The Fort Drum guide

Fort Drum, one chapter at a time.

Six chapters for the move to Fort Drum, each checked against official sources. Start with what comes next for you.

Housing allowance (BAH)Show the rate$1,665E-5 with dependents, 2026. Check your own rate
Snow a year~100 in.Watertown airport: see Winter
Median sale$250,000Jefferson County, Jul to Sep 2026
Soldiers & families35,000+Fort Drum, FY2024

The chapters, in the order you need them.

PCS checklist & moneyYour stage from orders to arrival week, a checklist that saves on your phone, moving pay and the deadlines that cost moneyStart with orders HousingHow on-post housing works, free off-post help, and 30 towns mapped by school district and drive time120+ days out BuyingYour payment against your 2026 BAH, rent vs. buy with winter bills counted, and New York tax breaks90 days out SchoolsFind your district, call the registrar, pre-enroll before you arrive, and your kids' MIC3 rights90 days out WinterAbout 100 inches of snow a year: heat, snow removal and snow days, set up before the first storm60 days out HealthcareGuthrie clinic, Samaritan hospital, TRICARE East in plain words, and PCSing while pregnant30 days out

Family numbers to save.

On-post help for the first month and after. In a crisis, find help in the directory's Help now section.

Relocation help & the Lending ClosetArmy Community Service: free household items to borrow while your shipment's on the way, and newcomer help(315) 772-6566 Child care & youth programsCYS Parent Central Services. Once you have orders, register at MilitaryChildCare.com(315) 772-8675 Emergency moneyArmy Emergency Relief: interest-free loans and grants. After hours, the Red Cross at 1-877-272-7337(315) 772-6560 Free budget counselingACS Financial Readiness(315) 772-0050 Spouse jobsACS Employment Readiness. More in the Spouse HQ(315) 772-1090 Free wills & powers of attorneyLegal Assistance, Clark Hall. Try to take care of this before a deployment(315) 772-5261 WICFood help for pregnant women and young kids, 238 Arsenal St, Watertown(315) 782-9222 Pet care on postFort Drum Veterinary Treatment Facility(315) 772-4262

Every Fort Drum number, searchable: the directory.

Good to know before you arrive.

  • Meet your unit's families

    Your unit's Soldier and Family Readiness Group (SFRG, once called the FRG) is the quickest way to meet other families and get unit news. Your sponsor can share the leader's contact before you arrive.

  • Spouse careers

    Tuition money, license reimbursement, New York license transfers and remote-work leads are in the Spouse HQ.

  • School vaccines

    New York allows only medical exemptions from school vaccination requirements; the religious exemption ended in 2019. Bring shot records when you enroll.

  • Deploying soon after the move?

    Connect with your SFRG leader early, register for child care right away, and make sure Army Community Service has your contact information. You are not alone in this.

Getting around.

  • You'll need a car

    Towns are spread out and winters are long; see Winter for what to set up. Drive times from 30 towns to the gates are in Housing.

  • Flying in and out

    Watertown International (ART) is in the area, with American Airlines flights to Philadelphia. Syracuse Hancock (SYR) is about 90 minutes south on I-81, with Allegiant, American, Breeze, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Sun Country and United.

  • Weekends away

    Ottawa is about two hours north and Montreal about three. The Thousand Islands and the Adirondacks are closer: see Living Here.

  • Internet and phone

    Check the exact address with internet providers before you sign; some rural addresses only get satellite. If your phone struggles indoors, turn on Wi-Fi calling, and ask your carrier about a military discount.

A place to start.

Tell us your report date and what's worrying you. A real person from our Fort Drum network calls you within 24 hours.

Got it. A real person calls you within 24 hours. Need someone now? Text or call (315) 221-4857.

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Checked Sep 24, 2026 against Fort Drum's garrison and family program pages (Army Community Service, Army Emergency Relief, Legal Assistance), Child and Youth Services, New York State Department of Health, and the Syracuse and Watertown airports. The 2026 BAH figure is the DFAS rate for Fort Drum (MHA NY225); snowfall is NOAA's normal for Watertown International Airport; the soldiers and families count is from Fort Drum's FY2024 economic impact statement (more than 35,000); the median sale is Redfin's Jefferson County figure for July to September 2026.

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