Military Families
Military Families
The Tacoma Baptist and the New Hope campuses are located close to both McChord Air Force Base and Fort Lewis military bases. Many military families are often looking for Christian education and a healthy school environment our schools offer. As a result, our district has for many years now been a welcomed educational choice for military friends. In addition, the location of both campuses makes our schools an ideal selection. The location of both campuses provide an ideal education solution for military families. Tacoma Baptist has provided quality education for military families for nearly 50 years. Did you know that military, police, and firefighter families represent a high percentage of Christian school students? McChord Air Force Base is home to a wide variety of units and missions. The 62nd Airlift Wing is the active duty host wing on McChord. The 62nd Airlift Wing is joined by its Reserve partner the 446th Airlift Wing. Together, the two wings fly 50 C-17 Globemaster IIIs to provide combat airlift for America. McChord also hosts the Western Air Defense Sector, an Air National Guard unit; the 22nd Special Tactics Squadron; the 361st Recruiting Squadron and a number of other units.
Fort Lewis began as Camp Lewis in 1917 when the citizens of Pierce County voted by an eight to one margin to bond themselves for $2 million to buy 68,721 acres of land. They donated the land to the federal government for military use. The only stipulation was that the tract be used as a permanent Army post. Captain David L. Stone and his staff arrived at the camp site May 26,1917, and a few days later the initial construction began. The entire camp was ready for occupancy a month ahead of schedule. In 90 days, Stone had supervised the construction of a "city" of 757 buildings and 422 other structures all lighted and heated for 60,000 men. The first recruits moved into their new barracks on Sept. 5, 1917, exactly two months after the post building plan had been handed to the contractors. When they implemented auction of the new cantonment, workmen subscribed $4,000 to build the Main Gate - which is still standing. The arch was built of field stone and squared logs resembling the old block houses which stood in the Northwest as forts. Some 60,000 men,including the 91st Division, moved into the hastily constructed cantonment to train for World War I. Recruited largely from the Northwest, the 91st was considered "Washington's Own."