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Army15,000+ soldiers

Fort Johnson (Fort Polk)

Fort Johnson · Leesville, Louisiana

Fort Johnson, formerly Fort Polk, is the home of the Joint Readiness Training Center, one of the Army's premier combat training centers where units sharpen their warfighting skills in realistic scenarios. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 10th Mountain Division is permanently stationed here along with supporting units. Located in Vernon Parish in western Louisiana, the installation sits at the edge of the Kisatchie National Forest amid the bayous and pine forests of the Deep South.

E-5 BAH
$1,101
O-3 BAH
$1,389
Avg Home Price
$170,000
Branch
Army
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Neighborhoods

Leesville

Military town

$900 to $1,300/mo

Primary off-post community, affordable, very military-oriented economy

DeRidder

Small city

$850 to $1,200/mo

Larger than Leesville, 30 miles east, slightly more amenities and better schools

Many

Small Louisiana town

$750 to $1,000/mo

Small town south of the post near Toledo Bend Reservoir, very affordable

Natchitoches

Historic Louisiana city

$900 to $1,300/mo

Louisiana's oldest city, 60 miles east, charming but requires significant commute

Schools

Vernon Parish School Board

Grades K-12

Serves Leesville and surrounding area, high military student turnover, improving

Beauregard Parish School Board

Grades K-12

Serves DeRidder area, slightly better performance than Vernon Parish

Leesville High School

Grades 9-12

Largest high school near post, limited extracurricular options, dedicated teachers

Housing Intel

On-Post Housing

On-post housing managed by Corvias, good availability for most rank levels

Off-Post Rental Market

Among the most affordable housing markets in the Army system

Commute

Leesville provides short 5 to 15 minute commutes. The post is large and some commutes across the installation can take additional time depending on the unit location.

Installation Highlights

  • JRTC is one of the Army's most realistic and challenging combat training environments
  • Toledo Bend Reservoir, one of the largest lakes in the South, is minutes from post
  • Kisatchie National Forest offers excellent hiking, camping, and off-road trails
  • New Orleans is 3 hours east for one of America's great culinary and cultural experiences
  • South Louisiana food culture influences the local restaurant scene with excellent Cajun options

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