Marine Corps Air Station Yuma

Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Installation Type: Marine Corps Air Station
Status: Active

Overview

Marine Corps Air Station Yuma is located immediately adjacent to the city of Yuma, Arizona, in the southwestern corner of the state near the borders of California and Mexico. MCAS Yuma is the Marine Corps’ premier tactical air weapons and tactics training installation and home to the Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1), which develops and teaches Marine Corps aviation tactics, techniques, and procedures. The base is also home to multiple F/A-18 and F-35B/C squadrons and conducts the Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course – the Marine Corps equivalent of TOPGUN – twice per year. Yuma’s consistently clear skies (more sunny days per year than any other city in the United States) and available airspace make it ideal for aviation training.

Mission & Units

Primary Mission: Develop and standardize Marine Corps aviation weapons and tactics through MAWTS-1; conduct Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) course training; homeport tactical aviation squadrons and conduct advanced aviation training.
Major Units: Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1); Marine Aircraft Group 13 (MAG-13); Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 (VMFA-121, F-35B); Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 (VMFA-211, F-35B); Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 1 (VMU-1)
Tenant Units: Various rotational training forces during WTI courses; Army Yuma Proving Ground (separate, nearby)

Location & Access

Nearest Major City: Yuma, AZ (population approximately 100,000) immediately adjacent; San Diego, CA – approximately 180 miles west; Phoenix, AZ – approximately 180 miles northeast; Mexicali, Mexico – approximately 35 miles east
Nearest Commercial Airport: Yuma International Airport (YUM) – shares runways with the military base; limited commercial service to Los Angeles and Phoenix
Gate Access: Main gate on East Pacific Avenue; CAC/military ID required; visitor passes at Visitor Control Center

Population

Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 3,500 (surges significantly during WTI courses with rotational forces)
Family Members: Approximately 5,000
Civilian Employees: Approximately 1,500
Total Installation Population: Approximately 10,000

Key Facilities

Medical: Naval Health Clinic Yuma – primary care, dental, and behavioral health; specialty referrals to Yuma Regional Medical Center (private, good regional hospital) or Tucson/Phoenix for complex cases; distance from major medical centers is a planning consideration
Commissary: Yes – commissary on base
Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Yes – Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) and facilities
Fitness & Recreation: Fitness centers; outdoor pools (outdoor pools very popular in the extreme heat); golf course (Mesa del Sol Golf Club); bowling; auto skills; water sports at Lake Martinez (Imperial Dam, 35 miles north); Colorado River access for boating, fishing, and off-roading; proximity to Mexico for shopping and dining
Schools: Yuma Elementary School District and Crane Elementary School District serve military families; no DoDEA schools; Yuma Union High School District serves high school students; Yuma schools are generally adequate; military community is an important part of the local school population
Childcare: Child Development Center on base; waitlists possible; register early
Veterinary Services: Veterinary Treatment Facility on base; wellness and preventive care; Yuma private veterinarians also available
Legal Assistance / JAG: Legal Assistance Office; appointment-based

Housing

On-Post Housing: Marine Corps Housing on base; family housing; condition generally good; on-base housing is popular given the heat makes walkable community important
Average Wait Time: 30-60 days typical; Yuma off-post housing is affordable and abundant
Off-Post Housing: Yuma city and outlying communities (Fortuna Foothills, Wellton, San Luis, Somerton) are popular; average rent approximately $1,100-$1,700/month for 3-bedroom home; Yuma is very affordable; Arizona has no state income tax on military pay for non-domiciliary military members
BAH Rate Reference: Check current BAH rates at Defense Travel Management Office (dtmo.mil)

PCS & Newcomer Info

Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining unit; MAG-13 and MAWTS-1 sponsorship programs; heat preparation and desert living orientation important for newcomers
In-Processing: MCAS Yuma in-processing; typically 2-3 days; MAWTS-1 course orientation for relevant personnel
EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Family Services Center; enrollment required; Yuma Regional Medical Center provides some specialist access; Phoenix and Tucson (180 miles) provide comprehensive specialist access including Phoenix Children’s Hospital; EFMP cases requiring complex care should be carefully evaluated

Local Area & Quality of Life

Climate: Hot desert; one of the hottest and sunniest cities in the United States (average 299 sunny days per year – most in the nation); extremely hot summers (average high 107F/42C in July; temperatures regularly exceed 115F/46C); mild winters (average low 45F/7C in January); very low humidity; virtually no rain; winters are among the most pleasant anywhere – warm, dry, and sunny
Cost of Living: Very low; Yuma is among the most affordable cities in the Southwest; excellent value for families; no state income tax on military pay in Arizona; energy costs high in summer due to air conditioning
Nearby Attractions: Colorado River at Mittry Lake Wildlife Area and Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area; Martinez Lake and Senator Wash (boating, fishing, off-roading, 35 miles); San Diego beaches (180 miles west – popular weekend trip); Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point), Mexico (150 miles south, beach resort accessible by road); Mexicali shopping and dining (35 miles east via San Luis crossing); Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (150 miles east); Calexico/Imperial Valley Valley (California border, 35 miles west); Sonoran Desert wildlife
Spouse Employment: Limited in Yuma metro; largest employers are the medical community (Yuma Regional), education (Yuma schools, Arizona Western College), retail/hospitality, and agricultural industry; San Diego (180 miles) for broader employment if willing to commute; remote work very common at MCAS Yuma given relative isolation; Family Services Center assists

Contact & Resources

Official Website: https://www.yuma.marines.mil
Main Installation Phone: (928) 269-2011
MWR Website: https://yuma.usmc-mccs.org (verify current URL)
ACS / Fleet & Family / Airman & Family Readiness: Marine Corps Family Services Center, MCAS Yuma; (928) 269-6220; relocation, financial readiness, employment, family support

Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://www.yuma.marines.mil; https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/marine-corps-air-station-yuma; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MarineCorpsAirStationYuma, Joseph L. Jordan, Attorney at Law