Undoubtedly the most important person involved in your relocation to Barksdale is your sponsor. He or she will help introduce you to your new base, work area, commander and co-workers. If you have not heard from your sponsor within 60 days of your reporting date, contact your command section. If your sponsor still hasn’t contacted you, call the customer service office at (318) 456-2276 or DSN 781-2276.
If you plan to fly into the Shreveport Regional Airport, located at 5103 Hollywood Avenue in west Shreveport, reservations may be made with one of the following airlines: Delta, American, Northwest or Continental. Delta airlines is the only airlines providing jet services to Shreveport; all others use air-links or clipper service for connections to Dallas-Fort Worth, Memphis, Atlanta or Houston.
Upon leaving the airport cross Hollywood Avenue at the traffic light to Monkhouse
Drive and look for signs to Interstate 20 East to Shreveport and Bossier City. Continue east into Bossier City looking for the Barksdale Boulevard exit, which leads to the Shreveport Gate of Barksdale AFB.
At the sixth traffic light make a left turn into the base. Driving to Barksdale AFB and the Shreveport/Bossier City area is fairly easy to accomplish.
* Arriving from the east one will normally be driving on I-20 W and exiting at Airline Drive, making a left at the traffic light, and then another left onto Old Minden Road. Stay in the right lane, which merges onto Northgate Drive, which ends at the Bossier Gate of Barksdale.
* Arriving from the west on I-20 E takes one to the Barksdale Boulevard exit, which is U.S. Highway 71 S, and continuing on and making a left at the sixth traffic light onto Barksdale AFB through the Shreveport Gate.
* Arriving from the south will normally be accomplished by driving north on I-49 and exiting at the Bert Kouns Industrial Loop and heading east to 70th Street and then across the Red River into Bossier City. Crossing over the river using 70th Street will connect with U.S. Highway 71 at the traffic light. Make a left at this intersection and continue through five traffic lights making a right turn into Barksdale.
There isn’t rail service directly into Shreveport or Bossier City; however, if this is your mode of transportation, Amtrak service is available in Marshall, Texas, which is approximately 45 miles west of the local area. A shuttle travels to and from the station twice each day to allow travel via rail. Times of service and fees are available at the station.
Bus service is available through Greyhound, with stops in Shreveport and Bossier City. The bus station in Shreveport is located at 408 Fannin Street, and the station in Bossier City is located at 2229 Beckett Street directly across from City Hall. Taxi service is available at both locations and Barksdale AFB is within five miles of each location.
If you arrive in the area by commercial airline or bus, remember that travel to the base is an individual responsibility. Any travel expenses incurred, including fares, must come from travel pay.
Rates vary for the many independent cab drivers in the local area, so negotiate a fee before you ride.
Military taxi service is provided on an “as available” basis. You may have to wait for a vehicle to become available. The base taxi dispatcher telephone number is 456-2208. Your best option is to contact your sponsor prior to arrival for assistance.
The climate is transitional between the subtropical humid type prevalent in the south and the continental climates of the Great Plains and Middle West to the north. During winter, masses of moderate to severely cold air move periodically through the area. The spring and fall seasons are usually mild, while the summer months are consistently quite warm and humid with high pressure and a moist southerly flow being the dominant feature. The annual temperature ranges from an average high of 92 degrees Fahrenheit to a low of 37 degrees Fahrenheit. Rainfall is abundant with the normal annual rain just over 50 inches, with monthly averages ranging from less than 3 inches in August to more than 5 inches in May.
The majority of rainfall is of convective and air mass types (showery and brief) except during the winter when nearly continuous frontal rains may persist for a few days. Extremes of precipitation occur in all seasons. Some rainfall extremes are: 10.8 inches was the heaviest rainfall in a 24-hour period, 23.2 inches was the greatest monthly total, 84.2 inches was the greatest annual rainfall of record and 29.6 inches was the driest year of record.
The winter months are normally mild with cold spells generally of short duration. The typical pattern is turning cold one day, reaching the lowest temperature on the second day and a warming trend on the third day. The coldest reading on record is 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures of freezing or below occur each winter with an average of 34 days during the year. Freezing temperatures have been recorded as early as October and as late as April.
Measurable snowfall amounts occur on an average of only once every other year; many consecutive years may pass with no measurable snowfall. The heaviest snowstorm is 7.2 inches in a 24-hour period and 11.6 inches of snow was the greatest monthly amount of record. Occasional ice and sleet storms do considerable damage to trees, power and telephone lines, as well as make travel very difficult.
The summer months are consistently quite warm, with maximum temperatures exceeding 90 degrees about 80 days per year. The highest temperature on record is 107 degrees Fahrenheit.
Thunderstorms occur each month, but are most frequent in spring and summer months. The showers and thunderstorms during the spring and autumn months are most often produced by squall lines and fronts, and are generally heavier than the air mass showers which occur in the summer months.
Severe local storms, including hailstorms, tornadoes, and local windstorms have occurred over a small area in all seasons, but are most frequent during the spring months, with a secondary peak from November to early January.
