The War Department has drawn exceptional nationwide interest from states and communities competing to host the Next Great American Base, a premier joint force installation designed for rapid global power projection. Dale Marks, assistant secretary of war for energy, installations and environment, detailed the high volume of responses in an Oct. 22 letter sent to the nation’s governors and adjutants general.
Land Footprint and Strategic Requirements
When Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the competition last month, officials proposed a guideline of 100,000 to 250,000 acres. This proposed topline figure creates an installation footprint four times the size of the original District of Columbia. Marks noted that the acreage guideline does not preclude offers outside that range. Suitability to mission remains the paramount factor for evaluation. Any selected location must feature sufficient land and infrastructure to support missions aimed at countering compounding multidomain threats. Hegseth stated that the base could eventually house up to 25,000 service members.
| Project Parameter | Specified Detail |
|---|---|
| Target Acreage Guideline | 100,000 to 250,000 acres |
| Estimated Personnel Capacity | Up to 25,000 service members |
“This is not going to be a soulless government installation,” Hegseth said. “We will plan out and chart out a dynamic self-sustaining power projection platform.”
Evaluation and Pitch Process for State Leaders
All locations across the United States remain eligible for consideration under the nationwide search. Eligible sites include former military installations and land bordering existing facilities. According to an accompanying fact sheet, smaller tracts of land will still receive full consideration if the proposal is otherwise compelling. Marks confirmed that all nominations will be evaluated competitively through a broader screening process. Governors will represent their top-scoring candidate sites when they pitch their proposals directly to War Department officials next spring.
