Fort Huachuca is located in Arizona, close to Sierra Vista, Hereford, and Huachuca City. The fort is located roughly an hour southeast of Tucson, Arizona. Find information about Fort Huachuca, Arizona including the main commercial and DSN numbers for the base, information on basic services, base transportation, lodging for TDY and PSCing personnel, and inprocessing.
Mission & Units
Fort Huachuca is home to US Army Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM)/9th Army Signal Command and the US Army Intelligence Center. The fort is described as a “joint services installation” with intel and drone training attended by more than 9,000 students a year. Fort Huachuca also develops and tests combat systems, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
Important units at Fort Huachuca include:
- 111th MI BDE
- 2nd BN 13TH AV RG
- 305TH MI BN
- 309TH MI BN
- 40th Signal Battalion
- A Company (Officer Advance)
- ALC
- B Company (Officer Basic)
- DENTAC
- 2-13TH AVN
- 40th ESB
- 902nd MI DET
- CECOM
- CSLA
- EPG
- INSCOM ITRADS
- ISEC
- JITC
- Military Intelligence Corps Band
- NEC
- NETCOM
History
Fort Huachuca goes all the way back to 1877 when an Army Colonel ordered that a camp be established in the Huachuca Mountains to provide a base of operations and offer protection to the travelers in southeastern Arizona. In 1882, the installation was made into a permanent fort and in four more years would be used as a headquarters for the Army in a campaign against Apache forces.
The end of that campaign marked a period of on-again, off-again operations at the fort until after World War Two, when the base was turned over to the State of Arizona.
That would last until the Korean War, when Fort Huachuca was reopened for use by the Army Corps of Engineers. The fort’s mission would fluctuate more until the 1970s.
In 1971 Fort Huachuca became the home of the US Army Intelligence Center and School, which would operate on the base side by side with Headquarters, US Army Strategic Communications Command, which was redesignated as US Army Information Systems Command in 1984. In modern times, Fort Huachuca is operated by the US Army Intelligence Center.
Contacts
Main Address and Phone Numbers
Fort Huachuca
50010 Smith Street
Fort Huachuca, AZ 85613-7011
- 520-533-5919
- 520-533-2330
- DSN 312-821-2330
Important Contact Numbers
- Emergency – 911
- Housing Services Office – (520) 533-3611
- Temporary Lodging – (520) 533-2222
- Dental Clinic – (520) 533-3147
- Hospital Main – (520) 458-4641
- Hospital/Medical Treatment Facility – (520) 533-9200
- Base Operator – (520) 533-2330
- ID/CAC Card Processing – (520) 533-1608
- Suicide Prevention Hotline – (1800) 273-8255
- Information and Referral – (520) 533-2330
- Legal Services and JAG – (520) 533-2009
- Finance Office – (520) 533-3729
Surrounding Area
In the immediate area, the fort is surrounded by several communities including Sierra Vista, which is is only five miles from the installation and technically part of the Sierra Vista city limits. There are plenty of outdoor attractions in the area including hiking trails, horseback riding, and nature walks. Nearby Huachuca City is another small town nearby featuring Kartchner Caverns State Park with daily cavern tours and star gazing events.
Further away, Whetstone features a historic town associated with silver mining. The town is called Tombstone and features museum type exhibitions about the historic silver mining community. A notable local attraction nearby is called Big Nose Kate’s Saloon, originally built in 1881 (as a hotel, back then) and still operational.
Inprocessing and Check-In
If you are PCSing to Fort Huachuca, you will begin in-processing at the gaining unit, which will make your appointment for the Personnel Processing Center briefing (regularly scheduled on Wednesdays) which provides one-stop service to all incoming permanent party military members. The in-processing includes personnel records, travel pay, and you will turn over your medical/dental records at this time.
Officers are directed to check in with their gaining unit, and enlisted soldiers are directed to report to the Battalion or Brigade S-1 of the gaining unit on or after duty hours. All Individual Reservists are directed to check in with the Mobilization and Military/Civilian Support Office to start in-processing on the first duty day after arrival.
