Welcome
Updated On: 11/2/2012 11:00:08 AM
Spirit of Fort Benning
Welcome to Fort Benning, the Maneuver Center of Excellence, and home of the Infantry and Armor. More than half of all new Soldiers who enter the Army this year will do so right here at Fort Benning. We also train all new paratroopers, Rangers, officer candidates, Infantry and Armor lieutenants, captains and noncommissioned officers.
Fort Benning is the sixth largest military installation in the U.S. with the third greatest troop density. The post covers more than 182,000 acres, mostly in Georgia, with about 12,000 acres across the Chattahoochee River in Alabama. Fort Benning is the only Army post with four active cantonment areas: Main Post, Sand Hill, Kelley Hill and Harmony Church. Roughly 115,000 Soldiers train at Fort Benning every year, and more than 130,000 Soldiers, family members, veterans, civilian and contract employees live, work, play and use services on the installation every day. But there’s always room for more, and we’re glad you’re here!
The growth and progress associated with Fort Benning’s recent transformation to the Maneuver Center of Excellence has energized the community, on post and off, and has resulted in a greater sense of purpose, a renewed pride in our heritage and a commitment to the future health of the fighting force and the Fort Benning family. You might call it camaraderie, neighborliness or good old Southern hospitality. We call it the Spirit of Fort Benning.
We invite you to attend a Newcomers Orientation, which starts each Wednesday at 9 a.m. in Building 7, 7117 Baltzell Ave., which is home to Army Community Service. Here you will learn about resources, programs, activities and organizations on Fort Benning and in the local communities that will help you and your family enjoy life in the Chattahoochee Valley. We will be happy to provide free child care if you call to register at 706-545-0403.
The Newcomers Orientation is hosted by the Relocation Readiness Program, a component of Army Community Service. RRP offers a comprehensive support system to help you and your family make permanent change of station moves as smoothly as possible. The mission of RRP is to minimize the stress of relocation and simplify the moving process. You will find more information about the RRP on page 34 or at www.benningmwr.com.
Military spouses are invited to participate in our free monthly Benning Bus Tour from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the third Thursday of each month. When you register, we will arrange free child care if you need it. This event includes a free lunch at the Benning Conference Center. Register today, as space is limited. Call 706-545-0403 or 706-545-8783.
You will find maps inside this guide, a comprehensive phone directory in the back, and a list of phone numbers we think you’ll find handy to tuck in your glove box or bag. When you have an hour to spare, we recommend you download the self-guided tour at www.benningmwr.com and get acquainted with historic Main Post. Please be aware that Fort Benning is currently experiencing a growth spurt, and with it, a great deal of construction. That means some of the numbers you find in this guide may have changed. If that’s the case, call the post information line at 706-545-2011 for updated numbers.
GETTING HERE, GETTING AROUND
If you arrive by commercial airline, you will likely fly into Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta or the Columbus Metropolitan (CSG) Airport on Airport Thruway in Columbus. The Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) partners with Groome Transportation to offer affordable, round-the-clock shuttle service from both facilities. For more information about Groome, call 706-324-3939 or 800-584-6735.
MWR also contracts a number of taxi services, which are bound by regulation to keep fares reasonable on the post. Off post fees are regulated by the city, so please be cautious when selecting a service. On post, drivers will not charge for luggage, grocery bags or duffle bags, and there will be no charge for children younger than 7. If you experience problems with a taxi service, call 706-687-8021. For more information about taxi and shuttle services, go to www.benningmwr.com/taxisandshuttles.php.
Airborne Cab 706-689-1556
American Cab 706-494-7767
Armor Cab 706-507-7433
Bravo Cab 706-568-9011
City Cab 706-653-8294
Eagle Cab 706-682-9999
Elite 706-442-7829
Goldstar Cab 706-562-8888
Liberty Cab 706-569-9300
Patriot Cab 706-687-1188
Ranger Cab 706-685-1000
Recon Cab 706-221-7676
Special Ops Cab 706-221-1105
Warrior Cab 706-327-5900
Yellow Cab 706-322-1616
You will have no problem accessing the post by rental car, as long as you can provide a rental agreement and driver’s license. Visitors in rental cars and those who do not have a current military ID are encouraged to use the left-hand lanes at the post access control points. All passengers in your vehicle 16 and older should be prepared to show a photo ID. You will enter the post from Interstate 185 South, Benning Road (just south of the National Infantry Museum) or Highway 280/27 at Harmony Church.
