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Fort Cavazos

Installation Message

Notice: As of May 9, 2023, Fort Hood has been renamed to Fort Cavazos. Work is underway to update all content on this page to reflect this change.

Photos

Fun at the Main CDC
Financial Readiness
Kitchen
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Cost of Living

Cost of living is below the national average.

Cost of Living in Killeen, Texas

Our cost of living indices are based on a US average of 100. An amount below 100 means Killeen is cheaper than the US average. A cost-of-living index above 100 means Killeen, Texas is more expensive.

Killeen cost of living is 83.7 less expensive

Installation Details

Special and Critical Installation Information

Fort Cavazos Installation Access- Fort Cavazos has recently upgraded to the Army’s Automated Installation Entry (AIE) at the Installation Access Control Points (ACPs) to enhance security.

What is AIE? - AIE is an Installation Access System that leverages technology to increase security for Soldiers, Family members, DoD civilians, retirees, contract employees, and guests by verifying identity of individual(s) and ensuring they meet Army approved access standards against FBI criminal and terrorist authoritative databases.

Access to Fort Cavazos is restricted to those who have an acceptable purpose, or reason to enter the installation. In order to enter, all occupants 18 years or older must have a valid identification. DoD affiliated or Federal Government ID card holders may enter Fort Cavazos using any lane at any ACP.

All visitor’s and non-DoD card holders must visit the Marvin Leath Visitor Welcome Center located on T.J. Mills Blvd.

Entry requirements for all Visitors, and Non- DoD card holders requesting unescorted Installation access:

  • Proceed to the Visitor Welcome Center
  • Have a valid purpose for entering the installation; (Attend Meeting, visit Museum, Job interview, etc.)
  • Provide the destination, name of facility, building number, street address, or unit name/designation
  • Present valid U.S. driver's license, State ID, or passport
  • Present valid vehicle registration (If operating a vehicle) (Only for Food Delivery or Rideshare passes)

Present valid proof of vehicle insurance (If operating a vehicle) (Only for Food Delivery or Rideshare passes) Consent to, and undergo an initial criminal history check, and periodic background screeningsProvide Social Security Number and take a photo in order to register in the AIE system

Upon satisfying the above criteria and vetting requirements, an Installation access pass will be issued to the visitor.

Foreign visitor Access - (any person other than a US citizen) must have an acceptable purpose to enter the installation and must be sponsored and escorted by a DoD ID Card holder. Escorts must be provided by the organization, or individual responsible for sponsoring, or otherwise associated with the individual’s visit, and must remain within reasonable visual contact of the individual(s) they are escorting. Foreign Visitors must provide their unexpired foreign passport and valid lawful presence in the US, i.e. valid Visa, ESTA Authorization, resident card, and/or employment authorization card. Border Crossing cards are not valid at Fort Cavazos as the installation is more than 25 miles from the border.

Commercial Vehicle Access - Clarke Road Truck Inspection Facility (exit 277 IH 14) West is the primary access point for all commercial vehicles, U-Hauls, vehicles carrying hazardous material and ammunition.

Trusted Traveler program has been suspended until further notice. - DoD card holders are considered trusted travelers in most cases, and are authorized to vouch for the identity, fitness and purpose of co-travelers as long as they occupy the same vehicle. Individuals may be personally accountable for the conduct of those co-travelers in accordance with installation security policies. Authorized individuals should accompany the co-traveler(s) until he or she departs the installation.

Access Denials -Individuals who do not pass the security vetting process in accordance with DoD denial criteria, can request a Fort Cavazos Access Denial Waiver Application. Upon submitting a waiver application, the Senior Installation Commander will make a determination on whether to approve or deny installation access. (The denied person may request reconsideration using the Access Denial Waiver Process outlined in Army Regulation 190-13.  They may request a waiver packet at the VWC.)

Firearm(s) Registration - Your firearms can be registered at the Marvin Leath Visitor Welcome Center during normal hours of operation, online (Firearms Registration and FAQs :: U.S. Army Fort Cavazos) and at the Fort Cavazos Police Department 24/7.  All personnel (military or civilian) who live on the installation or will possess, transport, or carry a firearm on the installation at any time will register with the Directorate of Emergency Services (DES). Firearms will be registered under the owner's information. If the owner is a Family member, the firearm will be registered under the family member’s name. All Soldiers registering a firearm are required to obtain their unit commander's approval and signature prior to registering. Newly assigned Soldiers in possession of assignment orders must receive a temporary firearms registration with the expiration lasting through the in-processing phase prior to traveling onto post with the firearm. Soldiers that purchase a firearm must receive a temporary firearms registration (not to exceed 5 working days), pending their commander's approval. Once the Commander has signed the firearm registration form the Soldier will return to the Marvin Leath Visitor Welcome Center, or the Fort Cavazos Police station for permanent registration which is good for a term of four years from the date of registration. (For more information, refer to the website, because a lot has changed)

  • Marvin Leath Visitor Welcome Center Hours of Operation:

Bldg. 69012 (Located on T.J. Mills Blvd)

Hours of operation are: 5 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday – Sunday.

