FORT DRUM
ARMY
Watertown, NY
United States
FORT DRUM
ARMY
Watertown, NY
United States
Fort Drum
Base Essentials
Home of the 10th Mountain Division in upstate New York near Watertown — the Army's coldest and snowiest post, isolated but with a tight-knit community and some of the best hunting and fishing in the Northeast.
Base Details
Type
Army Post
Branch
ARMY
Command
FORSCOM
Status
Active
Est.
1908
Acres
107,265
Active Duty
18,000
Civilian
4,000
Population
120,000
Economic Impact
$3.2 billion
Fort Drum History
Named AfterLieutenant General Hugh Aloysius Drum
Fort Drum near Watertown, New York, has origins dating to 1908 as Pine Camp, a summer training area. Named after Lieutenant General Hugh Drum, it was a major training center during both World Wars but fell into reduced status during the Cold War. In 1985 it was selected as the home of the reactivated 10th Mountain Division, triggering a massive modernization and expansion. Today Fort Drum is a major power projection platform, with the 10th Mountain Division being one of the most frequently deployed divisions in the Army. The installation operates in a challenging northern climate that provides unique cold-weather training opportunities.
Units Stationed
Unit
Nickname
Type
10th Mountain Division
—
—
Historic Timeline
1908
Pine Camp Established for National Guard Training
1935
Renamed Camp Drum
1941
WWII Expansion for Cold-Weather Training
1974
Redesignated Fort Drum
1985
10th Mountain Division Reactivated
1993
First Combat Deployment to Somalia
—
View Key Moments
(6)
1908
Pine Camp Established for National Guard Training
The U.S. Army established Pine Camp near Watertown, New York, as a training area for the New York National Guard. The remote North Country location offered year-round training conditions — including harsh Adirondack winters ideal for cold-weather warfare preparation.
1935
Renamed Camp Drum
Pine Camp was officially renamed Camp Drum in honor of Brig. Gen. Richard C. Drum, a Civil War veteran and 19th-century Adjutant General of the Army, recognizing the installation's expanding role in Army training in the northeastern United States.
1941
WWII Expansion for Cold-Weather Training
Camp Drum expanded dramatically during World War II, training thousands of soldiers in winter warfare, cold-weather operations, and mountain combat. The demanding North Country environment produced soldiers capable of operating in extreme conditions across multiple theaters.
1974
Redesignated Fort Drum
Camp Drum was upgraded and redesignated as Fort Drum, reflecting its permanent status as a major Army installation and continued strategic importance for northeastern U.S. defense and rapid deployment operations.
1985
10th Mountain Division Reactivated
The 10th Mountain Division was reactivated at Fort Drum on February 13, 1985, reviving the famed WWII mountain warfare unit. Designed for rapid deployment and operations in austere, cold-weather environments, the division became the Army's most deployed unit in the post-Cold War era.
1993
First Combat Deployment to Somalia
The 10th Mountain Division conducted its first combat deployment when soldiers deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia, in support of Operation Restore Hope and Task Force Ranger — including troops who fought in the Battle of Mogadishu in October 1993, the deadliest firefight for U.S. forces since Vietnam.
Phone Directory
Key phone numbers for Fort Drum.
Fort Drum Base Gates
Entry points, hours, and access requirements for Fort Drum.
Gate hours can change suddenly during special exercises, holidays, and operational periods. We always recommend confirming details before you travel.
Latest News
Recent articles and updates from Fort Drum.
Information
iSportsman Fort Drum Helps You Enjoy Outdoor Rec
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Bringing Multi-Domain Operations to Fort Drum Means Boost for Region
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How the 10th Mountain Division Is Helping With Personal Boundaries
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Fort Drum Housing: 10 On-Post Options
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Fort Drum: In-Depth Welcome Center
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PCS & Newcomers
Everything you need to know for your move to Fort Drum.
Welcome center hours and contact details can change. We recommend confirming before you visit or call.
Reception Activity Welcome Center (Clark Hall)
Phone
(315) 772-7529Hours
24/7 (including holidays and DONSAs)
In-Processing
All Soldiers arriving at Fort Drum report directly to the Reception Activity Welcome Center in Clark Hall, Building P-10720 on Mount Belvedere Boulevard, which is staffed 24/7 including holidays. Bring a copy of your DA Form 31, assignment orders and amendments, health and dental records, and Military Personnel Record Jacket. Fort Drum's goal is to have each Soldier signed in and connected with a unit sponsor within two hours of arrival.
