MilitaryBase.net Logo

USAREC Los Angeles Battalion

by

USAREC Los Angeles Battalion is responsible for Army recruiting efforts in the Los Angeles area. The battalion headquarters is located in Encino, in the heart of the San Fernando Valley. It’s roughly 50 miles from Los Angeles Air Force Base and the Battalion is known as an active member of the L.A. community.

Find information about USAREC, Los Angeles Battalion, 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

The mission of the Battalion is recruiting, and this particular mission is unique for its proximity to L.A. Air Force Base. In some recruiting battalion assignments you may find troops working far from any military installation; according to official sources for the USAREC Los Angeles Battalion, many units operate within 50 miles of L.A. AFB.

USAREC Units include:

  • San Gabriel Company
  • Long Beach Company
  • San Fernando Company
  • Coastal Company
  • Los Angeles Company

Contacts

USAREC Los Angeles Battalion Address and Phone Numbers

US Army Recruiting Battalion-Los Angeles
6337 Balboa Boulevard
Encino, CA 91316

  • 818-609-8446
  • 818-609-7704

Important Phone Numbers

  • Battalion Executive Secretary 818-401-2753
  • Executive Officer 818-609-0485
  • Advertising & Public Affairs 818-609-7312
  • Recruiter Trainer 818-401-2788
  • Virtual Recruiter Team 818-401-2773
  • Soldier & Family Support 818-401-2774
  • IMO 818-401-2780
  • Education Specialist 818-401-2754
  • S-1 / Personnel 818-401-2757
  • S-2 / Security 818-401-2762
  • S-3 / Operations 818-401-2795
  • S-4 / Supply 818-401-2772

Surrounding Area

USAREC Los Angeles Battalion is roughly 25 miles away from Los Angeles Air Force Base. Those assigned to the Battalion are well suited for exploring Hollywood, SoCal surfing, beach culture, concerts, and celebrity sightings.

But like those who PCS to any other military assignment in the area, there are some things to know about life in this part of the USA. It costs a lot of money to live in L.A.

In fact, those PCSing to Los Angeles are warned that housing and transportation expenses are often the biggest issues for families PCSing to the area.

First-term soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines are commonly directed to get briefings about living expenses, contact their First Sergeant or command support staff, or get other official advice about housing and transportation costs for this assignment. 

Buying a home in this area is not easy–it can be a seller’s market and may be one of the most expensive of its kind in the U.S. Rents and sale prices can be as much as 40% higher than the national average.

Military housing allowances and other benefits can offset these costs but that pay might not be enough depending on where you choose to live. PCSing to the Los Angeles area means taking more time to plan your move, your expenses, and your cost of living at the new assignment. 

Inprocessing and Check-In

Inprocessing to the Battalion starts with the new troop being assigned a sponsor and being sent a welcome packet. After being assigned a sponsor the Company First Sergeant contacts the Soldier to answer any initial questions.

At Recruiting battalions, inprocessing is more crucial than usual since it is not really possible for troops to select housing, child care options, and school options without knowing where they will physically serve. Contact your sponsor for specific check-in and inprocessing directions.

Health Care

All inbound PCSing troops should expect to use TRICARE. Travel times to nearby military treatment facilities may be complicated by Los Angeles traffic issues, weather conditions, and other variables. In general the closest military treatment facility to the Battalion HQ is at Los Angeles AFB, but not all assigned to the Battalion will be able to take advantage of that option. Call your TRICARE rep to discuss your needs.

Those who can avail themselves of facilities at Los Angeles AFB will use the Los Angeles Air Force Base Clinic operated by the 61st Medical Group. Active duty members have priority and are offered “complete treatment”. There is no sick call option at LA AFB and there are no urgent care services there.

TRICARE Prime enrollees are the second priority and all others are offered care on a space-available basis only. There are two clinics on base; one in El Segundo and a Fort MacArthur-based clinic in San Pedro. Both clinics offer appointment-only adult and pediatric care. You can make appointments at LA AFB by calling 310-653-CURE (2873).

Child Care

Those who seek on-base child care options may consider the Los Angeles AFB Child Development Center, but depending on your duty location (not all assigned to the Battalion serve at its headquarters) you may not have easy access to L.A. AFB.

Those who do should know the Los Angeles AFB Child Development Center, (at the El Segundo facility), provides child care services for LA AFB. CDC Care is offered to children ages six weeks to five years old, there is high demand for care and waiting lists may apply. Part-time care and drop-in care may not be available.

As soon as you know you are PCSing to the Battalion, visit MilitaryChildCare.com, create a user profile, and begin the process for getting added to the waiting list. Shot records, and “proof of military or DoD dependency” is required. 

Household Goods

Household Goods support is offered to those PCSing to the Battalion via the Los Angeles AFB TMO section. All inbound personnel are directed to track and manage their household goods shipments by using the Defense Personal Property System at Move.mil. Get local assistance from LA AFB Inbound TMO at (310) 653-5550.

Dependent And Retiree ID Card Renewal, Replacement, New Issue

Many assigned to the Battalion may need to utilize the Los Angeles AFB CAC/ID Card Section, where ID card services are handled on an appointments-only basis except for mission-critical emergencies. The office only issues ID cards for:

  • Active Service Members
  • National Guard/Reserve 
  • Retired Service Members and their dependents
  • DoD Civilians (Retired) 
  • DoD Contractor employees ONLY

Call ahead if you are requesting another type of ID or schedule an appointment via the Los Angeles Air Force Base RAPIDS system.

If you are not physically performing your USAREC duties near L.A. AFB, ask your sponsor for advice on ID card services near your duty location.

Schools

There are more than 80 school districts in Los Angeles county; military families assigned to USAREC, Los Angeles Battalion may have similar options to those assigned to Los Angeles AFB including the ability to request an interdistrict transfer for children to attend school in another district. Such requests are handled on a case-by-case basis. No request is automatically approved. 

Contact the USARec L.A. Battalion Education Specialist for information on transfer requirements and other issues at 818-401-2754.

Housing

Housing expenses are, as mentioned above, a serious issue for those assigned to the Battalion. Depending on where you physically serve you may have access to government / on-post housing at Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, Point Mugu, or Port Hueneme.

All incoming troops are directed NOT to enter into legally binding housing agreements until you have discussed these issues with your sponsor. You may need to wait until you inprocess to begin looking for housing due to duty assignment issues; soldiers are provided 10 days of permissive TDY to go house hunting in the area after in processing to the Battalion.

PCS and TDY Lodging

Discuss your PCS or TDY temporary housing needs with your sponsor, gaining unit, or schoolhouse prior to travel. Some TLF options at Los Angeles AFB may be available but traffic and other issues may make it impractical to stay there. 

Transportation

It may sound like a broken record by now, but due to the unique nature of the Los Angeles Battalion, it is strongly advised that all PCSing or TDY personnel coordinate with the gaining unit or sponsor to arrange travel from the airport. It is not recommended for newcomers to the area to the Los Angeles highway system without making prior arrangements and plans with your sponsor, or by getting transportation advice from those used to the local area.

Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License

The State of California requires compliance with California Evidence of Financial Responsibility (EFR) laws. This means that all drivers must carry proof of auto insurance for at least $15,000 for death or injury to any person, $30,000 for death or injury (more than one person), and $5,000 property damage coverage. Failure to carry this insurance and proof of it can result in a $2000 fine for a first offense alone.

Drivers are not required to register their privately owned vehicles to work at the Battalion headquarters, but your military ID card, state vehicle registration, a valid state driver’s license (along with all required proof of insurance) must be with you when driving on most military bases in the area including Los Angeles AFB.