The complete post guide to Fort Polk

Jessica Evans
Aug 30, 2022 12:33 PM PDT
6 minute read
fort polk

The soldier in 46th Engineer Battalion and 88th Brigade Support Battalion work together to accomplish their recovery mission of loading a World War II Sherman Tank for transport to the Fort Polk Museum, Sept. 12, in Many, La.

SUMMARY

Wondering about Fort Polk weather? Spoiler – it’s hot. Like really, really hot. But, once you get past that oppressive…

Wondering about Fort Polk weather? Spoiler - it’s hot. Like really, really hot. But, once you get past that oppressive heat, there’s a surprising amount of things to love about Polk. If you’re heading to Vernon Parish as your next duty assignment, be prepared to settle into Louisiana and all that it offers. Polk was once home to the 1st Armored Division during the 1950s and served as a basic training installation during the Vietnam War. It also hosted the 5th ID, the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiments, and the 162 Infantry Brigade. These days, it’s a Joint Readiness Training Center, and home to the 10th Mountain Division. 

Polk is one of the many DoD installations that will be renamed. 

Fort Polk Location

Fort Polk is located in Vernon Parish, about ten miles east of Leesville, Louisiana, and thirty miles north of DeRidder in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana.

U.S. Army Soldier Pfc. Jacob Hudgins from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team's Charlie Company, 2-14th Infantry, 10th Mountain Division pulls security while his fellow Soldiers prepare to clear a small house in village Awisil, July 15, at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La. Hudgins uses his radio to keep his teammates informed of any possible threats.

Directions

Fort Polk can be reached by car using the following routes. 

Heading in from the north? Take I-25 S to I-70 E, then take I-44 E to US-287 S, then take I-49 S to LA-117 Sk.

Driving from New Orleans? Take I-10 W to LA-10 W.

Making the trek from the east? Take I-81 S to MS-28 W, then take LA-28 W.

Coming from the west? Take I-10 E to TX-12 E, then take LA-109 N, LA-27 N, and US-171 N.

Transportation

Flying to the closest airports: Alexandria International Airport

Alexandria International Airport (53.5 miles) is the closest airport and is served by American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. There is a Fort Polk Welcome Desk adjacent to baggage claim.

Driving to Fort Polk may take a while, but its rural location means you’ll likely want a vehicle with you so you can drive to nearby towns to get whatever you can’t get on post (or get to and from Fort Polk if you don’t live on post).

Contacts at Fort Polk

Army Substance Abuse Program Prevention: (337) 531-2031

Automated Telephone Directory: (337) 531-2911 

Base Exchange: (337) 537-1001

Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital Appointment Line: (337) 531-3011

Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital Emergency: (337) 531-3368

Chaplain: (337) 531-4916

Chesser Dental Clinic: (337) 531-4854

Commissary: (337) 531-2747 | (337) 531-6132

DEERS: (337) 531-1891

Domestic Abuse Hotline: (337) 531-4619

EFMP - Family Support: (337) 531-1941

Employment Readiness Program: (337) 531-6922

Equal Employment Opportunity: (337) 531-1799

Family Readiness Center: (337) 531-9426

Garrison Commander’s Office: (337) 531-1606

Housing Office: (337) 537-5060

ID Cards: (337) 531-1430

Information and Referral Services: (337) 531-1941

Inspector General: (337) 531-2100 | (337) 531-7878

Legal Assistance: (337) 531-2580

On-Call Chaplain: (337) 208-2868

Personnel Support Office: (337) 531-7258

Pharmacy Refill Line: (337) 531-3784

Public Affairs Office: (337) 531-1344 | (337) 531-1392

Reception Center: (337) 531-7258

Relocation Assistance Program: (337) 531-6941

School Support Services: (337) 531-6673

Sexual Assault Hotline: (337) 531-1848

Social Work Services: (337) 531-3272

Shira Dental Clinic: (337) 531-2121

Temporary Lodging: (337) 531-9000

Transportation/Household Goods: (337) 531-7098

Welcome Center: (800) 241-1071

U.S. soldiers with Alpha Company, 5th Aviation Battalion provide air transportation to Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno aboard a UH-72A Lakota helicopter during his visit to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La., May 1, 2012.

Mission and Units 

Ft. Polk’s mission is to enable FORSCOM units to increase readiness. That means that the installation trains Brigade Combat Teams and Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFAB) to conduct large-scale operations.

Fort Polk is home to the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). The JRTC focuses on improving unit readiness. It’s one of the Army’s three “Dirt” Combat Training Centers designed to train infantry brigade task forces.

Polk is also home to the 1st Battalion, the 10th Mountain Division and the 115th Combat Support Hospital. The Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital, located on the installation, includes the Wellness and Readiness Center, the Department of Behavioral Health, and the United States Army Air Ambulance Detachment.

