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Exhibit 1
Estimated Total Contribution of U.S. Military Installations in Texas to the Texas Economy, 2023
Exhibit 2
Estimated Individual Contributions of U.S. Military Installations in Texas, 2023
U.S. Military Installations in Texas Economic Impact, 2023
Background
Texas is home to 14 military installations that represent three of the six branches of the U.S. Department of Defense, including the Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as the National Guard, a reserve component. These bases are spread among 10 of the Comptroller’s 12 economic regions and cover more than 1.4 million acres. These installations play a vital role in strategic national defense and provide a significant contribution to the Texas economy. These bases support local businesses and create jobs in a variety of industries. Each installation’s distinctive characteristics contribute to the Texas economy in different ways.
The U.S. Department of Defense works with various colleges across Texas to provide associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs to military personnel and students who aspire to join the military. Central Texas College in Killeen provides military personnel credits for military education and training. Texas A&M, located in College Station, was established as a military school in 1876, until service became voluntary in 1965. In May 2024, the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets commissioned 165 military officers into the U.S. Armed Forces.
There are nine United States military hospitals and clinics in Texas, each located at a separate base. These are part of the Military Health System, which provides health care services to active duty and reserve personnel as well as military retirees and their families. These sites also invest in medical education and research and development.
Economic Impact
The Comptroller’s office and the Texas Military Preparedness Commission collected economic data from each of the state’s 14 U.S. military installations. These data were collected using a survey designed to ensure consistency in determining the total direct and indirect contribution of the base’s populations to state-level employment, gross domestic product, output and disposable personal income (Exhibits 1 and 2).1
In 2023, military bases in Texas supported about 213,000 direct jobs, of which more than 104,000 were active-duty military. The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts estimates populations directly affiliated with U.S. military installations in Texas contributed at least $151.2 billion to the Texas economy in 2023.2
Estimated Total Contribution of U.S. Military Installations in Texas to the Texas Economy, 2023
| Contribution | Value |
|---|---|
| Total direct employment | 213,176 |
| Total employment (direct and indirect) | 677,022 |
| Output | $151,276,591,000 |
| Gross domestic product | $88,999,266,000 |
| Disposable personal income | $48,357,202,000 |
Notes: “Total employment” refers to both direct and indirect employment; “output” refers to the total value of all goods and services (both final and intermediate) produced in Texas; “gross domestic product” refers to the total value of all final goods and services produced in Texas; “disposable personal income” refers to post-income-tax income.
Source: Regional Economic Models Inc. (REMI)
Estimated Individual Contributions of U.S. Military Installations in Texas, 2023
| Installation/ Command | Total Direct Employment | Total Employment (direct and indirect) | Economic Impact | Gross Domestic Product | Disposable Personal Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Army Futures Command | 970 | 8,757 | $1,803,489,000 | $1,072,231,000 | $1,026,873,000 |
| Corpus Christi Army Depot | 2,867 | 8,979 | $1,655,903,000 | $1,010,417,000 | $546,893,000 |
| Dyess Air Force Base | 5,157 | 15,879 | $3,606,224,000 | $2,116,021,000 | $1,101,001,000 |
| Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base | 2,715 | 7,425 | $1,686,194,000 | $982,215,000 | $550,238,000 |
| Fort Bliss | 41,220 | 126,997 | $27,948,226,000 | $16,347,534,000 | $9,575,330,000 |
| Fort Cavazos | 59,695 | 173,730 | $39,093,559,000 | $22,890,298,000 | $10,890,216,000 |
| Goodfellow Air Force Base | 6,220 | 12,064 | $3,109,547,000 | $1,836,125,000 | $786,236,000 |
| Joint Base San Antonio | 67,350 | 240,403 | $55,110,571,000 | $32,428,334,000 | $17,612,272,000 |
| Laughlin Air Force Base | 3,043 | 7,533 | $1,731,276,000 | $1,032,879,000 | $438,807,000 |
| Naval Air Station Corpus Christi | 7,159 | 21,340 | $4,689,867,000 | $2,818,766,000 | $1,401,242,000 |
| Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth | 5,041 | 22,548 | $4,883,075,000 | $2,875,466,000 | $2,226,440,000 |
| Naval Air Station Kingsville | 1,802 | 4,338 | $1,029,009,000 | $629,490,000 | $259,453,000 |
| Red River Army Depot | 3,535 | 9,228 | $1,653,700,000 | $997,920,000 | $438,837,000 |
| Sheppard Air Force Base | 6,402 | 17,801 | $3,275,951,000 | $1,961,570,000 | $1,503,364,000 |
| Total | 213,176 | 677,022 | $151,276,591,000 | $88,999,266,000 | $48,357,202,000 |
Sources: Texas Military Preparedness Commission; the various U.S. Military bases in Texas; REMI; Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
End Notes
- Estimate inputs and assumptions include the following: (1) all data submitted are for 2023; (2) input includes full-time, permanent employees and a full-time equivalent (FTE) for any part-time employees; (3) all economic impact is within Texas.↳
- This study represents an analysis of the economic impact of the population and employees directly affiliated with U.S. military bases in Texas. This includes active duty, visiting, and other military personnel, dependents, civilian employees and contractors directly affiliated with the base as reported in documents emailed to B. Keith Graf or Jolene Hudson, Texas Military Preparedness Commission, and additional clarification interviews.↳