Fort Jackson  In-depth Overview

Fort Jackson is the U.S. Army's main production center for Basic Combat Training.  The installation trains roughly 50 percent of all Soldiers and more than 60 percent of women entering the Army each year. Providing the Army with trained, disciplined, motivated and physically fit warriors who espouse the Army's core values and are focused on teamwork is the post's primary mission. That means training in excess of 45,000 basic training and 12,000 additional advanced training Soldiers every year. In addition, Fort Jackson has become a significant site of professional development for the Soldier Support Institute (SSI) including the U.S. Army Adjutant General School, Finance School, and the Institute's Noncommissioned Officers Academy. Also, the Army Chaplain School and the National Center for Credibility Assessment make their homes at Fort Jackson. Fort Jackson is also home to the Army's Drill Sergeant School.

Named after Major General Andrew Jackson or "Old Hickory," the seventh president of the United States, Fort Jackson had its beginnings in 1917, as a new Army Training Center to answer America's need for trained fighting men in World War I. Fort Jackson has always served as the Army's pioneer in the training environment. For more information, go the Fort Jackson homepage.

• 3,500 Permanent Party Soldiers and their 12,000 Family Members 
• 48,000 Initial Entry Training Soldiers
• 12,000 Advanced Individual Training Soldiers
• 3,500 Civilians Employees 
• 10,000 Students attending courses annually 
• 46,000 Retirees and Family Members

Columbia is the capital and second largest city of the U.S. state of South Carolina, with a population estimate of 133,451 as of 2018. The city serves as the county seat of Richland County, and a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County.  It is the center of the Columbia metropolitan statistical area, which had a population of 767,598 as of the 2010 United States Census, growing to 832,666 by July 1, 2018, according to 2018 U.S. Census estimates.  The name Columbia is a poetic term used for the United States, originating from the name of Christopher Columbus.  The city is located approximately 13 miles (21 km) northwest of the geographic center of South Carolina, and is the primary city of the Midlands region of the state.  It lies at the confluence of the Saluda River and the Broad River, which merge at Columbia to form the Congaree River.  Columbia is home to the University of South Carolina, the state's flagship university and the largest in the state, and is also the site of Fort Jackson, the largest United States Army installation for Basic Combat Training.  Columbia is also located 20 miles west of the site of McEntire Joint National Guard Base, which is operated by the U.S. Air National Guard.  Columbia is also the location of the South Carolina State House, which is the center of government for the state.  In 1860, the city was the location of the South Carolina Secession Convention, which marked the departure of the first state from the Union in the events leading up to the Civil War.

Fort Jackson is located in the city of Columbia, SC, which is the state capitol. A metropolitan region with a population estimate of 133,451 as of 2018, Columbia offers a diversity of experiences and attractions. Columbia displays its patriotism proudly and is proud to be the home of Fort Jackson, the largest and most active Initial Entry Training Center in the U.S. Army. The Fort Jackson/Columbia area is a moderate cost-of-living area. The base operator's phone number is 803-751-7511 or DSN 312-734-7511.

Directions from Airport

Exit airport, take I-26 East (toward Charleston); take I-77 North; exit at Exit 12 onto Strom Thurmond Blvd. All Soldiers are required to in-process in Room 200 of the Strom Thurmond Bldg. The Strom Thurmond Bldg. is located at 5450 Strom Thurmond Blvd.

To in-process Fort Jackson, all permanent party Soldiers are to report to Room 200, 5450 Strom Thurmond Boulevard, during the hours of operation of 0730-1700, Monday thru Friday. (NOTE: The in-processing office is closed on Federal holidays and 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month from 1330-1700.) All incoming permanent party Soldiers that report after normal duty hours are to report to the IHG Army Hotel/Welcome Center, located at 7550 Benning Road to sign in to Fort Jackson.

Recommend taking a taxi cab from Airport to Base.

Arriving on I-26 from the West

Take I-20 east; proceed to I-77 South (Careful not to be diverted to I-77 North); once on I-77 South proceed to Exit 12; proceed onto Ft. Jackson to Strom Thurmond Bldg. or Welcome Center as described above.

Arriving I-26 from East

Take I-77 north to Exit 12; then onto Ft. Jackson to Strom Thurmond Bldg. or Welcome Center as described in paragraph above.

Arriving on I-20 from East

Take I-77 south to exit 12, then to Strom Thurmond Bldg. or Welcome Center, as described in above paragraph.

From bus or train station, have taxi enter by Gate 2, (exit 12) off I-77, Forest Drive gate, then proceed as above.

Currently, there is no base transportation on this installation. However, taxicabs are authorized to transport Soldiers and Family Members on and off post; no ride share, i.e., Uber, Lyft etc.

The number for base information is 803-751-7511 or DSN 312-734-7511.