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Fort Knox Army Base Guide

Joe Wallace

Fort Knox, Kentucky, is a U.S. Army base south of Louisville, KY, operating on over 100 thousand acres covering Bullitt, Meade, and Hardin counties.

Contrary to popular belief, Fort Knox is not the home of the U.S. gold reserves; it is sometimes confused with the nearby U.S. Bullion Depository but is not responsible for those operations. Fort Knox is home to the Human Resource Center of Excellence, which oversees Army careers from initial enlistment to retirement.

Fort Knox History

The earliest military operation on the site we know today as Fort Knox ran in 1861, as Fort Duffield. Camp Knox broke ground in 1918, and after being temporarily sidelined due to cuts associated with the National Defense Act of 1920, it was converted into a training area for the 5th Corps Area for Reserve Officers and the National Guard.

1931 is the year the installation began training mechanized cavalry troops; a year later, the base was designated Fort Knox and served as a POW facility during World War Two.

The Armored Force School and the Armored Force Replacement Center began training soldiers at Fort Knox in 1940, with an impressive run lasting until 2010, when the Armor School relocated to Fort Benning, Georgia, which was later redesignated Fort Moore in 2023.

The loss of the Armor School was part of the 2005 Base Realignment And Closure Commission’s recommendations, but Fort Knox would acquire the 1st Theater Sustainment Command in 2017, to add another mission to its impressive list.

Today, Fort Knox is a multifunctional installation with a “central role in recruiting, training and supporting the warfighter,” according to the U.S. Army official site.

Related: Ultimate TRICARE Guide

Fort Knox Surrounding Area

Louisville, Kentucky, is about 35 miles away and is a destination for sports fans thanks to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory.

Fans of live music will find Bourbon Hall a must-see destination for live entertainment in Louisville, with some 18 thousand square feet. Naturally, the Kentucky Derby Museum here will interest horse racing fans.

Closer to the installation, Swan Lake State Park and Sears Island offer outdoor fun for the whole family, and if you like antique shopping, try the Searsport Antique Mall. There are not one, but THREE Peddlers Mall locations to choose from in the Louisville area for additional antique opportunities.

Fort Knox is also known for the General George Patton Museum, open year-round and operates on the post. It is free and open to the public.

Fort Knox Mission and Units

Important Fort Knox units include the previously mentioned Human Resource Center of Excellence, Accessions Command, Army Recruiting Command, and Army Cadet Command. Other important missions and units here have included:

• 113th Army Band, Accessions Command
• 19th Engineers
• 280th Military Police Detachment (CID), 3d MP Group
• 2nd Squadron 16th Cavalry Regiment
• 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
• 3rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
• 4th Brigade, 85th Division (TS)
• 703rd Ordnance Company (EOD)
• 7th Brigade TS, 100th Division Brigade
• 8th/229th Aviation
• U.S. Army Recruiting Command
• US Army 3rd Recruiting Brigade
• US Army Accessions Support Brigade
• US Army Cadet Command
• US Army Human Resources Command
• USA 3rd Recruiting Brigade

In-Processing and Check-In

If you travel to Fort Knox for duty lasting 30 days or more, report to Rockenbach Hall, Building 2020 for in-processing.

If you PCS to the area and have permissive temporary duty for house hunting on your orders, report to your gaining unit first, then report to the Processing Control Station. Be advised, according to the DoD, “All Soldiers must complete in-processing in duty uniform.” Hand-carry your PCS orders, plus any applicable leave forms.

Child Care at Fort Knox

There is high demand for child care at Fort Knox. According to the DoD, the Fort Knox Child Development Center is at press time, “Open only to children of those designated by on-post mission partners as mission essential, and that have been confirmed by CDC/SAC as being able to currently accept…” There is limited staffing for on-post child care at press time and you should expect to look for alternatives to CDC care if you PCS here.

Parents may have an option in on-post Family Child Care (FCC) homes. This is care provided via private, credentialed child care providers in Fort Knox family housing. This care is available for children ages four weeks through fifth grade. Extended care may be available evenings and weekends. Call +1 (502) 624-6703 for more information, waiting list details, etc.

Fort Knox Housing

Family housing at Fort Knox is privatized and run as a public/private venture between the base and Knox Hills LLC. When you arrive on PCS orders, you must check in at the Fort Knox Housing Services Office before you sign any housing agreements off base.

Unaccompanied service members assigned to Fort Knox (E-1 through E-5) may be assigned to on-post housing in the barracks, depending on current demand and other variables. On arrival, report to your gaining unit; you will be assigned barracks space afterward; report to the Soldier Housing Office in Building 2817 on 1st Infantry Division Road to get your room assigned.

Before you relocate, you can use HOMES.mil, which is a DoD official site offering families information on community housing rental listings located near military bases.

Related: BAH Calculator

PCS and TDY Lodging

IHG Army Hotels provides temporary lodging for those TDY and PCSing to the base. Make reservations at (502) 943-1000. There are multiple facilities in the area and temporary lodging is plentiful, but advance reservations are strongly encouraged thanks to high demand during PCS and TDY season. Pet-friendly facilities may be extremely limited or not available. It’s best to ask in advance.

Transportation

If you are PCSing or coming to the area on TDY orders, expect to use ride-sharing or a taxi from the airport to Fort Knox; there is no Fort Knox-operated airport shuttle services available at the time of this writing. A privately owned shuttle option may be available depending on when you arrive.

If you have questions about getting to Fort Knox, inquire at the airport USO before departing for the installation. Most new arrivals will typically fly into Louisville Muhammed Ali International Airport, which has a functioning USO at press time.

Vehicle Registration And Driver’s License

Privately owned vehicles may be registered on post, call (502) 624-2111 for instructions and directions. Base decals are not required on post, but Fort Knox may require 100% ID checks entering and/or leaving the post depending on current threat levels or other factors.

All vehicles are subject to search at any time. If you have a valid military ID you may have no additional requirements except to carry current proof of insurance and an unexpired driver’s license, but dependents, non-U.S. citizens, and certain base employees may be subject to additional requirements. It’s best to call in advance if you arent’s sure what the requirements are for driving on post.

Schools

The installation is served by the Fort Knox Community Schools district, which includes two elementary schools, a middle school and one high school. According to the Department of Defense, “Fort Knox schools are a part of the Kentucky Community in the DoDEA Americas Southeast District” and include:

• Van Voorhis Elementary School
• Kingsolver School
• Scott Middle School
• Fort Knox High School

These facilities are for families living on post; if you plan to live off post, expect to send your children to a school district based on your location, which may include one of the following:

• Hardin County Schools
• Meade County Schools
• Elizabethtown Ind. Schools

Student registration includes the usual requirements:

• Birth certificate
• Shot record
• Social Security Number
• Copy of the child’s physical exams
• Proof of address
• Copy of orders
• Custody or guardian papers filed through the court, where applicable

Call Fort Knox School Support Services at 502-624-2305 for help with school placement issues on or off base.

Colleges and Universities

The Army Continuing Education System (ACES) offers “a wide range of academic and nonacademic educational opportunities as well as training opportunities to members of the Fort Knox community,” according to the DoD.

Counseling and other services may be offered for:

• Tuition Assistance (TA
• Credentialing Assistance (CA)
• VA education benefits

Area colleges include, but may not be limited to:

• University of Louisville
• Western Kentucky University
• Central Texas College

Fort Knox Contacts

Fort Knox
411 Eisenhower Avenue
Building 1477
Fort Knox, KY 40121

• 502-624-8391
• DSN 312-464-6291

Fort Knox Contact Numbers

• Army Community Service  624-6291
• Army Continuing Education Services  624-4114
• Army Emergency Relief  624-6291
• Army Family Team Building  624-6291
• Army Reserve Aviation Command  626-5750
• Army Substance Abuse Program  624-7031
• Automotive Skills and Service Center  624-5338
• Barracks Management  624-4898
• Camp Carlson  624-4836
• Carlson Wagonlit – Official Travel 1 (800) 296-2989
• Casualty Assistance Center (USAG) 624-5417
• Child and Youth Services  624-3232
• Child Development Center  624-6703
• Civilian Personnel Advisory Center  624-4839
• Clinic Appointments (800) 493-9602
• Commissary  624-8525
• Dispatch Emergency (Police, Ambulance, Fire) 911
• Dispatch Non-Emergency (Routine Calls)  624-2111/2112
• DOD Safe Helpline 1 (800) 995-5247
• Education Center  624-2427
• Fire and Emergency Division  624-2260
• Housing Services Office  624-8093/8084
• Household Goods  624-3927
• ID Cards  624-1526
• In and Out Processing  626-2688/2689
• Knox Hills Welcome Center  (502) 799-6550
• One-Stop In/Out Processing Center  626-2688/2689
• Operator (Fort Knox)  624-1000
• School Liaison Office 624-2305
• Security Division 624-7262/4820
• Visitor Center  624-7011/7019

Related: Active Duty Military Benefits Guide

Military Bases and VA and Veteran Facilities in Kentucky

Find a listing of military bases, as well as VA resources and veteran facilities in the state of Kentucky.  If you are traveling to Kentucky on PCS orders, look up the BAH in your new duty location using our BAH Calculator. You can also find veteran benefits in Kentucky.

Other Army Bases in Kentucky

• Fort Campbell
• US Army Cadet Command 1st Brigade
• US Army Cadet Command 7th Brigade
• US Army Cadet Command Headquarters
• USAREC, 3rd Medical Recruiting Battalion

Get more info on VA benefits for veterans, retirees, separating service members, spouses, dependents, and disabled veterans. Learn more about the GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon program, monthly housing allowances, VA loans, and TRICARE.

Department of Veterans Affairs Centers in Kentucky

Fort Knox VA Clinic

282 Brule Street
Building 875
Fort Knox, KY 40121-6103
502-287-6481
Mental health: 502-624-0235

Somerset VA Clinic

300 Medpark Drive
Somerset, KY 42503-2816
606-676-0786
Mental health: 859-281-3223

Stonybrook VA Clinic

9208 Taylorsville Road
Louisville, KY 40299
502-287-6986
Mental health: 502-287-6187

Newburg VA Clinic

3430 Newburg Road
Suite 200
Louisville, KY 40218-3483
502-287-6223
Mental health: 502-287-6223

Greenwood VA Clinic

7410 Dixie Highway
Louisville, KY 40258-1406
502-287-6000
Mental health: 502-287-6000

Franklin R. Sousley Campus

2250 Leestown Road
Lexington, KY 40511-1052
859-233-4511
Mental health: 859-233-4511 x3223

Robley Rex Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center

800 Zorn Avenue
Louisville, KY 40206-1433
502-287-4000
Mental health: 502-287-6110

VetSuccess on Campus at Elizabethtown Community and Technical College

600 College St Road
Elizabethtown, KY 42701
800-827-1000

Louisville VA Regional Benefit Office

Limited services and hours
321 W Main St
Suite 390
Louisville, KY 40202
800-827-1000

National Cemeteries in Kentucky

Lebanon National Cemetery

20 Highway 208
Lebanon, KY 40033
270-692-3390
Danville National Cemetery

277 North First St
Danville, KY 40422
859-885-5727

Camp Nelson National Cemetery

6980 Danville Rd
Nicholasville, KY 40356
859-885-5727

Kentucky Veterans Cemetery – Central

2501 North Dixie Boulevard
Radcliff, KY 40160
270-351-5115

Mill Springs National Cemetery

9044 W Highway 80
Nancy, KY 42544
859-885-5727

Kentucky Veterans Cemeteries

1111B Louisville Rd
Frankfort, KY 40601
502-229-2718

Cave Hill National Cemetery

701 Baxter Ave
Louisville, KY 40204
502-893-3852

Zachary Taylor National Cemetery

4701 Brownsboro Rd
Louisville, KY 40207
502-893-3852

Vet Centers in Kentucky

Louisville Vet Center

1347 South Third Street
Louisville, KY 40208
502-287-6710

Other Military Bases in the Continental United States

• Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona
• Luke Air Force Base, Arizona
• Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas
• Buckley Space Force Base, Colorado
• Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia

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.