Fort Johnson PCS Guide: BAH Rates, Housing, Schools & Local Intel

BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front)

Fort Johnson (formerly Fort Polk until 2023) is home to the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) with 12,000 soldiers and 18,000 family members, serving as premier combat training.

Key Numbers:

• BAH vs. Rent: Excellent fit (E5 BAH comfortably covers median 3BR with good buffer)
• Median 3BR Rent: $1,100/month (very affordable)
• School Quality: Limited—Vernon Parish schools (5-6/10) are only option, acceptable but not top-tier
• Cost of Living: 12% below national average

What This Guide Covers: Housing neighborhoods with real prices, school ratings by name, and Central Louisiana military life intel.

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Quick Facts

Installation Overview:

• Official Name: Fort Johnson (renamed from Fort Polk June 2023)
• Location: Leesville, LA (Vernon Parish) / Central Louisiana
• Size: 198,000 acres
• Population: 12,000 soldiers + 18,000 family members
• Branch: Army (Joint Readiness Training Center)
• Major Units: Joint Readiness Training Center, 3rd Brigade 10th Mountain Division, 115th Combat Support Hospital, 519th Military Police Battalion
• Climate: Humid subtropical - hot humid summers (85-98°F), mild winters (35-65°F), high rainfall
• Nearest Major City: Alexandria (45 min), Shreveport (90 min), Lake Charles (90 min)

Want real-time data? This guide provides 2025 rates and static intel. For live housing prices, current school ratings, and personalized recommendations, use Base Navigator → (Premium)

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BAH Rates

BAH rates sourced from Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), updated annually. See official source →

Reality Check: For E5 with dependents, BAH comfortably covers all areas with significant buffer remaining. Fort Johnson has excellent BAH-to-rent ratio. Leesville is very affordable. Most families pocket $400-600/month after rent—one of the best financial situations in the Army.

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Housing Neighborhoods (Ranked)

Top Tier - Best Value

1. Leesville (North Side)

• Median Rent: $1,100/month (3BR house)
• Commute: 5-15 min to main gate
• Schools: 5-6/10 (Vernon Parish - only option)
• Why It's Good: Close to base, affordable, established neighborhoods, best Leesville has to offer
• Watch Out For: Still small town Louisiana schools—not competitive with national average

2. DeRidder, LA (South)

• Median Rent: $1,050/month
• Commute: 30-35 min to main gate
• Schools: 5-6/10 (Beauregard Parish)
• Why It's Good: Slightly larger town than Leesville, more amenities, affordable
• Watch Out For: Long commute, schools still not top-tier

Avoid / Know What You're Getting Into

South Leesville / Fort Johnson Road

• Why Know: Very close (5 min) but older homes, limited inventory, payday loan shops
• Rent: $950-1,000
• Reality: Convenience doesn't outweigh quality issues

On-Base Housing

Fort Johnson Family Housing (managed by Corvias)

• Availability: Short waitlist (2-4 months typical)
• Quality: Mix of older and renovated 2-4 BR homes
• Pros: Zero commute, no rent out-of-pocket, utilities included, on-base schools
• Cons: Remote location, older homes, humidity/heat, snakes common (Louisiana swamp)
• Wait List: E5-E6 typically 60-90 days
• Verdict: Good option for saving maximum BAH buffer and dealing with JRTC deployments

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Schools

School District Reality:

Vernon Parish School Board (Only Option)

• Rating: 5-6/10
• Standout Schools:
  • Leesville High School (6/10) - best option
  • Pickering High School (5/10)
• Why Limited: Rural Louisiana, funding challenges, limited resources
• Reality: Not competitive with national top-tier schools but acceptable for short tours. Most families consider Fort Johnson a "tough assignment" for schools.
• Link: Vernon Parish Schools

DoDEA Schools On Base:

Fort Johnson Elementary (K-5)
Fort Johnson Middle School (6-8)

DoDEA Quality: 6-7/10, better than Vernon Parish off-base schools. Priority for on-base residents.

