FAQs About Military Bases With Asbestos

If you or a U.S. veteran you love was stationed at a military base decades ago, you could be at risk for an aggressive cancer called mesothelioma today.

Buildings on military bases relied heavily on asbestos-containing materials to help with fireproofing and insulation. However, handling asbestos products like insulation or wiring released toxic fibers into the air, causing many service members to develop mesothelioma later in life.

We sat down with Major Jonathan Nelson (USMC, Ret), a VA-accredited attorney, to discuss how veterans risked exposure to asbestos on military bases, the dangers of mesothelioma, and how he helps affected families pursue VA benefits and other resources.

Get our Free Veterans Packet to learn more about military asbestos use and benefits available to U.S. veterans with mesothelioma.

Q: Why was asbestos used on military bases?

Asbestos-containing materials were used throughout buildings on military bases from the 1930s to the early 1980s because, at the time, the benefits were great and the risks weren’t fully known.

Many veterans, particularly those who worked to build bases or maintain HVAC and plumbing systems, remember working with products that contained asbestos. These included insulation, paneling, electrical wiring, roofing, cement, and other components.

Asbestos was seen as a safe way to keep bases well-insulated, fireproof, and soundproof. But service members didn’t always know which products contained asbestos, nor were they warned that asbestos was even dangerous.

That’s largely because the asbestos manufacturers concealed the health risks in an effort to protect their bottom line. They hid the facts from service members and the general public because the government contracts were too lucrative to lose.

Q: What are the risks of serving on military bases with asbestos?

In the most severe cases, service members risked daily exposure to asbestos on military bases, making it more likely for them to develop mesothelioma.

Building, demolishing, or renovating building components on military bases often released asbestos fibers into the air. Service members could easily swallow or breathe in the fibers without noticing.

There’s no way to lower the risk of mesothelioma after exposure. And since it takes 10-50 years or more for asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma to develop, many U.S. veterans are only being diagnosed now.

Q: Which Army bases and barracks used asbestos-containing products?

Our team has identified over 100 U.S. Army bases that contained asbestos, including Fort Bragg, Fort Campbell, Fort Hood, Fort Benning, and many others.

These bases relied on asbestos materials throughout various structures for decades. For example, it’s believed that dozens of buildings on base at Fort Lewis had asbestos present.

As a result of this long-term asbestos use, thousands of U.S. Army veterans who served decades ago might still develop mesothelioma or other health issues.

The U.S. Army no longer uses asbestos-containing materials to build new bases. However, many older bases and barracks still have asbestos-containing materials in place. Without proper precautions, Army service members remain at risk of exposure today.

Q: Is there a list of U.S. Air Force bases with asbestos?

Yes, our team at the Mesothelioma Veterans Center has compiled a list of over 100 older U.S. Air Force bases that relied on asbestos.

Notable ones include Edwards Air Force Base, Lackland Air Force Base, Randolph Air Force Base, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. These bases used asbestos-containing materials in hangars, housing, and other structures.

Also, many aircraft relied on asbestos to help keep high-heat components like engines and wiring functioning properly. This meant that many Air Force veterans were in danger of exposure on an everyday basis.

And, just like with many aging Army bases, older structures on bases still have asbestos-containing materials in place today, putting Air Force and even Space Force service members at risk.

Q: Were families at risk of asbestos exposure on military bases?

Yes, families of U.S. service members could have been exposed if they lived in on-base housing. Many bases had special housing units for the loved ones of service members.

And, just like other structures on base, military housing was built with asbestos and other toxic materials like lead-based paint. As the housing aged, asbestos-containing materials wore down or were damaged, putting families at risk of exposure, especially during repairs or renovations.

Many military families have taken legal action against private companies over asbestos, lead paint, and other toxic hazards found in aging base housing.

Additionally, many families living in base housing were put at risk through secondhand asbestos exposure. This happened when military personnel returned home after working with asbestos, carrying fibers on their hair, skin, and clothing. Families, like service members, didn’t know the dangers because asbestos manufacturers hid the truth.

Q: How can I find out if I was exposed to asbestos on a military base?

If you or a U.S. veteran you love has mesothelioma, we can help determine if your military service played a role — even if you don’t know how you were exposed.

Since you may have been exposed to asbestos decades ago, it’s understandable that you might not remember when, where, or how it happened. In fact, many veterans we work with aren’t sure about their exposure history.

That’s where we come in. We have a database of information that tells us which buildings, equipment, vessels, and protective gear had asbestos in them. We can take your service records and fill in the blanks to determine how you may have been exposed while on active duty.

From there, we can take on the work of filing for VA benefits and additional mesothelioma compensation claims.

Q: Can I get VA benefits after serving on a military base with asbestos?

Yes, you may be able to get VA benefits if you served on a military base decades ago and are now suffering from an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma.

The VA typically awards over $4,000 monthly to U.S. veterans with this cancer, as well as free or inexpensive health care services, because it’s considered a 100% disability.

Filing for VA benefits can be overwhelming, especially if you’re facing cancer. That’s why I’m here. I help veterans like you file mesothelioma VA claims, so you can get the benefits you deserve more easily.

From gathering evidence of your asbestos exposure to filling out the needed forms, I’m able to make the process much simpler — and, unlike many other VA-accredited attorneys, I don’t charge for my services.

Ready to Support U.S. Veterans Exposed to Asbestos on Military Bases

Veterans should never have been exposed to asbestos simply by working or living on U.S. military bases.

Sadly, many older veterans are just now being diagnosed with mesothelioma after exposure linked back to Army and Air Force bases. The Mesothelioma Veterans Center stands ready to support these U.S. veterans.

We can help veterans:

Determine how asbestos exposure occurred
Explore available treatment options
File for VA benefits for free
Seek additional support for their families

Get our Free Veterans Packet or call (877) 450-8973 to learn more about how we may be able to assist you.