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USAREC, Montgomery Battalion

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USAREC, Montgomery Battalion is a U.S. Army Recruiting operation based at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base near Montgomery, Alabama. This Battalion is responsible for Army recruiting efforts in both Alabama and Florida; there is also some territory in Tennessee covered by the efforts of this Battalion.

Find information about USAREC, Montgomery 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 job of this Battalion is to recruit new soldiers for the active duty Army and Army Reserve “while achieving market dominance and ensuring quality of life throughout the battalion,” according to the official site. The mission of Army Recruiting is unique–not all who PCS here will physically serve at the headquarters at Maxwell-Gunter AFB; many will be geographically distant from the base and serve in areas that are far from other military bases.

The battalion has recruiters working across 67 Alabama counties, 10 counties in the panhandle of Florida and one county in Tennessee. The official site says over 240 field recruiters achieve over 3,400 enlistments annually within the area of responsibility.

The battalion has companies in the following locations:

  • Birmingham
  • Dothan
  • Mobile
  • Montgomery
  • Huntsville

Contacts

Main Address & Phone Numbers

551 Maxwell Blvd.
Building 500 1510
Maxwell AFB, AL 36112
334-551-3211

Important Contact Phone Numbers

  • Battalion Headquarters 334-271-2065
  • Executive Officer 334-271-2065
  • APA 334-271-3059
  • Master Trainer 334-260-2841 
  • Soldier & Family Assistance 334-271-3107
  • IMO 334-279-6390
  • Ed Spec 334-551-3240
  • Facilities 334-551-3223
  • S-1 334-260-2840
  • S-3 334-271-0655
  • S-4 334-551-3248
  • Family Advocacy Coordinator 256-450-9529

Surrounding Area

Those who work for the Montgomery Battalion and live in the local area will find much to enjoy in Montgomery. This area is famous for its history including civil rights legacy; this is the location of the history-making Montgomery Bus Boycott, and the march from Selma to Montgomery that included Dr. Martin Luther King among many others. Montgomery is also home to the Rosa Parks Library and Museum.

The area is also well-known for its golf courses; the River region of Montgomery is a sports epicenter in the state. The Multiplex At Cramton Bowl is a multi-purpose facility boasting 70,000 square-feet of volleyball courts, six tennis courts, a pair of soccer fields, and much more.

The Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts is a good destination for art and culture from all over the globe, and the Montgomery Zoo is a family-oriented destination well worth a look–don’t miss the Mann Wildlife Learning Museum.

Inprocessing and Check-In

PCSing to the Battalion isn’t like PCSing to other units at Maxwell-Gunter. If you receive PCS orders, you will need to call your sponsor first to get information on check-in procedures and in-processing. Inbound troops may be given their “pinpoint” assignments during inprocessing depending on mission requirements and other variables. 

All PCSing soldiers should hand-carry certain documents to their inprocessing including:

  • PCS orders 
  • Original DA 31
  • Finance packet 
  • DD 1561 Request for Family Separation Allowance
  • MOS orders
  • Army Recruiter Course (ARC) graduation certificate
  • Vehicle registration 
  • Information necessary to update DD 93 and SGLI
  • Military 201 file: 2A, 2-1, promotion packet 
  • Last NCOER
  • Military ID card
  • Civilian and military drivers license
  • Reenlistment card
  • MEDPROS Update

If you do not have a sponsor or do not get a welcome letter from the command, contact the Battalion at 334-551-3200 or contact the SFAPM at 334-551-3211 or 1-800-790-0963.

Health Care

All inbound PCSing troops to the Battalion should contact their sponsor and then call TRICARE to arrange coverage depending on where the actual duty location might be. Those serving in the local area have multiple options including medical services from the 42d Medical Group. Appointments can be made at 334-953-3368 / 800-237-3229. There are four hospitals in the Montgomery Area with full-range medical care and emergency services. 