Office phone: 254-287-9909

Defense Service Network (DSN) Dialing Instructions

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.

DSN Prefix Guide

OFF POST LOCAL AREA

DIAL 99 +7 DIGIT NUMBER

LONG DISTANCE (DDD) & TOLL FREE

DIAL 98 + 1 + AREA CODE + 7 DIGIT NUMBER

DSN (CONUS)

DIAL 94 + 312 + 7 DIGIT DSN NUMBER

DSN (OCONUS)

DIAL 94 + AREA CODE + 7 DIGIT DSN NUMBER

DSN AREAS Codes:

311 — AFRICOM

319 — CANADA               

314 — EUROPE

509 — CANADA VTC       

315 — PACIFIC

317 — ALASKA

318 — CENTRAL

For 24/7 Fort Cavazos unit contact information, call the Field Officer of the Day (FOD) at 254-206-1157. For 24/7 Fort Cavazos services information, call the Installation Operations Center (IOC) at 254-287-2520.

In-Depth Overview

Mission

III Armored Corps Mission

On order, III Armored Corps deploys globally and conducts Multi-Domain Operations as part of a combined joint land force to deter or defeat adversaries, support Combat Command operations, and achieve national objectives.

III Armored Corps Vision

III Armored Corps is the world's premier mounted force, highly lethal, trained and ready to conduct sustained, expeditionary, operational maneuver anywhere in the world.

Garrison Mission

USAG Fort Cavazos provides integrated installation support services to include facilities, infrastructure and programs to enable Fort Cavazos commanders to train and deploy their units and take care of their Soldiers, families, civilians and retirees.

Garrison Vision

Fort Cavazos is the model readiness, training, and deployment installation while simultaneously providing realistic and responsive Quality of Life services to our Soldiers, families, civilians and retirees.

History

III ARMORED CORPS, THE PHANTOM WARRIORS!

Ill Corps' colorful history dates from 1918 when the Corps served in World War I, winning battle streamers for the Aisne-Marne, Lorraine, and the Meuse-Argone campaigns.

Inactivated in 1919, the Corps was reactivated in 1940 to train combat divisions. During World War II the Corps was deployed to The European Theater of Operations and earned the name "Phantom Corps" by hitting the enemy when least expected. It won campaign streamers in Northern and Central Europe, and established the Remagen Bridgehead, enabling the Allies to secure a foothold in Germany.

Inactivated in 1946, Ill Corps was reactivated in 1951 and served on active duty until 1959. Inactivated that year, it quickly returned to duty at Fort Hood during the Berlin Crisis in 1961. In 1962, Ill Corps was designated as part of the U.S. Army Strategic Army Corps.

During the Vietnam conflict, Ill Corps trained and deployed two Field Force Headquarters and many combat and combat service support units totaling more than 100,000 personnel.

In recent years, Ill Corps forces have fought in and supported operations worldwide, to include Grenada, Panama, Honduras, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq, and provided humanitarian support for Operation Restore Hope in Somalia. Ill Corps elements provided support for Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

For many years, the primary focus of the III Corps was the reinforcement of NATO. As the world and the U.S. Army have changed the Corps has also changed and broadened its focus to be ready to deploy anywhere, anytime and win.

HISTORY OF THE III ARMORED CORPS ‘CALTROP’

The III Corps was organized in the Regular Army in May 1918 at Mussysur-Seine, France, and in December of that same year, the “caltrop” was approved as its heraldic symbol. The three-pointed design represents the numerical designation of the Corps.

As the heraldic symbol of III Corps, the caltrop brings with its centuries of war fighting. It is a simple yet diabolical device composed of four spikes or points arranged so that in whatever manner it is thrown on the ground, it rests on three and presents the fourth upright. Since ancient times — its use can be traced back to the 53 B.C Battle of Carrhae — it has served to slow the advance of troops, especially horses, ;chariots, war elephants, camels, and, more recently, land vehicles equipped with pneumatic tires. During the Second World War, large caltrop-shaped objects made from reinforced concrete were used as anti-tank devices. And, during the Korean War, the caltrop was employed effectively by United Nations forces against Chinese infantrymen.

