PCS to Fort Huachuca (Sierra Vista, AZ): BAH, housing, lodging, TRICARE and in-processing
Quick answer: Fort Huachuca is in Cochise County in southeast Arizona, inside Sierra Vista city limits and about an hour southeast of Tucson. It's home to the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence and NETCOM. Its 2026 BAH for an E-5 is $1,719/month with dependents ($1,347 without), and on-post ZIP 85613 and Sierra Vista's 85635 get the same rate. Report to your unit's S-1, then do installation in-processing on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Lodging is Candlewood Suites / IHG Army Hotels (520-226-3800), family housing is privatized through Mountain Vista Communities, the health center has no emergency room, and Arizona is in the TRICARE West Region. Sources: home.army.mil/huachuca, Military OneSource, Raymond W. Bliss AHC and DoD's 2026 BAH data.
2026 BAH: Fort Huachuca vs. Davis-Monthan
2026 rates from DoD's BAH data file (DTMO), effective Jan. 1, 2026. On-post ZIP 85613, Sierra Vista's 85635 and 24 other nearby ZIP codes all map to the Fort Huachuca, AZ housing area (AZ014), so they show the same numbers. Open the BAH calculator with 85613 filled in or with 85635 (Sierra Vista). Rates for 2027 usually come out in mid-December; see BAH 2027.
BAH is based on your pay grade, dependency status and the ZIP code of your permanent duty station, so living in Huachuca City, Hereford or Benson doesn't change it (DoD military pay, DTMO BAH lookup).
| Grade | Fort Huachuca with dependents | Without | Davis-Monthan with dependents |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,569 | $1,245 | $1,695 |
| E-4 | $1,569 | $1,245 | $1,695 |
| E-5 | $1,719 | $1,347 | $1,905 |
| E-6 | $2,193 | $1,644 | $2,121 |
| E-7 | $2,217 | $1,665 | $2,145 |
| E-8 | $2,226 | $1,818 | $2,178 |
| W-2 | $2,223 | $1,815 | $2,157 |
| O-1 | $1,782 | $1,413 | $1,938 |
| O-2 | $2,190 | $1,674 | $2,118 |
| O-3 | $2,232 | $2,019 | $2,199 |
| O-4 | $2,364 | $2,193 | $2,400 |
| O-5 | $2,481 | $2,202 | $2,550 |
Fort Huachuca: the official numbers you need
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Gates | New arrivals use the Van Deman (East) Gate. Its Welcome Center is open Mon–Fri 5:30 a.m.–5:15 p.m. The Buffalo Soldier (Main) Gate is open 24/7. |
| Military/Civilian Support Office | Bldg 41412, first duty day after arrival. 520-533-2291 (Mon–Fri 7 a.m.–5 p.m.); after hours, 7 days a week, 520-678-8369 |
| Installation in-processing | Tue 7:30 a.m.–noon at TAP, 908 Butler Rd., Bldg 22420. Wed 8 a.m.–noon at Murr Community Center, 2552 Cushing St., Bldg 51301 |
| Temporary lodging | Candlewood Suites, 1175 Smith Ave., Bldg 44420, 520-226-3800 (24/7). IHG Army Hotel, 21 Mason St., Bldgs 43083–43086. IHG reservations 877-711-8326 |
| On-post family housing | Mountain Vista Communities, Bldg 52065, Smith Ave., 520-515-9000 |
| Housing Services Office (off-post help) | Bldg 52065, 520-533-3611 |
| Barracks (single Soldiers E-5 and below) | Barracks manager, 520-533-3534 |
| Transportation office (household goods) | Bldg 52065, Smith Ave., 520-533-5907, Mon–Fri 7:30 a.m.–3 p.m. |
| Health center | Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center, 2240 E. Winrow Ave., Bldg 45001. Appointments 520-533-9200 (6 a.m.–3 p.m.). No ER. |
| Nearest ER | Canyon Vista Medical Center, 5700 E. Highway 90, Sierra Vista (24/7) |
| DEERS / ID cards | Appointments 520-533-1645 or 520-533-1608 |
| Soldier & Family Readiness Center (base operator) | 520-533-2330 |
Checking in at Fort Huachuca
- Before you leave: contact your gaining unit and ask for a sponsor (DA Form 5434). If you're bringing family, make sure your orders authorize dependents, or you won't be reimbursed for their costs.
- Get on post. Use the Van Deman Gate and its Welcome Center during duty hours; the Buffalo Soldier Gate is open 24/7. Visitors without a DoD ID need a REAL ID–compliant ID for the background check.
- Report to your unit's battalion or brigade S-1 (officers sign the register at their assigned organization). Most units sign in at Riley Barracks, Bldg 51005. If you arrive after duty hours, on a weekend or on a holiday, check into lodging and report the next duty day.
