and take away the computers... laugh out loud

I disagree with your statement. The military is very in tune with technology. There are provisions put in place so that base security can not be exploited. Security and Safety on a Military base are extremely important. We are in a war right now and to make sure that war does not come to our bases, people need to live with some sacrafices.

Cangst, I can appreciate

Cangst, I can appreciate your concerns for the security and safety of our military members. I do agree they use technology well, and are very in tune with it. I was not trying to say the military is not tech savy, just trying to have some fun and keep things lighthearted.

I agree that security is very important, but I don't see what using a hands free device has to do with security on a base. Also, how does a GPS prevent or encourage security breaches? A cell phone is a phone. Just like one that sits on a desk, or a radio that is in a car. A GPS is a receiver only, it does not transmit anything, so how will this tell people who want to hurt us, where someone is at?

My point is that sometimes the military cammanders knee jerk to things and don't do any background research or understand everything that goes on on the base. This is usually because they are fed inaccurate, or bad information, but they sometimes need to look, listen, and then make decisions.

I am sure there are a lot of people out there who will disagree with me, but these are just my thoughts. I don't understand everything a commander has to go through, and I could be totaly wrong, but I am always willing to listen to both sides of a story and then either change my mind, or try and convince others of my thought process and why I believe what I believe.

Alan

Security and Safety Issues

At one time GPS had something called Selected Availability or SA. SA deliberately denigrated the accuracy of a GPS fix from 3m to 100m. This was done so GPS wouldn't be as useful to target weapons. Some folks still think of this.

Base Commanders may indeed be erring on the side of caution when people enter secure areas with tracking / weapons targeting devices.

Then again Google Earth may provide the same information.

Perhaps there a concerns about EM interference.

Then, you get into the distraction caused by looking at a GPS and not the road. Or the soldiers, sailors, and airman using the roads.

It seems cell phones and GPS are two potential IED triggers.

I'm sure this debate will continue. Executive Orders opened Pandora's Box opened long ago. Executive Orders removed SA.

When I was in the service, sometimes I did things that made no sense to me. Such is the life of our guardians. When on Fort Jackson turn off your toys.

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Nuvi 255W, Ham radio, MacBook Pro

Well Said

n8tyv, thanks for not hammering me too hard. As a military member who travels to quite a few bases, I can appreciate their differences. I will turn off the toys as requested at each base and do what I need to keep from being highlighted.

Have a good day.

Alan

abeebe

I understand what you are saying. The problem is that you never know what an enemy will use technology for until they use it. Then it is too late.
Military bases also are much more stringent on safety rules than the civilian world. As mentioned distracting eyes from road could be a potential problem. Unlike civilian law makers, base commanders do not really care what people think of their rules. They most often error on the side of caution because when it comes down to it, they are the ones that are held accountable for every one else's actions.
This is a dangerous world that we live in. Unfortunately I think people forget that we are in a time of war right now. The enemy is very determined and very unconventional in their tactics.
Have you been to Point Mugu, CA.? They have camping right on the beach.

Navy Camping

CANGST wrote:

Have you been to Point Mugu, CA.? They have camping right on the beach.

I have been there, but never to camp. The Navy has some great places to camp. I have also been to Key West, and they have a couple of places on the beach as well. I would like to take a vacation there some time.

Alan

Updated USAF Bases file.

I have updated the USAF Bases file. The GPX file was invalid and kept giving me troubles when I tried to load it. I converted it to .csv (and removed all the quotes) and it looks much better on my unit. I was uisng the POIEditor web site to create these files, but it doesn't seem to have the format right. I'll have to find a new tool to do this with.

I have started working on the Army one, but it will be a while before I finish it. I am heading on a 3 week vacation and won't be back until the end of July. I hope to verify a few sites along the way.

Let me know if oyu find any errors or if you have any problems using this file.

Alan

all military bases

Alan I go to all the military bases in the south west. I take our good men and women for training at one base or another like 29 palms and fort irwin I would love and need such a file for my garmin 550 is of no use to me on this. For when I put in the base name it gives me nothing and the camp ground file is of no use to me. For marine corp mountain training center dose not have one and fort irwin is 35 miles off I-15 in the middle of no were as are other bases. If I go with other buses I am okay but if I go to a new base alone I am sol PLEASE PLEASE get this done. As for homeland security this is all on the net so it is not a security thing. I am a E-7 Ch PO Navy ret. and I thank you
jolleyr

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Southern CA Temp 76 and Sunny. Running around with my Nuvi 465T. Getting lost around the country and loving it.

Thanks for your service.

jolleyr wrote:

If I go with other buses I am okay but if I go to a new base alone I am sol PLEASE PLEASE get this done. As for homeland security this is all on the net so it is not a security thing. I am a E-7 Ch PO Navy ret. and I thank you
jolleyr

Jollyr, as I said in my e-mail, I am currently on vacation. I hope to verify a few points on the way, but this will prevent me from working on any bases at this time. I am working on the Army bases now, and will then start on the Navy, Marine Corp, and Coast Guard bases. It will take me some time, but this is a fun project, and I am glad it is beneficial to someone besides just me.

If you come accross any points that you want added, please e-mail them to me and I will get them put into my file. I can also upload what I have already done on the Army bases, and finish it once I get back.

Thanks

Alan

Navy, Army, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard

I have added the above files to the Government section in the POI file list.

I have a lot of work to do on the Coast Guard one, but there doesn't see, to be a good list anywhere. I am looking for names, locations, and coordinates (if you have them) to make this a more complete list.

Let me know if anyone has any updates, fixes, or additions.

