Little Rock Air Force Base Guide
Just outside Jacksonville, Arkansas, Little Rock Air Force Base plays a major role in Air Force operations and day-to-day mission support. This guide walks you through everything you’ll need for an easier move, from Little Rock AFB housing and current BAH rates to check-in steps, local schools, and the essential details that matter during a PCS.
Look up the BAH in your new duty location by searching for your zip code’s housing allowance using our BAH Calculator. You can also review our complete list of Military Bases by State.
Little Rock Air Force Base Key Facts
- Location: Pulaski County, Arkansas
- Zip Code: 72099
- Branch: U.S. Air Force
- Main Mission/Notable units: Home to the world’s largest C-130 fleet; Units include the 314th Airlift Wing and the 189th Airlift Wing.
- Main Operator: (501) 988-3111
- Population: ~14,000 people; this includes 7,000 military, 1,300 civilian members, and 5,500 family members
- Official Website: www.littlerock.af.mil
Check-In & In-Processing at Little Rock Air Force Base
The main 24/7 check-in point for most service members is the Walters Community Support Center (“The Kenny”) located at 940 Arnold Dr, Jacksonville, AR 72076.
Incoming personnel complete their in-processing appointment at the Welcome Center inside the Walters Community Support Center. During this visit, you’ll move through the Traffic Management Office, Military Personnel Section, Finance, the Medical Group, and other support agencies. Your sponsor will help set up the appointment, and it needs to be completed within 72 hours of arriving on base.
If you’re a first-duty-station officer, make sure to call or stop by the Military & Family Readiness Center in Building 940 to schedule your mandatory financial briefing.
Hand-carry these key documents:
- Your “Plan My Move” booklet
- Birth certificates
- Marriage license or divorce decree
- Immunization records
- Inventory of personal household goods
- Pay records
- Dental/medical records
- Passports
- Insurance policies
- Wills
- Adoption papers
- Powers-of-attorney documents
- Permanent change of station orders (multiple copies)
- Previous military personnel flight folder
Newcomer’s Briefing
At Little Rock AFB, your one-stop in-processing is handled through Newcomers Orientation. This mandatory brief is scheduled by your unit and held twice a month on Wednesdays from 0800–1600 for First Term Enlisted Center students and First Duty Station officers. All other attendees sign in at 0745.
Orientation takes place at the Military & Family Readiness Center in the Walters Community Support Center (“The Kenny”), where you’ll meet base leadership, hear from local community representatives, and complete all required in-processing briefings on base resources, community programs, and regional policies.
Spouses are encouraged to attend, and a spouses-only breakout session helps families connect quickly.
Little Rock Air Force Base Housing & Lodging
Housing at Little Rock Air Force Base is privatized and run by Hunt Properties, offering everything from smaller apartment-style units to larger multi-story homes spread across several neighborhoods. Once you have orders in hand, reach out to the Military Housing Office (MHO) right away so you can get on the waitlist as early as possible.
- Military Housing Office (MHO): (501) 987-6429/(501) 987-8227
- Privatized Housing Partner: Hunt Properties
Related: Military Housing Allowances (with a calculator)
Off-Base Housing: Best Neighborhoods & Cities
Many service members and families live in the surrounding communities.
- Jacksonville: Located just outside the base, Jacksonville offers the shortest commute for military families.
- Cabot: A popular suburban choice about 10 miles from the base, Cabot is known for its family-friendly feel and well-rated schools.
- Sherwood: Known for its established neighborhoods and convenient access to Little Rock, Sherwood sits roughly 12 miles from the base.
Temporary Lodging (TLF) & On-Base Inn
The on-base lodging option is Air Force Inns, and it fills up quickly, especially during peak PCS months. Try to book your stay as early as you can. Pet-friendly rooms are available in limited numbers, so make sure to request one when you make your reservation. Reservations: (501) 987-6753
Little Rock Air Force Base BAH, Cost of Living, and Allowances
Your Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is based on your rank, dependent status, and the base’s zip code. The cost of living in Jacksonville, Arkansas, is lower than the national average.
Schools & Child Care Near Little Rock Air Force Base
On-Base Schools
Flightline Upper Academy, a 5th–8th-grade charter school, is located on base and part of the Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School District. Admission is application-based and may include a waitlist during busy PCS periods.
Local School Districts
The Jacksonville North Pulaski School District (JNPSD) also serves on and off-base families through Bobby G. Lester Elementary, Jacksonville Middle School, and Jacksonville High School.
The School Liaison Office (SLO) is your primary resource for all questions regarding school registration, transfers, and local education options.