Please drive with caution on the installation and remember that texting or using hand-held electronic devices is strictly prohibited while driving. Slow to 10 miles per hour weekdays during Operation Slowdown, from 5:30 to 7:30 a.m., when Soldiers are doing PT or whenever you pass troops in formation.
REPORTING IN
New permanent party arrivals will report to the Installation Replacement Division, Building 2607, in Soldier’s Plaza on Dixie Road. This office is open 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Here you will begin "in-processing," which typically takes about five days, occasionally as long as a week. The process includes a number of appointments around post, updating DEERS information, enrolling in TRICARE, financial readiness and more. Please make sure you have your PCS orders, DA Form 31 (leave form), personnel file and medical and dental records. Officers and NCOs will need a copy of their latest OER/NCOER or DA Form 1059. For more information about in-processing, call 706-545-4577 or 706-545-3608.
If you are a single Soldier, E5 or below, you will be assigned temporary billeting. If you are accompanied by your family or you are a single Soldier E6 or greater, you will find lodging on Main Post or off post if post lodging has no vacancies. Though Fort Benning has various lodging facilities, all registration takes place at Olson Hall in Building 399 on Gillespie Street. If there are no rooms available, ask the lodging clerk for a list of local hotels that offer government contracting rates equal or less than your daily per diem. You will find information about post lodging at www.benningmwr.com/lodging.php or call 706-689-0067.
REGISTER YOUR WEAPONS
It is very important that you register personally owned firearms as soon as you arrive at Fort Benning if you live in post housing or barracks. Register weapons weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at Building 19 at the intersection of Gillespie and Vibbert on Main Post. You must present a drivers license and FORSCOM/TRADOC Form 563-R, signed by your commander. Do not bring weapons into the building. For more information about weapons registration, call 706-545-3215.
REGISTER YOUR PETS
All animals must be registered within 14 days of arrival if you live on Fort Benning or if you use any of the pet facilities, such as the dog wash, dog parks or Veterinary Services. Register your pets at the Vet Treatment Facility weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Building 265 on 10th Mountain Division Road.
Post lodging facilities have a limited number of pet-friendly accommodations for in-bound and out-bound personnel, but you must call ahead to reserve them. There is a $25 non-refundable deposit and a charge of $5 per day for each pet. You must have shot records with you when you check in. To inquire about the availability of pet-friendly rooms, call 706-689-0067. You will find more information about pet care and services on Fort Benning on page 45.
HOUSEHOLD GOODS
The Personal Property Branch manages inbound shipments of household property and temporary storage, should your goods arrive before you’ve been assigned quarters. To schedule delivery of property, request storage or check the status of your shipment, call the Inbound Section of the Personal Property Branch’s Transportation Office at 706-545-4885. To avoid delay, be sure they have your phone number on file, so they can reach you when your shipment arrives. Otherwise, it will be stored, and you’ll have to wait for the next available delivery.
If you are assigned post housing, please be aware that boats, RVs and trailers cannot be parked in driveways or on the street for more than two days. MWR’s Outdoor Recreation offers secure storage for all sorts of recreational and utility vehicles, including automobiles, trailers, boats, motorcycles and RVs. They also have storage units for surplus household goods, with prices starting at a very reasonable $32 per month. Outdoor Rec. is located on Main Post, Building 1707, on Gillespie Street. Call 706-545-7978.
WHERE TO GO FOR GOOD INFORMATION
You will find many credible sources for information about Fort Benning right here on Fort Benning and on the web. Many Fort Benning units and organizations have "official" or "authorized" Facebook profiles and fan pages. Please be cautious of unauthorized publications, websites or Facebook pages that use Fort Benning, the Maneuver Center of Excellence, unit designation or insignia to solicit interest or participation.
The Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation maintains a robust website with information about family activities, entertainment and services, financial services, dining and recreation, programs for single Soldiers, child care, youth activities, sports for all ages, fitness and recreation facilities, outdoor fun and much more. On the homepage, www.benningmwr.com, you will also find a calendar of events, a Fort Benning photo gallery and a self-guided tour. While you are there, be sure to register for weekly MWR email about events, specials and discounts. You will also find MWR on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BenningFMWRfans.
Fort Benning Public Affairs Office publishes The Bayonet, Fort Benning’s award-winning, community-focused, command information newspaper with a circulation of 22,000. The Bayonet is distributed Wednesday to post quarters and more than 270 locations on and off post. A complete list of locations is available on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thebayonetfans. The Bayonet is available online at www.thebayonet.com. For more information, call 706-545-4622.
PAO also produces Fort Benning TV, an award-winning news and information station. You can watch Fort Benning TV on the installation’s command channel. The Benning Report can be seen at various times on local stations. Be sure to ask your cable provider about The Benning Report. The newscast is also featured Army-wide on The Pentagon Channel four times a week.
Online news reports and Fort Benning TV episodes can be viewed through YouTube (www.youtube.com/benningtv), Facebook (www.facebookcom/fortbenningtv), and Vimeo, (www.vimeo.com/fortbenningtv), which is a DoD-approved website that allows personnel to access Fort Benning TV from DoD computers. For more information, visit www.benningtv.com or call 706-545-7407/1435.
PAO also maintains www.benning.army.mil, the official website of the Maneuver Center.
YOU’RE SURE TO HAVE QUESTIONS
We continually work to make this tour guide as convenient and informative as possible. If you find we have not answered your questions, please let us hear from you. Send emails to benningmwr@gmail.com.
The following is a list of questions frequently asked of the Military Personnel Division’s Personnel Services Branch. For more information about the MPD, go to page 12 or call 706-545-9017.
Where do I get an ID card?
The ID card center is located in Building 2638 in Soldier’s Plaza on Dixie Road. For an appointment, call 706-545-4068/ 9085, or go to https://rapids-appointments.dmdc.osd.mil.
Bring the following to your appointment: two forms of ID (one must be a picture ID, local state or government agency, i.e., driver’s license, old ID card, school ID, etc.), police report (if attainable), and a memorandum. If you are replacing a lost ID card, please inform the appointment clerk for specific directions.
What do I bring for my Common Access Card (CAC) appointment?
Two forms of ID (one must be a picture ID, local state or government agency, i.e., driver’s license, old ID card, school ID, etc.)
A valid AKO account.
Civilian employees must be entered into the RAPIDS system by CPAC.
Contract employees must be entered into the CVS system by a trusted agent.
What do I bring for initial DEERS enrollment?
Two forms of ID (one must be a picture ID, local state or government agency, i.e., driver’s license, old ID card, school ID, etc.)
Social Security card or letter from the Social Security Administration.
Marriage or birth certificate (must be original document with seal intact or certified copy with seal; birth certificate can be a confirmation of birth letter from the hospital for newborns).
Sponsor or power of attorney if sponsor is not available (POA must be original with raised seal; Special POA must specify for DEERS enrollment/update and ID card issuance).
Divorce decree, if appropriate, signed by the judge with legible file numbers.
If you are adding a stepchild, you must have an original marriage certificate, even if the mother is enrolled in DEERS, the original birth certificate and original social security card or letter from Social Security Administration Office.
What do I bring for a retiree or family member appointment?
Bring two forms of ID (one must be a picture ID, local state or government agency, i.e., driver’s license, old ID card, school ID, etc.) and your sponsor or a power of attorney if sponsor is not available (POA must be original with raised seal. Special POA must specify for DEERS enrollment/update and ID card issuance).
I just moved here. How does it affect my DEERS?
To update your address in DEERS, go to www.tricare.osd.mil/DEERSAddress or you can email address changes (including address changes for geographically separated family members) to the DEERS database at addrinfo@osd.pentagon.mil. Your email should include the following information:
Sponsor’s name and Social Security number.
The address change you want to make.
Names of other family member affected by the address change.
Effective date of the new address information.
Telephone number and area code (if available).
read more...
