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McChord Air Force Base (IATA: TCM, ICAO: KTCM) is a U.S. Air Force installation in Tacoma, Washington, now part of Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Established in the late 1930s and named for Col. William C. McChord, it is home to the 62nd and 446th Airlift Wings and their C-17 Globemaster III transports. The field shares JBLM with Fort Lewis and is not open to commercial or general aviation traffic.
💡 Local Tip
Frequent visitors check JBLM gate status before arriving; wait times can spike during shift changes and PT hours, and some gates have limited hours or are closed on weekends.
🚖 Getting There
Access is restricted to military personnel, dependents, retirees, and sponsored visitors with valid DoD ID or DBIDS credentials; commercial travelers should use Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), about 35-40 miles north. By car, reach the base from I-5 exits 119-125 in the Lakewood/Tacoma area, allowing extra time for gate checks and peak commute congestion. Public transit options are limited, so a personal vehicle or rideshare to an approved gate is usually most practical.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is McChord Air Force Base open to commercial airline flights?
A: No. TCM/KTCM is a military airfield and does not handle scheduled commercial passenger service. The closest major commercial airport is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
Q: Can civilians access McChord Field?
A: Generally no, unless they have a valid DoD ID, a DBIDS pass, or a sponsor/escort. Access rules are set by Joint Base Lewis-McChord security.
Q: What units and aircraft are based at McChord?
A: It is home to the 62nd Airlift Wing and the 446th Airlift Wing (Air Force Reserve), which operate C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlifters.
Q: Is McChord the same as Joint Base Lewis-McChord?
A: McChord Field is the Air Force component of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, which was formed in 2010 by combining McChord AFB with the adjacent U.S. Army Fort Lewis.
AI-generated content · Generated Sep 28, 2026 · deepseek-v4.1-flash