Pro Tip: If you have school-age kids, live on-base for DoDEA schools (6-7/10) which are better than Vernon Parish (5-6/10). Off-base, all options are similar quality—choose based on commute/price.

For detailed school intelligence and real-time ratings: Base Navigator →

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Local Intel

Cost of Living

Overall: 12% lower — Very affordable
Housing: 22% lower — BAH goes very far
Groceries: 8% lower — Commissary + Walmart
Utilities: 15% higher — AC mandatory summer
Gas: At average — Louisiana fuel prices

Traffic & Commute

• Morning Rush: Minimal traffic on Highway 171, Fort Johnson Road
• Reality: Leesville is small town—no traffic. 5-15 min commutes everywhere. Isolation is the real issue, not commute.

Weather Reality

• Summer: 85-98°F, extremely humid (90%+), daily thunderstorms
• Winter: 35-65°F, mild, wet
• Wildlife: Snakes, alligators, wild hogs common (Louisiana swamp/forest)
• Reality: Hot humid summers worse than most bases. Prepare for wildlife encounters.

Commissary & Shopping

• Commissary: On-base, well-stocked for size, weekday mornings best
• Walmart: Leesville, main shopping
• Shopping: Limited—Alexandria (45 min) for anything beyond basics

Things to Do

• Kisatchie National Forest: Hiking, camping, fishing (surrounds base)
• Toledo Bend Reservoir: 30 min, fishing, boating (largest man-made lake in South)
• Hodges Gardens: State park, gardens, hiking
• Alexandria: 45 min, zoo, restaurants, shopping
• New Orleans: 4 hours, weekend trip
• Reality: Outdoor recreation (hunting, fishing) or drive to cities. Limited local entertainment.

What to Avoid

• Don't: Expect big-city amenities (Leesville is small, remote)
• Don't: Ignore wildlife—snakes and alligators are real (watch kids, pets)
• Don't: Underestimate humidity—90%+ summer is oppressive

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What's It Like to Live at Fort Johnson?

Fort Johnson is a remote Louisiana training post with challenging quality of life shaped by isolation, JRTC rotations, and rural setting.

Deployment Tempo:

• 3rd Brigade 10th Mountain: High—regular 9-12 month deployments
• JRTC OPFOR (Opposing Force): Low deployment but constant JRTC rotations
• Support Units: Moderate—some deployments, lots of JRTC support duty
• Reality: High deployment tempo or constant JRTC duty depending on unit. Either way, family separations are frequent.

Quality of Life Assessment: 5.5/10

Pros:

• Extremely affordable (best BAH-to-rent ratio in Army)
• Tight-knit military community (isolation bonds families)
• Excellent outdoor recreation (hunting, fishing)
• Strong family support (necessary for high deployment tempo)

Cons:

• Remote location (90 min from any significant city)
• Poor schools (Vernon Parish 5-6/10, not competitive)
• Hot humid summers (oppressive)
• Wildlife dangers (snakes, alligators)
• Limited civilian job market

The Verdict: Fort Johnson is a hardship assignment but financially excellent. It's manageable for families who embrace outdoor lifestyle, military community, and don't need top schools or city amenities. Most consider it 2-3 year assignment max.

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Cost of Living Breakdown

Monthly Budget for E5 with 2 Kids:

• Rent (3BR off-base): $1,100
• Utilities (electric, water, trash): $230
• Groceries: $620
• Gas/Transportation: $240
• Childcare (1 child, if needed): $600
• Internet/Phone: $130
• Misc/Entertainment: $250
• Total: $3,170

BAH vs. Reality:

BAH Coverage: Excellent—BAH easily covers rent with $450-650/month buffer remaining. Fort Johnson offers the best financial situation in the Army. Families can save aggressively here.

State Tax Reality:

Louisiana: Low to moderate state income tax (1.85-4.25% progressive). E5 with family pays ~$700-1,000/year in state taxes.