Alan

Locations

Not sure if you have already been here, but this site does list all of their locations. http://www.uscg.mil/top/units/
It is a bit of a pain to navigate but might help.

famcamps

After having completed our 12600 trip to Alaska and having stayed at many of the military famcamps here is the lowdown.

Here are the famcamps we stayed at: Robins AFB, Ellsworth AFB, Malstrom AFB, Offiutt AFB, Wright Patterson AFB, Eilson AFB

Some were very affordable and others were not any less expensive than the commercial campsites, some had very nice facilities while others left a lot to be desired.

Getting in and out was a pain for me since my buddy was the USAF retired and I was the tag along, at only one base I was asked to get a base supplied ID, at another I just showed my passport while the majority didn’t even looked at me the passenger, the inconvenience part was that if I wanted to go and eat off base my buddy had to tag along for me to get back in.

IMO the best facility was Malstrom AFB in Montana, not only the campsite was off base (no ID required for me to leave and come back by myself) the pads and the grass were well kept and the bathroom and showers facilities the cleanest; the worst was Eilson Alaska, the sites were very primitive and poorly maintained, the bathroom and showers were dirty and decorated with dead mosquitoes splashed on the walls.

We did not stayed at more bases because some were way off our planned route, we did the planning for the bases using this website.

http://www.militarycampgrounds.us/index.php?option=com_conte...

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Welcome Home

flaco, welcome home and we are glad to hear you had a good trip. As you can tell, there has been a lot of activity on this site regarding military installations. I have uploaded a lot of information, but not just famcamp stuff. I also used the site you mentioned, but it doesn't have GPS coordinates.

I know what you mean by getting onto the installations. We were back east earlier this month, and decided against staying on base for that exact reason. It would have been nicer, but it would have been harder in the long run. Plus, I don't think they have electricity, so we would not have our AC for the hot days.

I don't think famcamps are kept up as much as some of the other facilities, so it makes staying there unpleasant and not worth going back. It costs about the same as some other commercial sites, but lacks a lot of the ammenities the others have. When on a long trip to a place we have not been, I will usually opt to stay at a KOA just because I know how the service and facilities will be. Some are better than others, but overall they are about the same.

Alan

famcamps

abeebe wrote:

flaco, welcome home and we are glad to hear you had a good trip. As you can tell, there has been a lot of activity on this site regarding military installations. I have uploaded a lot of information, but not just famcamp stuff. I also used the site you mentioned, but it doesn't have GPS coordinates.

Alan, I totally agree the commercial sites are better, with easier access to off site stuff, as far as electric water and sewer the famcamps we visited all have it.

The page I attached before has the coordinates, once you click on the icon it shows the location as lat/long as well as the address, we used the file provided at POI http://www.poi-factory.com/node/1101
and it was dead on except the Alaska bases in Fairbanks and Anchorage are not in the file.

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Military Bases

I just uploaded a file of Military Bases. A real good website for up to date Military campgrounds is militaryvampgrounds.us

Have Not Heard That Before

I have been on several USAF and USN bases, and no one ever mentioned turning off my GPS (both in the US and overseas). They do have a rule about not using cell phones while driving, but that is for safety reasons, not security.

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Beaufort

I go to the Marine and Naval post in Beaufort SC on a regular basis. The only thing I have had to turn off is the radar detector when I forgot about it. The only other hassle is I recieved a phone call while at the gate. Answered it out of habit and they would not allow me to set the phone down and drive 20ft to the parking lot to continue the conversation. Bought a hands free device a few days later. Never had a problem with bluetooth or GPS.

But as mentioned many times above it is up to the local commander on the rules of electronics devices being operated.

Have not looked at the military file but know many could use it, keep up the good work.

Campgrounds at Military bases conus

My husband and I are both retired military and have been living both in Oklahoma and Mexico. We are seriously considering hitting the RV trail. A friend who is former military suggested bases campgrounds of which I hadn't thought of. The plan is to travel all over the good ol' USA and make it full-time living.
Is there an online directory for campgrounds on or off bases that honor military status' ?

Misinformation

mstarn wrote:

I went to Fort Jackson yesterday as my wife had to renew her ID card (I'm retired military). The guard at the gate told me to remove the Blue-tooth headset for my phone from my ear. In addition, no electronic devices are allowed operating in your car while you are at Fort Jackson. That meant my GPS. Maps for the base were NOT available either. So you go by the poor directions given to you and then ask people you see for other directions.

Using a GPS on the Fort would have been god send. Bottom line is I don't know if other bases/forts have the same restrictions use of GPS on premise.

I work on post at Fort Jackson and have for many years now. Though I realize this particulat thread is old, a couple of things need to be clarified. There has never been any restriction for use of navigation systems on Fort Jackson. I drive on post daily with one of several different Garmin units sitting on my dash in plain view. The restriction is for cell phone use while driving. Always has been. If one of the guards at the gate said something to the contrary, they were mistaken. Keep in mind, the guards on the gates are contractors that usually have no clue what the policies are other than the few things they have been told. It's somewhat like consulting a cashier at McDonald's about McDonald's corporate policies.
The bluetooth earpiece thing is stupid but is actually policy. It goes against the directive that the Dept. of the Army put out. They ordered all Army installations to ban talking on the phone without some sort of hands free device. We've been fighting that for years now to no avail. Makes no sense to ban an earpiece when anyone can use the handsfree bluetooth speakerphone built into half the cars on the road these days. I use my nuvi to talk on post all the time.

Thank you for the websites.

Thank you for the websites. Your help is very appreciated

Thanks for the links to the

Thanks for the links to the billeting, as this well be useful since I always try and stay on base if possible. I will say most bases won't have an issue with using your phone as a music player, blue-tooth devices or GPS, but will have an issue with speakerphone.