McAlester Army Ammunition Plant (MCAAP) is responsible for “cradle-to-grave” duties for conventional munitions. Located in southeast Oklahoma roughly 85 miles south of Tulsa, Oklahoma and 120 miles away from Oklahoma City and Tinker Air Force Base there, MCAAP “provides Centralized Ammunition Management” according to the official site.
MCAAP is also responsible for training munitions, contingency stockpiles, and other uses.
Find information about McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, including the main commercial and DSN numbers for the base, information on basic services, base transportation, lodging for TDY and PCSing personnel, and inprocessing.
Mission & Units
McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, under the jurisdiction of the Army Joint Munitions Command (JMC) manufactures, houses, and manages conventional ammunition and its individual component. The plant is also responsible for stockpiles of war reserve and training munitions. It is one of 14 such operations that fall under JMC.
The plant has the reputation of being one of, if not the largest Department of Defense conventional munitions storage facility.
It has nearly three thousand buildings, and is designed to also handle ordnance disposal, training, research-and-development, and environmental protection. There are no major units on the installation in the same way that major Army installations may have a variety of commands, missions, and/or tenant units.
History
MCAAP was established in 1943, then known as the McAlester Naval Ammunition Depot. It was created to relieve the strain on other munitions facilities in the United States. During World War Two the need for domestic weapons manufacturing and MCAAP was one such additional facility.
But MCAAP didn’t evolve as a government idea–it was brought to them by residents in the area trying to lobby for the construction of a military installation at McAlester. Initially the U.S. Army was not interested, hence the Navy being the first branch of service to occupy the space we now know as MCAAP
In 1942, the Navy announced McAlester was the site for a new munitions depot. And that’s where it remained until 1977, when the United States Army took over the facility as part of the service’s “Single Manager for Conventional Ammunition” project.
The Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission of 2005 saw the Plant on the receiving end of BRAC actions; MCAAP began taking on labor previously assigned to the Army’s Red River Munitions Center, Kansas Army Ammunition Plant and other facilities. Today, MCAAP continues to operate on the forefront of the Army’s conventional munitions mission.
Contacts
Main Base Address and Phone
McAlester Army Ammunition Plant
McAlester, OK 74501-9002
1 C Tree Road
918-420-6271
Important Contact Phone Numbers
- In-Processing/Welcome Center 918-420-6569
- Logistics 918-420-7468
- McAlester Operator 918-420-7200
- Crisis Hotline 855-838-8255
- DoD Safe Helpline – Sexual Assault 877-995-5247
- McAlester Child Development Center 918-420-6204
- McAlester School Age Services 918-420-7315
- McAlester School Liaison Office 918-420-6204
- Personal Property Office (PPO) 918-420-6506
- Lodging/Lakefront Cottages 918-420-7484
Surrounding Area
The Ammunition Plan is located at least 80 miles from the nearest major city, and even farther from the state capitol in Oklahoma City. The immediate area surrounding the Plant is “rural agricultural”, with extremes in weather in summer and winter; this area is known for severe tornado seasons.
When relocating to this Army installation, it’s best to discuss your PCS move with a sponsor from your gaining unit to arrange transportation or discuss options. The nearest major airports from MCAAP are all at least 100 miles away or more. They include:
- Tulsa International Airport
- Fort Smith Regional Airport
- Will Rogers World Airport
- Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport
- Texarkana Regional Airport
Inprocessing and Check-In
If you are proceeding to McAlester Army Ammunition Plant as part of a permanent change of station move, report to the front gate Pass and Tag Office Monday through Thursday. The office is closed on Fridays; if you anticipate arriving after duty hours or after the office has closed, contact them at 918-420-6375 or 7273.
When proceeding to the front gate, hand-carry all documentation you need to in-process and assume that you will be asked for ID and other base-access authorization where required at all times. The plant is a closed facility and has no public-facing services or access except as pre-arranged prior to the visit.
Services
Health Care
There is no family healthcare available on-post at MCAAP. There are healthcare services for active duty military and DoD civilians. All family healthcare needs may be met in the local community with authorized TRICARE providers, and the nearest major military medical facilities at Oklahoma City at Fort Sill are three hours out or more.
The city of McAlester does feature a regional health center, check with your TRICARE representative to learn more about in-network coverage here. The on-post clinic is an outpatient care facility with limited services including first-aid.
Child Care
MCAAP has one Child Development Center on-post. Due to the size and nature of the facility you may experience different hours of operation, longer waiting list times depending on circumstances, etc.
Those who can use child care on post include active duty military personnel, DOD civilian personnel, National Guard and Army Reserve, DOD contractors working for MCAAP, and retired military members.
Walk-in care may not be available due to demand. Waiting lists will definitely apply; contact 918-420-6204 to get more information on how to sign up for child care waiting lists, finding alternatives, etc.
Household Goods
All inbound PCSing troops are directed to track and manage their household goods shipments to Oklahoma using the Defense Personal Property System at Move.mil. You can get local assistance from the McAlester Personal Property Office (PPO) by calling 918-420-6506.
Dependent And Retiree ID Card Renewal, Replacement, New Issue
All ID card services at MCAAP are handled by the Pass & ID office at the main gate. MCAAP is described as a closed post; current approved ID is required to enter the post. ID requirements to enter via the main gate may include one or more of the following:
- Permanent MCAAP badge;
- MCAAP visitor badge;
- Common Access Cards (CAC);
- Military dependent ID;
- Disabled American Veteran (DAV) card.
Unlike other military installations, no RAPIDS appointment is necessary to get ID card services–in fact, no appointment is needed at all. Walk-in service is the fully available for all ID card services, but be advised that this operates on a first-come, first-served basis with no sign-ins permitted past 3:30 PM each duty day.
Call 918-420-6375 before visiting to get the requirements for ID card services based on the most recent policy updates. Be advised that for depending ID card services, “All dependents MUST have their sponsor accompany them, or have a signed and notarized DD Form 1172, or power of attorney in order to receive a new ID card” according to the official site.
The same is true when adding a spouse to your DEERS record.
Schools
McAlester Army Ammunition Plant does not feature on-post schools; all permanent party Army and other military members will send their children to schools based on their location; MCAAP base housing is located in the Savanna School District, with transportation provided by the district.
To transfer school-age children to the Savanna School District on Oklahoma, parents must provide the following:
- Shot records
- Certified birth certificate
- Student Social Security Number
- Transcripts/records/other documents from previous schools
- Individual Education Plan documents for students with special needs.
Contact the MCAAP School Liaison Officer for assistance or more information about transferring to local schools. Call them at 918-420-6204.
Housing
All PCSing troops inbound to McAlester Army Ammunition Plant are required to check in with the Housing Manager as part of their in-processing; call the Housing Manager’s office at 918-420-6480 or DSN 312-956-6480.
Do not enter into binding agreements, leases, or purchase contracts before contacting the Housing Manager’s office. There are a limited number of on-post Government housing options available.
Call the same number to learn what the most current requirements are for signing up for housing wait lists, pet policies (limited pet options are available on-post) and other details.
PCS and TDY Lodging
Limited temporary lodging facilities are available on-post; contact the Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) office at McAlester at 918-420-6343. Inbound TDY and PCSing military are requested to make reservations as soon as orders are received for best results.
If on-post temporary lodging facilities are not available and you need to book a room on the Oklahoma economy, it is necessary to obtain a certificate of non-availability of government quarters from the MWR office in order to claim such expenses on your travel voucher. You should expect to obtain the certificate prior to committing to off-post expenses unless directed otherwise.
Transportation
The nearest major airport is 100 miles away or better. While the usual ride-sharing options and commercial transportation may be available, the distances involved make this fairly unrealistic except as a last resort. When PCSing or coming TDY to the area, contact the gaining unit or training unit to get information on the best options for traveling from the airport to the Plant.
Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License
Oklahoma State law, like all other states, includes mandatory minimum auto insurance coverage and all vehicle operators must possess a current, unexpired drivers’ license. You may be required to register a privately owned vehicle with the State of Oklahoma even if you are in the military. The following paperwork is required:
- Original title / last current registration
- Proof of Insurance
- Driver’s license
- Other form of state ID
- Vin/Odometer inspection
- Lender information for cars not fully paid off
All privately owned vehicles (POV) are subject to inspection, search, and you may be required to apply for a vehicle decal sticker, register your P.O.V. upon arrival.
The base is not open to the public and all who enter or leave the installation will be required to comply with the most current post regulations for vehicle registration on-post and any required decals or ID.