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Colorado is one of the fastest-growing states in the US in terms of population. The cost of living there is very much situationally dependent, with factors like exact location, career, and household size having a significant impact. It can be expensive.
Cost of living
The median after-tax salary is $4,230, which is enough to cover living expenses for 1.8 months. Ranked 3rd best city to live in the United States, and 3rd most livable city in Colorado. With an estimated population of 502,000+ in Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs is the 39th largest city in the United States.
Housing
Colorado Springs is experiencing tremendous growth. All five military installations in the Colorado Springs area have privatized their housing operations. Contact your government Housing Military Office (HMO), at your current base as soon as you know you are moving to Colorado Springs area. The government housing team will provide you with the latest information about privatized housing, details about the application process, and off-base housing options. The HMO will also update you on any base specific policies. For additional information, call 719-556-4332 or DSN 834-4332.
Privatized Housing Resident Advocate - This office is available if you have any issues with Housing on Peterson Space Force Base. They can be reached by calling 719-728-9278 or sbd1.cvh.residentadvocate@us.af.mil.
Dorm Occupancy
Peterson SFB has a high occupancy rate. Please call or ask your sponsor to call at least three weeks before you arrive. The Dorm Manager and personnel can be reached at 719-556-3832/1409.
School Tips for Parents
There is a lot of information on schools in the Colorado Springs area. The School Liaison Officer is available by calling 719-556-3152. Useful information and documents are available at http://www.21fss.com/about/airman-family-readiness/school-liaison-officer/.
Vehicle Registration, New Resident Requirements, Voting, and Driver's Licenses
Use https://clerkandrecorder.elpasoco.com/motor-vehicle-department/ to learn about requirements to register your vehicle, estimate your vehicle registration cost, become a new resident, vote in Colorado, and much more! Or call 719-520-6240 to speak with a representative.
**If you register to vote at the El Paso DMV, you will revoke your current residence and will become a Colorado resident. If you don't want to change residency and wish to vote in your current state, please visit FVAP.gov.
Passports and Visas
Ensure member and/or dependents have the required passports and/or visa prior to final out-processing. Member and/or dependents are not allowed to final out-process without the required passports/visas in hand for themselves (if applicable) and/or dependents. Members electing the accompanied tour will not be permitted to out-process without having the required passports/visas in hand for themselves (if applicable) and/or dependents.
These actions are necessary to prevent unforeseen hardships for the military members and their families. Therefore, as the last reiteration, it is essential, members do not out-process without having the appropriate passports/visas for themselves (if applicable) and/or dependents.
21 FORCE SUPPORT MARKETING DEPARTMENT
"21 FSS Marketing Office offers fun stuff - all the things that help you keep your life in balance - Outdoor Recreation, Golf, Aquatics, Bowling, ITT, Aero Club (Rocky Mountain USAF Flight Training Center), The Club, and plenty of outstanding special events. To see what is available, visit the 21st Force Support Squadron website.
Living in Colorado opens up a spectrum of recreation unequaled anywhere else. It includes skiing and snowboarding at some of the world's premier resorts, rock climbing, ice climbing, hiking 14ers (mountain peaks 14,000 feet and higher in elevation), fishing, learn-to-swim programs, camping, whitewater rafting down the Arkansas River, snowmobiling, skydiving, snowshoeing, dog sledding, weekend trips to Aspen, Crested Butte, and Moab, Utah.
Our ITT offers awesome discounts on tickets to professional sports games - such as tickets to the Denver Broncos, Colorado Avalanche Hockey - and discounted tickets to concerts at the Pikes Peak Center and world-class entertainment, like the world-renowned Cirque du Soleil, at Colorado Springs World Arena.
And Peterson Space Force Base boasts the only full-service professional leisure travel office in Colorado specifically dedicated to travel discounts for the military. No other military installation in the Pikes Peak region has one. With its two full-time professional travel agents, Leisure Travel provides the best prices and awesome service, even while you travel.
Defense Service Network Dialing Instructions
The DSN is the provider of long-distance communications service for the Department of Defense. 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 NOT necessary 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 719-556-4555. Please note that long distance charges may be incurred.
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Space Base Delta 1's mission is to enable USSF and partner mission execution of eight functional space deltas and more than 80 mission partners across 22 world-wide locations through the provision of integrated USSF and United States Air Force Base Operating Support (e.g., directly assisting, maintaining, supplying, and distributing support of forces at the operating location), Combat Service Support (e.g., the essential capabilities, functions, activities, and tasks necessary to sustain all elements of all operating forces at the operating location), and SBD1 Support Agency services.
Peterson Space Force Base is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, at an altitude of 6,035 feet and shares runways with the Colorado Springs Airport. Space Base Delta 1, headquartered at Peterson SFB, supports 111 mission partners including North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Space Command, Space Operations Command and the 302nd Airlift Wing (Reserve).
