Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow
Encyclopedia
Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow is a United States Marine Corps
supply and maintenance installation located east of Barstow, California
. Its mission is to rebuild and repair ground-combat and combat-support equipment and to support installations on the West Coast of the United States
. Today, one of MCLB Barstow’s most important facilities is the Marine Corps Logistics Bases’ Maintenance Center. The only other facility of this kind is located at MCLB Barstow’s sister installation, Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany
.
The base is located on Interstate 40
, 3.5 miles (6 km) east of the city of Barstow. The base lies at the junction of three major highways systems of I-15
, I-40
, and SR 58
. It's the hub of all west coast rail traffic for the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe
and the Union Pacific
railroads and in the immediate proximity to the Barstow-Daggett Airport
. It is also approximately 98 miles from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms
. The base is within 150 miles (241.4 km) of the two major seaports of Los Angeles
and San Diego.
The Marine Corps Logistics Base, presently the second largest employer in the Barstow area, was established as the Marine Corps Depot of Supplies at its present location on December 28, 1942, when the United States Navy
turned it over to the Marine Corps as a storage site for supplies and equipment needed for Fleet Marine Force
s in the Pacific theater
during World War II
. By the end of World War II, the base had outgrown its facilities and as a result, 2,000 acres (8 km²) of land, approximately seven miles east of the Nebo Main Base were annexed from the United States Army
in October 1946. In 1954, the Commanding General, Marine Corps Depot of Supplies, moved his flag from San Francisco to Barstow and since then the base has grown in stature, strength and size.
In March 1961, the importance of MCLB Barstow increased dramatically with the establishment of the Depot Maintenance Activity. In November 1978, the base was redesignated to its present title of Marine Corps Logistics Base to emphasize its broad logistics support mission. In the early 1980s, MCLB Albany and Headquarters Marine Corps
worked aggressively to integrate logistics support for the Fleet Marine Force and eliminate duplications. As a result, all operational logistics functions moved to Albany and in January 1990, the Commanding General, Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, was redesignated Commander Marine Corps Logistics Bases. The command was redesignated again in 2003 as a result of the merging of Material Command MATCOM and Marine Corps Logistics Bases to form Marine Corps Logistics Command
(MARCORLOGCOM). In late 2005, MCLB Barstow started a transition from military police to civilian police to free Marines for deployment; the Provost Marshal
Office, military police
, was augmented with a civilian Marine Corps Police Department, while many of the Marine Military Police stationed aboard the base have transferred to other commands. The transition from a Provost Marshal Office to a Marine Corps Police Department ended in 2007. As of late 2007, the department became the first police department in the Marine Corps to consist of all civilian officers. In 2010, the department became a blended force again with military police.
The base comprises three principal sites: Nebo Annex, Yermo Annex and the third site, 2438 acres (10 km²), serves as rifle and pistol ranges
.
Annex encompasses 1859 acres (8 km²) and is primarily a storage and industrial complex
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
supply and maintenance installation located east of Barstow, California
Barstow, California
Barstow is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The population was 22,639 at the 2010 census, up from 21,119 at the 2000 census. Barstow is located north of San Bernardino....
. Its mission is to rebuild and repair ground-combat and combat-support equipment and to support installations on the West Coast of the United States
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
. Today, one of MCLB Barstow’s most important facilities is the Marine Corps Logistics Bases’ Maintenance Center. The only other facility of this kind is located at MCLB Barstow’s sister installation, Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany
Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany
Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany is a United States Marine Corps base located just outside Albany, Georgia. The primary mission of the units on the base is to rebuild and repair ground combat and combat support equipment and to support installations on the East Coast of the United States...
.
Location
The base is located on Interstate 40
Interstate 40
Interstate 40 is the third-longest major east–west Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90 and I-80. Its western end is at Interstate 15 in Barstow, California; its eastern end is at a concurrency of U.S. Route 117 and North Carolina Highway 132 in Wilmington, North Carolina...
, 3.5 miles (6 km) east of the city of Barstow. The base lies at the junction of three major highways systems of I-15
Interstate 15 in California
In the U.S. state of California, Interstate 15 is a major north–south route through the San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego Counties, and it has a length of in the state. It is a major thoroughfare for traffic between Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as points beyond...
, I-40
Interstate 40 in California
In the U.S. state of California, Interstate 40 has its western terminus in Barstow. Known as the Needles Freeway, a major east–west route of the Interstate Highway System, it heads east from Barstow across the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County past the Clipper Mountains to Needles,...