The Corps’ shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) was approved by the Adjutant General, American Expeditionary Force on December 3, 1919. It was approved by the War Department on June 17, 1922. It currently consists of a blue caltrop with one point up, a white equilateral triangle with one point down in its center and outlined in green.

The distinctive unit insignia (DUI) consists of a yellow shield on which a blue caltrop with one point up is situated. Within the center of the caltrop is a white equilateral triangle with one point down. Yellow alludes to armor.

The blue and white are the authorized colors used in distinguishing flags to represent III Corps.

Population

  • * 38,017 active-duty military
  • * 583,300 retirees, survivors and family members
  • * 14,200 civilians and contractors

Location

Fort Cavazos occupies 335 square miles of Bell and Coryell Counties, 60 miles north of Austin and 50 miles south of Waco. Seven surrounding cities with a regional population of approximately 335,000 are partnered with and provide substantial quality of life support to Fort Cavazos. The installations principal cantonment area and the adjacent West Fort Cavazos are bisected by Interstate 14, a four-lane controlled access road that flows directly into US Interstate Highway 35, the main North-South route through Texas and Mid-America. 

Directions

Killeen/Fort Cavazos Regional Airport

Airport Shuttle – If you fly into the Killeen-Fort Cavazos Regional Airport, ground transportation is available to Fort Cavazos. If you need help at the airport, contact the Liaison NCO located near the baggage claim area.

Killeen Bus Terminal permanently closed.

DOD Civilians, active military, military dependents, retired, retiree dependents and contractors with DOD ID cards may enter the installation by displaying their DOD issued ID card to the guard personnel at the Access Control Points entering the installation. If you do not have your government ID card in your possession you must go to the Marvin Leath Visitor Welcome center to get an installation access pass/badge.

All personnel bringing a Privately Owned Firearm on Fort Cavazos must enter through an Access Control Point, declare that they are bringing a POF on post and state the reason they are doing so to ACP personnel. Personnel must also declare possession of firearms to officials upon being directed to an ACP inspection area, being stopped by law enforcement officials, or for any other checkpoint or inspection operation.

Fort Cavazos is located in the beautiful 'hill and lake' country of Central Texas between Killeen and Copperas Cove and is approximately 60 miles north of the capital city of Austin, 50 miles south of Waco, 160 miles south of Dallas, and 150 miles north of San Antonio.

From Killeen/Fort Cavazos Regional Airport

  • Take TX-201 N/S Clear Creek Rd Head southeast toward TX-201 N/S Clear Creek Rd
  • Turn right onto US-190/ I-14 East Central Texas Expressway
  • Take ramp left and follow signs for I-14 East / US-190 East
  • Merge onto US-190/I-14 East, stay in right lane and follow signs to Fort Cavazos main gate exit

Base Transportation

Fort Cavazos is experiencing a transportation revolution with the launch of the Cavazos Connector, a comprehensive transit system designed to enhance the quality of life for Soldiers, civilians and their families. This fare-free service promises to reshape the daily experiences of the Fort Cavazos community.

The Cavazos Connector consists of two systems working in tandem: the Circulator Route and the MicroTransit System.

CIRCULATOR ROUTE: This route operates in the heart of Fort Cavazos and has 28 high use stops including the hospital, Commissary, Exchange, bowling alley, Copeland Center, gyms and shoppettes. The route operates so that a full cycle can be completed in 20 minutes. One bus operates in a clockwise direction while another bus operates in a counterclockwise direction. Both buses are labeled so passengers can easily determine which direction each bus is going as they approach the bus. The Circulator route does not require a reservation to ride; riders can get on and/or off at any of the 28 marked stops.

MICROTRANSIT SYSTEM: This system consists of five zones that function like popular ride share services such as Uber™ and Lyft™. One zone covers barracks areas and four zones cover family housing areas. A rider can be picked up within the zone and taken somewhere within the same zone, an adjacent zone, or to the circulator route.

As of March 2, 2024, all micro-transit zones are operational. Trips can be booked through the HOP/Cavazos Connector App or by calling 254-933-3700 and speaking with a scheduler.

What is the Cavazos Connector?

  • A fare free bus transit system operating on Fort Cavazos.

Who can ride?

  • Service members, family members, DOD civilians, retirees and veterans can ride.

When does it operate?

  • Weekdays: 6 a.m. – 8 p.m.
  • Weekends and Holidays: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

How do I catch a ride?

  • Use the Cavazos Connector App
  • Call 254-933-3700 and speak to a scheduler
  • Wait at any of the circulator route marked stops.