Welcome to Fairchild Air Force Base

Fairchild Air Force Base is located approximately 16 miles from the city of Spokane, which has a population of more than 208,000. Spokane is the second-largest city in Washington, offering a variety of amenities that are easily accessible to base residents.

Fairchild began as the Spokane Air Depot in 1942, named in honor of General Muir S. Fairchild, a WWI aviator. Fairchild is home to many units and missions, with its host unit being the 92nd Air Refueling Wing and associate unit the 141st ARW of the Washington Air National Guard.

Living in Eastern Washington means enjoying four seasons with temperate and usually mild weather. Summer temperatures range from the mid 60s upwards into the 80s. Winter may bring rain, fog or snow. December is the coldest month, with an average overnight temperature of 21.6 F and August is the warmest, with day time temperatures averaging 82.6 F.

Getting Here
Traveling via car is usually the easiest and most common way to get to the base. From Interstate 90, take exit 277 to Highway 2. Drive west on Highway 2 and take a left at the Fairchild Air Force Base signs and proceed to the main gate. Those arriving by plane will land at Spokane International Airport, where you can meet an arranged ride, rent a car or take a commercial taxi to the base. Stars and Stripes Shuttle Service also offers 24-hour transport for approximately $15 per person. Call (509) 244-0730.

Temporary Lodging
The 24-hour arrival point is the Lodging Office on base. It is located at 300 N. Short St., and lodging reservations can be made by calling (509) 244-2290, (509) 247-5519 or DSN (312) 657-5519.

There are two facilities for lodging on base; the Fairchild Inn, located on the main base and used by TDY, PCS and Space A, and the Survival Inn, located at the USAF Survival School (for survival students only). Lodging consists of 283 guest rooms and 42 Temporary Lodging Facilities, 17 of which are pet friendly. Personnel unable to secure space in pet-friendly lodging can kennel their animal at Tanker Tails or stay off base. Tanker Tails is a cat and dog kennel located at 9 Sports Range. Call (509) 247-4699 for more information. If there are no reservations available, lodging personnel can assist with finding off-base temporary housing.

In-Processing
Prior to departing your current base or training school, all personnel should be assigned a sponsor. The sponsor provides information and answers any questions about the base, area and your unit, as well as assisting you with your in-processing appointments. For assistance regarding sponsor assignment, contact your gaining unit or call the Fairchild Air Force Base Airman Family & Readiness Center at (509) 247-2246. In-processing is done Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Walk-ins only, appointments not available). In-processing must be accomplished prior to PDTY. You will need to bring your CAC id card and PCS order (with amendments) and your sealed folder from MPS to Customer Service at MPS. You will be provided with a base in-processing checklist and will be scheduled for orientation.

As part of in-processing, attendance is required at the Right Start newcomer orientation and healthy start; these programs focuses on welcoming personnel and their spouses, making the experience a positive one.

If you arrive on base after duty hours, report-in will be the next day. Civilian personnel will report to the Civilian Personnel Office at the MPF. Check with your sponsor for additional instructions.

Housing
Balfour-Beatty Communities is the residential community at Fairchild Air Force Base. It consists of almost 800 homes with various neighborhoods. Renovations and new construction are ongoing, with upgrades and improvements occurring within each neighborhood. Contact Balfour-Beatty Communities at (509) 244-6500.

For single or unaccompanied enlisted members, dormitories are available. Contact the Housing Office at (509) 247-2341 or DSN (312) 657-2341. Personnel should get in touch with housing as soon as possible after receiving orders, by either calling directly or through sponsors.

There is housing available for families requiring special needs, with modifications also available for unoccupied units. Individuals with special needs may move into the next uncommitted unit in the proper grade. Contact Balfour-Beatty Communities for more information.

Wait time for housing can vary from a week to three months. Pet restrictions apply for families seeking housing in the Balfour-Beatty Communities, with a maximum of two pets (dogs or cats) per family and breed restrictions.

There are also off-base rentals, apartments and houses available. Spokane County has a good variety of housing, with communities such as Airway Heights, Cheney, Medical Lake and Spokane all nearby. Military members must check with the Housing Referral Office prior to seeking off-base accommodations.

