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Remember that when you move you need to notify DEERS of your new address. You can do this at the Customer Service section of the Military Personnel Flight, located in Bldg. 520, and request to update your DEERS information. Please call 302 677-5050 for hours of operation.
Dover AFB housing is privatized/302 677-6969.
Vehicle insurance in Delaware can be expensive, be sure to research rates in advance so that you have sufficient funds available.
Hurricanes are a possibility in Delaware. The hurricane season runs from 1 Jun to 30 Nov. New residents should become knowledgeable of hurricane preparations and safety precautions.
The DSN is the provider of long-distance communications service for the Department of Defense (DoD). Every installation has a special DSN number and the numbers vary by world-wide location. In order to place a call using DSN, the caller must be using a military phone on an installation. Cell phones cannot dial DSN numbers. When dialing a DSN number from a United States installation to another United States installation, it is unnecessary to dial the DSN 312 area code. When dialing a DSN number to/from overseas locations, the DSN area code must be included. The operator can be reached at commercial (302) 677-3000.
Dover Air Force Base is home to the 436th Airlift Wing, commonly known as the "Eagle Wing" and the 512th Airlift Wing, the Reserve associate, as the "Liberty Wing." Team Dover refers to both of the Wings. Dover is home to the C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III. Team Dover's mission focus is to safely fix and fly aircraft, prepare and deploy Airmen, move cargo, and return America's fallen heroes with dignity, honor and respect.
The primary mission of 436th Airlift Wing is to provide strategic global airlift capability. The impact from Dover's mission can be seen all around the globe on a daily basis. Dover AFB is home to the Department of Defense's largest and most technologically-advanced aerial port. Dover AFB also operates as the only Continental US Port Mortuary in the Department of Defense. The mortuary plays a vital role as a place of honor where the remains of DOD servicemembers killed overseas are received. Dover AFB also hosts the Armed Forced Medical Examiner System .
Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operation
Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations was created Dec. 15, 2008, as a named activity of the Directorate of Services, Manpower and Personnel, Headquarters United States Air Force. The new organization was activated Jan. 6, 2009. It is AFMAO's mission and privilege to fulfill the nation's sacred commitment of ensuring dignity, honor and respect to the fallen and care, service and support to their families. A solemn dignified transfer of remains is conducted upon arrival at Dover Air Force Base, DE, from the aircraft to a transfer vehicle to honor those who have given their lives in the service of the country. The AFMAO has a total force staff consisting of active duty Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines as well as Guardsmen, Reservists and civilians. The staff also consists of representatives from federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner who are responsible for the complete processing of remains. The staff utilizes state-of-the-art equipment to establish positive identification through DNA, dental and fingerprint analysis and autopsy the remains to determine cause of death. The staff also prepares fallen members for transport to their final destination as determined by the family. The AFMAO is located at the Charles C. Carlson Center for Mortuary Affairs, 116 Purple Heart Drive and by contacting 302-677-3982/2275 or DSN 312-445-3982/2275.
The Armed Forces Medical Examiner System provides comprehensive and innovative medicolegal services worldwide in the areas of death investigations, DNA identification, forensic toxicology and medical mortality surveillance.
AFMES is responsible for determining the cause and manner of death of all service members killed in wars, as well as those who lose their lives at military installations, both within the United States and overseas. The AFMES Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory concentrates on assisting with identifying military personnel who have lost their lives in both current and past conflicts, such as Vietnam, Korea and World War II. Its Division of Forensic Toxicology supports DOD by performing toxicology testing following military aircraft, ground and sea accidents, as well as for autopsies, and criminal and fitness for duty investigations. The Scientific Division is focused on rapidly detecting mortality due to unexplained circumstances or disease and on analyzing all active duty deaths for trends and possible preventable risk factors. It also leads AFMES' continuing medical education efforts.
The AFMES is the only medical examiner system in the federal government and supports other governmental agencies as necessary.
Joint Personal Effects Depot
The Joint Personal Effects Depot is co-located on the Mortuary Affairs campus with the Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs, and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System. The U.S. Army Human Resources Command and Casualty Mortuary Affairs
Operations Center have Command and Control over the JPED.
