Montana
Malmstrom Air Force Base
📍 Great Falls, Montana
Home to the 341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom oversees 150 Minuteman III ICBMs across central Montana as part of the nuclear deterrent mission.
BAH Rates
MHA: MT002 Rates as of 2026
E-1 with Dependents$1,236/mo
E-5 with Dependents$1,407/mo
E-5 without Dependents$1,134/mo
O-3 with Dependents$1,755/mo
O-3 without Dependents$1,422/mo
Housing
View full housing guide →- On-base: Malmstrom Family Housing managed by Hunt Military Communities — 1,200+ homes across multiple neighborhoods; mix of single-family, duplex, and townhome; wait lists typically 1-3 months
- Off-base (Great Falls): BAH covers most of the local market well; typical 3BR rental $900-$1,500/month depending on condition and location; housing stock is older on average
- Top pick: Fox Farm/East End area — 10-15 min to gate, established neighborhoods, good schools (Morningside Elementary), convenient to shopping on 10th Ave S
- Country living: Many airmen buy or rent on acreage outside Great Falls (15-25 min commute); land is affordable and the Montana lifestyle attracts outdoor enthusiasts
- Note: Winters are serious — expect sub-zero temperatures and heavy snow November-March; make sure your rental has good heating (forced air gas is standard); block heaters for vehicles recommended
Neighborhoods
View full neighborhoods guide →- Fox Farm — Southeast Great Falls, 10-15 min to gate, popular with military families, good elementary school, mix of 1950s-1990s homes, close to Missouri River trails
- Valley View — West Great Falls near the airport, 15-20 min to base, newer construction (1990s-2010s), larger homes, good access to West Bank shopping
- Riverview — Along the Missouri River bluffs, 10-15 min to base, scenic views, older established neighborhood with character homes and mature trees
- Downtown Great Falls — Historic district with unique loft apartments and older homes, 10 min to base, walkable to restaurants/bars, popular with young single airmen
- Black Eagle — Small community across the river just north of base, 5 min commute, blue-collar character, very affordable, but industrial area with a refinery nearby
Schools
View full schools guide →🏫 Elementary Schools
Loy Elementary⭐ 5/10
On-base, close to Malmstrom housing
Chief Joseph Elementary⭐ 4/10
Great Falls, near base
Meadow Lark Elementary⭐ 5/10
Great Falls, strong community
Morningside Elementary⭐ 5/10
Great Falls, IB program offered
🏫 Middle Schools
North Middle School⭐ 4/10
Great Falls, closest to base
East Middle School⭐ 5/10
Great Falls, strong academics
Our Lady of Lourdes (private)⭐ 6/10
Catholic K-8, popular alternative
🏫 High Schools
Great Falls High School⭐ 4/10
Great Falls, historic, diverse programs
C.M. Russell High School⭐ 5/10
Great Falls, newer facility, strong athletics
Great Falls Central Catholic⭐ 5/10
Private option, smaller class sizes
Gates & Commute
- Main Gate (2nd Ave N) — Primary 24/7 entrance from Great Falls, 5-10 min peak waits (6:30-7:30 AM), visitor center for pass processing
- Commercial Gate — Off US-87/89 east of base, limited hours, used for commercial deliveries and construction traffic
- Note: Gate traffic is generally light; Great Falls has minimal congestion; winter weather can slow things during heavy snow events
- Tip: The base is compact and walkable once inside; many personnel bike to work during summer months; winter walking paths are plowed
- Weather note: Gates remain open in all weather but blizzard conditions occasionally cause delays; Malmstrom Facebook page provides real-time gate status updates
Internet Providers
- Spectrum — Cable internet covering most of Great Falls, speeds up to 1 Gbps, reliable and widely available throughout the city
- CenturyLink — DSL and limited fiber in Great Falls; speeds vary 20-100 Mbps; less coverage than Spectrum in outlying areas
- T-Mobile 5G Home Internet — Good coverage in Great Falls metro; speeds 50-200 Mbps; viable option for temporary or short-term housing
- 3 Rivers Communications — Rural fiber cooperative serving areas outside Great Falls; excellent speeds (up to 1 Gbps) for country properties
- Starlink — Popular for rural acreage and missile field personnel living outside city limits; excellent for remote work in areas with no wired options
- Top pick: Spectrum in town; 3 Rivers or Starlink for rural properties outside city limits
Shopping & Dining