In-processing spans 8 to 11 duty days. The first day is spent in-processing at the assigned unit. On the second day, Soldiers report to Clark Hall at 0700 for installation-level in-processing, which includes orientation briefings, activity in-processing, TA-50 (field equipment) issue, and a deployment readiness screening. For 10th Mountain Division personnel, the first week is generally appointment-based and the second week follows a fixed five-day schedule.
Army Community Service (ACS) at Building P-4330, Conway Road ((315) 772-6566) hosts the Drum Soldier and Family Newcomer's Orientation on the first Monday of each month, 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM. The ACS Lending Closet provides pots, pans, dishes, silverware, sleeping mats, folding tables and chairs, high chairs, playpens, and car seats for up to 30 days while awaiting household goods. ACS also offers relocation counseling, settling-in services, and financial readiness support.
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Sponsor Program Information
Temporary Lodging Details
Open PCS Checklist (14 Items)
Trusted Base Intel. Since 1966.
Join 200,000+ personnel for base news, PCS tips, exclusive discounts, and critical benefits info.
Always free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sponsor Program Information
Temporary Lodging Details
Housing & BAH
On-post housing, cost of living, and BAH info for Fort Drum.
On-post housing at Fort Drum is managed by Corvias Military Living, which operates family communities across the installation near Watertown in northern New York with 2- to 4-bedroom homes available for families of all sizes and ranks. Corvias provides 24/7 maintenance support, dedicated on-site resident services staff, and an online portal for applications, work or…
Local Market
$1,150/mo
rent
/
$175,000
avg. home
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Cost of Living Around Fort Drum
85
15% Below National Average
Housing
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Schools & Education
K-12 schools, colleges, and education resources near Fort Drum.
School Liaison Officer
School Liaison Officer (SLO)
2
Elementary Schools
View schools
1
Middle Schools
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1
High Schools
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3
Colleges & Universities
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Education Resources
Notes, tuition & more
Education Benefits
Check Your GI Bill Eligibility
Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, and more.
Where To Live
Fort Drum is situated in Jefferson County in the North Country of New York, between the Adirondack Mountains and the St. Lawrence River. The region is remote by East Coast standards, and winters are severe with heavy lake-effect snow from Lake Ontario. Most families settle in Watertown or the small communities that cluster around the post's main gates.
Watertown
Small Town
Watertown is the main city serving Fort Drum and offers the most amenities in Jefferson County. It has a full commercial corridor with grocery stores, restaurants, and retail, plus a modest downtown that comes alive in summer. Most families live in the neighborhoods along Arsenal Street or in suburban areas north and south of the city. Winters are brutal — this is the snowiest region in the contiguous US — but the community embraces it.
Commute: 10–20 min
Gate: Main Gate (NY-342)
Schools: Watertown City School District
Families with kids
Single service members
Budget-friendly
Black River waterway through the city, short drive to the Thousand Islands and St. Lawrence River. Tug Hill Plateau offers snowshoeing, skiing, and snowmobiling in winter. Close-knit military community with strong support networks.
Evans Mills / Calcium
Small Town
Evans Mills and Calcium are small communities that sit directly adjacent to Fort Drum's main gate, offering the shortest possible commutes. Housing is extremely affordable and often newer than what you'd find in Watertown proper. It's a fully military-oriented area with limited amenities of its own, but gate access is unmatched.
Commute: 3–8 min
Gate: Main Gate (NY-342)
Schools: Indian River Central School District
Budget-friendly
Single service members
Dual military
Maximum gate convenience with minimal commute stress. Indian River schools serve the area and have a strong military-connected culture. Calcium specifically has newer construction built to serve Drum families.
Taxes & Finance
State tax policy and financial info for service members at Fort Drum.