The attacks on American soil on September 11, 2001, set in motion the groundwork for the beginnings of the Joint Personal Effects Depot. U.S. Army' Mortuary Affairs Specialists (92Ms) were mobilized in support of 24-hour recovery efforts at the Pentagon. A small contingent operation established the first Personal Effects Depot at Fort Myer, Virginia. In March 2003, the JPED relocated to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. The mission then expanded to include the processing of all the personal effects of Service Members from all branches, as well as Department of Defense Civilians/Contractors killed or injured during Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
In July 2008, construction began on JPED's new home at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. Construction of the state-of-the-art, $17.5 Million facility was completed in March 2011. Today, the JPED is comprised of a team of Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, Department of the Army Civilians, and civilian contractors. The JPED Soldiers also support Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations as members of the Army Liaison Team.
Immediately after the U.S. entered WW II in 1941, the newly-completed Dover Municipal Airfield was leased to the U.S. Army Air Corps and assigned to the Eastern Defense Command as a coastal patrol base. By Christmas of that year, the 112th Observation Squadron, a federalized Ohio National Guard unit, flew the first missions from the field. During the next 55 years, a variety of flying organizations would call Dover home. Eventually, the base became home to the only all-C-5 wing in Air Mobility Command and the largest, busiest airport facility on the U.S. east coast.
Early in 1942, a construction program began extending the runway and making the airfield suitable for operation of heavy aircraft. In April, the 39th Bombardment Squadron equipped with B-25 "Mitchell" medium bombers, conducted anti-submarine patrols. In February 1943, the 39th Bombardment Squadron moved to Fort Dix Army Field, New Jersey and Dover closed to air traffic until completion of runway construction. The 7,000 foot runway and 29,000 square yards of paved apron would be completed in August 1943 when the airfield reopened. The Army Air Forces used Dover as a training base for hundreds of P-47 Thunderbolt fighter pilots. These pilots earned their wings under the watchful eyes of live combat instructors.
In addition to fighter pilot training, the base became a site for the development of air launched rockets, manned by a special unit of the Air Technical Service Command. The weapons construction and experimentation played a decisive role in the final phase of the Second World War.
After the war, Dover Army Airfield became a pre-separation processing center, until its inactivation. The field reactivated in 1951 and was assigned under the Air Defense Command. The 148th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the Pennsylvania National Guard was assigned to Dover and a year later the 80th Air Base Squadron activated, maintained and provided support services for the squadron and three other units.
On 1 April 1952, the Military Air Transport Services (MATS) assumed command jurisdiction over Dover and the base began its important strategic airlift mission, which it continues to this day. In a little more than a year, four support units of MATS Atlantic Division set up on the base and became the nucleus that formed the 1607th Air Transport Wing (ATW). The 1607 ATW activated on 1 January 1954 and took over host unit responsibility for Dover. MATS re-designated as Military Airlift Command (MAC) 1 January 1966. Simultaneously, the 436th Military Airlift Wing replaced the inactivated 1607 ATW as host wing for Dover Air Force Base.
Dover Air Force Base continued to shine in the eyes of military and local community leaders and the general public. This fact was best exemplified when Dover Air Force Base won the 2008 Commander-in-Chief Installation Excellence award and became Air Force's runner-up in the 2010 competition. This award was given annually by high ranking senior Air Force officials to the best base in the entire Air Force. This event also marked the first time that this award was captured by any Air Mobility Command installation.
Area Population approximately : 1,031,890 million in Delaware and approximately 40,085 in Dover proper.
There are approximately 3,339 military, 939 civilians and 1,750 reservists assigned to Team Dover, with a total force strength (active duty, Guard, Reserve, civilians, and dependents) of approximately 11,000. The local economic impact is approx. $891 million per year. Dover AFB ranks in the top 10 of Delaware's largest employers. The size of Dover AFB covers approximately 4,000 acres.
