LOCATION- Located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest on the Puget Sound , Washington State, USA, Fort Lewis is adjacent to McChord Air Force Base, near the city of Lakewood, with surrounding suburbs of Steilacoom, Dupont, Lacy, and the State Capitol of Olympia. Fort Lewis is situated in a key geographic location with Interstate 5, allowing easy access to Sea-Tac airport and to the deep water ports of Tacoma and Seattle. On a clear day, majestic Mount Rainier looms on the horizon, towering over other peaks of the Cascade Range. From the mountains to the deep waters of Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean, the local area abounds in natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities. Interstate 5 goes right through the post. Exit 120 will take you to the Fort Lewis main gate, which is open 24 hours a day.
HISTORY - Named in honor of explorer Meriwether Lewis, leader of the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition to the Pacific Northwest from 1804 to 1806, the post was founded in 1917 as Camp Lewis. The fort was designated a permanent Army post in 1927. Brick barracks and office buildings were built to supplement the original World War I structures. During the post's long history, it has been home to 14 Army divisions including 3rd Infantry, 4th Infantry and the 9th Infantry Division (Motorized). Fort Lewis has also served as a major training and personnel center for overseas deployment during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Wars.
MISSION - Operate a state-of-the-art power projection and sustainment platform for warfighters by providing them with superior training support and infrastructure; support the transformation of I Corps and Fort Lewis; Transform the well-being of our soldiers, civilians, retirees, and their families; Remain a committed Pacific Northwest neighbor.
POPULATION SERVED - Fort Lewis has more than 25,000 soldiers and civilian workers. The post supports 120,000(+) retirees and more than 29,000 family members living both on and off post. Size: Fort Lewis proper contains 86,000 acres; the Yakima Training Center covers 324,000 acres.
SPONSORSHIP - To request a sponsor prior to arrival go to the Fort Lewis webpage, click on Sponsorship gateway.
TEMPORARY QUARTERS - Families may stay in temporary lodging such as the Fort Lewis Lodge while waiting for on post housing or locating housing off post. If lodging facilities are full, arrangements can be made by the desk clerk for hotels at a reduced rate. Reservations for PCS and TDY personnel can be made by writing Fort Lewis Lodge, P. O. Box 33085, Fort Lewis, WA 98433-0085, or call commercial (253) 964-0211, 967-2815 or DSN 357-5051. For information on rates, contact the Fort Lewis Lodge. Reservations desk is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for customer convenience.
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE - Newcomers' Orientations are held on the last Tuesday of each month (there is no briefing in November and the December briefing is held on the second Tuesday). The briefing is mandatory and must be attended within 30 days of assignment by Captains, Lieutenants, and Sergeants First Class and below. Spouses, senior officers and noncommissioned officers are also encouraged to attend. You can also obtain a 30-day loan of household items from our Loan Closet. You will need a copy of your orders and, if you are unable to come to the Loan Closet, your spouse can pick up the household items with a copy of your orders.
CRITICAL INSTALLATION INFORMATION - Today, Fort Lewis remains relevant and ready as the Army engages in the global war on terrorism. Its unique location in the Puget Sound and proximity to naval and Air Force bases make it a power projection platform from which the Army can rapidly deploy Soldiers as elusive terrorist threats arise. Thousands of Fort Lewis Soldiers are currently overseas in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Philippines, challenging all those who seek to destroy Americans' freedoms.