LOCATION
Fort Dix is strategically located in southern New Jersey in the Delaware River Region near New York City, Philadelphia, and the New Jersey Shore. This area is not only rich in the history of the American Revolution, but has a wealth of natural open space, rural farms and great entertainment venues. Fort Dix shares common borders with McGuire Air Force Base and the Naval Air Engineering Station (NAES Lakehurst).
HISTORY
Camp Dix is named for MG John Adams Dix, veteran of the war of 1812 and the Civil War. Construction began in June 1917, and on July 18 the War Department named the cantonment Camp Dix. During World War I, Camp Dix was a training center and staging ground for the 78th, 87th and 34th Divisions. Camp Dix grew quickly and became the largest military reservation in the Northeast. Following the armistice, the camp became a demobilization center.
On March 8, 1939, Camp Dix became Fort Dix as the installation became a permanent Army post. In 1947 Fort Dix became a Basic Training Center. In 1988 as a result of a Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommendations Fort Dix ended its Basic Training Mission changing from Active Duty to Reserve Component. Today, Fort Dix is a major training and mobilization center for the Reserve Component soldiers - the Army Reserve and National Guard. In 2005 the Base Realignment converted Fort Dix into a mega-installation merging with services with McGuire AFB and the Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst.
MISSION
Fort Dix is a U.S. Army Reserve Command training, mobilization and deployment center. Its primary mission is to provide training support to active and reserve component units of all services and licensed non-DoD activities. It also serves as a major power projection platform with the mission of receiving, training, equipping, and deploying military forces. As the largest Army installation in the New York Metropolitan Delaware Valley Area functions as a support base of contingency operations. Fort Dix also provides intra-area services support and services to off-post active and reserve component units, activities and individuals.
POPULATION SERVED: 18,714
- SOLDIERS ASSIGNED TO HQ COMMAND: 359
- SOLDIERS MOBILIZING AND DEMOBILIZING: 70,000 plus Soldiers since 2001
- ARMY TENANTS: 3,034
- OTHER MILITARY TENANTS: 425
- INSTALLATION CIVILIAN STRENGTH: 3,557
- RETIREES: 25,785
- FAMILIES/SURVIVORS OF RETIREES: 118,075
- ACTIVE DUTY LIVING OFF-POST (ALL SVCS) 40 MILE RADIUS): 13,635
SPONSORHIP
Sponsors can help ease the stress of moving. Sponsors are military members and their families who provide new families with a personal contact and reliable information about their new community. Each branch of the military is different"
Army - Soldiers must request a sponsor by filling out a form at the military personnel office during their reassignment interview.
Navy and Marine Corps - For some ranks, a sponsor may be assigned. In other cases, a service member may request a sponsor when he or she receives PCS orders.
Air Force - Service members can ask for a sponsor through the Individual and Newcomers Treatment and Orientation program (INTRO)
Coast Guard - Members are assigned a sponsor from their new duty location.
Pre-teens and Teens - Parents can request a sponsor for their children by contacting the Relocation Assistance Program at (609) 562-2767 or the Youth Center at (609) 562-5061.
For assistance with Sponsorship call the Relocation Readiness Program at the above mentioned number or the the the Human Resources-Military office at (609) 562-3306.
TEMPORARY QUARTERS
The Fort Dix Army Lodging is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. There are 57 suites and 76 guest rooms. All units are equipped with private baths, mini-fridges, and coffee makers (all ranks). Pets are allowed in designated rooms.
Cribs and roll-away beds are available at no extra charge. Continental Breakfast is available at no charge each morning in the lobby of building 5255 and Doughboy Inn lobby area.
There are two distinguished visitor's apartments and two transient visitor's apartments. These apartments have full kitchens, private baths, radio/clock, television, and other amenities. First priority is TDY travelers (06 and above.) Payments for all official transient (guest house or TDY) facilities are payable upon registration.
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
The Army Community Service Relocation Readiness Program is located in building 5201 (corner of Maryland Avenue and 8th Street). Upon arrival to Fort Dix please contact the Relocation Readiness Program Manager or Relocation Program Assistant to assist you and your family members to make your move less stressful. Relocation is not always easy, but it can be an exciting and positive experience.
CRITICAL INSTALLATION INFORMATION
PRIVATIZATION - A joint Fort Dix-McGuire AFB project. The Army intends to privatize the Fort Dix military family housing under a joint Fort Dix-McGuire AFB housing privatization initiative.
All homes will be newly renovated or replaced with newly constructed homes. Privatization will provide families access to quality homes in well-planned communities on both installation. Expect over $300M in construction/renovation during the first six years.
Car insurance is high.
Free pre-school programs are available for children three and four years of age who reside in Fort Dix or in the Pemberton Township.