Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is a massive installation that wraps around the New River tidal estuary and borders the Atlantic Ocean. The 156,000-acre facility has a mix of pine forests, calm river shores, and miles of coastline available for amphibious and ground training. Camp Lejeune is home to the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Logistics Group and multiple other combat units and support commands. Several entry-level and career-level schools are also here, so chances are high that at some point in your career you will be training at Camp Lejeune!

We need to stop for a second and talk about pronunciation. Locals, young Marines, and let’s face it—most anyone who sees the spelling, make the mistake of calling it Camp “luh-JUNE.” Lt. Gen. John Lejeune’s family and the Marine Corps have been actively trying to correct the rampant mispronunciation that plagues his namesake. Although there is no ‘R’ in the name, it is pronounced “luh-JERN.” Show some respect, people!

Camp Lejeune consists of several smaller areas including Camp Johnson, Camp Geiger (Marine Combat Training at the School of Infantry), Courthouse Bay (Marine Corps Engineer School and the Joint Maritime Training Center), Stone Bay, and the Greater Sandy Run Training area. Because Camp Lejeune is so sprawling, you will want to spend some time with our map in order to narrow down your options for commuting, especially if you are considering off post. Camp Lejeune provides an array of amenities including childcare, shopping, fitness centers, and recreation rentals — and even has its own beach. The Naval Hospital and its many specialty clinics provide medical care for those stationed at both Camp Lejeune and MCAS New River.

Camp Lejeune makes up roughly one-third of Onslow County. Jacksonville is the largest city in the area, with the next largest city being Wilmington (70 miles south). There are several towns around the base, each with its own personality. The communities make up a short list, but don’t underestimate how spread out they are. The county is massive, and traveling between the towns arrayed on the outskirts of this huge, horseshoe-shaped base can take 30-minutes or more.

For those of you who have never had the opportunity to live in the South, let’s slow down and get acquainted with North Carolina. Life is quiet, routine, and uncomplicated. Add a coastal nonchalance to the quaint, small-town attitude and the pace of life can seemingly screech to a halt. Need a leak repaired? A plumber will gladly fix it “next week sometime.” Having car trouble? “We’ll get to it when we can, but let me offer you a ride home.” There isn’t a ton of traffic, but don’t expect to get anywhere quickly. Good luck getting through the grocery store checkout without seeing Suzy from the gym and your child’s preschool teacher (go ahead and tack on a 20-minute buffer to any errand for friendly banter). It’s a great place for families and military pride runs deep. The slow, southern pace tends to be the biggest “shock” for newcomers, but it’ll grow on you. And larger cities like Wilmington and Raleigh are only hour or two away if you crave modern amenities.