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Cost of Living in Killeen, Texas
The cost of living in Killeen, Texas is about 12% to 15% lower than the national average, making it one of the most affordable cities in Central Texas.
Fort Hood Installation Access
***REAL ID standards for military base access effective May 7, 2025***
Implementation of the REAL ID Act began May 7, 2025. Anyone 18 years and older planning to visit certain Federal facilities or fly domestically needs a REAL ID or another acceptable form of identification to enter U.S. military bases, including Fort Hood, or board federally regulated commercial aircraft. Visitors without a REAL ID–compliant credential or acceptable alternative will be denied unescorted access to Fort Hood.
What are acceptable alternative forms of identification for base access?
If you don’t have a REAL ID–compliant driver’s license, you must provide one of the following along with your non–REAL ID driver’s license or state ID:
Visitors may apply online for a pass at pass.aie.army.mil.
Fort Hood has recently upgraded to the Army’s Automated Installation Entry, or AIE, at the installation Access Control Points, or ACPs, to enhance security.
What is AIE?
AIE is an Installation Access System that leverages technology to increase security for soldiers, family members, War Department civilians, retirees, contract employees and guests by verifying identity of individuals and ensuring they meet Army-approved access standards against FBI criminal and terrorist authoritative databases.
Access to Fort Hood 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. DOW affiliated or federal government ID card holders may enter Fort Hood using any lane at any ACP.
All visitors and non-DOW card holders must visit the Marvin Leath Visitor Welcome Center located on T.J. Mills Blvd.
Entry requirements for all visitors, and non-War Department card holders requesting unescorted Installation access:
Upon satisfying the above criteria and vetting requirements, an installation access pass will be issued to the visitor.
The Trusted Traveler Program has been suspended until further notice. In most cases, War Department card holders are considered trusted travelers 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-travelers until they depart the installation.
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 DOWID 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 individuals they are escorting.
Foreign visitors must provide their unexpired foreign passport and valid lawful presence in the United States (i.e., valid visa, ESTA Authorization, resident card, and/or employment authorization card). Border crossing cards are not valid at Fort Hood, as the installation is more than 25 miles from the border.
Commercial Vehicle Access
Clarke Road Truck Inspection Facility (Exit 277 of westbound IH-14) is the primary access point for all commercial vehicles, U-Hauls and vehicles carrying hazardous material and ammunition.
Access Denials
Individuals who do not pass the security vetting process in accordance with DOW denial criteria can request a Fort Hood 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 Marvin Leath Visitor Welcome Center.
Firearms Registration
Your firearms can be registered in-person at the Marvin Leath Visitor Welcome Center during normal hours of operation, at the Fort Hood Police Department 24/7 or online by completing the Fort Hood Firearms Registration Form at Fort Hood Firearms Registration Form and emailing it to usarmy.hood.id-readiness.list.des-visitor-welcome-center@army.mil.
Please allow up to 72 hours to process and return your completed firearms registration form via email. 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. 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 five 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 Hood 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 - Location of Hours of Operation
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:
DSN (CONUS):
DSN AREAS Codes:
For 24/7 Fort Hood unit contact information, call the Field Officer of the Day (FOD) at 254-206-1157. For 24/7 Fort Hood services information, call the Installation Operations Center (IOC) at 254-287-2520.
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 combatant command operations and achieve national objectives.
III Armored Corps Purpose
III Armored Corps provides a combat-credible ARMORED CORPS ready to deploy, fight, sustain and win in multi-domain operations anywhere in the world.
Garrison Mission
U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hood provides integrated installation support services to include facilities, infrastructure and programs to enable Fort Hood commanders to train and deploy their units and take care of their soldiers, families, civilians and retirees.
Garrison Vision
Fort Hood is the model readiness, training and deployment installation that simultaneously provides realistic and responsive quality of life services to our soldiers, families, civilians and retirees.
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.
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.
Fort Hood 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 Hood. The installations principal cantonment area and the adjacent West Fort Hood 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.
Killeen/Fort Hood Regional Airport
Airport Shuttle – If you fly into the Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport, ground transportation is available to Fort Hood. If you need help at the airport, contact the Liaison NCO located near the baggage claim area.
Greyhound Bus Station:
Access Control Points, or ACPs: DOW civilians, active military, military dependents, retired, retiree dependents and contractors with DOW ID cards may enter the installation by displaying their DOW-issued ID card to the guard personnel at the ACPs 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.
Personally owned firearms: All personnel bringing a privately owned firearm on Fort Hood must enter through an ACP, declare that they are bringing a privately owned firearm 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 Hood 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 Hood Regional Airport
Fort Hood 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 Hood community.
The Cavazos Connector consists of two systems working in tandem: the Circulator Route and the Micro-Transit System.
Circulator Route: This route operates in the heart of Fort Hood 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.
Micro-Transit System: This system consists of five zones that function like popular ride share services. 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.FAQs
What is the Cavazos Connector?
Who can ride?
When does it operate?
How do I catch a ride?