United States Army Recruiting, Southern California Battalion in Mission Viejo, California, is located roughly two hours from Fort Irwin. Responsible for Army recruiting efforts in the Southern California area, USAREC Southern California Battalion is responsible for seven recruiting companies and operations over more than 37,000 square miles of Southern California.
Find information about USAREC, Southern California 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 Battalion recruits in the SoCal area with companies located in:
- Redlands
- Huntington Beach
- Anaheim
- San Diego South
- San Diego North
- Riverside
- Temecula
These companies are responsible for Army recruiting efforts in:
- Orange County
- Riverside County
- San Bernardino County
- San Diego County
- Imperial County
Contacts
Main Address
U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion – Southern California
27401 Los Altos Suite 330
Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Important Phone Numbers
- Battalion Command Group 949-367-1150
- APA 949-367-1159
- RT 949-367-1152
- Soldier & Family Assistance 949-367-1858
- Budget & Accounting 949-367-1160
- IMO 949-367-2834
- Ed Spec 949-367-1158
- Facilities 949-367-2936
- Personnel Administration (S-1) 949-367-1155
- Operations (S-3) 949-367-1152
- Supply (S-4) 949-367-1162
Surrounding Area
Mission Viejo, where the Battalion headquarters is located, is about 70 miles away from San Diego, where major league sports, SeaWorld, the San Diego Zoo, and day cruises around San Diego Harbour all await.
There are plenty of things to explore on the arts and culture scene including the La Jolla Playhouse, the Olde Globe Theatre, and more. Some will go to San Diego to experience the USS Midway Museum which features an impressive collection of exhibits and self-guided tours.
Mission Viejo is also close to Los Angeles, some 45 minutes away on paper, but this trip may take longer depending on traffic, road conditions, and other variables. L.A. is famous for its sports, movie culture, music scene, and celebrity sightings. It’s also at the heart of the American television industry and has a thriving arts and culture scene.
But what most should know about PCSing or coming TDY to the Battalion is that the cost of living in the area is high even for Southern California. Army housing rates are said to be higher in this area than for much of the rest of the country.
But housing allowances won’t cover all the expenses you have to get used to living in Southern California. It’s a very good idea to revisit budgets and financial planning with these elevated expenses in mind.
Inprocessing and Check-In
When you get PCS orders to the Battalion, you should receive information on your new assignment and at some point, you should also be assigned a sponsor who will help you to plan your arrival and inprocessing. Those who are recruiters in training should receive a Battalion assignment during the second week.
You should be contacted by a sponsor within seven days. Discuss your inprocessing requirements with the sponsor and do not enter into legally binding arrangements for housing, child care, or other needs until you know where you will be serving. Not all assigned to the Battalion serve at its headquarters and your duty location may be far from a military base.
Health Care
For those who will be assigned to the Battalion’s main location in Mission Viejo, your healthcare options are about the same as those who will serve far from the headquarters.
Once you receive PCS orders to the area, talk to your sponsor about enrollment into Health Net Federal Services (the west region TRICARE contractor). You can also call 949-367-1858 for more information or to get started. There is no military medical facility in the area.
Child Care
The Battalion is not located on a larger military installation, those PCSing to the area with families should discuss local child care options with the sponsor. You can also look for options at MilitaryChildCare.com, which is a Department of Defense online request for care system.
Household Goods
All inbound personnel with household goods on the way should track and manage their shipments via the Defense Personal Property System at Move.mil.
Dependent And Retiree ID Card Renewal, Replacement, New Issue
ID Card support is available at a variety of military bases in the area including Fort Irwin, Los Angeles Air Force Base, and Naval Base San Diego. Contact these bases individually to learn customer service hours and appointment availability.
In most cases two forms of unexpired ID are required for most ID card services and in the absence of the military member dependents are required to have a power of attorney or acceptable substitute.
Schools
School choices will depend greatly on where you physically serve within the Battalion’s “footprint” or area of operations. Call the Battalion Ed Spec at 949-367-1158 to learn about school options in Mission Viejo and elsewhere.
Be advised that some communities lack funding for school transportation and you may be required to pay a fee per student (depending on the school district) or make alternative arrangements.
Housing
Do not enter into agreements for housing until you have discussed your duty assignment with your sponsor or are otherwise told where you will physically serve. As mentioned earlier you may not be assigned in Mission Viejo–your duty location could take you to any of the five California counties the Battalion operates in.
PCS and TDY Lodging/Transportation
All incoming airmen or other troops PCSing or coming TDY to USAREC Southern California Battalion must make arrangements with their sponsors (for PCS moves) or with the gaining unit for TDY travel to arrange transportation and lodging upon arrival.
It is not advised to try to navigate the Los Angeles or San Diego areas without making prior arrangements or getting good advice about your arrival depending on time of day, tourist season, and other variables.
Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License
The State of California features Evidence of Financial Responsibility (EFR) laws which require all drivers to have 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. These amounts are subject to change depending on state laws and other variables.
Those without these mandatory insurance coverages may be fined up to $2,000 depending on the number of offenses. If you have an accident while not properly insured, the California DMV may suspend your license and your vehicle is subject to being impounded.