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Pine Bluff Arsenal Base Guide

Joe Wallace & Michelle Nati

If you are PCSing to Pine Bluff Arsenal, you are heading to a unique and historic installation. Here, you’ll find essential information on this specialized installation located in Jefferson County, Arkansas, that continues to serve as a premier industrial hub for the U.S. Army.

Pine Bluff Arsenal began its journey in November 1941, just as the country was entering World War II. Originally known as the Chemical Warfare Arsenal, Pine Bluff was chosen for its remote location and solid rail access for manufacturing bombs and grenades to support the war effort.

Pine Bluff Arsenal Base Guide

The mission at Pine Bluff Arsenal expanded during the Cold War, and it became one of only nine locations in the country to store a massive stockpile of chemical weapons and agents.

By 2010, the Army had successfully and safely destroyed the last of the chemical stockpile on-site, shifting Pine Bluff’s focus to “protection and readiness.” Today, as a Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence, Pine Bluff focuses on producing smoke munitions, specialized textiles, and gas mask filters. The Department of Homeland Security also uses it as a training site.

Pine Bluff Arsenal Fast Facts

• • Location: Jefferson County, Arkansas
  • Zip Code: 71602
  • Branch: U.S. Army

• Main Mission/Notable units: DoD readiness and specialized chemical defense support, Homeland Security training site

• Main Operator: 870-540-3003
• Population: N/A
• Official Website: Pine Bluff Arsenal 
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Arriving at Pine Bluff Arsenal: Check-In & In-Processing

Soldiers reporting to Pine Bluff Arsenal for in-processing should check in with the Military Personnel Office and report to their assigned units as soon as they arrive.

A unit sponsor can help guide you through the process, and the Army Community Service office at Pine Bluff Arsenal provides in-briefings and resources to help you get settled. Service members are required to be in uniform during in-processing, which can take several days to complete. For check-in procedures and in-processing instructions, contact Pine Bluff Arsenal at 870-540-3495.

Note: This is a closed installation. All visitors must be cleared by security prior to entry.

Key Documents to Hand-Carry:

• Copies of your orders
• Medical records
• Personnel records

Newcomer’s Briefing

Army Community Service is available to support Soldiers upon arrival, offering in-briefings and Newcomer orientations to help them get settled.

Pine Bluff Arsenal Housing & Lodging

On-Base Housing

Pine Bluff Arsenal does not currently offer on-post housing. Army Community Service maintains an up-to-date list of nearby apartment complexes and off-post housing options in surrounding communities to help newcomers find accommodations.

It is critical to contact the Military Housing Office (MHO) as soon as you receive your orders to get on the waitlist.

• Military Housing Office (MHO): 870-540-3336
• Privatized Housing Partner: N/A

Off-Base Housing: Best Neighborhoods & Cities

Many service members and families live in the surrounding communities.

• White Hall: As the closest city to the installation, White Hall offers the most convenient commute (roughly 3 miles) along with a large selection of apartments, single-family rentals, and homes for sale.
• White Hall: Located about 10 miles from the arsenal’s Plainview Gate, White Hall appeals to families who want a quieter, more residential setting.
• Redfield: About 13 miles from the installation, Redfield offers a small-town environment with more space and generally lower housing costs.

Temporary Lodging (TLF) & On-Base Inn

Temporary lodging of 26 rooms in three buildings on base is available via Pine Bluff Arsenal Lodging. Accommodations are open to active-duty military members, retirees, dependents, and authorized guests. There are a limited number of pet-friendly rooms. Stays are limited to a max of 30 days and require commander approval.

• Reservations: 870-540-3008 / 870-540-3779

Pine Bluff Arsenal 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 near Pine Bluff Arsenal is  lower than the national average.

-> See the 2026 BAH Rates for Pine Bluff Arsenal, 71602

Schools & Child Care Near Pine Bluff Arsenal

Local School Districts

The primary school district for children of military and civilians is the White Hall School District, as there are no schools located on the installation. The district includes four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. There are also six private schools located in this area.

The School Liaison Office (SLO) is your primary resource for all questions regarding school registration, transfers, and local education options.

