Aberdeen Proving Ground

“Our workforce has more than 21,000 military, civilian and contractor employees responsible for numerous technical achievements across a broad spectrum of military capabilities”, the Aberdeen Proving Ground MilitaryINSTALLATIONS page says. APG, in Harford County, Maryland, was established in 1917, when the Army needed a new site for testing war munitions after entering World War I. Its major units list includes the 20th CBRNE Command, CECOM, the DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, the Army Evaluation Center, Army Contracting Command, the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center and the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense. The main number is 410-278-5201.

Gates and check-in

The APG Visitor Control Center is at the MD 715 Gate on Maryland Boulevard, open 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday (410-278-2330), and “All trucks, commercial deliveries, non-DoD / Federal ID card-holders, and visitors MUST use the access control point for entry to APG North”, per the check-in page.

“Soldiers must bring five copies of their orders, their 201 File, their original and DA Form 31, Request and Authority for Leave Form, to sign-in”, the page says, along with medical and dental records, finance receipts and paperwork, and the proper uniform. Complete the arrival transaction through eMILPO on the DA Form 31, and bring any documents needed to update DEERS for births, marriages or divorces while in transit.

Housing: Corvias Military Living

To live on post, visit Corvias Military Living at 6283 Demby Dr., Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or call 410-305-1076, per the government housing page. For unaccompanied personnel E-5 and below, housing is coordinated through your sponsor or the Army Barracks Management Program. The Housing Office is at 4305 Rodman Rd., Building 4305, Room 248 (410-306-2011); it closes at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Medical care: Kirk U.S. Army Health Clinic

Kirk U.S. Army Health Clinic at 6455 Machine St. is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (410-278-5475), and the health care page states that no emergency room services are provided there: for any emergency, call 911.

Schools: Harford County Public Schools

“No schools located on Aberdeen Proving Ground”, per the education page. Children residing on APG North attend Roye-Williams Elementary, Aberdeen Middle School or Aberdeen High School, and military children living on APG South or the Edgewood Area attend Edgewood Elementary, Edgewood Middle or Edgewood High School. CYS School Liaison: 410-278-2857.

Getting there

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is the closest airport to APG, the APG overview says; Washington Dulles and Reagan National also serve the area.

Before you arrive

Bring five copies of your orders and your records to sign-in, use the MD 715 Gate Visitor Control Center if you need a pass, contact Corvias for on-post housing, and know which side of the post, APG North or Edgewood, sets your children’s schools.