Welcome to Dover Air Force Base (AFB), located in the "First State" and the center of the Delmarva (Delaware, Maryland, & Virginia) Peninsula. The base is located two miles south of the city of Dover, the capital of Delaware. The base is within a short driving distance to a number of major metropolitan areas. The nation's Capital, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, PA, Baltimore, MD and Wilmington, DE are all within a 2-hour commute from Dover AFB. The base operator's phone number is 302-677-3000 or DSN 312-445-3000.
There are two major airports that are located approximately two hours from Dover AFB. They are Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) and Philadelphia International Airport. There is one Regional Airport located approximately 45 minutes north of Dover AFB called Wilmington Airport ILG.
There are no military shuttles or mass transit that run from the airport to the base.
Rental cars are available at the airports. There are several shuttles/taxi services that run from these major airports to the base. Please contact your sponsor or the Military & Family Readiness Center at 302-677-6930 for contact numbers.
Directions from Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)
Take 1-97 south to US Routes 50/301 (near Annapolis, MD). Drive east on 50/301 toward the Bay Bridge (a toll bridge -$4.00 for an automobile). After crossing the bridge, continue traveling route 50/301 east until you reach Queenstown, MD. The highway splits at this point. Go north on 301 until you come to road 300, take a right and go until you reach Road 44, where you turn right again. Stay on 44 until it joins Route 8, and continue to Dover. Keep going east through town until you intersect US Highway 13, and take a right (south). Bear left onto 113 from 13, past the Blue Hen Corporate Center, then bear right onto State Route 113/1 highway. Take Exit 93 to Dover AFB Main Gate exit.
Directions from Philadelphia International Airport
Take I-95 south to Dover. Stay south on either 495 or I-95. Head I-95 south (Baltimore). Take exit 4A off of I-95 south toward Christiana Mall and follow signs for Route 1 south to Dover. On this highway, you will have two toll booths for $1.00 each and $3.00 on the weekends. Take exit 93 for Dover AFB Main Gate.
Directions from Wilmington Airport ILG
Turn right onto N Dupont Hwy. Keep left on DE-1S, take 98 onto DE-8 toward Downtown Dover, Little Creek. Turn left onto N Little Creak Road until you reach Dover AFB Main Gate.
Directions if Driving from Washington DC
If you will be coming in from I-95, from the south, stay on I-95 until you reach the exit for route 50 east. Follow route 50 east (it becomes routes 50 & 301) to the Bay Bridge (a toll bridge - $4.00 for an automobile). After crossing the bridge, continue traveling route 50/301 east until you reach Queenstown, MD. The highway splits at this point. Go north on route 301 until you come to Road 300, take a right and go until you reach Road 44, where you turn right again. Stay on 44 until it joins Route 8, and continue to Dover. Keep going east through town until you intersect U.S. Highway 13, and take a right (south). Bear left onto 113 from 13, pass the Blue Hen Corporate Center, then bear right onto State Route 113/1 highway. Take Exit 93 to Dover AFB Main Gate.
Directions if Driving from Baltimore, MD
Take 1-97 south to Route 50/301 and go east toward the Bay Bridge ($4.00 per automobile). Follow instructions listed above as if driving in from Washington, DC.
Directions if Driving from Norfolk-Virginia Beach Area
Take the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (Toll road $13.00 off-peak each way and $15.00 peak each way, May-Sept) to Route 13 on the Delmarva Peninsula. Follow Route 13 north to State Route 10, turn right (east). Continue to the Main Gate by taking a left-hand turn in front of McDonalds and following the road around to the entrance of the main gate at Exit 93.
Directions if Driving from Wilmington, DE
Get on State Route 1 and use Exit 93 to enter the Main Gate.
Rental cars are available at the airport. There are several shuttles/taxi services that run from these major airports to the base. Please contact your sponsor or the M&FRC at 302 677-6930/DSN 312 445-6930 for contact numbers. Some numbers are listed here for your convenience. Please note these services are used as a resource only - Dover AFB M&FRC does not endorse these organizations.
NOTE: The average cost for shuttles is about $185.00 one-way and a taxi is about $327.00 one-way. Please plan accordingly.
Currently, there is no base transportation on this installation.