Personal Property
Preparing for a personal property move can be daunting. Get a jump on things by sorting through keepsakes, having yard sales or donating items as soon as you are notified of your upcoming PCS. The majority of personal property shipments are now done utilizing the Defense Personal Property System (DPS). Any member moving will need to register for a DPS account. This can be done by going to the http://www.move. mil website, which you can also access via the AF Portal. The majority of members will be able to "self-counsel" in DPS, or come to the personal property office and utilize the cyber café set up to assist members with a "proctored self-counseling".

You must have hard copy orders to begin your shipment process, even if electing the self-counseling option. Members who elect to self-counsel will not be required to sit through an in-office personal property briefing, as DPS will have detailed entitlement information as well as member/carrier responsibility, full replacement claim filing, storage in transit, etc. After completing the self-counseling portion, members must provide a printed, signed copy of the DD1299-Application for Shipment and Storage, and the DD1797-Personal Property Counseling Checklist, and/or the DD2278- Personally Procured Move form (PPM) to the personal property office. Until all documents are returned to the personal property office, signed and dated, your shipment will not be eligible for booking. Certain exceptions apply to self-counseling. The move is being performed by a Power of Attorney (POA), you may not self-counsel and will be required to be briefed by a member of the personal property staff.

The DPS system is at this time, not compatible with Apple or Mac computers. The personal property office will be happy to assist with shipment creation or filing your claim.

The status of your shipment; in-transit means your shipment has not arrived; storage at destination means your shipment has arrived and has been placed into temporary storage. You will arrange delivery of your property via DPS or by contacting your Transportation Service Provider (TSP) to arrange for delivery of your property. If at any time you need assistance with tracing the status or your shipment, arranging delivery, or filing a claim, please come to the personal property office located in building 2040, Room 31, 7 West Arnold St, or call 247-5815/5626. Members desiring to move their personal property themselves (PPM) are eligible for a cash incentive. You must obtain advance approval and/or counseling for this type of move. Moves performed prior to the issuance of orders cannot be reimbursed.

Pets
If you are relocating with pets, visit your veterinarian prior to leaving and make sure they are up-to-date on all vaccinations. Obtain a health certificate if your vet recommends it, and discuss any potential hazards or concerns in regards to travel. If you choose to ship your pet to Fairchild, find out the specific restrictions and regulations that apply to the airline you choose, as well as cost. Pet travel costs are not reimbursed but can be tax-deductible.

The Fairchild Inn has 17 units that allow pets. It's important to make reservations early if you want to have your pet stay with you on-site. Be prepared to arrange boarding if there is not a pet-friendly unit available. Pet boarding may be arranged with Tanker Tails Dog and Cat Kennel, located at 9 Sport Range, (509) 247-4689. Pets on base must be registered with the Fairchild Veterinary Treatment Facility within three days of moving into housing. Pet licensing is mandatory in Spokane County and must be done within 30 days. Visit the Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service (SCRAPS) at http://www.spokanecounty. org/SCRAPS for prices and a printable application.

Vehicles
You must have a valid driver's license and sufficient insurance coverage to legally drive a vehicle in Washington state. In addition to automobiles, this includes motorcycles, RVs, trailers and boats. You must also register your vehicle. More information is available at http://www.dol.wa.gov.

State law also requires seat belts be worn while driving and proper child restraints/seats for both infants and children 8 years and younger. Cell phone use while driving is prohibited. If you want to try other transportation options, the Spokane Transit Authority has a good bus system, and vanpool and bus passes are free to all military and AF civilian employees on Fairchild Air Force Base. For more information, contact the Employee Transportation Coordinator at (509) 247-2313.

Firearms
Personal firearms must be registered within three days of arrival at the base at the 92nd Security Forces Squadron Armory and stored there if necessary. Dorm residents may not keep firearms in the dorms at any time, nor may privately owned weapons be carried on a person or in a vehicle. Personnel inhabiting military housing are authorized to keep their firearms in their homes, provided they are unloaded and kept in a locked container.  read more...

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