- Tuesday: your unit books you into the Personnel Processing Center brief, 7:30 a.m.–noon at TAP (908 Butler Rd., Bldg 22420). That covers personnel records, travel pay and your medical and dental records.
- Wednesday: Newcomers Orientation, 8 a.m.–noon at Murr Community Center (Bldg 51301), with briefs from the Soldier and Family Readiness Center, Legal, CYS and others. Families are encouraged to come. Wear your duty uniform both days.
- Then house hunt. Submit a leave request before taking permissive leave for a house-hunting trip.
Hand-carry: orders; personnel, finance, medical and dental records; IDs, passports and Social Security cards; birth, marriage, divorce or adoption certificates; immunization and school records; wills and powers of attorney; car titles and shipping papers; and your household goods inventory. Got married before the move? Tell your commander and follow their procedures exactly, or the Army won't pay for your spouse's travel and housing.
Housing: on post or off
On-post family housing is privatized under the Army's Residential Communities Initiative. Mountain Vista Communities is the landlord, at Bldg 52065 on Smith Avenue (520-515-9000). Homes range from historic quarters (some dating to the 1880s, part of a national historic landmark) to newer single-family homes and duplexes. You have to sign in for duty and have your PCS orders before you can apply. Housing is open to members of every service assigned to Fort Huachuca, and wait times depend on rank and bedroom count (source, source).
- Pets: two per home, and you'll need to sign a Pet Addendum. Pit Bulls (including Staffordshire terriers), Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Chows and wolf hybrids are restricted.
- Single Soldiers: barracks for E-5 and below. E-4 and below have private bedrooms with a shared kitchen and latrine; E-5s get the whole suite.
- Off post: Sierra Vista, Huachuca City, Tombstone, Bisbee and Benson all have apartments, duplexes, mobile homes and houses. The Housing Services Office (520-533-3611) helps with off-post rentals and landlord disputes, and runs home-buying seminars. Get renter's insurance; your landlord's policy won't cover your things.
- EFMP: some homes are modified for accessibility. Changes can be limited in historic homes, and Mountain Vista doesn't provide generators for medical equipment.
Temporary lodging
IHG Army Hotels runs on-post lodging for PCS and TDY travelers: Candlewood Suites (Bldg 44420) plus the IHG Army Hotel buildings on Mason Street. Call 520-226-3800 (24/7) and book early, up to a year in advance. Pet rooms and family rooms go fast. Because lodging is privately run, you can't get a Statement of Non-Availability if it's full. Check-in is at 4 p.m. and check-out at 11 a.m. PCS and TDY guests pay part of the Cochise County per diem, never more than the full rate (source).
Have an RV? Apache Flats RV Resort on post has 56 pull-through sites with full hookups for active duty, retirees and DoD civilians. Active duty can book 60 days out (520-533-1335, Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–5 p.m.). For off-post hotels, the Soldier & Family Readiness Center (520-533-2330) can help.
TRICARE and medical care
Arizona is in the TRICARE West Region. The contractor is TriWest Healthcare Alliance, 888-TRIWEST (874-9378) (tricare.mil, West Region). Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center provides primary care for all ages, orthopedics, physical therapy, optometry and a pharmacy. Book at 520-533-9200 (6 a.m.–3 p.m.) or through the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal; referrals go through TriWest (source). It has no emergency room. For emergencies, call 911 or go to Canyon Vista Medical Center (5700 E. Highway 90, 24/7); Copper Queen in Bisbee and Benson Hospital also have ERs. Active-duty Soldiers need a referral for urgent care, which you can get from the Nurse Advice Line at 800-874-2273, option 1. Family members and retirees don't (source).
Dental: Runion Dental Clinic (Bldg 45005, 520-533-3147) serves active duty only, so family members use civilian dentists through the TRICARE Dental Program. Enroll your family in DEERS first, or routine care can be denied (source). Changing TRICARE plans because of the move? A PCS is a Qualifying Life Event; see TRICARE Open Season 2026 and QLEs.
Getting there and settling in
- From Tucson International Airport: about 69 miles. Take I-10 east to exit 302 (Fort Huachuca/Sierra Vista), then follow SR 90 about 27 miles. There's no post shuttle. Sierra Vista's Vista Transit runs limited weekday buses.
- Weather: monsoon season runs from early July to late August or September, and spring brings high winds. Military OneSource says getting used to the elevation and heat can take at least a month (source).
- Cars: nonresident active-duty members can keep their home-state registration. If you register in Arizona, you're exempt from the vehicle license tax portion (ask for the exemption at an MVD office or by mail). The Sierra Vista MVD is at 5224 E. Charleston Rd. (source).