Savings Potential:

Exceptional. With BAH covering housing plus massive buffer and very low cost of living, families easily save $500-800/month. Use Fort Johnson to build emergency fund, pay off debt, and max TSP.

Money-Saving Tips:

1. Pocket BAH buffer: Save $450-650/month after rent
2. Hunt/fish: Louisiana licenses cheap, supplement groceries (deer, hogs, fish)
3. Use base facilities: Free gyms, pools, youth programs, bowling
4. Avoid city trips: Easy to blow savings on weekend Alexandria/Shreveport trips
5. Max TSP: Use Fort Johnson's low expenses to max retirement contributions

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Spouse Employment & Family Life

Job Market Reality:

Leesville has a very limited job market—one of the weakest for military spouses.

Realistic Expectations:

• Fort Johnson is primary employer (civilian jobs on base best bet)
• Retail/service in Leesville (low pay $11-15/hr)
• Healthcare at Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital
• Remote work is critical if you have professional skills

Top Spouse Employers:

1. Fort Johnson Civilian Jobs: Admin, medical, IT, education ($17-32/hr)
2. Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital: Nurses, medical admin, healthcare ($18-32/hr)
3. Vernon Parish School Board: Teachers, paraprofessionals, admin ($14-22/hr)
4. Walmart / Fast Food: Retail, service ($ 11-16/hr)
5. Remote Work: Essential for professionals—no local opportunities

Military Spouse Preference:

Fort Johnson has active MSP hiring. Competition is moderate—apply aggressively on USAJobs.

Childcare Reality:

• CDC Waitlist: 3-6 months typical, get on list early
• CDC Cost: $140-250/week based on rank
• Off-Base Daycare: $500-700/month, limited options
• Family Childcare (FCC): Home providers on base, shorter waitlist

Family Activities & Support:

• ACS (Army Community Service): Critical for employment, deployment support
• Fort Johnson Spouses' Club: Active community, scholarships
• Youth Services: Sports, camps, pools
• MWR: Outdoor recreation (hunting/fishing gear), bowling, movie theater

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Common Questions About Fort Johnson

Q: Is it still called Fort Polk?
A: Officially renamed Fort Johnson in June 2023 to honor Sgt. William Henry Johnson (WWI hero). Many still say Polk out of habit.

Q: Will BAH cover housing?
A: Easily—best BAH-to-rent ratio in the Army. You'll have $450-650/month left over after rent.

Q: What about schools?
A: Limited. Vernon Parish (5-6/10) is only off-base option. DoDEA on-base (6-7/10) is better—live on-base if you have school-age kids.

Q: How isolated is Fort Johnson really?
A: Very. Leesville is small town (pop 6,000). Alexandria 45 min, major cities 90+ min. Nearest airport Shreveport/Lake Charles (90 min). It's remote.

Q: Can spouses find jobs?
A: Very difficult. Fort Johnson civilian jobs, Walmart, or remote work are main options. One of the weakest spouse job markets.

Q: How often do soldiers deploy from Fort Johnson?
A: Frequently. 3rd Brigade 10th Mountain deploys regularly (9-12 months every 2-3 years). JRTC OPFOR doesn't deploy but constant rotations (home but gone).

Q: What's there to do?
A: Outdoor recreation (hunting, fishing, camping) or drive to cities. Limited local entertainment. Embrace outdoors or it's tough.

Q: Is Fort Johnson family-friendly?
A: Moderately. Strong family support systems (necessary for high deployment tempo), affordable, but remote location and limited schools/jobs make it challenging.

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Next Steps: Your PCS Toolkit

Base Navigator (Premium)
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Last Updated: November 11, 2025
Next Review: February 2026

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Official Resources & References

This guide synthesizes data from official Department of Defense sources. For additional information:

• Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) - Official military pay and allowances
• Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) - PCS entitlements and regulations
• MilitaryOneSource - Free 24/7 counseling and family support
• Defense Travel Management Office - Official BAH rates and per diem

Last verified: 2025-11-11. Garrison Ledger is an independent resource and is not affiliated with the Department of Defense.