• School Liaison Office: 870-540-3678

Child Development Centers (CDC)

Pine Bluff Arsenal offers Child Development Center (CDC) programs for children ages six weeks through five years, with full-day, part-day, and hourly care options available. All registration is managed through the central MilitaryChildCare.com website. Family Child Care (FCC) homes are not available.

Key Contacts: Pine Bluff Arsenal Directory

• Base Operator: 870-540-3003
• Housing Office (MHO): 870-540-3336
• Privatized Housing:  N/A
• Temporary Lodging (Inn): 870-540-3008 / 870-540-3779
• In-Processing/Welcome Center: 870-540-3495
• School Liaison Office: 870-540-3678
• CDC Registration: MilitaryChildCare.com
• Medical Clinic / TRICARE: 870-540-3409
• Public Affairs Office: 870-540-3420

BASE MISSION AND UNITS

Pine Bluff Arsenal provides essential technical and industrial support for the Army. Instead of standard units, it is a specialized facility for supply management, equipment upkeep, and expert training. Its daily work is a key part of keeping the Department of Defense ready for any mission.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Pine Bluff Arsenal

What is Pine Bluff Arsenal famous for?

Pine Bluff Arsenal is famous for being the place where the U.S. Army stored its chemical weapons stockpile in the latter half of the 20th-century. These days, you won’t find traditional combat units there; instead, the installation focuses on specialized technical work, emergency response, and logistics operations for the DoD and DHS.

What is the zip code for Pine Bluff Arsenal?

The main zip code for the base is 71602.

Can civilians visit Pine Bluff Arsenal?

Yes, civilians can visit, but Pine Bluff Arsenal is a closed installation, but DoD details are unclear.

What is the closest major airport to Pine Bluff Arsenal?

The closest major airport to Pine Bluff Arsenal is Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (commonly known as Little Rock National Airport), located in Little Rock, Arkansas, about 55 miles away.

Pine Bluff Arsenal Base History

Pine Bluff Arsenal is another Army base that is comparatively young; rather than dating back to the days of the American Revolution like some Army posts, Pine Bluff was established in 1941 as the Chemical Warfare Arsenal.

At that time, the facility was known for manufacturing chemical weapons, incendiary grenades, and products associated with riot control. Soon after opening its doors, the site was redesignated as Pine Bluff Arsenal.

Following the human and public relations disaster that was the manufacture and use of Agent Orange in Vietnam, Pine Bluff Arsenal stopped manufacturing certain types of weapons, and eventually, there was an executive order from the White House banning the use of biological weaponry altogether.

That led to an eradication program at Pine Bluff from 1971 to 1973; during this time, all biological agents manufactured there were destroyed.

The last bioweapons were disposed of as late as 2010. Pine Bluff Arsenal isn’t the only military base where such eradications were necessary, but it is a prime example of what needed to be done with such weapons.

Today, the United States Army operates Pine Bluff Arsenal for the production, storage, and maintenance of what the DoD terms “readiness products.” DoD literature indicates this is the “only site” in this part of the world where white phosphorus munitions are manufactured and considered part of the mission.

This installation has also been used as a Department of Homeland Security training site.

PCSing to Arkansas

Are you relocating to the State of Arkansas? The state official site has some advice for you, including updating your driver’s license and registering your vehicle; it’s required 30 days after you become a state resident. You can visit an Arkansas DMV office to get started. Do you need to update your voter registration information so you may vote as a state resident?

You can also find veteran benefits offered by the State of Arkansas.

Air Force Bases in Arkansas

• Little Rock Air Force Base

Army Bases in Arkansas

• Pine Bluff Arsenal
• Camp Robinson
• Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center

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.

Did you know? The State of Arkansas offers qualifying military members to exclude pay and allowances from Arkansas income tax. Arkansas also allows military members to keep the profits from the sale of a home without paying income tax on those funds.

Arkansas VA Facilities and Resources

Do you need to find a VA clinic, Vet Center, VA National Cemetery, or VA benefits site in the state of Arkansas? The list below has addresses and phone numbers for various VA resources in the state.

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.