PWTM: Joint Base Mcguire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey
Editor’s note: This post was updated in January 2021.
One of the most challenging aspects of military spouse life is preparing for an upcoming PCS or if you get the chance, potentially picking a new duty station. There is a lot of information out there, and it can be almost overwhelming.
We here at Army Wife Network want to take the some of the guesswork out of the need-to-knows about duty stations around the globe. Hence, our Post With the Most series. In this particular blog, we will be showcasing information related to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.
Fort Dix, as it is commonly known, is actually Join Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. As an Army base, Fort Dix was consolidated with neighboring Navy and Air Force facilities in 2009 to comprise one single secure facility. It is a training base under the jurisdiction of Army Installation Management Command and is located approximately 18 miles south of Trenton, New Jersey. It is the only tri-service base in the United States Department of Defense and includes units from all five branches of the Armed Forces.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is home to the following units:
McGuire:
- 87th Air Base Wing
- 305th Air Mobility Wing
- 621st Contingency Response Wing
- 514th Air Mobility Wing (Air Force Reserve)
- 108th Wing (Air National Guard)
- 57th Weapons Squadron
- 314th Recruiting Squadron
- CAP Det 1
- 373rd Training Squadron
Dix:
- Marine Aircraft Group 49
- 72nd Field Artillery Brigade
- 99th Regional Support Command
- 2d, 75th Division
- USCG Atlantic Strike Team
- S. Air Force Expeditionary Center
- Military Entrance Processing Station
- NCO Academy
- Naval Operational Support Center
- Army Support Center
- 174th Infantry Brigade
- Fleet Logistics Squadron
- 244th Aviation Brigade
- Golf Battery, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marines
- 78th Training Division
Lakehurst:
- NAVAIR
- NAWCAD
- Center for Naval Educational Training
- Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 21
- Army 1st Brigade Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Battalion
- EAGLE FLAG
- NJ ARNG Aviation Unit
Surrounding Cities:
- Brown Mills (5.5 miles away)
- New Egypt (6.5 miles away)
- Crestwood Village (18 miles away)
- Trenton (18 miles away)
Closest MAJOR City: Trenton
Names of Area Colleges: There are 80 colleges within 50 miles of Fort Dix. This is just a sample of colleges available.
- Wilmington University on the installation
- Rowan College at Burlington Country—Pemberton Campus in Mount Laurel
- Thomas Edison State University in Trenton
Weather: Expect summers to be warm and humid and winters to be very cold. It’s often wet and partly cloudy year-round. Over the course of the year, the temperature can vary significantly from 25 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit, but rarely gets below 12 degrees or above 94 degrees.
Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time
SPECIFIC BASE INFORMATION
To access the post website, click here.
Historical Facts/Landmarks: Fort Dix was originally Camp Dix in 1917, named after Maj. Gen. John Adams Dix, a veteran of the War of 1812 and the American Civil War. He was also a United States senator, secretary of the treasury, and governor of New York. The Camp was renamed Fort Dix in 1939. Fort Dix has a long history of training and mobilizing soldiers, beginning in World War I and lasting to the present day. Fort Dix ended its active Army training mission in 1988 due to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommendations and began a new mission of training and mobilizing soldiers and providing training areas for Army Reserve and Army National Guard soldiers.
HOUSING
On-post Housing is managed by United Communities.
Major realty/rental companies in the area:
- We havent received any recommende realtores or companies for the area, but you can find purchase and rental options using MilitaryByOwner or AHRN.
SCHOOLS
School Districts:
- All students who live at Fort Dix or McGuire Air Force Base will have their choice of public schools in North Hanover Township, Northern Burlington County Regional, and Pemberton Township School districts. Students living on Lakehurst will attend Lakehurst or Manchester Township school districts. Busing is provided to all students.
- Fort Dix and McGuire Air Force Base
- Lakehurst
On-Post Schools: For school information, click the appropriate link above to see a list of schools on the installation.
Off-Post Schools: There are too many options to list. Start with the area where you’ll be living and then view the choices of schools in that area based on whether or not you’re looking for homeschooling, charter schools, private schools, or public schools.
ON-POST SERVICES
- Child and Youth Services
- Military and Family Support Center
- PX
- McGuire Commissary
- Lakehurst Commissary
- FSS Librar-e and Resource Commons
- 87th Medical Group-McGuire Ambulatory Care Facility
- 87th Force Support Squadron (also known as MWR)
- JBMDL Spouses’ Club
- Chaplain & Religious Services/Organizations
OFF-POST INFORMATION
Health Care:
- Hospital: Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County in Willingboro, St. Francis Medical Center in Trenton, and Children’s Specialized Outpatient Center in Toms River.
- Urgent Care: Central Jersey Urgent Care in Brown Mills, Virtua Express Urgent Care in Mount Holly, and AtlantiCare Urgent Care in Mount Laurel.
- General Practitioners: Virtua Family Medicine in Burlington County and Browns Mills Family Practice in Burlington County.
- Dentist: The Smile Center in Wrightstown, Mt Holly Family Dentistry in Mount Holly, and The Jersey Dental Group in Browns Mills.
- OB/GYN: Burlington County OB/GYN Associates in Mansfield Township and Alliance OB/GYN Consultants in Hainesport.
Best place for beauty services:
- Cammie’s Spectacular Salon in Wrightsville
- Salon Rock Paper Scissors in Mount Holly
- Kevin’s Nails in Springfield Township
RESTAURANTS
Wrightstown:
Trenton:
MUST DO
Wrightstown:
Bristol, PA:
Langhorne, PA:
SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS
Army Wife Network does not promote or endorse these groups; however, we know they can be helpful in learning about various duty stations, so they are provided for your convenience.
Installation Facebook page: Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
Military Spouse Groups:
Religious services: JB-MDL Protestant Women of the Chapel
