U.S. Army Garrison-Detroit Arsenal (USAG-DTA) is in the city of Warren in Macomb County, Michigan. The area is a residential community with manufacturing and military operations (including nearby Selfridge Air National Guard Base) in this small city north of Detroit.
Find information about the Detroit Arsenal including the main commercial and DSN numbers for the base, information on basic services, base transportation, lodging for TDY and PCSing personnel, and in-processing.
Mission & Units
U.S. Army Garrison-Detroit Arsenal hosts the TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC), responsible for “uniting all of the organizations that focus on Soldier and vehicle ground systems throughout the entire life cycle”.
The TACOM LCMC includes an Acquisition Center, Integrated Logistics Support Center, Program Executive Office Combat Support & Combat Service Support, and other operations. Important missions and units include:
- 27th Wing
- 1st Battalion 24th Marines H&S Company
- 339th Air Force Recruiting Squadron
- Marine Wing Support Squadron 471-B
- Naval Operational Support Center
- U.S. Army – TACOM LCMC
- U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Detroit
- US Army Garrison – DTA
History
U.S. Army Garrison-Detroit Arsenal got its start as the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant (DATP), said to be the first or among the very first manufacturing plants created to mass-produce Army tanks. The plant was opened in 1940 in partnership with Chrysler, though the facility was owned by the government until 1952, when Chrysler took over management (but not ownership) of the facility.
In the 1970s, U.S. Army Garrison Detroit Arsenal was created to serve as an “adjunct” to the 28th Artillery Group at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. The garrison operated at Selfridge ANGB until the 2005 BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure Commission) relocated garrison to the Detroit Arsenal.
The original tank manufacturing plant was DoD-owned until 1996 but in 1982, Chrysler bowed out, selling its Defense Division to another company, General Dynamics Land Systems.
In the 21st Century, Installation Management Command operates the facility, which has been home to headquarters, U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) and the United States Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command.
At the time of this writing, the TACOM mission in the 21st century includes the Integrated Logistics Support Center, Program Executive Office Combat Support & Combat Service Support, Program Executive Office Ground Combat Systems and Program Executive Office Soldier.
Contacts
Important Base Contact Numbers
- Emergency 911
- ID Cards and DEERS (586) 282-8074
- Morale, Welfare and Recreation (586) 282-0992
- Operator (586) 282-5000
- Suicide Prevention Hotline (800) 273-8255
- Visitor Control Center (586) 282-8074
- Child & Youth Services (CYS) (586) 282-9122
- Legal Services/JAG (586) 282-5120
- TRICARE (877) 874-2273
- Housing Services Office (586) 282-8178
- Army Education Center (586) 282-5791
- School Support Services (SSS) (586) 239-5588
Surrounding Area
Detroit Arsenal is uniquely situated for midwest travel. The following destinations are within reasonable driving distance (125 miles or shorter) from the installation:
- Windsor, Canada
- London, Canada
- Toledo, Ohio
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Akron, Ohio
Fort Wayne, Indiana is 135 miles out, and Columbus Ohio is 164 miles away.
In the local area, there is much to discover in Detroit including major league sports (Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers, is one popular sports destination in Detroit), arts and culture destinations (Detroit Institute of the Arts, Belle Isle zoo, park, aquarium & more, plus the Henry Ford Museum), History (Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History, and the Detroit Historical Museum) and music (the Motown Museum, live concert venues like the Fillmore Detroit).
Inprocessing and Check-In
New arrivals assigned to TACOM, LCMC, PEO Integration, PEO Ground Combat, Combat Support & Combat Support Systems, or TARDEC are directed to report to the Military Personnel Office.
Call 586-282-8313 or DSN 312-786-8313 for directions and additional information. Note that this office is located off-post, just under three miles from the Main Gate. If you are assigned to National Guard or Reserve Units at Selfridge ANG base, you are required to report to your individual units for initial in-processing.
Services
Health Care
Due to the size and nature of this military base, USAG Detroit Arsenal does not have any on-post healthcare facilities. You will need to contact your TRICARE rep to determine which local in-network providers may be the best fit for you. TACOM LCMC and Detroit Arsenal are located within the TRICARE North region.
Child Care
There are two Child Development Centers that provide childcare for USAG Detroit Arsenal troops.
The Center is open Monday through Friday during normal duty hours and is closed on weekends and holidays. There is full-day care, limited hourly care, and respite care services available by reservation and limited space-available services. Waiting lists may apply. Call 586-282-9122 for additional information or to learn how to sign up.
Household Goods
All household goods shipments to USAG Detroit Arsenal should be tracked and managed via the Defense Personal Property System at Move.mil.
Dependent And Retiree ID Card Renewal, Replacement, New Issue
All ID card services must be scheduled via the USAG Detroit Arsenal RAPIDS appointment scheduler. Walk-ins are discouraged due to volume and staffing requirements.
One exception is for lost or stolen Common Access Cards. Walk-ins are accepted but only prior to 3PM local time. You will be required to provide two forms of unexpired ID that is acceptable under current regulations including the REAL ID Act where applicable.
Schools
There are no schools on post. Military families will likely enroll their children in Warren Consolidated Schools, but families with children in need of before or after school services will attend Pearl Lean Elementary or Cromie Elementary School in the Warren Consolidated School District.
This arrangement includes transportation to the Detroit Arsenal Child Development Center for care. Call the USAG Detroit Arsenal School Liaison Officer at 586-282-9761 for help with transfer requirements and other registration information.
Attending school in Michigan involves additional options thanks to a school choice program that may allow students to cross school district boundaries “without having to get a release from their home district”.
Housing
There is no on-post housing available for families or unaccompanied servicemembers / geographic bachelors.
All inbound troops are directed to call the Housing Services Office (HSO) for off-base housing assistance. You are required to contact HSO before entering into any legally binding agreement for housing off-post. Call 586-282-9627.
PCS and TDY Lodging
At the time of this writing, there are no TLF or temporary lodging facilities available at Detroit Arsenal OR at nearby Selfridge ANG. Call the Housing Services Office for help with referrals for lodging off base. Call 586-282-9627, or DSN 312-786-9627.
Transportation
The usual ride-sharing and commercial transportation options are available depending on what time you arrive and which airport. There are several choices:
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, Detroit 24 miles
- Bishop International Airport, Flint 49
- Toledo Express Airport, Toledo 73 miles
- Capital City Airport, Lansing 81miles
Rush hour can complicate your journey; check with your sponsor or gaining unit to see what the best routes, travel times, and options may be depending on when you are due to arrive in the Detroit area.
There are no on-base shuttle services available.
Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License
The State of Michigan requires certain minimum auto insurance coverages including no-fault insurance as a condition of registration.
If you are assigned to Michigan with a vehicle that has a title in your name elsewhere, you will be asked to submit a copy of the title or current out of state registration (no originals). Michigan law requires drivers to register their vehicles as soon as they become state residents.