One of the most challenging aspects of the military spouse life is preparing for an upcoming PCS or if you get the chance, potentially picking a new duty station. There is a lot of information out there, and it can be almost overwhelming.

We here at Army Wife Network want to take the some of the guesswork out of the need-to-knows about duty stations around the globe. Hence, our Post With the Most series. In this particular blog, we will be showcasing information related to Fort Gordon, GA.

Fort Gordon is an installation that has a lot to offer based on its location. There is always something to do when you are only 138 miles from Charleston and Myrtle Beach, SC, about two hours from Atlanta, and 122 miles from the historic streets of Savannah, GA. It is the home of the Cyber Command Center of Excellence and a major hub for Military Intelligence, Signal, and Cyber components.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Fort Gordon is home to the following units:

• 15th Regimental Signal Brigade
• 551st Signal Battalion
• 369th Signal Battalion
• 442nd Signal Battalion
• Ordnance Training Detachment—Gordon
• Cyber Noncommissioned Officer Academy
• 35th Signal Brigade
• 67th Expeditionary Signal Battalion
• 519th Signal Company
• 525th Processing Exploitation Dissemination Battalion
• B Company, 303rd Military Intelligence Battalion
• B Company, 319th Military Intelligence Battalion
• B Company, 502nd Military Intelligence Battalion
• 513th Military Intelligence Brigade
• 202nd Military Intelligence Battalion
• 297th Military Intelligence Battalion
• 35th Military Police Detachment
• Company D, Marine Support Battalion
• Cyber Protection Brigade
• 706th Military Intelligence Group
• 707th Military Intelligence Battalion
• 116th Military Intelligence Battalion
• 119th Military Intelligence Company
• 782nd Military Intelligence Battalion
• 7th Signal Command
• Army Cyber/Joint Forces Headquarters
• Navy Information Operations Command

Surrounding Cities: 

• Grovetown (7 miles)
• Augusta (9 miles)
• Evans (9 miles)
• Martinez (10 miles)
• Graniteville, SC (29 miles)
• Aiken, SC (37 miles)
• Columbia, SC (82 miles)
• Savannah (138 miles)

“Evans is a township outside Augusta that was named one of the top 25 places with affordable home to live in the US by CNN Money and one of the top 50 places to live in the US.” —Naomi F.

Closest MAJOR City: 

• Atlanta (141 miles) or Charleston, SC (167 miles)

Names of Area Colleges: 

• Augusta University in Augusta
• Paine College in Augusta
• Augusta Technical College in Augusta
• The Medical College of Georgia in Augusta
• Troy University in Augusta
• Brenau University in Augusta
• Georgia Military College in Augusta
• Aiken Technical College in Graniteville, SC
• University of South Carolina at Aiken in Aiken, SC

Weather: You can expect the summers to be hot and humid while the winters are mild. Average highs in December and January are in the mid-50s. Heavy rains can come during hurricane season as the precipitin reaches further inland. Spring and fall are relatively short.

Time Zone: Eastern Time Zone

SPECIFIC POST INFORMATION

To access the post website, click here. 

Map of the area 

Historical Facts/Landmarks: Originally known as Camp Gordon, Fort Gordon was for infantry and armor training during World War II. It was the divisional training base for the 4th and 26th Infantry Divisions and the 10th Armored Division that fought under General George S. Patton, Jr.’s Third Army in Europe. It acted as a Prisoner of War camp beginning in 1943 for Italian and German soldiers.It was a primary training base during the Korean War for the Signal Corps, Military Police personnel, and Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade. In 2014, Fort Gordon was designated as the home for Cyber Command. For more Fort Gordon history, go here.

HOUSING

On-post Housing is managed by Fort Gordon Family Homes.

Major realty/rental companies in the area:

• Blanchard and Calhoun Real Estate Co.
• RE/MAX True Advantage/Philip Jones
• Meybohm Real Estate
• Century 21 Larry Miller Realty, Inc.

“Off-post housing is very affordable here, especially if you want to buy a home. The area has seen significant growth in new homes being built. There is an abundance of affordable off-post rentals as well.” —Naomi F.

