Many of my clients are military. They move to the Charleston area and recognize that purchasing a home in Charleston is a great opportunity. Are you military member considering purchasing a home in the Charleston area? If you are moving to Charleston soon, consider it seriously - your timing couldn't be better.
Every military move is a challenge. Every PCS move can be stressful even when planned carefully. Having served in the military and grown up in a military household, I know this from personal experience. I also know this because I work with so many military families moving to Charleston.
Yes, a permanent change of station move can be an exciting and stressful time. But, the good news is if you are moving to the Charleston area, you are moving to a place that is welcoming of military personnel. You are also moving to a location that has so much to offer that it is difficult to even describe. Charleston hosts many military families who live here for a few years; and, is also a place where many who have lived here while in the military decide to return. Military people enjoy the Charleston area!
I frequently receive communications from individuals looking for information about the Charleston area in preparation for a PCS move. Some of the questions they ask suggest to me that many underestimate how pro-military the area is. If you've been in the military for a while, then you know there are communities that are more accepting and supportive of military families than others. Charleston appreciates its military personnel.
T
he people of Charleston
are extremely patriotic. This is not a new state of mind for Charleston, but is woven into the fabric of the area psyche. In fact, a large proportion of people who live in Charleston have direct ties with the military themselves. The military facilities and their supporting civilian industries have forged very strong interconnections throughout the area over a period of decades.
The region's patriotism and interconnectedness with the military are just two of the reasons that military members look forward to living in Charleston. The pro-military atmosphere and the availability of base facilities are also important factors in drawing many retirees back to the area. Yes, Charleston is not only a great place to serve, it is also an outstanding venue for retirement!
Charleston is a military community in so many respects. Whether we are discussing economic contributions of the Charleston military community, the influence of Charleston active-duty, reserve or retired personnel on the political and social shaping of the Greater Charleston area, or the strong pride that is obvious for the contributions made by its residents, the military is a fundamental part of the Tri-County area.
Charleston is even a home to one of the nation's most important military colleges: The Citadel. Often referred to as the West Point of the South, the Citadel produces a steady stream of exceptional leaders for each of today's military branches. Many Citadel graduates are serving today as military officers in Iraq, Afghanistan, and bases around the 
globe.
You might think of Charleston as a quaint Southern town with rich culture, great beaches, amazing restaurants and a fascinating history. It is all of those things, of course. But Charleston is also a historically significant military hub. Charleston has been a military center of activity during all of its history!
When Charles Towne was originally established in the 1600s, it was defended by a small yet effective contingent that provided the cover necessary for developing a colonial foothold in the area. Remnants of this military fortification can be seen at the current Charles Towne Landing State Park in West Ashley.
During the Revolutionary War, the first major American defeat of the British Navy took place at Fort Moultrie (then called Fort Palmetto) located on Sullivan's island. You may know that South Carolina is nicknamed, "The Palmetto State" as a result of that revolutionary war victory by American Patriots in Charleston.
Charleston participated significantly in the support of all of the wars during the 20th century. One of the largest naval bases ever built was the Charleston Naval Base. The Charleston Naval Base, at one point was only exceeded in size and scope of operations by Norfolk on the East Coast, San Diego on the West Coast and Subic Bay in the Philippines, was closed during the early 90s by the Clinton administration as part of a move to reduce the size of the military. The Charleston community mounted a powerful defense, supported by millions of dollars of local co
ntributions, in support of keeping the base in operation but were unable to convince the Base Realignment Commission and the White House.
The closure of the Charleston Naval Base had a dramatic impact on the Charleston economy. The Tri-County Area moved quickly to develop policies to encourage new business and industry development in Charleston to replace the loss of jobs from the closure of the massive Charleston Naval facility. In retrospect, economists have concluded that the closure of the Charleston Naval Base, resulting in significant cooperation among local governments in developing incentive programs for new businesses, launched Charleston into a new era of exceptional growth and opportunity.
Today, Charleston is seen as a premier location for new business development and is a 
top choice for major entities such as Boeing and Google. The Charleston economy is diverse, strong and expanding.
The closure of the Charleston Naval Base did not remove the military from Charleston. The military continues to play an extremely important role in our area. In fact, some portions of the military have been growing in the Charleston - Charleston will be a center for military activity well into the future.
Each branch the military has some representation in the area with the major players being the Navy and the Air Force. The numerous C-17 aircraft flying over Charleston on any given day are a clear reminder of how much influence the Air Force has in the Charleston area. Some of the less obvious, but very substantial contributors include the commands located on the Charlest
on Naval Weapons Station, including the important Navy Nuclear Power Training Command, and the United States Coast Guard seen frequently patrolling the waters around Charleston. The single largest military support facility in the area, manned principally by over 1000 civilian engineers, is SPAWAR.
Whether you are in the Air Force or the Navy or any other component of the military and are moving to the Charleston area, alone or with your family, you will discover that Charleston is a place that is easy to call "home".
Welcome to Charleston!