State Income Tax
Has state income tax
Military Pay
Fully taxed
Retirement Pay
Fully exempt
Vehicle Tax Exempt
No
Military Pay Details
New York taxes active duty pay of NY residents at graduated rates up to 10.9% — among the highest in the nation. If New…
Spouse Income Tax
Nonresident military spouses accompanying a service member stationed in New York are exempt from NY income tax on wages…
Vehicle Registration
New York honors SCRA protections — nonresident service members are not required to re-register in NY. Expired licenses,…
Property Tax
New York offers veterans property tax exemption programs for honorably discharged veterans. Additional 2025 legislation…
Pet Policies at Fort Drum
Pet policies, vet services, and resources at Fort Drum.
Emergency Vet
Coming soon
On-Base Vet Clinic
Fort Drum Veterinary Treatment Facility
Hours
Mon–Fri 0800–1600
View services
Restricted Breeds
7
Prohibited Animals
13
Dog Parks
—
Boarding & Kennels
—
Pet Guidance
2
Max Pets
Leash Laws
Facilities & Services
On-base services and facilities at Fort Drum.
Commissary
1
Fort Drum Commissary
Click2Go Available
Exchange
PX
Mon–Sat 9am–6pm, Sun 10am–5pm
Medical
1
Guthrie Ambulatory Health Care Clinic — Clinic
Childcare & Youth
CDC Available
MWR & Recreation
2
Fitness Center
Outdoor Rec
Employment & Education
3
Education Center
Spouse Employment
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Fort Drum.
01
What are the visitor gate hours?
Lt. Gen. Paul G. Cerjan Gate is the main visitor access gate and is open 24 hours a day. Other gates are restricted to military and DoD ID holders — see the Gates section for full schedules.
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02
Is there a commissary on base?
Yes, Fort Drum Commissary is on-base and open to all authorized DoD ID card holders. Hours: Tue–Sun 9am–7pm, Mon closed.
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03
Is there a PX on base?
Yes, Fort Drum has a PX (Post Exchange) offering tax-free shopping for authorized ID card holders. Hours: Mon–Sat 9am–6pm, Sun 10am–5pm.
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04
What is the base hospital or clinic?
Guthrie Ambulatory Health Care Clinic is the primary military treatment clinic serving Fort Drum. Call (315) 772-8242 for appointments or the nurse advice line.
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05
Is there an on-base vet clinic?
Yes, Fort Drum Veterinary Treatment Facility provides veterinary care for pets of active-duty and retired military members. Hours: Mon–Fri 0800–1600.
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06
Is there a childcare center on base?
Yes, Fort Drum has a Child Development Center (CDC) offering full-day and part-day programs. Waitlists fill quickly — register at MilitaryChildCare.com as soon as orders are received.
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07
Is there temporary lodging on base?
Yes, Fort Drum has on-post temporary lodging available for incoming PCS personnel and TDY visitors. Reserve early — spaces fill fast during peak PCS season (May through August).
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08
What school district serves the base?
Indian River Central School District (rated B+ (Niche)) serves most military families at Fort Drum. Visit ircsd.org for enrollment info and the school finder tool.
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09
Are there pet breed restrictions on base?
Yes, on-base housing at Fort Drum restricts certain breeds including Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, and others. Contact the housing office or review your lease addendum for the full restricted breeds list.
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10
Is there a gym on base?
Yes, Fort Drum has a fitness center available free of charge to active-duty, Reserve, and retired members and their eligible family members. Contact MWR for current hours and locations.
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11
How do visitor passes work?
Visitors must be sponsored by someone with base access and should contact the installation's Visitor Control Center in advance with their government-issued ID and vehicle info. Day passes are issued at the gate; extended access may require additional coordination.
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12
What is BAH and how is it calculated?
BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) is a monthly stipend based on your pay grade, dependency status, and the duty station ZIP code — it is not counted as taxable income. Rates are updated each January; use the BAH Calculator in the Finance section to see current figures for Fort Drum.
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13
What should I do first after receiving PCS orders?
Contact the gaining installation's housing office and military transportation office (TMO/PPSO) immediately after orders are issued. Apply for on-base housing right away — waitlists at many installations run 6–18 months.
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14
Does TRICARE cover local providers?
TRICARE covers both the on-base military treatment facility and authorized civilian providers in the surrounding community. Use the provider finder at tricare.mil to confirm in-network options near Fort Drum.
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Data & Methodology
How we source this −
Information is compiled from DoD publications, official installation websites, and reviewed by military personnel. Independent publication — not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense.