Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB) is a sprawling 1,018 acre base located on the eastern banks of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. Though separated from the District by a river, JBAB is still geographically located in Southeast DC. This center of Air Force and Navy ceremonial support is also home to nearly 50 military and federal agencies, including the DIA Headquarters.

This installation has played a role in our country’s defense since 1917. It began as an Army Air field, oh-so-creatively named ‘Flying Field at Anacostia,’ but was renamed Bolling Field a year later. In the 1940s the base grew and split in two with one half belonging to the Army (which was handed over to the newly formed Air Force soon after) and the other belonging to the Navy. In 2009, as a result of BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure), the division between the bases was dissolved, combining Bolling Air Force Base with Naval Support Facility Anacostia to form Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. Today, JBAB falls under the command of the Air Force District Washington and is home to many units including Military Airlift Command (MAC), the Air Force’s 11th Wing, Naval Installations Command, and the Defense Media Activity-Navy.

Living on base is popular and the spouses we’ve spoken to have raved about the security, shopping, and the waterfront parks on base. The surrounding Southeast DC neighborhoods of Anacostia and Congress Heights have a lot to offer, but it is recommended that you do your research on schools and crime rates before settling on a home. A lot of people look to buy or rent in Northern Virginia (particularly Alexandria), or farther into neighboring Maryland.