The base is home to the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, whose mission is to manage the Marine Corps’ combat development process.
The Marine Corps Warfighting Lab, established on the base in 1995, is the testing agency for development of enhanced operational concepts, tactics, techniques, procedures and doctrine.
To accomplish these missions, the Marine Corps Combat Development Command’s commanding general has under his command a deputy commanding general, the commanding officer of the base, the commanding general of the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab, and the director of Expeditionary Force Development Center, under which are 10 additional divisions.
The base operates on an annual budget of about $157 million and provides an estimated $160 million annually in direct economic impact to the surrounding area. About 6,800 military personnel are assigned to Quantico. The base employs nearly 7,000 civilians.
Marine Corps University serves as the focal point of a professional military education program.
It comprises the Marine Corps War College, Command and Staff College, School of Advance Warfighting, Expeditionary Warfare School, Command and Control Systems School, The Basic School, Officer Candidates School and Staff Noncommissioned Officers Academy.
The Marine Corps Manpower and Reserve Affairs Division is housed in the John Wesley Marsh Center on Russell Road between the Combat Development Center and Lejeune Hall. The Marsh Center is the largest office building in Prince William County.
A 22,850-square-foot Child Development Center on Purvis Road cares for about 300 children. Many of Quantico’s Marines and civilian employees live in Fredericksburg and the neighboring counties south of the base. The base’s Web site is quantico.usmc.mil. Quantico’s information number is 703/784-2121.