Changes in DOD's Base Structure from 1957 to 1978

Data was summarized from Department of Defense sources in response to a request for specific information on: the number of military bases in the military base structure from 1950 to the present; and changes over time by services as to personnel, dollars appropriated, and geographical location. Data prior to 1957 and data for 1979 were not available for analysis. Data were available for installations in the United States from 1957 through 1958; for military installations overseas, data were available from 1957 through 1974. No attempt was made to verify the accuracy of the data due to the time required to check the vast amount of supporting records. Statistics were limited to installations employing 285 or more civilian personnel.

In 1957, there were 396 major domestic military installations employing 285 or more civilians. This number had decreased by 27.5 percent in 1978. The U.S. military installations of 1957 decreased 50 percent by 1974. Additionally, the numbers of civilian employees employed in 1957 at domestic installations and the total number of military personnel worldwide decreased significantly by 1978. Although the number of installations decreased, the number of acres managed increased by 22.6 percent in 1978. Appropriations for fiscal year 1957 were $35.9 billion. By fiscal year 1980, appropriations had been increased by 10.2 percent to a total of $135 billion.