“The rest would be less armed than would be the case off post, even in New Jersey, let alone nearby rural Pennsylvania, Texas, Tennessee or Vermont”
We have concealed carry in TN....
I know, and y'all are otherwise heavily armed as well. That's why I said "never mind in ....". My intent was to imply that those places, and others, would not be unarmed victim zones. Military bases are for the most part. Unless the attackers were stupid enough to attack the rifle range while it was it was in use (or other firing range). Other than on the ranges, military bases/posts are pretty much "gun free zone", or at least "loaded gun free zones", since you will see troops marching with empty rifles and pistols as appropriate, but the Army doesn't trust 'em with loaded weapons, except under the close observation and control of the range Nazis.
Thus even in a state as unfriendly to the RKBA as New Jersey, it would be more likely for any intended victims, or passers by, to be armed than the rank and file (military, civil servant, or contractor) on a military base/post.