- On-base: Malmstrom Exchange (BX) and commissary centrally located; shoppette, Class Six, and food court near base housing
- Holiday Village Mall — Great Falls' main indoor mall with JCPenney, Hobby Lobby, and 50+ stores; 15 min from base on 10th Ave S
- 10th Ave S corridor — Great Falls' main commercial strip: Walmart, Target, many chain restaurants, grocery stores, and services
- Groceries: On-base commissary; off-base Albertsons, Smith's, 2J's Fresh Market (local independent), and Sam's Club
- Dining: The Montana Club (local institution for steaks), Roadhouse Diner (award-winning burgers), Tracy's Family Restaurant, and Beef & Bone (craft steaks)
- Downtown Great Falls — Central Avenue has local breweries (Mighty Mo Brewing, Harvest Craft), coffee shops, and unique boutiques along the Missouri River
Gyms & Recreation
- Malmstrom Fitness Center — Modern facility with cardio, weight room, functional fitness area, group classes, indoor track, and basketball/racquetball courts
- Outdoor Recreation (ODR) — Ski and snowboard rentals, camping gear, hunting/fishing licenses, guided trips to Glacier and Yellowstone, and ice fishing equipment
- On-base: Bowling alley, golf course (Malmstrom AFB Golf Course — 9 holes), indoor swimming pool (year-round), sports fields, and community center
- Missouri River — Runs right past the base: world-class fly fishing for trophy brown and rainbow trout, canoeing/kayaking, and the River's Edge Trail (60+ miles paved for biking/running)
- Showdown Montana (1 hr south) — Local ski area in the Little Belt Mountains; family-friendly with 1,400 vertical feet, no lift lines, and lift tickets under $60
- Day trips: Glacier National Park (2.5 hrs), Yellowstone National Park (3.5 hrs), Bob Marshall Wilderness (1.5 hrs), and the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls
Jobs & Spouse Employment
- On-base: AAFES, commissary, MWR, CDC — primary local employers for spouses; USAJobs for GS/WG positions supporting the missile wing mission
- Defense contractors: Boeing (ICBM guidance systems), Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and various missile-field support contractors have Malmstrom operations
- Great Falls economy: Healthcare (Benefis Health System — largest employer), education (Great Falls Public Schools, University of Providence), financial services, and agriculture
- Remote work: Very common among Malmstrom spouses due to limited local professional market; Montana time zone works for both coasts; good internet in town
- Employment Readiness: Airman & Family Readiness Center with job search workshops; Montana Job Service has an office in Great Falls
- Note: The local economy is modest; spouse professional opportunities are limited outside healthcare and education; remote work or on-base employment are the most common paths
Local Attractions
- Glacier National Park — 2.5 hours northwest: Going-to-the-Sun Road, 700+ miles of hiking trails, glacial lakes, and the Crown of the Continent; one of America's most spectacular national parks
- Missouri River Fly Fishing — World-class blue-ribbon trout fishery runs right past the base; the stretch below Holter Dam produces 20-inch-plus rainbows and browns regularly
- Giant Springs State Park — In Great Falls on the Missouri River; one of the largest freshwater springs in the world, Lewis & Clark expedition site, fish hatchery, and beautiful riverside trails
- Yellowstone National Park — 3.5 hours south (Gardiner entrance); Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, bison herds, and the Lamar Valley wolf-watching
- Little Belt Mountains — 1 hour south: hiking, mountain biking, skiing at Showdown, and camping in the Lewis & Clark National Forest; a local outdoor playground
- C.M. Russell Museum — In Great Falls; world's largest collection of Charles M. Russell's Western art plus his original log cabin studio on site
Area Maps
Photo Gallery
base
Aerial view of Malmstrom Air Force Base with Great Falls and the Missouri River
base
Historic aerial of Malmstrom AFB showing the base layout and missile field support facilities
base
40th Helicopter Squadron aircrew with the MH-139A Grey Wolf at Malmstrom
neighborhood
741st Missile Maintenance Squadron personnel at a Minuteman III launch facility
housing
Malmstrom ELAB (Engineering Laboratory) facility supporting the ICBM mission
nature
Environmental field survey on the Malmstrom reservation — preserving prairie ecosystems