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Marine Corps Base Quantico Guide

Image courtesy Marines.mil

Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, is approximately 35 miles south of Washington, D.C., in Prince William County, Virginia. The Marine presence here is only one major operation at Quantico; the installation also houses assets and programs belonging to the DEA and FBI. Quantico has an on-base population of over 28 thousand people, with thousands of contractors, military personnel, and civilians working side-by-side.

Marine Corps Base Quantico

Marine Corps Base Quantico History

Quantico is notable for its role in many American conflicts, even before a base was constructed here. During the Revolution, many involved in the American independence movement were from Quantico, and roads leading in and out of the area were key supply lines during the war.

By the time of the Civil War, Quantico would evolve into a major strategic zone due to a Confederate blockade of the Potomac River. Toward the end of the 1800s, the area was purchased by private speculators and would ultimately be sold to the federal government in 1917

That was the same year Marine Barracks Quantico was established as a training zone for Marines shipping out to World War One. At this time, the facility was known as Marine Corps Schools Quantico.

There was work done at Quantico to advance warfighting tactics; one result was the creation of the Fleet Marine Force. Known as FMF for short, it resided at Quantico until 1941, when the mission of the installation was modified to focus on individual training rather than training en masse. Many decades later, Marine Corps University was added to the base’s missions in 1989.

In 1995, the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory opened here, developing new tactics and military technology designed to compete in the 21st century. Circa 2015, MCB Quantico was designated Marine Corps Installations Command-National Capital Region – Marine Corps Base Quantico.

There have been many other changes and alterations since then; today, MCB Quantico is responsible for adding some $5 billion to the economy in the area, supporting approximately 30 federal agencies.

MCB Quantico Surrounding Area

Quantico is located in the heart of American history and national landmarks. Nearby you will also find local establishments, including Potomac Point Winery, the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Mallows Bay River and the usual shopping malls and tourist attractions.

Proximity to Washington D.C. is a bonus for anyone PCSing to the area or temporarily visiting on leave or during a TDY. Your D.C. options include the Smithsonian, the National Air And Space Museum, Vietnam and Korean War memorials.

Marine Corps Base Quantico Units

Marine Corps Base Quantico is dedicated to training, educating, and developing Marines as well as supporting and refining 21st-century warfighting concepts. The MCB Quantico mission includes serving as the General Court-Martial Convening Authority in the National Capital Region not already under a Convening Authority.

Units and missions at MCB Quantico include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Marine Corps Embassy Security Group
  • Marine Corps Combat Development Command
  • Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory
  • Marine Corps Recruiting Command
  • Manpower and Reserve Affairs Division, Headquarters Marine Corps
  • Marine Corps Systems Command
  • Marine Corps Training and Education Command
  • Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Staff Training Program
  • Marine Corps University
  • Officer Candidates School
  • Marine Corps Network Operations Security Command
  • Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment
  • The Basic School

Other agencies operating at Quantico include:

  • Defense Intelligence Agency
  • Drug Enforcement Administration training academy
  • FBI Academy
  • FBI Hostage Rescue Team
  • Marine Raider Museum
  • Naval Criminal Investigative Service
  • Headquarters, Army CID
  • Headquarters, AFOSI

Inprocessing Procedures At Quantico

Your branch of service may dictate your check-in and inprocessing procedures at MCB Quantico. If you aren’t sure about your first requirements upon arrival, check with your sponsor or your gaining command. All military personnel reporting must check in wearing the service “Alpha” uniform no matter what “uniform season” currently applies.

Navy Check-In

Navy personnel are required to report to the Navy Personnel Office (or other location as designated in PCS or TDY orders) during normal duty hours. After-hours reporting is made to the Duty Officer at the Naval Health Clinic, 703-784-1725. If you require bachelor housing, check in with the Bachelor Housing Office at 703-784-3149.

Marine Corps Check-In

All Marine Corps personnel arriving at Quantico during normal duty hours are required to check in with the Officer-in-Charge, Installation Personnel Administration Center. Those reporting in after-duty working hours must report to the Area Officer of the Day, Headquarters & Service Battalion.

Notes for All Personnel

For all check-ins and inprocessing, please supply copies of PCS or TDY orders, medical and school records, marriage licenses where applicable, insurance policies, shot records, passports, wills, and powers of attorney. If you aren’t sure what to bring or who to contact, discuss your inprocessing needs with your gaining unit.

Household Goods

All incoming personnel coming on PCS orders to MCB Quantico should schedule and manage household goods shipments via The Defense Personal Property System. The old move.mil address is now completely closed.

Child Care

Quantico child care options include the Child Development Center, which is operated by the agency known as Marine and Family Programs. Options include hourly care for 6 weeks to five years of age, and there is also a  Family Child Care (FCC) program that features home-based care for children ages six weeks to twelve years of age.  All PCSing troops headed to Quantico are directed to use MilitaryChildCare.com to get on the CDC waitlist and explore other options. There are two CDC facilities here:

  • CDC North: Call 703-784-4470
  • CDC South: Call 703-784-3652

Marine Corps Base Quantico Housing

Housing at Marine Corps Base Quantico is operated in partnership with Liberty Military Housing, For information regarding on-base housing, call 703-432-8500; for off-base housing referrals, call 703-784-2711. Waiting lists may apply; for on-base housing, your wait may last only a few weeks or as long as a year, depending on demand, mission requirements, and other variables.