Also weighing Tucson? Davis-Monthan AFB is about an hour northwest. Its BAH, lodging, housing and check-in are in our PCS to Davis-Monthan AFB guide (Luke AFB too).
PCS money checklist
- Build a dated timeline and checklist from your RNLTD with our free PCS planner (enter 85613 as the gaining ZIP).
- PCS weight allowance by rank and PPM (DITY) move calculator. The transportation office is in Bldg 52065 (520-533-5907).
- Per diem rates 2027 for travel days. Lodging on post bills against the Cochise County rate.
- 2026 BAH calculator (85613), BAH 2027 and how to read your LES after your first pay at the new post.
What we couldn't verify: Unit sign-in locations differ between official pages. home.army.mil lists the 304th MI Battalion and DENTAC at Riley Barracks and RWBAHC, and IEWTD at Bldg 80706, while Military OneSource lists Nicholson Hall, Riley Barracks and Bldg 52136. We go with the installation's own site; confirm with your sponsor or S-1. Housing office hours conflict: home.army.mil says Mountain Vista is open 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m. and the Housing Services Office has shorter Thursday hours, while Military OneSource says 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. and gives 520-515-9000 for both offices. Military OneSource's housing page gives three different on-post unit counts, so we don't quote one. Its check-in page says pets are allowed in all lodging rooms and that PCS travelers get priority, but its temporary-housing page says pet rooms are limited and directly billed students get priority. Ask when you book. Health center hours differ (7 a.m.–4 p.m. on one RWBAHC page, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. on another); the 6 a.m.–3 p.m. appointment line is consistent. Military OneSource says active duty E-6 and below use a Troop Medical Clinic, which we couldn't confirm on the health center's site; ask your unit. We read the .mil pages through a fetch service because .mil sites block our server. Phone numbers and hours change, so confirm with the installation.
FAQ
What is the 2026 BAH at Fort Huachuca?
Fort Huachuca is its own military housing area (AZ014) in DoD's 2026 BAH data. An E-5 gets $1,719 a month with dependents or $1,347 without, and an O-3 gets $2,232 with dependents or $2,019 without. BAH follows your permanent duty station's ZIP code, so it doesn't change based on where you live off post.
Is BAH different in Sierra Vista (85635) than on post (85613)?
No. In DoD's 2026 BAH data, Fort Huachuca's ZIP code (85613) and Sierra Vista's (85635) are both in the same Fort Huachuca, AZ housing area (AZ014), so the rates are identical. Your rate depends on your duty station anyway, not on where you rent.
Does Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center have an emergency room?
No. The health center says it does not provide emergency services. For life, limb or eyesight, call 911 or go to the nearest ER. The closest is Canyon Vista Medical Center, 5700 E. Highway 90 in Sierra Vista, open 24/7. Active-duty Soldiers don't need a referral for the ER, but do need one (from the Nurse Advice Line, 800-874-2273, option 1) before going to urgent care.
What TRICARE region is Fort Huachuca in?
The TRICARE West Region. Arizona is in the West Region, and tricare.mil lists TriWest Healthcare Alliance as the contractor at 888-TRIWEST (874-9378). The health center's own site also points referrals to TriWest.
Where do I stay when I first arrive at Fort Huachuca?
On-post lodging is run by IHG Army Hotels: Candlewood Suites (Bldg 44420, 1175 Smith Ave., 24/7 at 520-226-3800) and the IHG Army Hotel buildings on Mason Street. If you arrive after duty hours, on a weekend or on a holiday, check into lodging and report to your unit the next day. Reservations open up to a year ahead, and pet rooms are limited.
When is in-processing at Fort Huachuca?
Start with your unit's S-1. Installation in-processing for permanent-party Soldiers is two half days: Tuesday 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Transition Assistance Program building (908 Butler Road, Bldg 22420), and Wednesday 8 a.m. to noon at Murr Community Center (2552 Cushing St., Bldg 51301). Families are encouraged to attend Wednesday. Wear your duty uniform both days.
Related: Free PCS planner · PCS to Davis-Monthan AFB (and Luke) · 2026 BAH calculator · BAH 2027 · PCS weight allowance · PPM move calculator · Per diem rates 2027 · TRICARE Open Season 2026 · 2026 military pay chart · All guides
- U.S. Army Fort Huachuca (home.army.mil/huachuca) and For Newcomers
- Military OneSource MilitaryINSTALLATIONS: Fort Huachuca (overview, check-in, housing, temporary housing, health care)
- Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center (appointments, urgent and emergency care)
- TRICARE: How do I know what region I'm in? and TRICARE West Region
- DoD Military Compensation: Basic Allowance for Housing and DTMO BAH Rate Lookup (2026 data file: BAH-ASCII-2026)
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Phone numbers, hours and rates change; the official source wins.
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