What to do around Fort Polk army base in Louisiana

What to do around Fort Polk army base in Louisiana

What do you know about Fort Polk Army Base Louisiana? Aside from being located in the Bayou State, and that it’s in the Central Louisiana area, probably not a whole heck of a lot. But if your next permanent change of station is to this neck of the Louisiana woods, Fort Polk is not only a great place to live in as a soldier, it’s also a great base to work at as well. There are many job openings available as well as resources that can help make you or your spouse more job-ready.

If you recently transferred to Fort Polk as part of your PCS – or you’re about to and want to plan ahead so you know what to expect – this article will help to familiarize yourself with this historic military base. A more intimate knowledge of Fort Polk’s history may inspire you or your spouse to consider looking for a job on or near this base.

Where is Fort Polk located relative to other parts of Louisiana?

Fort Polk is in the western-central portion of Louisiana and is located in Vernon Parish. Instead of counties, Louisiana has parishes. There are 64 parishes in all of Louisiana, with Vernon Parish being among the smaller ones; only about 48,750 people live in Vernon Parish, compared to nearly 456,800 who live in East Baton Rouge Parish, which is Louisiana’s most populated parish.

Right next door to Fort Polk is the town of Leesville. Even though Leesville is not located in Vernon Parish – it’s actually in Beauregarde Parish – the Fort Polk military installation is a major employer for many people who live in Leesville, which is approximately eight miles from the Fort Polk Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). In fact, the Fort Polk JRTC Army Base is a primary contributor to Louisiana’s economy, given that it’s one of the Bayou State’s biggest employers, employing civilians as well as troops.

Fort Polk is also home to thousands of military families. According to the website, there are approximately 13,000 military families who live on- and off-post and the active duty soldier count is right around 8,000.

What is Fort Polk’s core mission?

For most of its lifespan, tracing back to when the Fort Polk Army Base first opened during World War II, the Fort Polk JRTC has served as a major destination for the combat training of troops. As noted at the website, World War II was well underway when the Fort Polk began being utilized for training purposes, and it served as a uniquely important basic training and advanced training location that was visited regularly by well-known military leaders and army officials, including General George Marshall. As Marshall quipped at the time, “I want the mistakes made down in Louisiana and not over in Europe, and the only way to do this thing is to try it out. And if it doesn’t work, find out what we need to make it work.”

Fort Polk’s indispensable role in military history – particularly as it pertains to World War II, but also for training during the Korean War and Vietnam War – helped to spawn its mission and motto: “Forging the Warrior Spirit” and preparing each and every soldier “to train for whatever lies ahead.” Since September 11, 2001, of the more than 1.6 million American soldiers who have been deployed overseas, an estimated 50% have trained at the Fort Polk JRTC. It’s been the training home for many military units over the years – including the 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from 2006 and 2015 – but currently hosts the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, 519 Military Police Battalion and the 5th Aviation Regiment, among others.

What job opportunities are available at Fort Polk?

Fort Polk, like other installations, may be one-of-a-kind in a lot of ways, but in others, it’s much like any other Army base: What it is like to work there on a day-in, day-out basis largely depends on what you’re actually doing for work. And there are lots of available job opportunities at any given time, including in retail, accommodations, finance, health and insurance. Currently, just among civilians, over 13,000 people call Fort Polk Louisiana their employment home.

Since job openings, by their very nature, are subject to change, you won’t know what is actually available until you start looking, but there are a number of resources at Fort Polk that can help you or your spouse with your search, whether you’re looking for part-time or full-time employment. These include those that can help you apply for a job opening that is most in line with your strengths, skill sets and interests. Here are two of those resources, both of which are found at the Fort Polk installation:

Employment Readiness Program

The Employment Readiness Program at Fort Polk serves as a planning and preparing resource for job-minded military members, civilians and military families. As the program’s title implies, it provides regularly updated information regarding what jobs are open, what demand is like for those positions and specifics on what the qualifications are for those position openings, which run the gamut. For instance, if you have a love for history — the Fort Polk Museum may be a great place to consider working. The Employment Readiness Program also offers assistance with things like creating a compelling resume, how to write a cover letter, suggestions on how to interview successfully and ways to network.

Fort Polk Civilian Personnel Advisory Center

If human resources is an industry that you’d like to get into upon concluding your career in the military, the Fort Polk Civilian Personnel Advisory Center may help you get your foot in the door. The personnel at CPAC assist with the ongoing retention, sustainment and recruitment of the Army’s various needs, both at Fort Polk specifically and within the Army as a whole. In addition to those on active duty, both civilians as well as retired veterans are welcome to apply. New employees must complete an OF 306 and SF 85 Form while veterans must obtain a DD Form 214 to corroborate when they were active duty.

Job opportunities await you at Fort Polk, whether at the installation, next door in Leesville or perhaps in Vernon Parish. But if you’re looking for loan opportunities, look no further than Omni Financial. Our offices are conveniently located near the Fort Polk Army Base so if you’re in need of a military loan, please contact us and one of our representatives will be happy to help you or your spouse. You can also apply for a loan online by visiting this page.

Looking for ways to fund your next family outing? Contact us today to learn how Omni Military Loans can help.

This blog is for informational purposes only. Visit the individual websites for complete details including hours of operation, pricing and military discount information. Information can change at any time. Omni Financial does not endorse, recommend or imply affiliation with the listed companies, events or organizations.

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