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Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Guide

Kena Sosa

Home of the 355th Wing, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB) is in Tucson, Arizona, roughly 7 miles from the downtown area.

This base supports 12th Air Force (AFSOUTH), the 55th Electronic Combat Group, 943rd Rescue Group (AFRC), and the 214th Attack Group (ANG).

But David-Monthan is likely best known for the work of the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, which operates “the Boneyard,” an aircraft storage facility with more than 4,000 individual planes stored here after being retired from active service.

Davis-Monthan AFB Surrounding Area

Tucson, Arizona, is the second-largest city in the state, with half a million-plus residents as of the 2020 U.S. Census.

In-Processing and Check-In

If you arrive at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base during normal duty hours, check in with your gaining unit and your gaining Command Support Staff.

Expect to begin in-processing 72 hours from check-in. Processing includes stops at Finance, a household goods appointment at the Traffic Management Office (TMO), and a Medical in-processing appointment. According to the Dod, “Spouses and children should attend” if possible.

You will also have an appointment with the Military Housing Office; don’t enter into legally binding agreements for local housing until you have unprocessed through the Housing Office.

Davis-Monthan AFB Child Care

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base has two Child Development Centers; the Finley CDC and the Davis-Monthan CDC.

These centers offer full-time care for the children of active duty and DoD civilians stationed at the base. Waiting lists for preschool, hourly care, and special programs for parents may apply. To enroll your children once you have orders to the base, you’ll need to gather the following documents: are also available depending on demand and space available.

Davis-Monthan AFB also has in-home Family Child Care options; you may be able to place children in registered, inspected, and supervised on-base care in private homes.

Related: VA Life Insurance Overview

Housing at Davis-Monthan AFB

Military Family Housing is privatized in a public/private partnership between the base and Soaring Heights Communities.

Related: VA Home Loan Guide

PCS and TDY Lodging

Temporary lodging at Davis-Monthan is provided by The Inn on Davis-Monthan, with reservations available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone (520-228-3309.)

Reservations can also be made on a space-available basis up to 120 days before the arrival date for up to three-night stays.

If you are traveling on orders, making reservations in advance is best, especially during peak PCS season, peak training times, etc. Pet-friendly facilities may not be available; call in advance to learn your options.

Transportation to Davis-Monthan AFB

The closest commercial airport to the base is Tucson International Airport which is typically a 10-minute ride.

The usual ride-sharing and commercial taxis/shuttles may be available depending on the time of your arrival, tourist season, etc. Coordinate with your sponsor if you aren’t sure about navigating the local area once you arrive.

Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License

Only those with valid, unexpired DOD ID cards are allowed on base without a sponsor. Those without ID must stop at the Visitor Center to get a pass. If you are driving on the base for the first time you must stop at the Base Legal Office.

Schools at Davis-Monthan AFB

The Tucson area features many public school districts with on and off-base options. Schools here include:

Arizona is an open enrollment state, so you can place children in schools outside the local neighborhood school. Those who choose to do so must provide their own transportation.

Contact the Davis-Monthan AFB School Liaison Office at (520) 228-6040 for more information and details on how to enroll new students in Arizona.

Colleges and Universities

If you are interested in taking classes on base, you have multiple options. At press time these are the current schools offering classes on the installation but check with the base Education office or Installation Education Center to learn what may be available when you apply.

Related: Military Tuition Assistance Guide

Davis-Monthan AFB Address & Contacts

5355 E. Granite Street
Building 2441
Tucson, AZ 85707-3526

Important Contacts at Davis-Monthan AFB

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base History

Davis-Monthan AFB is named after two people who died in aviation-related accidents; 1st Lieutenant Samuel H. Davis was killed on December 22, 1921, and 2nd Lieutenant Oscar Monthan was killed on March 27, 1924.

The installation we know today as Davis-Monthan Air Force Base opened in 1924 with none other than Charles Lindbergh leading the opening ceremonies.

When it was known as Army Air Base Tucson, Arizona, the base was used to train B-17 and B-24 crews, with the addition of the B-29 Superfortress bomber training program in 1944.

The 355th Fighter Group flew its first combat mission during World War Two in the skies over Belgium and later served as escorts for night-time bombing raids on Berlin.

In 1947 the Air Force became a separate branch of service; many former Army Air Force operations were rebranded as Air Force missions.

The base was redesignated Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and since then, Davis-Monthan has been a part of nearly every major Air Force mission, including Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Noble Eagle.

Related: DoD Priority Placement Program for Military Spouses

Davis-Monthan AFB Mission and Units

Davis-Monthan is an Air Combat Command base. The host unit, 355th Fighter Wing, trains A-10C Thunderbolt II pilots, 355th Wing, and is responsible for training and deploying A-10C Thunderbolt II pilots. The aircraft inventory at Davis-Monthan also includes:

Important missions and units here have included:

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