Tobyhanna Army Depot is a Department of Defense full-service electronics maintenance facility. This facility is dedicated to the entire lifecycle of electronics from design, manufacture, and maintenance. This Army Depot is said to be the largest employer in northeastern Pennsylvania.
Find information about Tobyhanna Army Depot, Pennsylvania including the main commercial and DSN numbers for the base, information on basic services, base transportation, lodging for TDY and PSCing personnel, and in processing.
Mission & Units
Said to be the largest electronics maintenance facility operated by the DoD, Tobyhanna Army Depot is the United States Army Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for communication systems including missile control and guidance systems, radar, etc. This installation is recognized as the only full-service joint C4ISR maintenance facility in the Department of Defense.
The United States Air Force uses Tobyhanna as an important resource for maintaining command, control, intelligence systems, and communications. Major units and missions include:
- Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground Tobyhanna Division
- Defense Logistics Agency, Distribution
- PA Army National Guard B/55th Network Support Company, 55th Brigade Combat Team
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Army Reserve 80th Training Command (TASS)
- U.S. Army Reserve B/392nd Signal BN
- U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)
History
The Tobyhanna Depot legacy goes as far back as 1912. That is when the 3rd Field Artillery out of Fort Meyer, VA leased land in the area for training purposes. That rental led to a substantial 20 thousand acre land purchase in the area; that was intended for training both Army and National Guard units.
The installation went through several iterations, known as Camp Summerall, Camp Tobyhanna, and the Tobyhanna Artillery Target Range. In the 1962s, the U.S. Army did a large restructuring project and one result was the redesignation of the area as Tobyhanna Army Depot.
The Depot has been operational as such since 1953. The land has been used as a World War Two POW camp, a storage facility for some aircraft used in the D-Day invasion of Normandy, and was also a training ground for anti-aircraft gunners in World War Two.
Like many other military bases, after World War Two there was a period of deactivation for Tobyhanna Army Depot; the land was turned over to the State of Pennsylvania for conservation, but the U.S. Army was keen to get that land back.
By the end of the 1940s, the Army had a need for a permanent Signal Corps depot on the East Coast. The Army would run the depot under command of Army Industrial Operations until 1997 when it was reassigned to the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command.
In the present day, Tobyhanna functions as the U.S. Army Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence for C4ISR, Electronics, Avionics and Missile Guidance and Control. Tobyhanna Depot also functions as the Air Force Technology Repair Center for Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence and Tactical Missiles.
Contacts
Main Address And Telephone Numbers
Main St & Midway Rd
Tobyhanna, PA 18466
- 877-275-8629
- 570-615-8629
- DSN 312-795-8629
Important Contact Phone Numbers
- Army Community Service (570) 615-8371
- Civilian Personnel Advisory Center (570) 615-7292
- Emergency 911
- Employment Readiness Program (570) 615-8887
- Family Advocacy Program (570) 615-7509
- Fire Department (570) 615-7300
- ID and CAC Card Processing (570) 615-7409
- Library (570) 615-7000
- Morale, Welfare and Recreation (570) 615-7150
- Post Auto Service Shop (570) 615-7583
- Protocol Office (570) 615-6223
- Public Affairs Office (570) 615-7308
- Relocation Readiness Program (570) 615-6682
- Retirement Services Office (570) 615-7019
- SHARP Hotline (570) 460-4860
- Suicide Prevention Hotline (800) 273-8255
- Union AFGE Local 1647 (570) 615-7789
- Child & Youth Services (570) 615-6559
- Legal Assistance (570) 615-7210
- Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) (570) 460-4860
- Victim Advocacy Program (570) 369-7018
- Occupational Health Clinic (570) 615-7225
- Family Housing (570) 615-7970
Surrounding Area
Tobyhanna is strategically located near New York, Baltimore, and the greater Philadelphia area. However, traffic may complicate what should be a short drive (two-plus hours to Philly without taking traffic into account. There is much in the way of major league sports, live entertainment, arts, and culture in the surrounding area but Tobyhanna itself features a variety of attractions–many of which are outdoors-related.
