Military Monterey — Fort Ord & the Defense Language Institute
Training Ground for Two World Wars and the Cold War · Monterey County
For most of the 20th century, the Monterey Peninsula was one of the most important military complexes on the West Coast. Fort Ord trained hundreds of thousands of soldiers from World War I through the Cold War. The Defense Language Institute and Naval Postgraduate School continue to operate today, shaping the region's culture and economy.
Timeline
Camp Ord Established
The U.S. Army establishes a training camp on the dunes between Monterey and Marina during World War I. Named after Major General Edward O.C. Ord, the installation grows rapidly during World War II, when it becomes one of the Army's largest infantry training centers on the West Coast.[1],[2]
World War II Expansion
Fort Ord expands to train tens of thousands of soldiers for the Pacific Theater. At its peak, the base covers 28,000 acres and supports a population larger than most California cities. The base becomes the economic engine of the peninsula, and its diverse soldiers bring new cultures and communities to the region.[1],[2]
The Defense Language Institute
The Army Language School moves to the Presidio of Monterey, becoming the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC). Today it teaches 40+ languages to military personnel from all branches. The Presidio, originally established by Spain in 1770, is the oldest continuously operating military installation in the western United States.[1],[4]
Fort Ord Closes — A Region Transforms
Fort Ord closes as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, devastating the local economy. The massive property is gradually converted into California State University Monterey Bay (opened 1994), the Fort Ord National Monument, housing developments, and Veterans Transition Center facilities. The conversion from military to civilian use is one of the largest BRAC projects in history.[2],[3]
Visit these historical sites
Real places in our directory connected to Military Monterey — Fort Ord & the Defense Language Institute.
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Sources
Citations behind the dates, names, and numbers on this page.
- 1Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center — Command History
Official history of the Presidio of Monterey and Army Language School, including the 1946 move and Fort Ord era.
- 2National Park Service — Fort Ord National Monument
Federal history of Fort Ord's establishment, military role, closure, and conversion to a national monument.
- 3California State University Monterey Bay — History
University history documenting the 1994 opening of CSUMB on the former Fort Ord.
- 4U.S. Army — Presidio of Monterey History
Official installation history of the Presidio and its continuous military use.