, and SR 58
California State Route 58
State Route 58 is an east-west highway across the California Coast Ranges, the southern San Joaquin Valley, the Tehachapi Mountains, which border the southern Sierra Nevada, and the Mojave Desert. It runs between its western terminus near Santa Margarita and its eastern terminus at Barstow...
. It's the hub of all west coast rail traffic for the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
and the Union Pacific
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
railroads and in the immediate proximity to the Barstow-Daggett Airport
Barstow-Daggett Airport
Barstow-Daggett Airport is a county-owned public-use airport in San Bernardino County, California, United States. It is located four nautical miles east of the central business district of the town of Daggett, and east of the city of Barstow...
. It is also approximately 98 miles from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms
The Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center , also known as 29 Palms, is a United States Marine Corps base. It was a census-designated place officially known as Twentynine Palms Base located adjacent to the city of Twentynine Palms in southern San Bernardino County, California. As of the 2000...
. The base is within 150 miles (241.4 km) of the two major seaports of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and San Diego.
History
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
turned it over to the Marine Corps as a storage site for supplies and equipment needed for Fleet Marine Force
Fleet Marine Force
The United States Fleet Marine Forces are combined general and special purpose forces within the United States Department of the Navy that are designed in engaging offensive amphibious or expeditionary warfare and defensive maritime employment...
s in the Pacific theater
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. By the end of World War II, the base had outgrown its facilities and as a result, 2,000 acres (8 km²) of land, approximately seven miles east of the Nebo Main Base were annexed from the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in October 1946. In 1954, the Commanding General, Marine Corps Depot of Supplies, moved his flag from San Francisco to Barstow and since then the base has grown in stature, strength and size.
In March 1961, the importance of MCLB Barstow increased dramatically with the establishment of the Depot Maintenance Activity. In November 1978, the base was redesignated to its present title of Marine Corps Logistics Base to emphasize its broad logistics support mission. In the early 1980s, MCLB Albany and Headquarters Marine Corps
Headquarters Marine Corps
Headquarters Marine Corps is a headquarters staff within the Department of the Navy which includes the offices of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and various staff functions...
worked aggressively to integrate logistics support for the Fleet Marine Force and eliminate duplications. As a result, all operational logistics functions moved to Albany and in January 1990, the Commanding General, Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, was redesignated Commander Marine Corps Logistics Bases. The command was redesignated again in 2003 as a result of the merging of Material Command MATCOM and Marine Corps Logistics Bases to form Marine Corps Logistics Command
Marine Corps Logistics Command
Marine Corps Logistics Command is a major command of the United States Marine Corps that is the preferred provider of supply chain management, collaborative maintenance management and strategic prepositioning to the Operating Forces and other services and agencies.-Mission:To provide worldwide,...
(MARCORLOGCOM). In late 2005, MCLB Barstow started a transition from military police to civilian police to free Marines for deployment; the Provost Marshal
Provost Marshal
The Provost Marshal is the officer in the armed forces who is in charge of the military police .There may be a Provost Marshal serving at many levels of the hierarchy and he may also be the public safety officer of a military installation, responsible for the provision of fire, gate security, and...
Office, military police
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
, was augmented with a civilian Marine Corps Police Department, while many of the Marine Military Police stationed aboard the base have transferred to other commands. The transition from a Provost Marshal Office to a Marine Corps Police Department ended in 2007. As of late 2007, the department became the first police department in the Marine Corps to consist of all civilian officers. In 2010, the department became a blended force again with military police.
The base comprises three principal sites: Nebo Annex, Yermo Annex and the third site, 2438 acres (10 km²), serves as rifle and pistol ranges
Shooting range
A shooting range or firing range is a specialized facility designed for firearms practice. Each facility is typically overseen by one or more supervisory personnel, called variously a range master or "RSO – Range Safety Officer" in the United States or a range conducting officer or "RCO" in the UK...
.
Nebo Annex
The Nebo Annex encompasses 1879 acres (8 km²) and functions as base headquarters and is the main facility for administration, storage, recreational activities, shopping, and housing functions. The Nebo annex had a population of 1,174 as of the 2000 Census. 54% of the population is male. 65.6% of the population is between the ages of 18 and 64, and 34.2% are under 18. The median age is 22.6.Yermo Annex
The YermoYermo, California
Yermo is a town in San Bernardino County, California. Its name is derived from the Spanish word for wilderness. It is located 13 miles east of Barstow in the Mojave Desert on Interstate 15, just south of the Calico Mountains...
Annex encompasses 1859 acres (8 km²) and is primarily a storage and industrial complex
See also
External links
- MCLB Barstow's official website
- MCLB Barstow Base Overview & PCS Information (MarineCorpsUSA.org)