- School Liaison Office: 501-987-1941
Child Development Centers (CDC)
Little Rock AFB offers several Child Development Center options, including full-day care for children 6 weeks to 5 years and an Infant–Toddler center for ages 6 weeks to 2 years. Space can be limited, and families may be placed on a waitlist.
The base also provides Family Child Care (FCC) homes in on-base housing and Youth Center programs for ages 5–12, with additional teen activities available. All PCSing families are eligible for 20 hours of free childcare within 60 days of arrival when using an on-base provider.
Key Contacts: Little Rock Air Force Base Directory
- Base Operator: 501-988-3111
- Housing Office (MHO): 501-987-6429/501- 987-8227
- Privatized Housing: 501-232-6467/501-518-0330
- Temporary Lodging (Inn): 501-988-1141
- In-Processing/Welcome Center: 501-987-6753
- School Liaison Office: 501-987-1941
- CDC Registration: MilitaryChildCare.com
- Medical Clinic/TRICARE: 501- 987-8811
- Public Affairs Office: 501-987-6744
Little Rock Air Force Base Mission and Units
Little Rock Air Force Base’s host unit, the 19th Airlift Wing, runs the world’s largest C-130 fleet for its global airlift mission. You’ll also find a few major units with their own roles: the 314th Airlift Wing trains C-130J aircrews, the 189th Airlift Wing (part of the Arkansas Air National Guard) focuses on C-130H training, and the 913th Airlift Group provides Reserve combat airlift support.
Look up the BAH in your new duty location by searching for your zip code’s housing allowance using our BAH Calculator. You can also review our complete list of Military Bases by State.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Little Rock Air Force Base
What is Little Rock Air Force Base known for?
Little Rock Air Force Base is best known as the center of C-130 Combat Airlift. It hosts the largest C-130 fleet in the world and serves as the Department of Defense’s primary C-130 training base, preparing pilots, navigators, loadmasters, flight engineers, maintainers, and international students for tactical airlift missions.
The base also operates major training programs through the 19th Airlift Wing, 314th Airlift Wing, and 373rd Training Squadron, using local and regional drop zones to support its extensive airdrop and airlift training.
What is Little Rock Air Force Base’s zip code?
The zip code for Little Rock Air Force Base is 72099.
Can civilians visit Little Rock Air Force Base?
Civilians can visit Little Rock Air Force Base as long as they are sponsored and processed through the Visitor Control Center at Vandenberg Gate. Visitors must show a valid government-issued ID to receive a pass.
What is the closest major airport to Little Rock Air Force Base?
The closest major airport is Clinton National Airport, located approximately 13 miles away in Little Rock, Arkansas.
VA Health Clinics In Arkansas
Conway VA Clinic
1520 East Dave Ward Drive
Conway, AR 72032-9642
501-548-0500
Mental health: 501-257-3092
Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center
2200 Fort Roots Drive
North Little Rock, AR 72114-1707
501-257-1000
Mental health: 501-257-3092
John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans’ Hospital
4300 West Seventh Street
Little Rock, AR 72205-5446
501-257-1000
Mental health: 501-257-3092
Little Rock VA Clinic
1000 Main Street
Little Rock, AR 72201-3820
501-244-1900
Searcy VA Clinic
1120 South Main Street
Searcy, AR 72143-7319
501-207-4700
Mental health: 501-257-3092
Russellville VA Clinic
3106 West 2nd Court
Russellville, AR 72801-4503
479-880-5100
Mental health: 501-257-3092
Hot Springs VA Clinic
177 Sawtooth Oak Street
Hot Springs, AR 71901-7160
501-520-6250
Mental health: 501-257-3092
VA Benefits Sites in Arkansas
Little Rock VA Regional Benefit Office at Eugene J. Towbin Healthcare Center
2200 Fort Roots Drive
Building 111
North Little Rock, AR 72114
1-800-827-1000
VA National Cemeteries
Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery at North Little Rock
1501 West Maryland Avenue
North Little Rock, AR 72120
501-683-2259
Little Rock National Cemetery
2523 Springer Blvd
Little Rock, AR 72206
479-783-5345
Arkansas Vet Centers
Little Rock Vet Center
10800 Financial Centre Parkway
Suite 175
North Little Rock, AR 72211
501-918-1800
Other Military Bases in the Continental United States:
- Fort Novosel, Alabama
- Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
- Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona
- Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
- Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado
Look up the BAH in your new duty location by searching for your zip code’s housing allowance using our BAH Calculator. You can also review our complete list of Military Bases by State.
About the author
Editor-in-Chief Joe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter/editor for Air Force Television News and the Pentagon Channel. His freelance work includes contract work for Motorola, VALoans.com, and Credit Karma. He is co-founder of Dim Art House in Springfield, Illinois, and spends his non-writing time as an abstract painter, independent publisher, and occasional filmmaker.
