Information about the Kwajalein Atoll:

Kwajalein Island is the main island of the Kwajalein Atoll which is part of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.  U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA), home to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll (RTS), operates as a subordinate command of the U.S. Army Missile and Space Defense Command.  The USAKA Commander is responsible for Kwajalein and Roi Namur's more than 2400 residents, comprised of military personnel, Army civilians, contract employees, tenants and family members.  The use of the Kwajalein Atoll as a missile range is made possible through lease agreements negotiated with the Republic of Marshall Islands.

Kwajalein Atoll is a crescent loop of coral reef enclosing an area of 1,100 square miles - the worlds largest lagoon.  Situated on the reef are approximately 100 small islands with a total land area of 5.6 square miles.  Kwajalein, the largest in the Atoll is 0.5 miles wide and 3 miles long (approximately 1.2 square miles).  From Kwajalein island to Roi Namur, in the North, is about 50 miles.

Approximately 12,000 Marshallese citizens live within the Atoll, with the majority living on Ebeye, about 3 miles north of Kwajalein.  Approximately 1,500 Marshallese are employed by USAKA contractors.

The links below contain some good information about life on Kwajalein, but here are some interesting facts:

• Housing and utilities are provided
• There are no cars and the bicycle is king!
• Most contractors qualify for a Federal income tax exclusion
• Dining-out choices include a restaurant, cafeteria, and snack bars
• Three beaches and the worlds largest lagoon provide ample water sports including SCUBA diving, wind surfing, water skiing, snorkeling, and sailing
• Other recreation on island includes a bowling alley, swimming pools, fitness centers, a hobby shop, an RC car track, and a nine hole 3000 yard golf course

- General Information About Life on Kwajalein

- Kwajalein Brochure (pdf - 900KB)

- The Hourglass: Kwajalein Community Newsletter

- Good General Info from a former Kwajalein Air Traffic Controller 

- Kwajalein Scuba Club