The Midwest has four distinct seasons. There is usually some minor flooding in the spring along the Mississippi River and Rock River. You should carefully consider the consequences before selecting housing along the riverbanks where it is prone to flood.
- Both Illinois and Iowa have strict seatbelt and child safety seat laws for children 80 lbs and under.
- Government housing is limited. Most military families end up living in the local community. Additionally, three bedroom rental properties are at a premium. Be prepared to adjust your standards and desires when searching for rental property.
- School busing is not provided by the Illinois Quad Cities school districts. Children living in Family Housing on Rock Island Arsenal are provided busing to Moline Schools by USAG-RIA. Additional options are available to families that use CYS services.
- Most gas and electric companies in the area will offer a budget billing plan for homes that have been previously occupied. It is recommended that you accept this offer, as gas bills can reach several hundred dollars during the winter months and cause unexpected hardship. Budget billing will maintain the level of your bill each month at a similar rate.
PCSing to Rock Island Arsenal is a little different in that we are small base with limited housing and various community options. Utilizing a sponsor is the ideal way to get accurate geographic and demographic specific details regarding area resources available based on individual and family need.
Incoming Soldier Sponsorship
No matter how many times you've PCSed or even if you've been assigned to U.S. Army Garrison Rock Island Arsenal before, you need to make contact with your sponsor to make sure you're aware of the latest in-processing policies and requirements Before you arrive. Although sponsorship is not required for Tier III service members, it is still beneficial, so consider this option carefully before opting out of sponsorship when PCSing to RIA. Unit and individual readiness are hot items here in and sponsorship is an important aspect of readiness.
Your sponsor is the key to your successful PCS. They will save you valuable time and hassle before, during and after your arrival. To assist Soldiers sponsoring incoming families, we have established youth and spouse sponsorship programs. These programs work with your Soldier sponsor to provide a comprehensive sponsorship experience and ensure the entire family is welcomed appropriately. Talk to your Soldier sponsor about the youth and spouse sponsorship programs today!
Your gaining unit will appoint you a sponsor. You will need to log on to the Army Career Tracker (use this link https://actnow.army.mil/), Total Army Sponsorship Program Module from a government computer and complete required information in order to help your unit assign an appropriate sponsor.
If your sponsor hasn't contacted you within a week after your online request, please email or call the Sponsorship Liaison Office at usarmy.ria.usag.mbx.military-personnel-division@army.mil or 309-782-0453/5711
Youth Sponsorship
Use this link: https://rockisland.armymwr.com/programs/school-support-services
Defense Service Network Dialing Instructions
The DSN is the provider of long-distance communications service for the Department of Defense. Every installation has a special DSN number and the numbers vary by world-wide location. In order to place a call using DSN, the caller must be using a military phone on an installation. Cell phones cannot dial DSN numbers. When dialing a DSN number from a United States installation to another United States installation, it is unnecessary to dial the DSN 312 area code. When dialing a DSN number to/from overseas locations, the DSN area code must be included. The operator can be reached at commercial 719-567-1110. Please note that long distance charges may be incurred.
