District of Columbia
Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling
📍 Washington, District of Columbia
Home to the 11th Wing and multiple intelligence agencies, JBAB provides ceremonial and support functions for the National Capital Region in Washington, D.C.
BAH Rates
MHA: DC053 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$2,865/mo
E-5 with Dependents$3,360/mo
E-5 without Dependents$2,481/mo
O-3 with Dependents$4,230/mo
O-3 without Dependents$3,393/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Privatized military family housing managed by Hunt Military Communities — historic brick homes and newer construction; 1,000+ units across multiple neighborhoods including Bolling and Anacostia sides
- Off-base: Most families live in nearby D.C. suburbs — Alexandria, Arlington, and Prince George's County, MD; BAH for D.C. area is among the highest in the DoD ($2,800-$3,800/month for E-5 to O-3)
- Wait times: On-base wait lists are moderate (2-4 months); many families choose off-base due to D.C.'s high BAH and better school options in Virginia suburbs
- Top pick: Alexandria's Del Ray and Old Town neighborhoods — 15-20 min commute, walkable, outstanding dining and community feel
- Note: D.C. traffic is severe — prioritize proximity to I-295/295 corridor and consider reverse-commute patterns; Metro is not convenient to JBAB
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- Alexandria (VA) — Most popular choice for JBAB families; Old Town, Del Ray, and Kingstowne offer excellent schools, walkability, and 15-25 min commute via I-295
- Arlington (VA) — Crystal City and Pentagon City are closest (10-15 min), excellent schools, dense urban living with Metro access to D.C.
- National Harbor (MD) — Newer development on the Potomac, 10-15 min commute, waterfront dining and the MGM casino/entertainment complex
- Capitol Hill / Navy Yard (DC) — Urban living near the Capitol, 10-min commute, Nationals Park and the Wharf nearby, D.C. public schools require careful navigation
- Springfield / Lorton (VA) — Further out (25-35 min) but more house for the money, excellent Fairfax County schools, strong military community
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Leckie Elementary (DCPS)⭐ 5/10
Closest DC public, walking distance from base housing
Bolling AFB Child Development Center⭐ 7/10
On-base pre-K, but not K-5 full school
Fort Belvoir Elementary (DoDEA)⭐ 7/10
Nearby at Fort Belvoir, VA ~20 min
Rose Hill Elementary (Alexandria, VA)⭐ 7/10
Fairfax County, popular with JBAB families
🏫 Middle Schools
Hart Middle School (DCPS)⭐ 3/10
DC public, low-rated — many families move to VA/MD
Twain Middle School (Alexandria, VA)⭐ 6/10
Fairfax County, ~20 min drive
Walker Mill Middle (Capitol Heights, MD)⭐ 4/10
Prince George's County option
🏫 High Schools
Ballou High School (DCPS)⭐ 2/10
Low-rated — most families avoid
Edison High School (Alexandria, VA)⭐ 6/10
Fairfax County, popular with JBAB families
West Potomac High School (Alexandria, VA)⭐ 7/10
Fairfax County, strong academics
Gates & Commute
- South Gate (Main) — Primary entry from I-295/Malcolm X Avenue, 5-20 min peak waits (6:30-8:30 AM weekday rush), 24/7 operations
- North Gate — Accessed from Firth Sterling Avenue, shorter waits but more restricted hours (0600-2200), convenient for Anacostia Metro side
- Arnold Gate — Secondary entry on the Bolling side, primarily for housing area access, restricted hours
- Tip: I-295 South (DC-295) and the Suitland Parkway are the main arteries; morning inbound traffic is heavy from both VA and MD sides
Internet Providers
- Xfinity (Comcast) — Dominant provider across D.C., MD, and VA; cable/fiber up to 1.2 Gbps in most areas; reliable and widely available
- Verizon Fios — Fiber optic in Northern Virginia (Alexandria, Arlington, Springfield); speeds up to 940 Mbps; highly rated for reliability
- RCN/Astound — Competitive cable alternative in D.C. proper; good pricing, speeds up to 1 Gbps
- Starlink — Available but generally unnecessary given excellent urban broadband coverage
- Top pick: Verizon Fios in VA suburbs; Xfinity in MD or D.C. proper
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: JBAB Exchange and commissary — well-stocked with groceries, household goods, and a food court; shoppette and Class Six available
- National Harbor — 10 min away: Tanger Outlets, upscale dining, waterfront bars, and the Capital Wheel
- Old Town Alexandria — King Street's boutique shopping, farmers market (Saturday mornings, one of the oldest in the U.S.), and excellent dining scene
- Pentagon City Mall and Fashion Centre — 15 min drive in Arlington; major department stores, Apple Store, and connected to Metro
- Groceries: On-base commissary; off-base Wegmans (Alexandria), Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Safeway throughout the area
Gyms & Recreation
- JBAB Fitness Center — Full gym with cardio, free weights, group fitness classes, and indoor basketball/racquetball courts
- Outdoor Recreation (ODR) — Equipment rental (camping, kayaks, bikes), discounted tickets to D.C. attractions and regional events
- On-base: Bowling alley, golf driving range, marina with boat rentals on the Potomac, swimming pool (seasonal outdoor), and sports fields
- The National Mall — 10-15 min drive; Smithsonian museums (all free), monuments, Capitol tours, and endless running/biking paths along the Potomac
- Anacostia Riverwalk Trail — On-base bike/pedestrian path connecting to the larger D.C. trail network; excellent for commuting by bike
- Nationals Park and Audi Field — MLB and MLS within 10 min; military discount tickets available through MWR
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: GS and NAF positions through USAJobs; 11th Wing, DIA, and Navy elements all hire locally — strong intel and admin job market for cleared spouses
- D.C. federal: Pentagon (10 min), DHS, State Department, and Capitol Hill are all within 20 min; military spouse preference (MSP) helps with federal hiring
- Defense contractors: Booz Allen, SAIC, Leidos, Northrop Grumman, and CACI all have major D.C.-area offices within commuting distance
- Private sector: D.C.'s tech, legal, and nonprofit sectors are robust; Amazon HQ2 in Arlington (Crystal City) is a major nearby employer
- Remote work: Strong D.C. broadband makes remote work easy; Eastern Time Zone works well for U.S.-based remote roles
- Employment Readiness: Airman & Family Readiness Center provides resume workshops, career counseling, and D.C.-specific federal hiring guidance
Local Attractions
- National Mall & Smithsonian Museums — World-class, free museums (Air & Space, American History, Natural History, African American History) within 15 min
- U.S. Capitol & Library of Congress — Guided tours available; awe-inspiring architecture and history at the seat of American government
- Arlington National Cemetery — 15 min drive; Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, JFK's eternal flame
- Old Town Alexandria — Colonial-era waterfront with cobblestone streets, Torpedo Factory Art Center, ghost tours, and waterfront dining
- Mount Vernon — George Washington's estate, 20 min south in Virginia; beautiful grounds, museum, and working farm
- Weekend trips: Annapolis (45 min), Shenandoah National Park (90 min), Baltimore Inner Harbor (45 min), Philadelphia (2.5 hrs), New York City (4 hrs by train)
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
JB Anacostia-Bolling installation, Washington DC
neighborhood
Old Town Alexandria waterfront, popular neighborhood for JBAB families
housing
On-base military family housing at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling
nature
The National Mall and Potomac River, minutes from the base
downtown
Old Town Alexandria's King Street shopping and dining district
restaurant
Waterfront dining at National Harbor near the base