Military base - Definition and Overview

A military base is an isolated facility, settlement, or installation that shelters military equipment and personnel. These are restricted to the general public, and only authorized personnel may enter them (be it military personnel or their relatives). Military bases usually provide housing, cleanliness facilities, and dining halls; as well as churches, gyms, and other type of recreational facilities (such as sport courts, schools, parks, etc).

In general, a military base provides accommodations for a unit, but it may also be used as a command center, a training ground, or a test ground. In most cases, a military base relies on outside help in order to survive. However, certain complex bases are able to endure by themselves for long periods as they are able to provide food and water for their inhabitants.

Military bases are often important to the local economy, providing jobs and inflows of cash.

See also

• Lists of military bases