Child Care

Those physically serving at the Battalion have options including the Maxwell AFB Child Development Center. Care is offered to children between six weeks to five years. There is one CDC facility located at Maxwell and another CDC facility at Gunter Annex; both operate during typical duty hours Monday thru Friday. Waiting lists may apply; it’s best to call the Maxwell CDC

At 334-953-6667 or DSN 312-493-6667 to get information on signing up for the waiting list and care alternatives.

Household Goods

All inbound troops PCSing to the area are directed to track and manage their household goods shipments via the Defense Personal Property System at Move.mil. You can also get local assistance from the Maxwell AFB inbound TMO section by calling (334) 953-4774

Dependent And Retiree ID Card Renewal, Replacement, New Issue

All who need ID card services at Maxwell AFB must make appointments online using the RAPIDS Appointment Scheduler: https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/.

Some walk-in appointments are permitted depending on mission needs, demand, and other variables. In general, two forms of unexpired ID are required and any ID card services required by dependents or spouses in the absence of the military member may require an appropriate power of attorney or acceptable equivalent.

Schools

All inbound troops PCSing to the Battalion must contact their sponsor to get “pinpoint assignment” information. You may learn that you are serving outside the local Maxwell-Gunter area and your school choices will depend on your actual home address in the state. 

Those living and working in the local area should know that in 2021 Maxwell Elementary Middle School began operating as the first school involved in a four-year pilot program “to open enrollment to children of full-time, active duty military living off base,” according to DoD literature. 

However, not all USAREC Montgomery Battalion troops will be able to avail themselves of that option due to duty location. It’s best to contact the School Liaison Office once you have PCS orders to the area to learn what options might be open to you depending on where you physically serve within the state. For more information contact the School Liaison Office at 334-953-3799.

Housing

Recruiting duty means you may not physically serve at the location of the main headquarters for the Battalion. Those who are stationed in the local Maxwell AFB/Gunter Annex area will apply for housing via Hunt Companies, a national real estate services company that works in partnership with the base. Family housing on base may be available but waiting lists may apply.

Single, unaccompanied military members, Maxwell-Gunter offers on-base housing for Airmen in the ranks of E-1 to E-3 and E-4 with less than 3 years of service. Unaccompanied E-4s or greater than 3 years of service and above are required to find housing in the local community.

Contact your sponsor before calling the Housing Management Office at DSN 493-5718 or 334-953-5718–you may be required to wait on making housing arrangements until your specific assignment is known.

PCS and TDY Lodging

There are options both at the main base and at Gunter Annex. Military members who are coming to Maxwell-Gunter AFB on Permanent Change of Station orders are authorized 30 days in temporary lodging. 

Those PCSing out of the area are authorized seven days. Extensions are considered on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed. Make reservations at 334-953-2055 or DSN 312-493-2055 for the main base and 334-416-4656 or DSN 312-596-4656 for Gunter Annex.

Transportation

The nearest major airport to Maxwell-Gunter is Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International, just under 100 miles away.

Maxwell-Gunter AFB has no regular base taxi service from airport to the base–if you are traveling to the base on PCS or TDY orders you may need to pay for a taxi to the base and list that trip as a travel expense on a travel voucher for reimbursement. 

The usual ride-sharing, commercial taxis, and shuttles may be available from the airport depending on date and time of arrival.

Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License

All drivers operating privately owned vehicles on the base must carry unexpired state or federal picture identification plus proof of unexpired vehicle insurance and current registration.

Base decals are not a requirement but expect a 100% ID-check policy at all base gates. Those who drive vehicles as state residents must meet all Alabama state vehicle registration requirements. However, active duty military with current vehicle tags from other states are not required to re-register. 

Alabama state law requires privately owned vehicles manufactured before 1975 to have bills of sale or “other evidence of ownership”. Vehicles made after 1975 must have certificates of title. 

Alabama State law requires proper liability insurance and a valid driver’s license in order to operate a vehicle including motorcycles, vans, trailers, and boats.