Schriever Air Force Base is located near Colorado Springs, Colorado. The base is situated in El Paso County, and the local area is an important tourist destination with literally millions of visitors each year. The base is named after General Bernard Adolph Schriever, a pioneer of U.S. ballistic missiles.
In 2020, Schriever AFB and Peterson AFB were redesignated as Peterson-Schriever Garrison. The Garrison falls under the jurisdiction of U.S. Space Force and provides support to 80 mission partners across 22 world-wide locations according to the official site.
Find information about Schriever Air Force Base, 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
Schriever Air Force Base is home to the 50th Space Wing, the Space Innovation and Development Center, the Missile Defense Integration and Operations Center, 310th Space Group and other partner organizations.
Space and cyberspace warfighting are an important part of the mission here. Schriever differs from some other Air Force bases in that it does not have a working flightline and does not service or support aircraft missions not related to space and cyberwarfare.
Important units and missions at Schriever AFB include:
- 11th Space Warning Squadron
- 17th Test Squadron
- 1st Space Operations Squadron
- 22nd Space Operations Squadron
- 2nd Space Operations Squadron
- 310th Operations Group
- 310th Security Forces Squadron
- 310th Space Wing
- 3rd Space Operations Squadron
- 4th Space Operations Squadron
- 50th Civil Engineering Squadron
- 50th Comptroller Squadron
- 50th Contracting Squadron
- 50th Force Support Squadron
- 50th Mission Support Group
- 50th Network Operations Group
- 50th Operations Group
- 50th Operations Support Squadron
- 50th Security Forces Squadron
- 50th Space Communications Squadron
- 50th Space Wing
- 50th Staff Judge Advocate
- 595th Space Group
- Detachment 46 AFTAC
- Joint National Integration Center
- Space Innovation and Development Center SIDC
- Bassett Army Community Hospital
History
Schriever is a comparatively young military base. The Schriever story begins in 1979 thanks to a DoD plan to create a second base to support satellite and space shuttle operations. Before Schriever, the U.S. Air Force had a single facility, responsible for command and control functions.
Over a two-year period, several potential sites were reviewed, with the Defense Department finally settling an area about 10 miles away from Peterson AFB, Colorado. In 1983, ground was broken on what was then known as Falcon Air Force Station (AFS).
After the initial construction push was done in 1985, 2nd Space Wing was activated. The base itself was not quite ready for full occupancy at the time, and the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster had military planners adjusting mission changes including the transfer of certain Global Positioning System operations to Falcon which would be redesignated as Falcon Air Force Base in 1988.
Come 1990, the Joint National Integration Center opened at Falcon (then known as the Joint National Test Facility). Other significant developments included Air Force Space Command activating what would come to be known as the Space Innovation & Development Center.
In the early ‘90s, the 2nd Space Wing would be inactivated, and the 50th Space Wing would replace it and assume a role as the organization responsible for satellite control operations and network operations at Falcon.
Circa 1998, the Air Force renamed the base to honor General Bernard Schriever, known in military circles as the “father of the Space and Missile program” for the Air Force. This is said to be the first time an Air Force installation had been named after a living veteran.
Changes were coming. In 2013, Air Force Space Command inactivated the Space Innovation and Development Center and reassigned units associated with the operation. The host unit at Schriever, the 50th Space Wing, saw the 3rd Space Experimentation Squadron fall under its jurisdiction. Parts of the 310th Space Wing also relocated to the base around the same time.
In the 21st century, Schriever is home to U.S. Strategic Command operations and serves in a joint operations environment with other elements of the DoD.
Come 2020, the advent of U.S. Space Force brought changes to both Peterson AFB and Schriever AFB in Colorado; these two bases were redesignated as Peterson-Schriever Garrison.
Contacts
Main Base Address And Phone
Schriever AFB
Curtis and Irwin Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80912
- 719-567-6508
- DSN 312-560-6508
Schriever AFB Contact Numbers
- Barracks Single Service Member Housing (719) 567-3920
- Civilian Personnel Office (719) 567-5799
- Emergency 911
- ID CAC Card Processing (719) 567-5900
- Information and Referral Services (719) 567-3920
- Legal Services JAG (719) 567-5050
- Retirement Services (719) 567-3920
- Suicide Hotline (800) 273-8255
- Welcome Visitors Center (719) 567-5602
Surrounding Area
Situated near Peterson Air Force Base (approximately 10 minutes away) and Fort Carson (roughly 30 minutes away), Schriever AFB is an excellent destination for hiking, camping, fishing, and sightseeing.