Services
Healthcare
Medical services are provided on-post by the R.W. Bliss Army Health Center and are offered a priority basis. First priority of care is to active duty military. Limited healthcare options are available on-post and specialty care should be coordinated in the local area. There are no 24/7 emergency room services available on-post, emergency care is provided off-base at Sierra Vista Regional Health Center Emergency Room. On-post health service clinics include:
- Audiology
- Behavioral Health
- Nutrition
- Occupational Health
- Optometry
- Physical Exams for active duty
- Physical Therapy
- Preventive Medicine
- Sports Medicine
Child Care
There are two Child Development Centers on Fort Huachuca; the New Beginnings CDC and the Expanding Horizons CDC. The official site describes the services offered as follows:
New Beginnings CDC
- Full Day Care during normal duty hours
- Part-Day Preschool with two, three, and five-day care plans for children ages 3-5 years old.
- Before-Kindergarten and After-Kindergarten Care
- Hourly Care
- Rent-A-Space for parents with children in a full-day or part-day program whose slot will be vacant for a week or more may rent out their child care slot on a parent-to-parent basis.
Contact the New Beginnings CDC at 520-533-5209.
Expanding Horizons CDC
- Part-Day Toddler, Part-Day Stepping Stones to Strong Beginnings Pre-Kindergarten
- Part-Day Army Strong Beginnings Pre-Kindergarten Programs
Contact the Expanding Horizons CDC at 520-538-6319.
Household Goods
All inbound personnel are directed to track and manage their household goods shipment via the Defense Personal Property system. You can also get assistance on Fort Huachuca by calling the Personal Property Office at (520) 533-3311.
Dependent And Retiree ID Card Renewal, Replacement, New Issue
All appointments for ID card services must be scheduled via the Fort Huachuca RAPIDS system. One military ID or two dependent ID card services may be scheduled for a single appointment. Two unexpired forms of ID are required and you may be asked to furnish ID that is compliant with REAL ID Act standards. It is strongly recommended to arrive 15 minutes early for all ID card service appointments; walk-ins are discouraged.
Schools
Fort Huachuca has Arizona public schools operating on-post. These facilities are run by Sierra Vista Public Schools and features two elementary schools and a middle school. Sierra Vista public schools in the local area are an alternative for those who wish it. The city of Sierra has seven public schools. High school students attend Buena High School off-post in Sierra Vista.
There is an on-post preschool for special needs students; the facility is open to handicapped three and four year olds, and “kindergarten non-eligible five-year-olds”.
All transfer students are required to have shot records in order to register, so it is crucial to have those ready for sign-up upon arrival. Get answers to your questions about schools on-post and in the surrounding area by calling the the Fort Huachuca School Liaison Officer at 520-533-1133.
Housing
Housing on-post is privatized; the Army has partnered with Michaels Military Housing but day-to-day housing operations are managed by Jillden Realty Management Company.Fort Huachuca has a “50-year plan” for the development, construction and operations of 1064 privatized family housing units on-post with more than 11 hundred housing units currently available.
All Military members with families are directed to report to the Housing Services Office as part of in-processing. Those who want to live off-post should contact the Fort Huachuca Housing Services Office to get help with housing in the local community.
Single/unaccompanied troops PCSing to the fort must check in with their gaining unit to get instructions on obtaining a room in the barracks. Unaccompanied housing is open to unaccompanied military members E5 and below. For more information contact the Fort Huachuca Barracks Manager at 520-533-3534 or DSN 312-821-3534.
PCS and TDY Lodging
Temporary lodging is available via Army Lodging, (520-533-2222, DSN 312-821-2222). Reservations are permitted up to a year in advance and the temporary lodging facility allows pets in certain rooms. Demand for these rooms can be high, advance reservations are strongly encouraged for those traveling with pets.
Transportation
Transportation from Tucson International Airport includes shuttles, and the usual commercial ride sharing/taxi services. Due to the distance from the installation it may be best to arrange a pickup from the airport if there is a sponsor available to make such arrangements.
Those arriving on TDY orders should consult with the gaining school to see if there is transportation made available as part of the TDY travel. There is no on-post shuttle service available at the fort.
Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License
Vehicle registration is required to operate privately owned vehicles on Fort Huachuca. Register at the Welcome Center located near the main gate during normal duty hours. You will need to furnish vehicle registration, proof of insurance, military ID card, and driver’s license.
Drivers establishing Arizona state residency must obtain an Arizona driver’s license. Military family members who accept employment in the state and who register their children in state schools are also required to obtain an Arizona driver’s license.