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Updated December 3, 2021
Defense Primer: Military Installations Management
The Department of Defense (DOD) and the Military
managed installations. ODASD (Con) principal programs
Departments (MILDEPs) maintain distinctive
include:
organizational structures (Figure 1), policies, and programs
MILCON
for managing their installations. Title 10 United States
Code (U.S.C.) §2801 defines a military installation as “a
FSRM
base, camp, post, station, yard, center, or other activity
Department of Defense Explosives Safety Board
under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of a [MILDEP] or, in
Unified Facilities Criteria
the case of an activity in a foreign country, under the
Sustainment Managements Systems
operational control of the Secretary of a [MILDEP] or the
Secretary of Defense.” Title 16 U.S.C. §670 further defines
Installation support services for OSD-managed facilities are
the term with respect to conservation programs as “any
generally provided by an associated DOD component (i.e.,
land, or interest in land, owned by the United States and
a defense agency, field activity, or combatant command).
administered by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary
However, if the facility resides on a MILDEP-owned
of a [MILDEP], except land under the jurisdiction of the
installation, then the host MILDEP may also provide
Assistant Secretary of the Army having responsibility for
certain installation services.
civil works.” In general, these definitions include all types
of real property—buildings, training ranges, and supporting
Army Installations
infrastructure—that reside on a military installation.
Within Headquarters, Department of the Army, the Office
Installations management includes overseeing, planning,
of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations,
Energy, and Environment, OASA (IE&E), “establishes
programming, and implementing major activities at military
installations, such as installation master planning; facility
policy, provides strategic direction, and supervises all
planning and design; military construction (MILCON);
matters pertaining to infrastructure, Army installations and
contingency bases, energy, and environmental programs”
facilities sustainment, restoration, and modernization
(FSRM); military housing; and the reutilization or disposal
for the Army. The Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-9
of real property. These activities can include several sub-
(Installations), led by the Deputy Chief of Staff (DCS), G-9,
activities such as maintaining real property inventories and
serves as the link between the Army Secretariat and the
Army’s Land Holding Commands (LHCs). The DCS, G
performing condition assessments, reviewing real estate
-9
agreements, maintaining installation force protection, or
administers the Installation Program Evaluation Group,
contracting for utility services.
leads the Army’s Quality of Life effort, and synchronizes
Army programs, processes, and regulatory guidance to
Examples of DOD programs that fall under the umbrella of
ensure LHCs that retain the Army’s real property have the
military installations management include the
resources needed for infrastructure and installation services.
Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI);
With the exception of Army National Guard facilities,
Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment
which are typically managed by states, the Army manages
Program; and
installations through its Installation Management Command
Defense Environmental Restoration Program.
(IMCOM). IMCOM handles the day-to-day operations of
Army installations, providing services such as fire safety,
Current defense-wide issuances that address real property
policing, housing, and child care. IMCOM also oversees the
and associated installation management activities include
Army Safety program. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
DOD Directive 4165.06 Real Property and the 4165 series
supports Army installations, and, as applicable, the other
of DOD Instructions. Additional installation management
military services and DOD components’ installations, by
policies are set by each MILDEP, or the Office of the
providing technical expertise and contracting capabilities.
Secretary of Defense (OSD) for real property they manage.
Individual installation management, planning, and
OSD-Managed Installations
leadership is provided by the local installation commander,
known as a Garrison Commander in the Army.
DOD manages its installations (those not under jurisdiction
Navy Installations
or operational control of a MILDEP) through the Office of
the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, or
Within the Department of the Navy, the Office of the
OASD(S). The Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations
Sustainment has overall responsibility for “logistics,
and Environment, OASN (EI&E), is responsible for policy
materiel readiness, product support, military construction,
related to the Navy’s “energy security; the acquisition and
military housing, energy, environment, and real property.”
disposal of real property; construction and maintenance of
Within OASD(S), the Office of the Deputy Assistant
installations; protecting the safety and occupational health
Secretary of Defense for Construction (ODASD (Con)) is
of the military and civilian personnel; environmental
the program manager and central policy advocate for OSD-
protection, planning and restoration ashore and afloat; and
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Defense Primer: Military Instal ations Management
conservation of natural and cultural resources.” The Deputy
Force installations. The Air Staff of Headquarters U.S. Air
Chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and
Force (HAF) sets policy, manages programs, and prepares
Logistics (OPNAV N4) is responsible for the resourcing of
budgets for installations, largely through HAF Logistics,
shore installations to maintain Navy readiness.
Engineering, and Force Protection (HAF/A4).
The Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) is
The Air Force’s major commands (MAJCOMs) conduct
responsible for worldwide Navy shore installation
day-to-day management of Air Force installations through
management, which includes operations, maintenance,
their installation commanders (typically the Wing
housing and safety, and Quality of Life programs. The
Commander at an air base). These commanders rely upon
Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command
the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center
(NAVFAC) delivers engineering and acquisition support to
(AFIMSC), a subordinate unit to the Air Force Materiel
installations, and is “the technical authority for all matters
Command (AFMC), to execute installation programs and
relating to facilities engineering policies and practices.”
projects. AFIMSC is a “single intermediate-level
NAVFAC plans, builds, and maintains sustainable
headquarters responsible for providing installation and
facilities, and delivers environmental, utilities, and other
mission support capabilities to Air Force installations, the
installation services to both the Navy and Marine Corps.
MAJCOMs, and two direct reporting units.” AFIMSC
houses the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC), a
Marine Corps Instal ations
unit that provides installation engineering services.
OASN (EI&E) is also responsible for Marine Corps
Types of Funding
installations. Within the Department of the Navy and
Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC), the Deputy
Base budget funding for most installation maintenance and
Commandant for Installations and Logistics (DC I&L) is
support services is contained within defense operations and
responsible for providing ready and resilient bases, leading
maintenance (O&M) accounts. However, defense working
modernization efforts, and developing infrastructure. The
capital funds may also be used to provide funding for base
Marine Corps manages its installations through its Marine
utilities, maintenance and repair services, and other
Corps Installations Command (MCICOM). MCICOM
installation-related work (See CRS In Focus IF11233,
“exercises command and control of Marine Corps
Defense Primer: Defense Work ing Capital Funds, by G.
Installations via regional commanders in order to provide
James Herrera). MILCON funds are also used for facility
oversight, direction, and coordination of installation
recapitalization through new construction.
services.” Like CNIC, MCICOM works with NAVFAC to
execute installation projects and services.
Role of Congress
Air Force Installations
Installations management includes ensuring military
facilities and training ranges, housing, and other supporting
The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for
infrastructure are safe, environmentally responsible, and
Installations, Environment, and Energy (SAF/IE) is
resilient to manmade and natural threats, as well as cost-
responsible for “installations strategy and strategic basing
effective while meeting mission requirements. Congress
processes; built and natural infrastructure; facility, process,
appropriates funds and conducts oversight of installation
and operational energy; environment, safety and
management policies, programs, and associated activities to
occupational health; and [ensuring] the sustainability and
ensure the military and its support contractors carry them
operational readiness” of the Air Force. SAF/IE provides
out in a responsible manner.
oversight for all plans, policies, and programs related to Air
Figure 1. Military Installations Management Structures
Source: CRS Graphics.
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Defense Primer: Military Instal ations Management
G. James Herrera, Analyst in U.S. Defense
Readiness and Infrastructure
IF11263
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11263 · VERSION 10 · UPDATED