Fort A.P. Hill

Branch: U.S. Army
Location: Bowling Green, Virginia
Installation Type: Regional Collective Training Center
Status: Active
Former Name: Fort Walker (2023-2025)

Overview

Fort A.P. Hill (officially Fort Anderson-Pinn-Hill) is a U.S. Army Regional Collective Training Center located in Caroline County, Virginia, approximately 72 miles south of Washington, D.C. Covering nearly 76,000 acres, the installation provides training ranges, maneuver areas, and live-fire facilities to Army, joint, and interagency forces. The base was renamed Fort Walker in August 2023 to honor abolitionist Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, then redesignated Fort Anderson-Pinn-Hill in August 2025 – commonly shortened to Fort A.P. Hill – to honor three Union Army Medal of Honor recipients: Private Bruce Anderson, First Sergeant Robert A. Pinn, and Lieutenant Colonel Edward Hill.

Mission & Units

Primary Mission: Provide innovative, flexible, and relevant training enablers to support Army, joint, and interagency readiness through world-class ranges, maneuver areas, and training support capabilities.
Major Units: Installation is primarily a training support entity with a relatively small permanent garrison; U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM) garrison staff; range control and training support units
Tenant Units: Various rotating units conduct exercises and training events; Boy Scouts of America has historically used the installation for the National Scout Jamboree; joint and interagency units train regularly

Location & Access

Nearest Major City: Fredericksburg, VA – approximately 20 miles north; Richmond, VA – approximately 35 miles south; Washington, D.C. – approximately 72 miles north
Nearest Commercial Airport: Richmond International Airport (RIC) – approximately 40 miles south; Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) – approximately 80 miles north
Gate Access: Main entrance off US Route 301; CAC or military ID required for access; visitor passes available at the Visitor Control Center with military sponsor coordination; hours of operation for visitor access vary by operational schedule

Population

Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 500-1,000 (permanent party; fluctuates significantly with training cycles and visiting units)
Family Members: Limited; most permanent party personnel reside off-post
Civilian Employees: Approximately 300-500
Total Installation Population: Not publicly available (small permanent population; transient training population can reach thousands during major exercises)

Key Facilities

Medical: Health Clinic on post providing primary care and occupational medicine for permanent party personnel; emergency cases refer to civilian hospitals in Fredericksburg or Richmond
Commissary: No on-post commissary; nearest commissary is Fort Belvoir (approximately 65 miles north) or Marine Corps Base Quantico (approximately 50 miles north)
Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Limited; small post exchange/shoppette on post; full-service AAFES exchange at nearby installations
Fitness & Recreation: Physical fitness centers on post; recreation facilities scaled for transient training populations; outdoor recreation areas available
Schools: Caroline County Public Schools serve the local community; no DoDEA schools on post; Bowling Green is a small community with limited school options
Childcare: Limited on-post childcare; families typically rely on Caroline County civilian options or commute to Fredericksburg-area facilities
Veterinary Services: Not publicly available; nearest military veterinary services at Fort Belvoir or Marine Corps Base Quantico
Legal Assistance / JAG: Limited legal services on post; families typically referred to Fort Belvoir or Marine Corps Base Quantico for full JAG services

Housing

On-Post Housing: Limited family housing on post; small number of units for permanent party personnel; most families live off-post
Average Wait Time: Not publicly available
Off-Post Housing: Bowling Green and King George, VA are the primary off-post communities; rural character with affordable housing; average rent approximately $1,200-$1,800/month for 3-bedroom home; Fredericksburg (20 miles) offers significantly more options
BAH Rate Reference: Check current BAH rates at Defense Travel Management Office (dtmo.mil)

PCS & Newcomer Info

Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining unit through IMCOM garrison human resources upon receipt of orders
In-Processing: Report to garrison headquarters; in-processing is streamlined given smaller installation size; typically 1-2 days
EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Coordinate with IMCOM garrison; families with special needs should assess availability of specialty services in the Fredericksburg and Richmond areas before accepting orders

Local Area & Quality of Life

Climate: Humid subtropical; warm summers (average high 88F in July), cold winters (average low 26F in January); moderate snowfall; spring and fall are pleasant; hurricane remnants occasionally affect the region
Cost of Living: Low to moderate; Caroline County is rural and affordable; Fredericksburg area is moderate; proximity to the Washington, D.C. metro area adds to cost for those who commute
Nearby Attractions: Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park (Civil War battlefields, 20 miles); Richmond historic sites (35 miles); Washington, D.C. attractions (72 miles); Rappahannock River recreation
Spouse Employment: Limited employment opportunities in Caroline County itself; Fredericksburg (20 miles) and the I-95 corridor offer significantly more options in healthcare, retail, government contracting, and education; D.C. metro area accessible but requires a commute

Contact & Resources

Official Website: https://home.army.mil/aphill
Main Installation Phone: (804) 633-8711
MWR Website: Not publicly available
ACS / Fleet & Family / Airman & Family Readiness: Army Community Service support coordinated through IMCOM; families may be referred to Fort Belvoir or Marine Corps Base Quantico ACS offices for full services

Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://home.army.mil/aphill; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FortA.P.Hill; https://militarybases.com/virginia/fort-ap-hill; https://www.12onyourside.com/2025/08/27/military-base-reverting-name-fort-ap-hill-honor-three-union-soldiers