Peterson SFB traces its roots to the Colorado Springs Army Air Base, established on Apr. 28, 1942, at the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, which had been in operation since 1926. The base renamed to Peterson Army Air Base, also known as Peterson Field, Dec. 13, 1942, in honor of the late 1st Lt. Edward J. Peterson.
On Dec. 31, 1945, shortly after the end of World War II, the Army inactivated the base returning the property to the city of Colorado Springs. In 1947, after the birth of the U.S. Air Force, the base reactivated from Sept. 29, 1947, to Jan. 15, 1948, and again from Sept. 22, 1948, into 1949.
The Air Force reactivated Peterson Field once more following the Jan. 1951 establishment of Air Defense Command at Ent AFB in Colorado Springs – now where the USA Olympic Training Center is located. The 4600th Air Base Group was designated as the 4600th Air Base Wing in 1958, and then predesignated as the 46th Aerospace Defense Wing April 1, 1975. On March 1, 1976, Peterson Field was renamed Peterson AFB.
1st Space Wing was activated Jan. 1, 1983 and the 46th Aerospace Defense Wing deactivated on Apr. 1, the same year. The 3rd Space Support Wing activated Oct. 15, 1986. These two wings deactivated May 15, 1992 and transferred to the newly activated 21st Space Wing.
On July 22, 2020, the 21st Space Wing was reorganized as part of Space Base Delta 1. Peterson AFB was renamed Peterson Space Force Base in July 2021.
Colorado Springs metro: 777,634 as of 2024; median household income is $83,198 as of 2023; Transportation to work Mean Travel Time is 24.2 minutes; median value of owner-occupied housing units is $450,000 as of February 2025.
Personnel and Number Assigned
Peterson and Schriever SFB's are a significant part of Space Base Delta 1 which has locations all over the world. Peterson SFB is located adjacent to and east of Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, off U.S. Highway 24. Colorado Springs is the second largest city in Colorado and has a population of approximately 770,000+ people. Colorado Springs also hosts the United States Air Force Academy to the north, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station to the west, Fort Carson Army Post to the South, and Schriever SFB to the east. Housing is above average in the Colorado Springs area. The Garrison's operator's phone number is 719-556-7321 or DSN 312-834-7321. Military & Family Readiness Center Information and Referral Program can be reached Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 719-556-6141 or DSN 312-834-6141.
Have ID and/or base pass ready. All vehicles are required to have current registration and insurance in the vehicle. Installation passes can be obtained from the Visitor's Center just outside the Main Gate. You can reach the Visitor's Center by calling 719-556-6660. The Main Gate is located on the west side of Peterson SFB on Airport Road off Powers Blvd and is open 24/7.
Directions from Airport
The Colorado Springs' airport is located south of Peterson SFB. Following the road exiting the airport, turn right on Powers Blvd. Stay on Powers approximately 6 miles. Turn right at the Airport Road intersection. Turn right at the next light. This is the access road to the Peterson SFB Main Gate. The Main Gate is also referred to as the West Gate, and it is open 24 hours. Caution, other gates for Peterson may NOT be open at night. Please use the Main Gate.
Transportation Options
Transportation from Colorado Springs Airport is available by POV, Rental Car (available at Airport), Uber, Lift or city taxi.
The Main Gate is often referred to as the West Gate. This is the only gate open 24 hours.
Entering Colorado Springs on I-25 from the south, exit on Academy Blvd. and head to the RIGHT. Proceed along Academy Blvd. to Fountain Blvd. Turn RIGHT onto Fountain Blvd. Follow Fountain Blvd. until Powers Blvd. Make a LEFT on Powers Blvd. Turn RIGHT onto Airport Road and follow Airport Road as it winds into the Main Gate.
Entering Colorado Springs on 1-25 from the North, exit on Interquest Parkway. Follow Interquest Parkway to Powers Blvd. (which is Hwy 21) and turn RIGHT. Follow Powers Blvd. to Airport Road and turn LEFT. Follow Airport Road as it winds into the Main Gate.
From the East on Hwy 24 (Platte Avenue)
If coming from the east on Highway 24, LEFT onto Powers Blvd. Follow Powers Blvd. to Airport Road and turn LEFT. Follow Airport Road as it winds into the Main Gate.
From the West on Hwy 24 (Platte Avenue)
If coming from the west on Highway 24, follow the signs to stay on Highway 24 through the city. Hwy 24 becomes Platte Avenue. Take Platte Avenue east. Turn RIGHT onto Powers Blvd. Follow Powers Blvd. to Airport Road and turn LEFT. Follow Airport Road as it winds into the Main Gate.
Taxi service is provided on base for those needing transportation from work to an official appointment. To request this type of transportation, please call the dispatch desk at 719-556-4307.
Electronic phone listing - 719-556-4555 or DSN 312-834-4555
COLORADO SPRINGS REGIONAL COMMAND POST - Emergency situations (non-medical) 24/7 - 719-556-4555
Peterson Military & Family Readiness Center - Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. information and referral services - 719-556-6141