Arizona
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base
📍 Tucson, Arizona
Home to the 355th Wing and the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, the world's largest aircraft storage and preservation facility.
BAH Rates
MHA: AZ024 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$1,491/mo
E-5 with Dependents$1,761/mo
E-5 without Dependents$1,374/mo
O-3 with Dependents$2,226/mo
O-3 without Dependents$1,734/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Privatized housing through Soaring Heights Communities — single-family homes and townhomes; wait lists 1-4 months; homes range from historic (1950s-60s) to newly constructed; solar panels on most homes help offset Arizona's high summer electric bills
- Off-base (Tucson east side): Most families live off-base; rentals $1,200-$2,200/month; BAH provides good coverage; popular areas within 15-25 min of base
- Off-base (Vail / Corona de Tucson): 20-30 min southeast, newer subdivisions with larger homes, excellent Vail School District — top-rated in the Tucson area, popular with families prioritizing schools
- Top pick: Rita Ranch — 15 min to base, newer homes, Vail schools without the longer commute, strong military community, family-friendly with parks and walking trails
- Note: Tucson summers are hot — AC bills can run $200-400/month June-September; homes with solar panels, good insulation, and modern AC units pay for themselves quickly
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- Rita Ranch — 15 min commute, #1 choice for DM families, newer construction (1990s-2020s), Vail School District, parks and trails, strong military community, convenient to DMAFB via Kolb Road
- Vail / Corona de Tucson — 20-30 min, top-rated Vail schools, larger homes on bigger lots, growing with new subdivisions, more of a rural-suburban feel — the trade-off is longer commute for excellent schools
- Southeast Tucson (Golf Links/Harrison area) — 10-15 min, established neighborhoods, close to base, convenient to shopping and dining, mix of older and mid-century homes
- Central Tucson / Sam Hughes — 20-25 min, historic neighborhood near University of Arizona, beautiful 1920s-1940s homes, walkable to campus and 4th Avenue dining/entertainment, popular with academics and those wanting historic character
- Sahuarita / Green Valley — 30-35 min south, growing family communities, Sahuarita schools are solid, Green Valley is predominantly retirement but has spillover family housing; more affordable new construction
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Dietz K-8⭐ 4/10
Close to DM
Soleng Tom Elementary⭐ 6/10
East Tucson
Erickson Elementary⭐ 5/10
Tucson
🏫 Middle Schools
Gridley Middle School⭐ 4/10
Tucson
Magee Middle School⭐ 5/10
Tucson
Booth-Fickett K-8 (middle)⭐ 4/10
Near base
🏫 High Schools
Sahuaro High School⭐ 5/10
Close to DM, diverse
Sabino High School⭐ 7/10
Northeast Tucson, stronger
University High School⭐ 10/10
Top-ranked in AZ, selective admission
Gates & Commute
- Craycroft Gate (Craycroft Road) — Primary gate, 24/7, 5-15 min peak waits (6:30-8:30 AM), direct from Craycroft and Golf Links corridors
- Swan Gate (Swan Road) — Secondary gate on the west side, shorter waits, limited hours (typically 0530-1900 weekdays), convenient for central Tucson residents
- Golf Links Gate — East side entry, convenient for Rita Ranch/Vail residents, shorter waits, limited hours
- Tip: Craycroft Gate backs up during the morning rush — Swan or Golf Links gates are faster alternatives if you're on that side; the base is large — the AMARG boneyard is on the east side, flightline on the west
Internet Providers
- Cox Communications — Primary cable provider in Tucson; speeds up to 1 Gbps; widely available and reliable across the metro area
- CenturyLink (Quantum Fiber) — Fiber available in parts of Tucson; symmetrical speeds up to 940 Mbps; expanding coverage
- T-Mobile 5G Home Internet — Excellent coverage across Tucson metro; $50/month unlimited; strong speeds
- Verizon 5G Home Internet — Also strong in Tucson; competitive with T-Mobile
- Top pick: CenturyLink/Quantum Fiber where available; Cox reliable everywhere; T-Mobile great backup
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: AAFES Exchange and commissary — well-stocked for base size; shoppette and Class Six
- Park Place Mall (15-20 min): Tucson's largest enclosed mall with Macy's, Dillard's, and 100+ stores; surrounded by big-box retail (Target, Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods)
- Groceries: On-base commissary; off-base Fry's (Kroger), Safeway, Sprouts, and the excellent Food Conspiracy Co-op (4th Avenue); farmers markets year-round thanks to Tucson's growing season
