Located in central Missouri in the heart of the Ozark Mountains is Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. It is the hub of the U.S. Army Engineer school; the U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive School; and the U.S. Army Military Police School. It is the home of training for future Military Support Center of Excellence Noncommissioned Officer Academy. The area is often growing and changing, so there may be many more things to find when arriving at Fort Leonard Wood. Enjoy the breathtaking views of mountain ranges and country.

While well known for the United States Disciplinary Barracks and the United States Penitentiary, there is a lot more to Fort Leavenworth. It is the home of the Command and General Staff College (also known as ILE), which sees frequent, massive turnover each year as one year’s students move out and the new year’s students come in. There are also many “permanent party” families in the area, sometimes mixed with students depending on housing needs, though students are usually housed separately from permanent party. You’re only 40 minutes from downtown Kansas City, MO, commonly referred to as KCMO, but Kansas City, KS, or KCK, is much closer (maybe 20 minutes from post). The people are incredibly friendly in the area, which makes it an easy place to love. 

Located in Montgomery County, Maryland, Naval Support Activity Bethesda—home of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center—is centered in the National Capitol Region. It is the home of support for the hospital as well as all of its tenant commands in their pursuit of excellence in patient care, medical research, and education. Naval Support Activity Bethesda (NSAB) is responsible for providing installation support to 12,000 military and civilian employees and their families, as well as 40 tenant units. Bethesda is one of the most renowned communities in the Greater Washington D.C. area.

Home of Army Aviation, Fort Rucker covers more than 63,100 acres of southeast Alabama countryside in an area known as the Wiregrass. It is the primary flight training installation for Army aviators, and there are both Army and Air Force pilots and crews at the location. The affectionate nickname “Mother Rucker” is apt as soldiers in the aviation branch will frequently return to Fort Rucker for schools and training, including pilot training and re-education.

Located in West Central Louisiana, Fort Polk is home to the Joint Readiness Training Center. It is one of three of the Army’s Combat Training Centers, and it trains more than 11 Army and National Guard Brigade Combat Teams every year. It is the fifth largest military installation by acreage in the nation.