If you lived or worked on a U.S. military base before the mid-1980s, you may have been exposed to asbestos. The military used asbestos-containing materials in buildings, ships, vehicles, aircraft, and equipment across every branch of service. These materials were valued because asbestos resists heat, fire, and corrosion. Many veterans who served during this period had daily contact with insulation, gaskets, floor tiles, and other products that contained asbestos fibers.
Asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis can take 10 to 50 years to appear after exposure. A veteran who served in the 1960s or 1970s may receive a diagnosis decades later. Because of this long latency, veterans and their families are still learning about exposure that happened during active service many years ago.
This page lists U.S. military installations identified in public records, government reports, and asbestos litigation as having used asbestos-containing materials. It is organized by branch of service. If you were diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease and served at one of these installations, you may be eligible for compensation through VA benefits and asbestos trust funds. Speaking with us about your service history carries no cost.
How asbestos was used on military installations
The U.S. government was one of the largest users of asbestos in the country through much of the twentieth century. Federal building codes and military specifications often required asbestos materials for fire protection and thermal insulation. As a result, asbestos appeared in barracks, mess halls, hangars, motor pools, boiler plants, and administrative buildings on bases nationwide.
The U.S. Navy used more asbestos than any other branch, mainly aboard ships and in shipyards. Asbestos was also used widely in the construction of Navy shore facilities. The Army, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard used asbestos in base buildings, heating systems, vehicles, and aircraft. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans who worked in jobs such as mining, milling, shipyard work, insulation, demolition, carpentry, and the manufacture or installation of products like flooring and roofing faced higher exposure.
Most asbestos use in military construction continued into the late 1970s and early 1980s. After the health risks became widely recognized, the federal government began removing and limiting asbestos. Buildings constructed before that period may still contain asbestos today, which is why renovation and demolition of older base structures remains regulated.
Where asbestos was found on military bases
Asbestos was present in many parts of a typical installation built before the 1980s. Common locations included:
- Pipe and boiler insulation in central heating plants, barracks, and utility tunnels
- Sprayed-on fireproofing on structural steel and ceilings
- Floor tiles and the adhesives used to install them
- Roofing felts, shingles, and cement siding (often called Transite)
- Wallboard and ceiling panels in older buildings
- Gaskets, brake linings, and clutch facings in vehicles and ground equipment
- Insulation and heat shields in aircraft engines and components
- Wiring insulation and electrical panels in shops and power facilities
Veterans assigned to maintenance, construction, motor pool, and utility roles often disturbed these materials during repair work. When asbestos products are cut, sanded, or broken, they release microscopic fibers into the air. Those fibers can be inhaled or swallowed. Personnel who lived in older barracks could also have had lower-level contact with aging building materials.
U.S. military bases with documented asbestos use
The installations below appear in public records, government environmental reports, or asbestos litigation in connection with asbestos-containing materials. This list is a starting point and is being expanded. A dedicated page for each base, with its history, exposure sources, and the trust funds most relevant to it, is published under the branch directories linked below.
Inclusion on this list reflects documented use of asbestos materials at an installation. It does not establish that any individual was exposed. Exposure depends on a veteran’s job, location, and years of service.
Navy and Coast Guard installations
| Installation | State / Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Naval Station Norfolk | Virginia | Largest naval base; ship and pier facilities |
| Naval Base San Diego | California | Surface fleet homeport |
| Naval Air Station Alameda | California (closed) | Naval air station, closed 1997 |
| Naval Air Station Jacksonville | Florida | Naval aviation maintenance |
| Naval Air Station Pensacola | Florida | Naval aviation training |
| Joint Base Charleston (Naval) | South Carolina | Former Charleston Naval Base |
| Washington Navy Yard | Washington, DC | Oldest shore establishment |
| Naval Support Activity Mechanicsburg | Pennsylvania | Supply and logistics depot |
| Pearl Harbor (Naval) | Hawaii | Fleet base and shipyard complex |
| U.S. Coast Guard Base Alameda | California | Coast Guard shore facility |
Army installations
| Installation | State / Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Bragg (Fort Liberty) | North Carolina | Major Army installation |
| Fort Benning (Fort Moore) | Georgia | Infantry training center |
| Fort Hood (Fort Cavazos) | Texas | Armor and mechanized base |
| Fort Knox | Kentucky | Armor center and depot |
| Rock Island Arsenal | Illinois | Manufacturing arsenal |
| Blue Grass Army Depot | Kentucky | Munitions storage and depot |
| Fort Shafter | Hawaii | Army headquarters facility |
More than 100 Army installations are reported to have used asbestos-containing materials during the asbestos era.
Air Force installations
| Installation | State / Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wright-Patterson Air Force Base | Ohio | Logistics and research center |
| Eglin Air Force Base | Florida | Armament and test base |
| Hickam Air Force Base | Hawaii | Now part of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam |
Marine Corps installations
| Installation | State / Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune | North Carolina | Older buildings contained asbestos materials |
| Camp San Luis Obispo | California | Training facility |
Camp Lejeune is also associated with a separate water-contamination matter. This page addresses asbestos only.
Shipyards (separate directory)
Naval shipyards carried some of the heaviest asbestos exposure of any military setting. Major and historic shipyards, including Norfolk, Portsmouth, Puget Sound (Bremerton), Pearl Harbor, Mare Island, Long Beach, Charleston, Philadelphia, and Hunters Point, are covered in the shipyards directory.
