The Navy

When people think of San Diego today, they often picture its beaches, its California climate, or its popular tourist districts. But there is another side of the city that is essential to understanding modern San Diego: its military and naval identity. We've already caught glimpses of this naval heritage as we've made our way along the bay. San Diego is one of the largest military cities in the United States, with deep ties to the Pacific. It was during the twentieth century that the city grew into a major naval center, and ever since, life here has moved to the rhythm of warships, military deployments, training exercises, and naval operations. The Marines also play a major role in the city’s identity, and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego is one of the country’s main training centers for new recruits. But that is not all. It is impossible to talk about San Diego’s military image without mentioning the movie Top Gun. Long before it became a classic movie starring Tom Cruise against the backdrop of the Southern California sky, TOPGUN was the Navy’s famous air combat training school. It opened at the Miramar naval air base in 1969 to improve aerial combat tactics. So if you have never seen the movie Top Gun, this may be the perfect opportunity. You may even recognize several scenes set in San Diego that have become iconic in American cinema.