July 3, 2019
Defense Primer: Military Installations Management
The Department of Defense (DOD) and the Military
Installation support services for DOD-managed facilities
Departments (MILDEPs) maintain distinctive
are generally provided by an associated DOD component
organizational structures (Figure 1), policies, and programs
(i.e., the defense agency, field activity, or U.S. Special
for managing their installations. According to 16 U.S.C.
Operations Command). However, if the DOD facility
§670(1)(A), a military installation “means any land, or
resides on a MILDEP-owned installation, then the host
interest in land owned by the United States and
military service may also provide certain upkeep services
administered by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary
for the facility.
of a [MILDEP], except land under the jurisdiction of the
Assistant Secretary of the Army having responsibility for
Army Installations
civil works.” The term is further defined in 10 U.S.C.
Within Headquarters, Department of the Army (HQDA),
§2801(c)(4) to mean “a base, camp, post, station, yard,
the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for
center, or other activity.” In general, this includes: facilities,
Installations, Energy, and Environment, OASA (IE&E),
training ranges, and other supporting infrastructure that
“establishes policy, provides strategic direction, and
reside on a military installation.
supervises all matters pertaining to infrastructure,
installations and contingency bases, energy, and
Installations management includes overseeing, planning,
environmental programs” for the Army. The Office of the
programming, and implementing major activities at military
Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management
installations, such as installation master planning; facility
(OACSIM), led by the Assistant Chief of Staff for
planning and design; military construction (MILCON);
Installation Management (ACSIM), serves as the link
facilities sustainment, restoration, and modernization
between the Army Secretariat and the Army’s Land
(FSRM); government housing; and the disposal of real
Holding Commands (LHCs). The ACSIM establishes
property. These activities may include sub-activities such as
policies, synchronizes programs, and ensures LHCs, who
the inventory and condition assessment of real property,
retain the Army’s real property, have the resources they
reviewing real estate agreements, maintaining force
need for infrastructure and installation services.
protection, and contracting utility services.
With the exception of Army National Guard facilities,
Examples of DOD programs that fall under the umbrella of
which are typically managed by states, the Army manages
military installations management include the:
installations through its Installation Management Command

(IMCOM). IMCOM handles day-to-day operations of
Military Housing Privatization Initiative;
Army installations, providing services such as fire safety,
 Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment
policing, housing, and child care. IMCOM also oversees the
Program;
Army Safety program. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
 Defense Environmental Restoration Program; and
(USACE) supports Army installations, and, as applicable,
 Child Development Programs.
other military services and DOD components’ installations,
by providing technical expertise and capabilities. Individual
Current defense-wide issuances that address real property
installation management, planning, and leadership is
and associated installation management activities include
provided by the installation commander, known as a
DOD Directive 4165.06 Real Property, and DOD
Garrison Commander in the Army.
Instruction 4165.70 Real Property Management. Additional
installation management policies are set by each MILDEP,
Navy Installations
or the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) for real
Within the Department of the Navy, the Office of the
property they manage.
Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations
DOD-Managed Installations
and Environment, OASN (EI&E), is responsible for policy
related to the Navy’s “energy security; acquisition and
DOD manages its installations (those that do not report
disposal of real property; construction and maintenance of
through a MILDEP) through the Office of the Assistant
installations; protecting the safety and occupational health
Secretary of Defense for Sustainment (OASD(S)). The
of the military and civilian personnel; environmental
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment has overall
protection, planning and restoration ashore and afloat; and
responsibility for DOD’s “planning, programs, and capacity
conservation of natural and cultural resources.” The Deputy
to provide mission assurance through facilities investment,
Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and
MILCON, environmental restoration and compliance,
Logistics (OPNAV N4) is responsible for the resourcing of
installation and operational energy resilience, and
shore installations to maintain Navy readiness.
occupational safety programs.” Within OASD(S), the
Office of Facilities Management is the program manager
The Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) is
and policy advocate for DOD-managed installations.
responsible for worldwide Navy shore installation
management, which includes operations, maintenance,
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Defense Primer: Military Installations Management
housing and safety, and quality-of-life programs. The CNIC
The Air Force’s major commands (MAJCOMs) conduct
reports directly to the Chief of Naval Operations. The Naval
day-to-day management of Air Force installations through
Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) delivers
their installation commanders (generally the Wing
engineering and material support to installations, and is “the
Commander at an air base). These commanders rely upon
technical authority for all matters relating to facilities
the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center
engineering policies and practices.” NAVFAC plans,
(AFIMSC), a subordinate unit to the Air Force Materiel
builds, and maintains sustainable facilities, and delivers
Command (AFMC), to execute installation programs and
environmental, utilities, and other installation services to
projects. AFIMSC is a “single intermediate-level
both the Navy and Marine Corps.
headquarters responsible for providing installation and
mission support capabilities to Air Force installations, the
USMC Installations
MAJCOMs, and two direct reporting units.” AFIMSC
OASN (EI&E) is also responsible for Marine Corps
houses the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC), a
installations. Within the Department of the Navy and
unit that provides installation engineering services.
Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC), the Deputy
Types of Funding
Commandant for Installations and Logistics (DC I&L) is
responsible for providing “ready and resilient bases, leading
Base budget funding for most installation support services
modernization efforts, and developing infrastructure.” The
is contained within defense operations and maintenance
Marine Corps manages its installations through its Marine
(O&M) budget accounts, and subsequently mostly within
Corps Installations Command (MCICOM). MCICOM
FSRM accounts. Defense working capital funds are also
provides oversight, direction, and coordination of
used to provide funding for utilities, maintenance and repair
installation services. Like CNIC, MCICOM works with
services, or other installation-related work performed (See
NAVFAC to execute installation projects.
CRS In Focus IF11233, Defense Primer: Defense Working
Air Force Installations
Capital Funds, by G. James Herrera.) MILCON funds are
used for facility recapitalization projects such as the
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for
modernization of facilities through new construction.
Installations, Environment, and Energy (SAF/IE) is
Role of Congress
responsible for “installations strategy and strategic basing
processes; built and natural infrastructure; facility, process,
Installations management includes ensuring military
and operational energy; environment, safety and
facilities and training ranges, housing, and other supporting
occupational health; and ensuring the sustainability and
infrastructure are safe, environmentally responsible and
operational readiness” of the Air Force. SAF/IE provides
resilient to manmade and natural threats, are cost-effective,
oversight for all plans, policies, and programs related to Air
yet still able to meet mission requirements. Congress
Force installations. The Air Staff of Headquarters Air Force
appropriates funds and conducts oversight of installation
(HAF) sets policy, manages programs, and prepares
management policies, programs, and associated activities to
budgets for installations, largely through HAF Logistics,
ensure the military and its support contractors carry them
Engineering, and Force Protection (HAF/A4).
out in a responsible manner.

Figure 1. Military Installations Management Structures

Source: CRS Graphics.


G. James Herrera, Analyst in U.S. Defense Readiness and
Infrastructure

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Defense Primer: Military Installations Management

IF11263


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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11263 · VERSION 1 · NEW

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