Muniz Air National Guard Base
Carolina, Carolina
Known Toxins1
Years of Operation1956-Present
Base Background
Muñiz Air National Guard Base sits on the grounds of Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in Carolina, Puerto Rico, about 9 miles east of San Juan. The Puerto Rico Air National Guard consolidated its flying operations there by May 1956, and the installation was renamed Muñiz Air National Guard Base in 1963 in honor of Lieutenant Colonel José Antonio Muñiz, a co-founder of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard. The base remains active today as the home of the 156th Wing, redesignated from the 156th Airlift Wing in 2019, which now provides combat-ready contingency response forces, combat communications, and air mobility support capabilities for the Puerto Rico Air National Guard.
Toxic Exposure at Muñiz
For decades, Air National Guard fire crews at Muñiz trained on the flight line it shares with Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport using aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), which contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Department of Defense has flagged the base as one of hundreds under review nationwide for contamination with PFAS.
According to the Department’s status report current as of June 2026, the preliminary assessment and site inspection at Muñiz are both finished, and a remedial investigation into how far the PFAS contamination has spread is now underway.
Getting Compensation
Anyone who worked the flight line or spent time in the fire training areas at Muñiz over the years AFFF was in routine use may have been exposed without ever being warned, and the resulting health effects can take a long time to show up in a diagnosis. Someone who served at the base and was later diagnosed with a related condition could still qualify for compensation today.
See the chart below to find the conditions caused by PFAS exposure. Hill & Ponton’s VA-accredited lawyers take on Puerto Rico toxic exposure cases for veterans and their families, and the firm never charges a fee unless the case is won. Request a free evaluation to discuss your exact situation.
Known Toxins
The following chart outlines the medical conditions associated with toxic exposure at this base, classified by the strength of evidence required (strong, good or limited).* Please keep in mind that it is not a complete list.
| Toxin | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong | Good | Limited | ||
| PFAS (Firefighting Foam) | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | Testicular cancer Renal (kidney) cancer... Prostate cancer |
*Effects are according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry unless otherwise noted.
Guardsmen who served at Muñiz and later received a diagnosis connected to toxic exposure may be eligible for VA disability. Winning a claim requires service records showing you were there, medical records establishing the diagnosis, and an expert opinion tying the two together.
You’re not the first to navigate this, and our VA-accredited lawyers are ready to help you get the veteran benefits you deserve. Start with a free evaluation of your case.