The Colorado Springs area features the Garden Of The Gods, a registered National Landmark that features bike trails, rock climbing, jeep tours and much more. Jeep and helicopter tours of the area are popular, and the Pikes Peak Center for the Arts provides live entertainment for those who prefer the stage to the great outdoors.
Sports fans will find plenty of live sports, performances, and other entertainment at the Broadmoor World Arena. Also nearby–the Colorado Springs National Museum of World War II Aviation, the Petersen Air And Space Museum, plus the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum.
Colorado is famous for its recreational marijuana culture, microbreweries and taprooms including the Colorado Mountain Brewery at the Roundhouse, Bristol Brewing Company, and Cerberus Brewing Company. Tours may be available for these facilities depending on the season. Naturally, military families must steer clear of cannabis-oriented entertainment, but it’s important to know about these aspects of local culture.
Inprocessing and Check-In
Instructions for inprocessing at Schriever AFB are quite simple. All incoming PCS and/or TDY personnel will report as directed in their orders or to the Military Personnel Section Center at 7:30 AM on the first duty day after arrival
Services
Health Care
There are no emergency services available at Schriver; healthcare on base is provided by Schriever Medical and Dental Clinics. Care is available for active duty, military dependents, and retired military members. Services include:
- Primary care
- Aero-medical
- Dental
- Immunization clinic
- Pharmacy
- Laboratory
- Radiology
- Public health
- Mental health
- Optometry
Call to make appointments; 719-556-CARE. Emergency needs should be addressed by calling 911.
Child Care
The base is served by a single Child Development Center featuring weekly and hourly care for children aged six weeks to five years old. Hourly care is offered as a space-available service but only for children 12 months through five years old.
To ensure care at this CDC, reservations are recommended with a two hours minimum charge. Call 719-567-4742 or DSN 312-560-4742 to learn about waiting lists, requirements, and more. It’s best to contact this CDC as soon as orders are available.
Household Goods
Track and manage your household goods shipment to Schriever AFB via the Defense Personal Property system at Move.mil.
Dependent And Retiree ID Card Renewal, Replacement, New Issue
There are no dependent or retiree ID card services available at Schriever AFB. The office that processes ID cards for the base is in a restricted area; dependents and retirees must travel ten miles down the road to Peterson AFB for ID card services there.
Schools
There are no DoD schools operating on base, and local schools do not run classes at Schriever. Those on-post in base housing typically send school-age children to Ellicott School District 22.
El Paso County, which is the home of Schriever AFB, has fifteen school districts, plus two districts located in the outlying areas of Woodland Park and Palmer Lake. Nearby school districts include:
- Ellicott School District 22
- Falcon District 49
- Colorado Springs School District 11
- Academy School District 20
Housing
Military family housing is privatized at Schriever. Owned and operated by Tierra Vista Communities, PCSing troops can choose between on-base housing (more than 240 units according to one resource) or off-base housing.
You can visit the Tierra Vista Communities official site to learn more about the local area and on-base housing. BAH may paid via allotment directly to the property manager when living on base.
Unaccompanied service members and geographic bachelors have no on-base housing options; Peterson Air Force Base offers lodging for these troops instead. Call the Schriever Military Housing Office for assistance at (719) 567-2884.
PCS and TDY Lodging
Schriever AFB has no temporary lodging facilities (TLF). Schriever Air Force Base does not have temporary lodging on the installation. TLF rooms are available at nearby Peterson Air Force Base (roughly 10 miles away).
Make reservations at Peterson AFB TLF by calling 719-556-7851 or DSN 834-7851. It’s best to contact Peterson AFB as soon as possible once PCS or TDY orders are available as there may be high demand. Peterson TLF serves three bases simultaneously at peak PCS and TDY season.
Transportation
The usual ride-sharing services and commercial taxis are available from area airports depending on time of arrival, demand, and other variables. On-post shuttle service transportation is not available outside restricted areas of the base, but local Security Forces troops organize carpool and vanpool rides.
Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License
Drivers must carry a current license, valid (not expired) vehicle registration, military ID, and proof of minimum insurance. All vehicles entering the base are subject to search.
Random searches may apply depending on mission requirements, threat levels, and other variables. Registration laws say military members have the option to file a non-resident form (get you from the Judge Advocate’s office) to show the service member is a non-resident in the state and thereby exempt from paying state vehicle tax.