Encrypted Military Installations
14 military installations across the United States are documented as encrypting their radio communications, blocking public access to critical safety information. Our database holds 17 records of this type; the rest are ones our own checks found in the clear.
About Military Installations
Military bases, installations, and defense facilities.
Impact of Encryption
Military encryption is generally accepted for operational security, though civilian-facing activities could benefit from transparency.
Affected Stakeholders
- Military families
- Defense contractors
- Local communities near bases
States with Most Encrypted Military Installations
All Encrypted Military Installations
Browse all 17 military installations records. Open an agency for its verification status; records our checks found in the clear say so on their own page.
| Agency | State | County | Encryption | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois National Guard | IL | Statewide | Algorithm not published | Specific Channels |
| Fort Carson | CO | El Paso | Algorithm not published | Partially Encrypted |
| Fort Wayne Emergency Management | IN | Allen | Algorithm not published | Dispatch Only |
| Fort Drum | NY | Jefferson | Algorithm not published | Fully Encrypted |
| Anniston Army Depot | AL | Talladega | Algorithm not published | Fully Encrypted |
| Tennessee Air National Guard - McGhee Tyson Base | TN | Blount | Algorithm not published | Partially Encrypted |
| Virginia Military Institute | VA | Rockbridge | Algorithm not published | Fully Encrypted |
| Minnesota National Guard | MN | Statewide | Algorithm not published | Specific Channels |
| Blue Grass Army Deport | KY | Madison | Algorithm not published | Specific Channels |
| Army National Guard | NE | Statewide | Algorithm not published | Specific Channels |
| Fort Chaffee | AR | Sebastian | Algorithm not published | Fully Encrypted |
| Mississippi Military Department | MS | Statewide | Algorithm not published | Partially Encrypted |
| Fort Huachuca | AZ | Cochise | Algorithm not published | Fully Encrypted |
| Fort Hall Indian Reservation | ID | Power, Bannock, Caribou | Algorithm not published | Tactical Only |
| Alaska Air National Guard | AK | Brough wide | Algorithm not published | Fully Encrypted |
| Maryland National Guard | MD | StateWide | Algorithm not published | Fully Encrypted |
| Wyoming Military Department | WY | Statewide | Algorithm not published | Specific Channels |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many military installations have encrypted their radios?
14 military installations are documented as encrypted: 5 fully encrypted and 9 with partial encryption.
Which state has the most encrypted military installations?
Illinois leads with 1 military installations records, out of 17 tracked nationwide.
What encryption technology do most military installations use?
For most of the 17 military installations records here, no source we have checked names the algorithm: RadioReference marks a talkgroup as encrypted without naming the cipher. 0 have a published source naming it.
Why does encrypting military installation radio matter?
Military encryption is generally accepted for operational security, though civilian-facing activities could benefit from transparency. Stakeholders most affected include military families, defense contractors, local communities near bases.
What can I do if my local military installation is encrypted?
Encryption is a policy choice made by department or elected leadership, not a technical requirement — it can be revisited. File a public-records request for the encryption decision, raise it at a city council or county commission meeting, and connect with others who rely on scanner access in your area.
Take Action for Transparency
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