SCHOOLS

School Liaison Officer

School Districts: 

• Columbia County School District
• Richmond County School System
• Aiken County Public School District (South Carolina)

On-Post Schools

• Elementary and Middle School: Freedom Park School (PreK-Grade 8)

Off-Post Schools: For a list of schools in your district, view the links above. The off-post schools listed below are for Columbia County School District and in the area surrounding Fort Gordon.

• Elementary: View all elementary schools here. 
• Middle: View all middle schools here. 
• High School: View all high schools here. 
• Private/Charter: Adventist Christian School (PreK-8), Augusta Christian Schools (PreK-12), Augusta Preparatory Day School (PreK-12), and Martinez Montessori School (PreK-2)
• Homeschool: The Fort Gordon area has a Homeschool Support Group.

“Fort Gordon sits between two counties: Richmond County and Columbia County. Pretty much everyone here will tell you to put your kids in Columbia County schools because they are some of the best schools in the state. They are also very military-friendly and will work with you. Every time we have lived here, we have always lived in the Columbia County School District and have never been disappointed with the education our children have received. Greenbrier High School has an extensive extracurricular activities program and extensive sports program.  Lakeside High School, which is also in Columbia County, was named one of the top 250 schools in the United States by U.S. News and World Report.” —Naomi F.

ON-POST SERVICES

• Child and Youth Services
• Army Community Service
• PX 
• Commissary
• Woodworth Library 
• Eisenhower Army Medical Center
• MWR 
• Fort Gordon Spouses’ & Civilians’ Club
• Chaplain & Religious Services/Organizations

OFF-POST INFORMATION

Health Care: 

• Hospitals: Doctors Hospital of Augusta, Children’s Hospital of Georgia, University Hospital Summerville, and Augusta University Medical Center, all located in Augusta
• Urgent Care: MedNow Urgent Care in Grovetown, Augusta University Care Center in Augusta, Evans Urgent Care in Evans, and Martinez Urgent Care in Martinez.
• Dentists: Dental Associates of Grovetown in Grovetown.

Best place for beauty services: 

• His and Her Hair Salon in Augusta
• Modish Salon and Spa in Evans
• Fringe Hair Salon in Evans
• Beautiful Blessings Salon in Martinez

Shopping malls:

• Augusta Mall in Augusta

RESTAURANTS

Grovetown:

• El Kiosco

Augusta:

• The Bee’s Knees
• Taqueria El Patron

Evans:

• Rhinehart’s Oyster Bar
• The Pizza Joint
• Izumi Japanese Restaurant
• Cork & Flame

Martinez:

• French Market Grille West

MUST DO

Augusta:

• Augusta Canal Cruise
• Attend the Masters, held every year in April
• Catch an Augusta GreenJackets Minor League Baseball game
• Attend the Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival in the fall
• Attend the annual Border Bash, in honor of the GA/SC game every year
• The Morris Museum of Art

Martinez:

• Kayak the Augusta Canal

SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS

Army Wife Network does not promote or endorse these groups; however, we know they can be helpful in learning about various duty stations, so they are provided for your convenience.

Installation Facebook page: Fort Gordon

Military Spouse Groups: 

• Fort Gordon Military Wives
• Ft. Gordon Military Spouses
• Fort Gordon Spouse’s Page

Buy/Sell/Trade Pages: 

• Fort Gordon Yard Sale
• Fort Gordon/Augusta Resale

Religious services: 

• Protestant Women of the Chapel Fort Gordon
• Catholic Women of the Chapel, Fort Gordon, GA

SPOUSE TESTIMONIALS

“The Fort Gordon/Augusta area is great place to be stationed. There is no shortage of things to keep you busy locally. The area is very military friendly, probably more military friendly than a lot of other places we have been. Fort Gordon has one of the most robust MWR programs I have seen anywhere in the Army from indoor/outdoor swimming pools, riding stables, bingo hall, camping grounds, to an extensive CYS program. The installation itself has its shortcomings, but the local area and everything off post has to offer makes up for it.” —Naomi F.