Who was exposed on military bases
Veterans in several roles faced higher asbestos exposure on shore installations. The most common include:
- Construction and engineering specialists. Built and repaired base structures, often cutting asbestos cement, tile, and insulation.
- Boiler and utility plant operators. Maintained central heating plants insulated with asbestos through the 1970s.
- Motor pool and vehicle mechanics. Replaced brake linings, clutch facings, and gaskets that contained asbestos.
- Aircraft maintenance technicians. Serviced engines, brakes, and heat shields with asbestos components.
- Pipefitters, plumbers, and steamfitters. Worked on piping wrapped in asbestos insulation.
- Electricians. Worked around asbestos panels, wiring insulation, and equipment.
- Demolition and renovation crews. Disturbed aging asbestos materials when removing or rebuilding older structures.
Family members who lived in base housing built during the asbestos era could also have had lower-level contact with aging materials.
Health conditions linked to asbestos exposure
Breathing in or swallowing asbestos fibers can cause serious diseases years after exposure. The main conditions include:
- Mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs or abdomen caused almost exclusively by asbestos
- Lung cancer, which asbestos exposure can cause or contribute to, especially alongside smoking
- Asbestosis, a scarring of lung tissue that develops after heavier exposure
- Pleural plaques and pleural thickening, which can affect breathing
These diseases commonly appear 10 to 50 years after the first exposure. Researchers estimate that a large share of mesothelioma diagnoses in the United States involve people who served in the military or worked in shipyards.
Trust funds covering military base exposure
Many of the companies that made asbestos products used on military bases later filed for bankruptcy and set up trust funds to pay people harmed by their products. These asbestos trust funds are separate from the VA. A veteran can often pursue both VA benefits and one or more trust claims. The right trusts depend on which manufacturers’ products a veteran was around.
Manufacturers whose products were commonly used in military construction and equipment include:
- Johns-Manville. Made Transite cement panels and pipe, Marinite wallboard, and sprayed fireproofing used in barracks and base buildings. The Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust was the first and one of the largest asbestos trusts. See Manville Trust.
- Combustion Engineering. Supplied boilers and refractory used in base power and heating plants. See Combustion Engineering Trust.
- Owens Corning / Fibreboard. Made Kaylo pipe and block insulation used in utility plants and shipyards. See Owens Corning Fibreboard Trust.
- Babcock & Wilcox. A major boiler supplier whose products appeared in steam plants. See Babcock & Wilcox Trust.
Each trust publishes scheduled values for different diseases. Those amounts and the percentage a trust currently pays change over time. We confirm current figures against each trust’s published documents before they appear in your case review.
For the full list of trusts most relevant to veterans, see the asbestos trust funds directory.
Compensation options for veterans
Veterans diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness from base service may have more than one option:
- VA disability compensation. The VA recognizes asbestos exposure as a basis for service connection when a veteran can link exposure to qualifying service. The VA usually assigns a high disability rating for active cancers such as mesothelioma. See VA benefits for mesothelioma and how to file a VA claim.
- Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). A surviving spouse or dependent may qualify for monthly DIC if a veteran died from a service-connected condition. See DIC survivor benefits.
- Asbestos trust fund claims. These are filed against the manufacturers’ trusts, not the government, and can often proceed alongside a VA claim. See asbestos trust funds for veterans and filing a VA claim and a trust claim together.
A claim can move forward whether the veteran is living or the family is filing on behalf of someone who has passed.
Get help with your claim
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Frequently asked questions
Which military bases had asbestos?
Asbestos was used on installations across every branch of service, mainly in buildings, heating systems, vehicles, aircraft, and ships built before the mid-1980s. The list above includes installations documented in public records and litigation, and it is being expanded.
How do I know if I was exposed to asbestos on base?
Exposure depended on your job, where you worked, and your years of service. Roles in construction, utilities, motor pools, aircraft maintenance, and demolition carried higher risk. A review of your service record and duties can help identify likely exposure.
Can I file a claim if the base is now closed?
Yes. Many installations active during the asbestos era have since closed. A claim is based on your service history and diagnosis, not on whether the base is still open.
Does the VA cover asbestos-related illness from base service?
The VA recognizes asbestos exposure as a basis for service connection when exposure is linked to qualifying service. Mesothelioma and other active cancers usually receive a high disability rating. Eligibility depends on your records.
Can I receive both VA benefits and an asbestos trust payment?
In many cases, yes. Trust funds are paid by the manufacturers’ trusts, not the VA, so the two are usually separate. We can review whether both paths apply to your situation.
How long after service can mesothelioma appear?
Asbestos-related diseases commonly develop 10 to 50 years after the first exposure. A diagnosis decades after service is common and does not prevent a claim.
What should I do if a family member died from an asbestos illness after military service?
A surviving spouse or dependent may qualify for DIC and may also be able to file trust claims. There is no cost to speak with us about whether these options apply.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Public Health, Asbestos. https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/asbestos/
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Asbestos exposure eligibility. https://www.va.gov/disability/eligibility/hazardous-materials-exposure/asbestos/
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration, asbestos-related claims procedure. https://www.benefits.va.gov/COMPENSATION/claims-special-asbestos.asp
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Asbestos. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/
- U.S. Department of Defense, Base Structure Report (installation inventory).
- Naval History and Heritage Command. https://www.history.navy.mil/