Living on the installation is not a requirement, but if you are single or unaccompanied, contact your gaining unit prior to your PCS. You may be able to locate temporary, interim housing in the local community willing to rent weekly or month-to-month.

Transportation Options at Marine Corps Base Quantico

It is important to make prior arrangements with your gaining unit before traveling here on a TDY or during a permanent change of station move. If you are unfamiliar with the area surrounding MCB Quantico, don’t try to navigate the area during peak travel times without discussing your plans with your sponsor. Proximity to Washington, D.C. means having to deal with D.C.-style traffic.

Marine Corps Base Quantico has a base taxi service; in the local community, OmniLink Bus Service operates lines from Quantico to Triangle, Dumfries, and elsewhere.

Marine Corps Base Quantico Vehicle Policies

To register a privately owned vehicle, minimum insurance coverage and a current safety inspection sticker is required in cases where the vehicle is already registered in Virginia. All individuals under 26 years of age must complete a military driver’s improvement course before driving on base.

You may be required to register your vehicle on base. All motorcycle drivers will be required to complete a safety course.

Those at Quantico via PCS or TDY orders and who drive with an out-of-state license are allowed to do so; military family members may also use the valid driver’s license issued by the state they are from. Service members who are not legal residents of Virginia can register vehicles in their state of legal residence without having to pay personal property taxes to the State of Virginia.

PCS and TDY Lodging

Military families PCSing to Quantico should make reservations with Inns of the Corps, which has nearly 80 rooms and features access to a Marine Corps Exchange Micromart (on the first floor) plus a coin-operated laundry located. For reservations, call 703-630-4444.

Marine Corps Base Quantico Schools

MCB Quantico offers two on-base DoD schools. Pre-kindergarten through age 5 typically enrolls at Crossroads Elementary School.

The combined Quantico Middle/High School is for grades 6 through 12.

For local area options off-base, contact a representative of the MCB Quantico School Liaison Program at 703-784-4729.

Off-base, military families are served by school districts in:

    • Prince William county
    • Stafford county
    • Spotsylvania county

Virginia state law may require the following immunizations:

    • Diphtheria
    • Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
    • Tetanus. Three doses as an infant.
    • Tetanus / Diphtheria) booster is required if ten years have elapsed since the last booster.
    • Oral Polio Vaccine (two doses as an infant, booster after the fourth birthday and before school)
    • Measles (Rubeola)
    • Mumps
    • German Measles (MMR), first dose at 12 to 15 months of age.

Virginia law also requires students to have a second dose of measles (rubeola) vaccine before kindergarten. Hepatitis B, evidence of immunization against Hepatitis B is required for students born on or after January 1, 1994.

Quantico Colleges and Universities

If you seek help with your education opportunities at Quantico, contact the Voluntary Education Center, which offers on-base college programs at multiple levels including Doctorate programs.  Seven colleges and universities operate at MCB Quantico and there are nearly 50 programs to choose from; there are in-person and online class options available. Colleges represented through this program include:

There are also “visiting” schools including:

For more information on these schools, the program, or enrollment, call the Voluntary Education Center at 703-784-3308.

Base Contacts

Main Address and Contact Information

3019 Embry Loop
Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA 22134-5001

  • Phone 703-784-2659
  • Phone (DSN) 312-278-4961
  • Fax 703-784-0859 / (DSN) 312-784-0859


Marine Corps Base Quantico Telephone Numbers

  • Local Directory Assistance 800-373-3411
  • Base Information 784-2121
  • Child Development Center 703-784-3652
  • Consolidated Substance Abuse Counseling Center  784-3502
  • Exceptional Family Member Program 571-931-0524
  • Family Advocacy 784-2570
  • Family Member Employment Assistance Program 784-3232
  • Family Readiness 784-2687
  • Family Services Center Advocacy 784-3523
  • Family Services Center 784-2659
  • Headquarters & Service Battalion S-1 784-2261
  • Life Long Education 784-4010
  • Marine & Family Services Director  784-4830
  • Marine Corps Air Facility 784-2441
  • Marine Corps Embassy Security Group 784-3268
  • Marine Corps Systems Command 432-3964
  • MCCDC Command Duty Officer 784-6281
  • Military Personnel Office 784-3941 or 800-268-3710
  • Naval Criminal Investigative Service 784-2993
  • Naval Medical Clinic 784-1725
  • NMCI Helpdesk 866-843-6624
  • Personal Property and Household Goods 784-2831
  • Quantico Dependents School System (New York & Virginia District DDESS) 630-7012

 

 

About the author

Editor-in-Chief | + posts

Editor-in-Chief Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.