The Louisiana Army National Guard has a maintenance facility on Fort Polk. 

Fort Polk History

Like lots of DoD installations, Polk got its start during WWII. First it served as a base for the Louisiana Maneuvers. Then it housed German POWs. Park of Polk is covered in dense jungle-like vegetation, so much of the post is called Tigerland. It’s used to help Soldiers acclimate to the Louisiana heat, humidity, and precipitation in preparation for Vietnam.

Archeologists and history buffs will appreciate all that Polk has to offer. It’s part of a region of cultural resources, historic houses, structures, and other archeological sites. 

Sgt. 1st Class Robert Kyger, NCOIC of Radiology, and Dawn Carter, imaging supervisor, assist visitors at Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital Oct. 19 during Fort Polk’s annual Retiree Appreciation Day.

Things to Do Around Fort Polk

Hotels

Hampton Inn Leesville/Ft. Polk (6.1 miles)

Comfort Suites (6.4 miles)

Holiday Inn Express Leesville-Ft. Polk, an IHG Hotel (6.1 miles)

Food Scene 

If you’ve never experienced gumbo, boudin, or beignets, then prepare yourself for a culinary treat! First, start with a beignet - it’s a square shaped piece of fried dough, topped with powdered sugar. If you’re a fan, be sure to check out the Beignet Festival held each year in New Orleans. If sweets aren’t your thing, then you might like a po’boy - a sub-style sandwich made with French bread, or a muffaletta - a round-shaped sandwich stuffed with all kinds of salami and ham. Then, if you’re still hungry, make some room for a King Cake. That’s a round cinnamon-filled cake made from braided dough and covered in icing. The food scene around Ft. Polk gives you access to these Louisiana staples and more. 

Activities

Vernon Parish (9.7 miles) is rich in Wild West history. From outlaws named “Leather Britches Smith” to Native tribes, this network of scenic roads and trails takes about a day to drive.

Leesville Main Street Cultural District (8.1 miles) features beautiful old houses and buildings and many local restaurants along 5th Street. 3rd Street Market is great for local goods, produce, and pop-up street festivals such as the Main Street Gumbo cook-off and the Louisiana State Soapbox Derby Championship are a neat way to experience the local community.

Wolf Rock Cave (7.6 miles) is a hiker or climber’s delight. The cave is located in a remote part of Kisatchie National Forest, best accessed by a four-wheel-drive vehicle or by a long hike, but those who make the trek will be rewarded with beautiful views and a magnificent cave that has been used by Native Americans and outdoorsmen for many years.

Bayous and rivers near Fort Polk offer Soldiers and Family members the opportunity to take canoe or kayak rides and enjoy the scenic beauty.

Housing at Ft. Polk

Call the Military Housing Office as soon as you receive orders. Ft. Polk offers quarters on post for single service members E-5 and below. All Soldiers are required to report to Warriors Keep upon arrival. Unaccompanied service members and geo-baching service members are eligible to live in privatized housing.

Corvias manages privatized housing on post. Find out more about Corvias housing options here

Schools Near Ft. Polk 

Mil-kids who call Ft. Polk home have their choice of schools, depending on where you live. There are six elementary schools in the district and middle and high schools in both Vernon and Beauregard Parishes. Private schools are also an option in the area. Speak with the School Liaison for more information, including enrollment requirements.

U.S. Army Col. David Miller of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division marches towards the town of Suliyah at the Joint Readiness Training Center with a group of officers and Iraqi translators, July 13, on Fort Polk, La. Miller and his officers are going to attend a shiek meeting with Iraqi leaders.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Fort Polk famous for?

Fort Polk was built after the Louisiana Maneuvers, a series of Army exercises designed to evaluate US training and logistics, in 1941. From 1962 until 1976, Fort Polk served as the Army’s largest infantry training center due to Tigerland, the area on base with jungle-like conditions that, along with Louisiana’s humidity, mimicked the conditions in Vietnam.

Do they do basic training at Fort Polk?

No, the training done at Fort Polk through the Joint Readiness Training Center is for Brigade Combat Teams and Security Force Assistance Brigades.

What are some things to do in Fort Polk?

Fort Polk has several recreational facilities, including a shooting range, a golf course, a mini-golf course, and a Go-Kart Center. There are also batting cages, a splash park, and a bowling center on post. Both Fort Polk and the surrounding area have several trails and camping areas. There are two pools on post.

What is it like being stationed at Fort Polk?

Fort Polk has a “hometown” feel with a very tight-knit community. Fort Polk is in beautiful, rural Louisiana. The biggest adjustment you’ll make is dealing with the humid Louisiana heat.

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