Mississippi
Keesler Air Force Base
📍 Biloxi, Mississippi
Home to the 81st Training Wing and Second Air Force, Keesler is a major technical training center and the Air Force's cyberspace education hub.
BAH Rates
MHA: MS026 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$1,380/mo
E-5 with Dependents$1,626/mo
E-5 without Dependents$1,218/mo
O-3 with Dependents$2,049/mo
O-3 without Dependents$1,587/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Privatized housing through Hunt Military Communities — single-family homes, townhomes, and duplexes; wait lists 0-4 months; a mix of homes ranging from historic (some dating to the 1940s) to newly constructed; the base is on the Biloxi Back Bay with water views from some units
- Off-base (Biloxi): Most permanent-party families live off-base; rentals $1,000-$1,800/month; BAH provides good coverage; diverse options from beachfront condos to suburban homes in north Biloxi
- Off-base (Ocean Springs): 15-25 min commute across the Biloxi Bay Bridge, top-rated Ocean Springs schools, artsy downtown with galleries and restaurants, higher prices but premium quality of life
- Top pick: North Biloxi / D'Iberville — 10-15 min commute, newer construction, good schools, near shopping along I-10 and I-110 corridors, popular with Keesler families
- Note: Hurricane preparedness is a Gulf Coast reality — review your insurance (wind/hail and flood are separate policies), know your evacuation zone, and have a plan; Keesler is resilient — it rebuilt stronger after Katrina — and the community is well-prepared
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- North Biloxi — 10-15 min commute, newer subdivisions, Biloxi Public Schools, near I-10 and shopping, most popular with Keesler permanent-party families; safe and family-friendly
- D'Iberville — 10-15 min, growing community just north of Biloxi, newer homes, good schools, convenient to the Promenade shopping center and I-10/I-110 corridors
- Ocean Springs — 15-25 min, across the Biloxi Bay Bridge, top-rated Ocean Springs School District, historic downtown with galleries and the Walter Anderson Museum of Art, charming and artsy — the 'cool' Gulf Coast town
- West Biloxi / Edgewater — 5-10 min, close to base, mix of historic waterfront homes and condos, great views of the Gulf or Back Bay, some areas still rebuilding from Katrina — check flood zones carefully
- Gulfport (15-25 min west): Larger city with more affordable options, Gulfport schools, closer to Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport and the Gulfport shopping/dining district
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Back Bay Elementary⭐ 6/10
Close to base
North Bay Elementary⭐ 5/10
Biloxi
Popp's Ferry Elementary⭐ 6/10
Biloxi
🏫 Middle Schools
Biloxi Junior High School⭐ 5/10
Biloxi, diverse
Diberville Middle School⭐ 5/10
Nearby D'Iberville
Ocean Springs Middle⭐ 7/10
Ocean Springs, top-rated
🏫 High Schools
Biloxi High School⭐ 6/10
Close to Keesler, diverse
D'Iberville High School⭐ 5/10
Nearby
Ocean Springs High School⭐ 8/10
Top-rated on the Gulf Coast
Gates & Commute
- Main Gate (Pass Road / Division Street) — Primary entry from Biloxi, 24/7, 5-15 min peak waits (6:00-8:00 AM), access to the main base, training facilities, and flightline
- White Avenue Gate — North gate convenient for D'Iberville and I-10 access, shorter waits, limited hours (typically 0530-1900 weekdays)
- Tip: The Main Gate on Pass Road can back up during morning student training report times — the White Avenue Gate is the unsung hero for north Biloxi/D'Iberville commuters
- Note: Keesler is a training base with 4,000+ students in training at any time — the tempo is high but the permanent party community is strong and close-knit; the base is compact and walkable
Internet Providers
- Sparklight (Cable One) — Primary cable provider on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; speeds up to 1 Gbps; widely available and reliable
- AT&T Fiber — Available in parts of Biloxi, Ocean Springs, and D'Iberville; symmetrical speeds up to 5 Gbps
- T-Mobile 5G Home Internet — Excellent coverage along the Gulf Coast; $50/month unlimited; strong speeds
- C Spire Fiber — Regional Mississippi provider; fiber available in some Gulf Coast communities; competitive pricing with great local service
- Top pick: AT&T Fiber or C Spire Fiber where available; Sparklight reliable everywhere; T-Mobile great backup
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: AAFES Exchange and commissary — very well-stocked (large training base with significant student population spending); extensive uniform section; shoppette and Class Six
- Edgewater Mall (Biloxi, 5 min from base): Dillard's, Forever 21, and 80+ stores right on the beach; the only beachfront mall on the Mississippi Gulf Coast
- The Promenade (D'Iberville, 10-15 min): Target, Kohl's, Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, and chain restaurants along the I-10 corridor
- Groceries: On-base commissary; off-base Rouses Markets (beloved Louisiana/Mississippi Gulf Coast grocer — fresh seafood, poboy bread, and local specialties), Walmart Supercenter, and fresh seafood markets all along the coast for Gulf shrimp, oysters, and fish
- Dining: The Gulf Coast is a seafood paradise — The Half Shell Oyster House (Biloxi, Gulf seafood and steak in a historic building), Mary Mahoney's Old French House (Biloxi, fine dining in a 1737 French colonial home — a true institution), Shaggy's (Biloxi and Pass Christian, waterfront casual), and the Shed BBQ (Ocean Springs, nationally-acclaimed BBQ in a gloriously funky setting)
- Ocean Springs (15-20 min): Washington Avenue with art galleries, boutiques, coffee shops, and the Walter Anderson Museum of Art; Government Street's historic cottages and local restaurants
Gyms & Recreation
- Keesler AFB Fitness Center — 24/7 with cardio, free weights, functional fitness, indoor basketball, racquetball, and group classes; modern, spacious facility serving the training population
- Keesler AFB Golf Course (Bay Breeze) — 18-hole championship course on base; recently renovated, beautiful Back Bay views, driving range, pro shop, and clubhouse
- Outdoor Recreation (ODR) — Boats, kayaks, paddleboards, fishing gear; deep-sea fishing charters; organized trips to New Orleans, Pensacola, Mobile, and the barrier islands; hunting and camping programs
- On-base: Bowling alley, auto hobby shop, community center, sports fields, pool, library, and the Keesler AFB Marina on the Back Bay with boat slips and rentals
- Mississippi Gulf Coast Beaches (5 min from base) — 26 miles of man-made white sand beach (the world's longest); Biloxi Beach, the seawall sidewalk for walking and biking, and the barrier islands (Ship Island, Horn Island) accessible by ferry for pristine natural beaches
- Gulf Islands National Seashore — Ship Island (ferry from Gulfport, 50 min): Fort Massachusetts (Civil War-era fort), pristine beaches, excellent shelling, and Gulf swimming; the Davis Bayou area (Ocean Springs) for hiking, kayaking, and birding
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: AAFES, commissary, MWR, CDC — primary local employers; USAJobs for an enormous number of GS/WG positions — the 81st TRW and 2nd Air Force create significant civilian employment in training, curriculum development, IT, cyberspace operations, and administration
- Defense contractors: Major training support contractors — CAE USA, L3Harris, and multiple firms supporting the technical training pipeline in electronics, cyber, and weather; demand for instructors, IT, and curriculum developers
- Gulf Coast economy: Tourism and hospitality (10+ casino resorts — Beau Rivage, Hard Rock, IP, Palace, and more — major employers across hospitality, management, IT, and entertainment), healthcare (Biloxi VA Medical Center, Merit Health Biloxi, Singing River Health System), and shipbuilding (Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, 30 min — 11,000+ employees building Navy ships)
- New Orleans (1.5 hrs): Major metro job market across tech, healthcare, energy, and film/entertainment — viable for hybrid/remote with occasional on-site days
- Remote work: Excellent for Keesler spouses — Central time zone; strong internet; low cost of living; Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport with flights to major hubs for occasional travel
- Employment Readiness: Airman & Family Readiness Center provides job search support; the large training mission creates steady civilian and contractor employment demand
Local Attractions
- The Mississippi Gulf Coast Beaches — 26 miles of the world's longest man-made beach from Biloxi to Pass Christian; the beachfront sidewalk for walking, running, and biking; shrimp boats on the horizon; and the kind of sunsets that make you understand why people stay here forever
- Casino Resorts — The Beau Rivage, Hard Rock, IP, Palace, and more offer Las Vegas-style gaming, entertainment, dining, and spas on the Gulf; even if you don't gamble, the headliner concerts (Tribal, Beau Rivage Theatre) and restaurants are top-tier for the region
- Ship Island / Gulf Islands National Seashore (ferry from Gulfport) — Pristine barrier island beaches, Fort Massachusetts (a brick Civil War-era fort you can explore), clear Gulf water for swimming, and some of the best shelling on the Gulf Coast — a true Gulf Coast gem
- New Orleans (1.5 hrs west) — The French Quarter, Bourbon Street, world-class dining from Commander's Palace to the po-boy shops, live jazz on Frenchmen Street, and the National WWII Museum (one of the best museums in America); a perfect day trip or weekend getaway
- Ocean Springs (15-20 min) — Charming downtown with the Walter Anderson Museum of Art, the Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Center, boutiques and galleries, and the Shed BBQ for lunch; the bridge crossing Biloxi Bay to Ocean Springs is stunning at sunset
- Mobile, AL (1 hr east) — USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, the Mobile Carnival Museum (Mobile is the original home of Mardi Gras), and the historic Dauphin Street entertainment district; an easy day trip east
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
Training exercise at Keesler AFB — home of the 81st Training Wing
base
Keesler AFB — the Air Force's cyberspace and electronics training hub
neighborhood
Beach Drive in Biloxi — the Mississippi Gulf Coast beachfront community
nature
The Biloxi beachfront and Mississippi Sound at sunset
downtown
The Gulf Coast beaches — 26 miles of white sand at Keesler's doorstep
restaurant
Mary Mahoney's Old French House — fine Gulf Coast dining since 1964