Check-in Procedures

The 24-hour arrival point for Barksdale Air Force Base is located at West Gate Visitor's Center (Barksdale Blvd W), and is an excellent resource for assistance in contacting your sponsor and obtaining general information about the base.

If arriving during duty hours, contact your unit or squadron of assignment immediately upon arrival. Your new Commander Support Staff, or CSS, will in-process you, inventory your records and schedule your mandatory in-processing and Newcomer's Welcoming/Orientation briefings. Have your hand-carried records and orders with you.

First Term Airmen

If Barksdale AFB is your first duty station after Basic and Tech School Training then you should either contact your sponsor or report to the Lodging Office, located at 555 Davis Ave, by the Northgate Road Gate (open 5:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday thru Saturday and closed Sunday and holidays.), and notify your respective sponsor/squadron of your arrival.

There are three mandatory briefings you MUST attend while in-processing:

• FTAC (First Term Airmen Course)
• Welcome Center
• Right Start New Member's Orientation

Your sponsor unit representative will meet and escort you to your unit personnel office for in-processing. At this time, you will receive your in-processing checklist and be scheduled for FTAC.

The First Term Airmen Center is designed to aid all first-duty stationed airmen with their transition from a training environment into a mission oriented environment using the airmen's skills, knowledge and training gained from techinical school. FTAC sessions are five days in length, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All airmen must report to FTAC within 30 days of arriving at Barksdale AFB and must attend MPS briefing prior to the session. FTAC is located at the Barksdale Education Center, 723 Douhet Drive-Bldg 4314.

You will be assigned to the FTAC for a total of five calendar days, after squadron in-processing. Before arriving at FTAC, you must complete all squadron in-processing to include having your Common Access Card, or CAC, and Communication System Requirements (DD Form 2875) completed. It is also appropriate and desired to have in your possession a current copy of your Leave and Earnings Statement.  For additional information such as upcoming classes or to register, please call 318-456-2576. 

The Welcome Center is located at 801 Kenney Ave - Suite 2200 (second floor) in the Col dePyssler MSG Bldg - Bldg 4400. At this one hour appointment, you will individually in-process through four agencies: Finance, TMO, Military & Family Readiness Center, and Medical. Your unit CSS will schedule your Welcome Center appointment and give you an in-processing checklist.  You will be required to bring a copy of your orders assigning you to Barksdale AFB and your in-processing checklist.   For additional information, please call 318-456-0894.

The Right Start Newcomer's Briefing is held at the BUFF - 155 Rickenbacker, BAFB - Bldg 1955. At this orientation you will receive pertinent information from multiple agencies to include, the 2 BW Commander, 2 BW Command Chief, SAPR, OSI, Emergency Management, Safety, Family Advocacy, and many more. You will also complete your initial Equal Opportunity and Inspector General Training. You will be scheduled for this orientation at your Welcome Center appointment.  For additional information, please call 318-456-8400, option #1.

The Barksdale Welcome Center is located at 801 Kenney Ave - Suite 2200, BAFB, LA - Bldg. 4400, in the Col dePyssler MSG Building. BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. To schedule your Welcome Center appointment, please visit https://booknow.appointment-plus.com/ctcsxxz4/.  Your unit CSS will assist with scheduling or you can call 318-456-0894 for assistance and/or hours of operation. You will be required to bring a copy of your orders, any lodging/travel receipts you may have, and a unit in-processing checklist to your appointment.

The center is a one-stop-shop for all in-processing needs and provides face-to-face help to Airmen and their spouses with four specific agencies: the Military & Family Readiness Center, 2nd Medical Group patient administration, TMO Personal Property counselor, and 2nd Comptroller Squadron financial operations supervisor. If you have school aged children, please make a separate appointment with the School Liaison Program Manager at 318-456-4098.

The Military Personnel Section provides combat and community support by delivering personnel and mission-sustaining quality of life services to our Airman. We operate multiple services from DEERS/ID Cards to Career Development, including outbound assignments, retirements and reenlistments. Our services extend to awards and decorations, passports and evaluations.

OPEN:

DEERS/ID CARD Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All other MPS services Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• DEERS/Military ID Cards: 318-456-3710
• Active Duty Retirements and Separations: 318-456-2171
• Active Duty Outbound Assignments: 318-456-0068
• Active Duty Promotions: 318-456-5478
• Active Duty Reenlistments: 318-456-5272
• Passports: 318-456-2844
• Force Management: 318-456-4129

• Orders — Keep your original set of orders with you at all times and make at least five copies.
• Identification for each family member — Bring your military IDs and driver's licenses, but also Social Security cards, passports and birth, marriage and naturalization certificates.
• Vehicle documentation — Have your vehicle title or lease information and proof of vehicle inspection, registration and insurance.
• Financial information — Bring personal checks, any hard copies of recent bank statements, and all credit and debit cards — even the ones from department stores you never use.
• Housing information — Carry the household inventory list your moving company provided, as well as lease or mortgage paperwork.
• Legal documents — Bring divorce or annulment paperwork from a previous marriage, wills, custody or adoption paperwork and any active power of attorney documents.
• School or employment records — Carry all transcripts, report cards or grade sheets your children may need for school registration. If your child has an individualized education program, it's important to carry this with you. If you are moving with a child with special needs, please check out Military OneSource and definitely stop by the Military & Family Readiness Center to talk with our EFMP Program member and staff..
• Medical and physician information — Previous medical and dental records and vaccination records will likely be needed for school registration and for some employment.

Here's a list of items to consider carrying with you to help the transition:

• Medication for each family member — Prescription medications for each family member should be close at hand. You might want to bring some headache meds for you too in case of a sibling screaming match on the way here.
• Phones and chargers — Surviving without your smartphone and charger today is almost inconceivable.
• Valuables — If you can't imagine living without a family heirloom or treasured item, carry it with you.
• Home items — If you are doing a stateside PCS and you have your vehicle with you, you might want to bring some basic kitchen, bath, cleaning and bedroom items with you like pots/pans, paper plates and a blow-up mattress so you don't wind up sleeping on a hardwood floor on the very first night.
• Pet medical and immunization records
• Letters of credit from utility companies (telephone, electric, etc; may result in waiver for deposits)

Temporary Lodging Reservations

It is always wise to plan your PCS to include printing/obtaining maps with directions for getting to your destination. Call and make reservations for temporary lodging as early as possible, (318-456-3091 or DSN 312-781-3091). Barksdale has a fair amount of lodging choices, but all are heavily used, especially during the summer months. There are five family units designated for pets (four small pets or two large dogs), but those are in high demand and currently under renovation as of March 2024. It's a good idea to make reservations at area kennels for your pets.

If you get married before or during your PCS you must inform your Unit Commander and follow the procedures exactly as you are given them. The military will not pay travel and housing expenses for your spouse if you do not follow the proper procedures.