- Dining: Tucson is a UNESCO City of Gastronomy — El Charro Cafe (America's oldest Mexican restaurant, est. 1922), El Guero Canelo (James Beard Award-winning Sonoran hot dogs), Cafe Poca Cosa (elevated regional Mexican), and the legendary eegee's (Tucson-born frozen fruit drinks and subs)
- Downtown Tucson / 4th Avenue (20-25 min): Vibrant indie shopping, vintage stores, restaurants, bars, and the historic Fox Tucson Theatre
- Phoenix metro (1.5-2 hrs north): Scottsdale Fashion Square, Kierland Commons, and the full Phoenix/Scottsdale luxury retail and dining scene for weekend shopping trips
Gyms & Recreation
- DMAFB Fitness Center — 24/7 with cardio, free weights, functional fitness, indoor basketball, racquetball, and group classes; modern facility serving the 355th Wing
- DMAFB Golf Course (Blanchard Golf Course) — 9-hole on-base course with stunning mountain views; driving range, pro shop, and clubhouse
- Outdoor Recreation (ODR) — Camping, hiking, and biking gear; tickets and travel; organized trips to the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Rocky Point (Mexico), and San Diego
- On-base: Bowling alley, auto hobby shop, community center, sports fields, pool, library, and the DMAFB FamCamp (on-base RV campground)
- Saguaro National Park (20-30 min) — The nation's largest cacti, split into East (Rincon Mountain) and West (Tucson Mountain) districts; scenic drives, hiking, and stunning Sonoran Desert sunsets among the saguaro forests
- Mount Lemmon (1 hr drive up) — Rise from saguaro desert at 2,500 ft to pine forest at 9,100 ft; the southernmost ski area in the US (Ski Valley), summer hiking, rock climbing (some of the best in Arizona), and the town of Summerhaven — a 25-degree temperature drop from the desert floor
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: AAFES, commissary, MWR, CDC — primary local employers; USAJobs for GS/WG positions supporting the 355th Wing and AMARG — significant civilian workforce for aircraft maintenance and storage
- Defense contractors: Raytheon Missiles & Defense (Tucson HQ, 13,000+ employees) — massive employer for engineers, IT, and cleared professionals; plus Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and multiple smaller defense firms with strong Tucson presence
- University of Arizona — Largest employer in southern Arizona; wide range of academic, research, administrative, and support positions; Banner University Medical Center for healthcare roles
- Tucson economy: Growing tech sector (Caterpillar mining technology HQ, Amazon, various startups), healthcare (Banner Health, Tucson Medical Center), and hospitality/tourism
- Remote work: Excellent for DM spouses — Mountain time zone works for West and Central time roles; competitive BAH; excellent internet infrastructure; no state income tax on military retirement
- Employment Readiness: Airman & Family Readiness Center provides job search support; the Raytheon-UofA-DMAFB triangle creates strong demand for cleared professionals
Local Attractions
- AMARG / Pima Air & Space Museum (adjacent to base) — The world's largest aircraft boneyard with 4,000+ aircraft; the museum has 400+ historic aircraft including an SR-71 Blackbird; bus tours of AMARG from the museum are a must-do (book ahead)
- Saguaro National Park (20-30 min) — Iconic Sonoran Desert landscape; the saguaro cactus forests, scenic loop drives, sunset hikes at Gates Pass, and wildflower super blooms in wet springs
- Mount Lemmon (1 hr) — Southernmost ski area in the U.S., summer escape at 9,100 ft, the Catalina Highway is one of the most scenic drives in America, excellent hiking in the Coronado National Forest
- Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (30 min west) — A world-renowned zoo, botanical garden, and natural history museum in one; hummingbird aviary, raptor free-flight demonstrations, and desert wildlife in natural habitats
- Tombstone and Bisbee (1-1.5 hrs southeast) — The Wild West: OK Corral gunfight reenactments in Tombstone; the artsy, funky former mining town of Bisbee with galleries, the Queen Mine tour, and quirky charm
- Grand Canyon National Park (5 hrs north) — It's Grand Canyon; South Rim is doable as a long weekend trip; Sedona's red rocks and Oak Creek Canyon (3.5 hrs) are closer and equally spectacular
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
A-10C Thunderbolt II of the 355th Wing arrives at Davis-Monthan AFB
base
A-10 Thunderbolt tails at the AMARG boneyard in Tucson
neighborhood
The AMARG aircraft boneyard — 4,000+ aircraft at Davis-Monthan
nature
Saguaro National Park at sunset with iconic saguaro cacti
downtown
Historic 4th Avenue in downtown Tucson — shopping and dining hub
restaurant
El Charro Cafe — America's oldest Mexican restaurant in Tucson