Beaufort, South Carolina, Military

Marines And Navy Help Drive Beaufort Real Estate

The military in Beaufort, SC, contributes both to the economy and the welfare of the Beaufort area. “Tri-command” refers to the Marine Corps Air Station north of Beaufort City, the Naval Hospital in Port Royal and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot on Parris Island. The three units contribute more than $375 million annually to the Beaufort, SC, economy. They employ some 1,800 civilians and bring 6,500 active duty personnel to the Beaufort, SC, area.

MCAS Beaufort, also known as “Fightertown,” is an important and historically colorful base. It is home to Marine Aircraft Group 31, one of the world’s largest and most tactically proficient aircraft groups.

Three MCAS squadrons, the Marauders, the Sidewinders and the Thunderbolts, have seen deployment in the War against Terrorism, flying aircraft from carriers in the Persian Gulf region. Flights that sometimes can be heard over Beaufort are likely to be pilots increasing engine thrust as they simulate landing on an aircraft carrier deck. They are training for future missions.

Locally, MCAS pilots perform in air shows. They provide volunteers for numerous Beaufort community events, supporting the local Adopt-a-School programs, the Chamber of Commerce Military Family Appreciation Day in May, the Beaufort Water Festival in July, the Beaufort Shrimp Festival in October, and the Beaufort Veterans’ Day Observance Memorial Ceremony in November.

Historical Involvement
Rich in the history of the South Carolina Lowcountry, the air station site was once home to several plantations, including Clarendon and Edgerly, Bull and Deveaux plantations. In 1779 during the Revolutionary War, British troops landed at what is now the Laurel Bay military housing area and battled American Revolutionary troops at Gray’s Hill.

In 1941, the Civil Aeronautics Authority proposed that an airport be built on the site. By June 15, 1943, the Naval Air Station Beaufort was established on 6,000 acres of land. It was an auxiliary air station which supported advanced training of anti-submarine patrol squadrons to ensure the security of shipping along the Eastern seaboard. The site was deactivated in 1946 and reactivated in 1956 as a Marine Corps Auxiliary Airfield. In 1960 it was designated a Marine Corps Air Station.

The airfield was named Merritt Field in honor of Major General Lewie G. Merritt, USMC (retired), a Ridge Spring, South Carolina native. It has 3.9 million square yards of runways, taxiways and aprons, and has played a key role in national and worldwide training operations and exercises. One runway is the second longest military runway on the East Coast. MCAS is designated as an alternate landing site for the space shuttles.

The Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island is world-famous for turning recruits into Marines in a 12-week training course preceded by one week of processing and orientation. The Parris Island museum is open to the public and shows the history of the Marines as well as Parris Island. It contains an impressive collection of photographs, artifacts and memorabilia on Parris Island, the Recruit Depot and the Marine Corps, as well as a large Civil War collection. Parris Island graduations take place almost every week, and graduation visitors alone contribute some $7 million to the Beaufort economy.

The Beaufort Naval Hospital at Port Royal is ranked as one of the best Navy Hospitals in the country and is a reason former military personnel elect to retire to the Beaufort area and purchase Beaufort real estate. More information on the Naval Hospital is included in the health section.

Visitors to the three Beaufort bases may be asked to show picture identification before they enter. Should circumstances warrant heightened security, procedures and hours of regularly scheduled events may be changed.  //