There are seven major military installations in the state, which house various units of the United States Military . The seven major bases are:

• Fort Bragg (Cumberland and Hoke Counties)
  
• Pope Air Force Base (Cumberland County)
  
• Seymour Johnson Air Force Base (Wayne County)
• Sunny Point Army Military Ocean Terminal
  (Brunswick County)
• New River Marine Corps Air Station (Onslow County)
• Camp Lejeune Marine Base (Onslow County)
• Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station (Craven County)

In times of war, military installations need to mobilize equipment and personnel quickly and efficiently. Public seaports and airports serve to facilitate this logistical supply chain. Infrastructure improvements to seaports in particular are critical since these facilities are used as embarkation points.

Coast Guard Stations also play an important role in protecting North Carolina. While moving equipment via highways is not as important to these stations, they are increasingly important for the purposes of homeland security. There are ten stations located in North Carolina, which are part of the 5th Coast Guard District , including an air station in Elizabeth City . Smaller boating units are located in Elizabeth City, Emerald Isle, Fort Macon, Hatteras Inlet, Hobucken, Oak Island, Ocracoke, Oregon Inlet, and Wrightsville Beach.