Marine Corps Base Quantico

Branch: U.S. Marine Corps
Location: Quantico, Virginia
Installation Type: Marine Corps Base
Status: Active

Overview

Marine Corps Base Quantico is located in Prince William County, Virginia, approximately 35 miles south of Washington, DC, along the Potomac River. Known as the “Crossroads of the Marine Corps,” Quantico is the home of Marine Corps officer training, advanced military education, and advanced combat training. The base hosts the Marine Corps University, the Officer Candidates School (OCS), The Basic School (TBS), and numerous advanced training and education commands. Quantico also co-hosts the FBI National Academy, the DEA Training Academy, and the Defense Intelligence Agency, making it uniquely joint and interagency in character. Quantico’s proximity to Washington DC provides exceptional cultural, employment, and quality-of-life advantages.

Mission & Units

Primary Mission: Conduct Marine Corps officer training through OCS and TBS; provide advanced military education through Marine Corps University and affiliated schools; support advanced infantry, combat, and special operations training.
Major Units: Marine Corps University (MCU) – hosts Command and Staff College, School of Advanced Warfighting, Expeditionary Warfare School, Marine Corps War College; Officer Candidates School (OCS); The Basic School (TBS); Marine Corps Intelligence Activity (MCIA); Training and Education Command (TECOM)
Tenant Units: FBI National Academy and FBI Laboratory; DEA Training Academy; Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) – National Media Exploitation Center; Drug Enforcement Administration; National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC)

Location & Access

Nearest Major City: Washington, DC – approximately 35 miles north; Fredericksburg, VA – approximately 15 miles south; Richmond, VA – approximately 80 miles south
Nearest Commercial Airport: Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) – approximately 35 miles north; Dulles International Airport (IAD) – approximately 45 miles northwest; Richmond International Airport (RIC) – approximately 80 miles south
Gate Access: Main gate on US-1 (Richmond Highway); Gate 2 on Fuller Road; CAC/military ID required; visitor passes at Visitor Control Center; multiple FBI and DEA tenant access procedures apply

Population

Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 7,500 (permanent party plus large student/trainee population)
Family Members: Approximately 7,000
Civilian Employees: Approximately 6,000 (including FBI, DEA, and DIA workforce)
Total Installation Population: Approximately 20,500

Key Facilities

Medical: Naval Health Clinic Quantico – primary care, dental, and behavioral health; specialty referrals to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (Bethesda, 40 miles) or Inova Health System in Northern Virginia; Northern Virginia and DC offer world-class medical access
Commissary: Yes – commissary on base
Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Yes – Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) and facilities
Fitness & Recreation: Fitness centers; pools; golf course (Lunga Reservoir Golf Course); bowling; auto skills; the Potomac River and Lunga Reservoir provide water recreation; Northern Virginia and DC cultural amenities are among the best in the country; proximity to the nation’s capital is a major quality-of-life benefit
Schools: Prince William County Public Schools serve military families; no DoDEA schools; Prince William County schools are generally above average and some of the best in Northern Virginia’s more affordable communities; Stafford County (just south) and Spotsylvania County are also options for some families; proximity to DC means excellent school choices throughout the region
Childcare: Child Development Center on base; waitlists common; register early
Veterinary Services: Veterinary Treatment Facility on base; wellness and preventive care
Legal Assistance / JAG: Legal Assistance Office; appointment-based; Marine Corps University and JAG School resources available

Housing

On-Post Housing: Marine Corps Housing on base; family housing in multiple neighborhoods; condition generally good; on-base housing is competitive given the desirable location
Average Wait Time: 30-90 days typical; Northern Virginia off-post housing is expensive but available
Off-Post Housing: Triangle, Dumfries, Stafford, Woodbridge, Fredericksburg, and communities along US-1 and I-95 corridor are popular; Stafford County and Spotsylvania County are more affordable; average rent approximately $2,000-$3,000/month for 3-bedroom home; Northern Virginia is expensive; Virginia has no state income tax on military pay for non-domiciliary military members; DC Metro commuter rail (VRE) accessible from Stafford/Quantico
BAH Rate Reference: Check current BAH rates at Defense Travel Management Office (dtmo.mil); Quantico/Northern Virginia BAH is relatively high reflecting DC metro costs

PCS & Newcomer Info

Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining school or command; MCU, OCS, TBS, and MCIA have sponsorship programs; Quantico assignment for senior officers and MCU students is often accompanied by a PME assignment cycle
In-Processing: MCB Quantico in-processing; typically 2-3 days; school-specific enrollment for academic students; interagency personnel have separate in-processing through their respective organizations
EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Family Services Center; enrollment required; Northern Virginia and the DC metro provide outstanding specialist access including Children’s National Medical Center, Inova Fairfax, and Walter Reed NMMC

Local Area & Quality of Life

Climate: Humid subtropical/humid continental transition; hot humid summers (average high 88F/31C in July); cold winters (average low 24F/-4C in January); significant snowfall possible November through March; spring cherry blossoms in DC are spectacular; fall foliage is excellent in the Shenandoah region
Cost of Living: High; Northern Virginia is one of the more expensive regions in the United States; DC metro costs significantly above national average; housing particularly expensive; BAH helps but housing costs remain challenging
Nearby Attractions: Washington, DC (35 miles) – Smithsonian museums (all free), monuments, White House, Capitol, National Zoo, Kennedy Center; Mount Vernon (George Washington’s estate, 20 miles); Old Town Alexandria (20 miles, charming historic waterfront); National Museum of the Marine Corps (Triangle, VA, adjacent to base – world-class free museum); Manassas National Battlefield (Civil War, 20 miles); Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive (60 miles); Fredericksburg Civil War battlefields (15 miles); Virginia Wine Country (Culpeper/Charlottesville area, 60-80 miles)
Spouse Employment: Northern Virginia and DC offer outstanding employment in federal government, defense contracting (SAIC, Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, ManTech), cybersecurity, technology, intelligence, healthcare (Inova, VCU Health), and education; one of the best employment markets for military spouses in the entire Marine Corps; Northern Virginia is a hub for defense/intelligence contracting; Family Services Center assists

Contact & Resources

Official Website: https://www.quantico.marines.mil
Main Installation Phone: (703) 784-2121
MWR Website: https://quantico.usmc-mccs.org (verify current URL)
ACS / Fleet & Family / Airman & Family Readiness: Marine Corps Family Services Center, MCB Quantico; (703) 784-2344; relocation, financial readiness, employment, family support

Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://www.quantico.marines.mil; https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/marine-corps-base-quantico; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MarineCorpsBase_Quantico