The Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (PRFTA), informally known as Camp Parks is an Army Reserve training base located in Dublin, California, near Livermore and the eastern San Francisco Bay.
Camp Parks RFTA is described as a “sub-installation” of Fort McCoy. Parks is the only training facility for more than eleven thousand reserve troops who must complete training in the Bay Area. The installation is also home to the Federal Correctional Institute, Dublin.
Find information about Camp Parks
Mission & Units
Parks Reserve Forces Training Area is a place for local and visiting reserve troops to for training. The Camp Parks mission includes providing training support, security, administration, servicing and supply to all troop units assigned to the base.
The Reserve units that call the installation their permanent home conduct weekend inactive duty training throughout the year, and there is more training for reserve components that travel to the local area for annual training.
Parks RFTA is described by official sources as being the only local training facility for more than 11,000 Army Reserve Soldiers in the San Francisco Bay Area, “where a wide variety of training facilities are available”.
Important missions and units at Parks RFTA include:
- 91st Division
- 104th Division (IT)
- Regional Training Site-Medical
- Equipment Concentration Site (ECS30) / Area Maintenance Support Activity (AMSA)
- Western Army Reserve Intelligence Support Center (WARISC)
- NMCB 18, Detachment 2718
- Company B, 319th Signal Battalion
- Company B, 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry Regiment (Air Assault)
- Western Information Operations Center (WIOC)
- 352nd Combat Support Hospital
- 368th Military Intelligence Battalion
- 191st Army Band
History
The Camp Parks story begins November 26, 1942, as a facility established to support World War Two efforts including end-of-war outprocessing for Navy Seabees returning from the Pacific theatre. When World War Two was in full swing, Camp Parks served as a staging area for troops to prepare for a second tour of duty in the Pacific.
But once the war ended many such installations were inactivated, closed, or redesignated. Camp Parks would not serve the Defense Department again until it reopened as an Air Force basic training center during the Korean War in 1951.
Some sources note that at this time, the Camp Parks facility was one of the few Air Force bases that did not include a working runway.
In 1959, the Air Force turned the installation over to the United States Army. The base ran in “standby” status from then until 1973 when the Army began using the installation to mobilize and train Reserve forces.
That led to Camp Parks being redesignated as a “semi-active” installation when it became known as it is today, as Parks Reserve Forces Training Area. The base is under the jurisdiction of Fort Hunter Liggett in Monterey County.
Main Address And Phone Numbers
Camp Parks Reserve Forces Training Center
620 6th Street
Dublin, CA 94568
(925) 875-4650
Surrounding Area
The local area where the Camp is located, Dublin, California, is a suburb city of the East Bay in Alameda County, California, United States. It is approximately 35 miles east of San Francisco, and a little over 20 miles east of downtown Oakland.
In 2013, Dublin listed as the “second-fastest-growing” city in California and was named as the #7 entry in the 2018 Money magazine Best Places To Live report.
The city of Dublin is said to be named after its counterpart city in Ireland, and has been the home town of a variety of corporate concerns including Sybase, Inc., the discount clothing store chain Ross Stores, plus motorcycle designer Arlen Ness.
All Reserve units that meet for training at Camp Parks have their own requirements for reporting, muster, and participation. It’s best to contact your unit First Individual, Command Master Chief, or supervisor to learn what requirements must be met to report for duty at Camp Parks.
Permanent party or active duty personnel should contact their sponsor or gaining unit orderly room to learn what reporting requirements apply at the current time.
Services
Health Care
Due to the nature of this Army Reserve installation, there is no medical treatment available on base. Parks Reserve Forces Training Area does not have a treatment facility and relies on medical support for troops via Valley Care Hospital in nearby Pleasanton.
Family members are directed to find a TRICARE-authorized care provider in the area. During annual training exercises or musters on-post, The Troop Medical Clinic provides care for those in training.
Household Goods
Inbound troops PCSing to Camp Parks are directed to track and manage their household goods shipments to the California Bay Area via the Defense Personal Property System at Move.mil.
Those assigned to Camp Parks are also directed to read a U.S. Transportation Command booklet titled, “It’s Your Move,” for detailed information on weight allowances, the household goods shipping process, storage, claims, and more.
Dependent And Retiree ID Card Renewal, Replacement, New Issue
All ID card services at Camp Parks must be arranged in advance–appointments are required and there are no walk-in services available at the time of this writing. All personnel should schedule ID card services using the Camp Parks RAPIDS site or by calling (925) 875-4918.
Schools
There are no DoD school facilities available at Camp Parks. Those who reside in the local area in or near Dublin will send their children to schools based on address, but local schools fill to capacity before April each calendar year.
Parents may be required to choose a different area school than the “default” location if the school is already at capacity. Learn more about the local schools, and school district requirements with the resources below:
- Dublin Unified School District 925-828-2551
- https://www.pleasantonusd.net/ 925-462-5500
- California Department of Education
- Call the School Liaison Office at 925-875-4678 as soon as you know have PCS orders to Camp Parks to discuss school transfer and placement options.
Housing
Camp Parks began an on-post military housing project in 2005. To start the housing project, all troops are directed to contact The Villages at Camp Parks once orders are available. Call (925) 556-2250 to get started.
For off-post housing, all new arrivals are required to
If you are PCSing to Camp Parks, call 925-875-4688. Be advised that the average rent in the area as of 2018 was listed at just below $4 thousand a month. Dublin, California where the installation is located has reported an occupancy rate as high as 96%.
Inbound troops should consider requesting Army Emergency Relief (or the Air Force, Navy, or other equivalent) to help manage security deposits and rent. Call 925-875-4678 to learn more.
PCS and TDY Lodging
Temporary lodging may be available at the installation via Camp Parks Lodging. The official site describes temporary lodging facilities available to, “service personnel, their guests or dependents, retirees, civilian employees on TDY orders, and other authorized DoD travelers”.
There are very limited facilities for pets; call in advance to learn requirements and responsibilities for traveling with a pet to Camp Parks. Make reservations at 925-803-5326, toll free 866-649-8925 or reserve a room by fax at 925-803-5444.
Transportation
The usual commercial and
For those flying into the local area, the nearest major airport is Oakland International, approximately 20 miles from Dublin, California. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC / KSJC), and San Francisco International Airport (SFO / KSFO) are also nearby, no more than 40 miles from Dublin, CA.
Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License
All drivers and their vehicles operating on the installation must comply with State of California rules including insurance minimums, etc.
All drivers are ordered to carry current liability insurance, current registration and proof of a valid Real ID Act compliant driver’s license or other approved forms of ID. Ask your sponsor if there are current requirements to register a privately owned vehicle on-post where a private vehicle is required.