You can take sky tours of the local area by helicopter, or go on a local fishing tour including Beautiful Lake Wallenpaupack and Beltzville State Park. Coolbaugh Township Parks provide opportunities for hiking, camping, boating, and much more.
Inprocessing and Check-In
All inbound PCS troops are directed to report to the Military Personnel Office, Building 11, for sign-in and in-processing paperwork during normal duty hours. If you arrive after duty hours, on weekends, or on holidays, check in with the Staff Duty Officer at the Security Building on post in Building 20.
Services
Health Care
Due to the size and nature of the installation, very limited services are available for medical care and those services are restricted to those who work on-post.
There is a Depot Occupational Health clinic, but for those who need family care and other typical services covered under TRICARE, the closest treatment centers include the Monroe Campus of St. Luke’s Hospital, Geisinger Community Medical Center, and Lehigh Valley Hospital, all of which are between 18 and 25 miles away from the Depot.
Child Care
On-post child care is available via the Child Development Center (CDC). Care is available for children ages six weeks through pre-kindergarten, plus options for those up to six years old. Full summer programs may be available and waiting lists may apply depending on when you sign up, demand, PCS season, etc. Contact the CDC for more information at 570-615-6559.
Household Goods
All inbound PCSing troops are directed to track and manage their household goods shipments to Pennsylvania using the Defense Personal Property System at Move.mil. You can get local assistance from the Tobyhanna DeportTransportation Office at 570-615-7434.
Dependent And Retiree ID Card Renewal, Replacement, New Issue
All ID card services must be scheduled via the Tobyhanna Army Depot RAPIDS system. There are no walk-in appointments allowed except during designated hours on Fridays. All ID card services require current ID that is compliant with current policy including REAL ID Act requirements.
Schools
Parents generally send their school-age children to Pocono Mountain School District (PMSD) which features two high schools, an alternate academy high school, two junior high schools, plus a pair of intermediate schools for grades 3-6. There are also three elementary schools.
Registration paperwork parents will need to transfer or sign up their children include current immunization records, school transcripts, and proof of state residency. Contact the Tobyhanna Depot School Liaison Office to get started by calling 570-615-6559
Housing
There is a small amount of on-post housing available with a waiting list that can last as long as three months. Tobyhanna Army Depot Housing states there are just over 40 on-post family housing units, and you should apply for on-post housing as soon as possible after receiving your orders.
All housing applicants are required to submit a completed DD Form 1746, Application for Assignment to Housing. All who apply for housing will be placed on a waiting list.
For those who are PCSing to the post unaccompanied, there is limited housing on-post for single service members. On-post living facilities for single soldiers is essentially a group of 28-person “open bay” housing.
Off-post, the local area is known to be expensive; all new arrivals should contact the Housing Referral Office (HRO) as soon as possible to get information and assistance with renting or buying in the local area. Don’t enter into a legally binding arrangement with a landlord or house seller before talking to the HRO.
PCS and TDY Lodging
Tobyhanna Depot features six vacation homes and 16 “business suites”. There are no pets allowed in these temporary lodging facilities, and in spite of the designation as “vacation homes” those traveling on PCS and TDY orders have priority. Call in advance as far ahead as possible to make reservations, 570-615-6343 or DSN 312-795-6343.
Transportation
The closest airports to the Deport are Wilkes Barre/Scranton International Airport located approximately 30 miles away. Roughly 50 miles from the Depot travelers may also consider Lehigh Valley International Airport. The usual commercial transportation services are available from these airports depending on the time of day, day of arrival, etc.
Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License
Pennsylvania state law includes a provision to let service members to “maintain Pennsylvania registration” on a privately owned vehicle, plus the option to register the vehicle in the jurisdiction in which he/she is stationed”.
Those who choose to register in Pennsylvania should know that from 2016 forward, the state has no plans to issue registration stickers but all drivers registered in the state are required to maintain current registration with or without the sticker. Annual vehicle inspections are required.
Private vehicles must register on-post. Parking decals are issued in Building 20, and you must register on-post within 72 hours of checking in.