The average relative humidity is rather high in all seasons. During the early morning hours, the relative humidity is normally above 80 percent. In contrast, the mid-afternoon hours have relative humidity values of less than 60 percent.
Barksdale has several types of temporary lodging for members and their families. The following numbers and prices are current but subject to change.
24 individual temporary living, facilities
$37.50 nightly
121 visiting quarters VOQ $ 32.50 nightly
10 distinguished visitor quarters suites
$41 nightly
74 visiting airman’s quarters VAQ
$29.50 nightly
1 General officer quarters House
$42.50 nightly
26 visiting NCO quarters VAQ E7-E9
$ 29.50 nightly
2 Enlisted distinguished visitor quarters suites
$29.50 nightly
Temporary lodging is available off base in commercial hotels; however, it’s quite expensive. Rentals range from $37 to $120 a day.
Pets are not allowed in any base lodging facilities.
Kennel and boarding arrangements may be made with one of several facilities in the local area. The lodging office can provide a list for your convenience. Due to limited availability, please make a reservation well in advance. For more information about temporary lodging call (318) 456-3091 or DSN 781-3091.
If you arrive during normal duty hours, stop at the visitor parking area inside the gates and call your sponsor. If you can’t contact your sponsor, drive to the lodging office at 555 Davis Ave. West (Bldg. 5155). There you will receive information about contacting your sponsor and temporary quarters. The phone number for lodging is 456-3091.
After signing in at your CSS you will be scheduled for several appointments. Your CSS will make sure you have enough copies of your orders, locate sponsors when necessary, check your records, establish your locator card and provide any needed information on dining facilities, applications for separate rations and other subjects. You will be scheduled to attend a series of briefings to inform you about Barksdale services and facilities. Spouses are highly encouraged to attend since the briefings and personnel there will provide key information about housing, local driving conditions, banking and more.
The FTAC is one of three Enlisted Professional Development Programs that are part of the Barksdale Enlisted Mentoring Center located in Hoban Hall.
The purpose of the First Term Airmen’s Center is to provide a smooth transition from a training environment to the operational environment here at Barksdale. Upon in processing at their respective units and completion of MPF/ Finance Briefing, normally within three to five days, respecting CSS needs to send an email to Barksdale FTAC inbox. Airmen are assigned to the center for approximately 15 duty days. The following are some of the training briefings, lectures and in-processing activities that occur while assigned to FTAC:
- Financial planning
- Mission orientation
- Base/local tour
- Air Force Core Value Training
- TRICARE
- Education
- Human Relations
- Information Assurance
- Substance Abuse (ADAPT)
- Area Defense Council
- Force Protection/Antiterrorism
- Disaster Preparedness
- Dress and Appearance
- Customs and Courtesies
- Career Assistance Advisor
- First Sergeants Perspectives
- Command Chief Master Sergeant Perspectives
- Chapel Programs
- AF Fitness Programs
In addition, Airmen perform details/ functions as directed to support 2d Bomb Wing, 8th Air Force and 917th Wing to include the Avenue of Flag detail.
Operators must have a valid driver’s license and proof of minimum insurance coverage for bodily injury ($10,000/$20,000) and property damage ($10,000.) Additionally, the vehicle owner must have permanent license plates for the vehicle (not temporary license plates.) Motorcycles have the same registration requiremnts. Additionally, owners must present a state motorcycle operator’s license or an endorsement on the state driver’s license. Completion of an approved motorcycle safety course is required for permanent registration. The operation of motorcycles on Barksdale requires the use of a helmet, eye protection and highly visible upper garments (i.e. reflective vest.) The headlight must be kept on while the motorcycle is in motion. Upon arrival, personnel should contact their unit motorcycle safety monitor.
The base speed limit is 25 mph unless otherwise posted. The speed limit in family housing areas is 15 mph. All vehicles must stop for buses loading and unloading passengers and for pedestrians. This is not a courtesy extended to people crossing the street – it is the law. The use of radar detectors is prohibited on Barksdale.
Privately owned firearms must be registered with security forces, on the same day of purchase or introduction onto Barksdale, or on the next duty day after the purchase, if brought on base during non-duty hours. Prior to registration of privately-owned firearms, the individual must first report to his or her unit and initiate Air Force Form 1314, Firearms Registration. Privately owned firearms brought on base during weekends or holidays may be temporarily stored in the security forces armory until the following duty day. The possession, transporting or storage of prohibited weapons on base is unauthorized. Weapons include sappers, slapjacks, clubs, fully automatic weapons, brass knuckles, switchblade knives, tear gas, bayonets and similar devices.
The storage of any type of firearm or prohibited weapon in the dormitories and billeting is strictly prohibited at all times.
Operation Crime Stop allows the citizen to report crime in progress or suspected crime while remaining anonymous.
The telephone number is 456-3000.
Operation Identification is designed to encourage owners of high-value property to mark that property with an identifying number. You can pick up an engraver at the law enforcement desk or in the resource protection office in Bldg. 5676.
Quarters Watch is designed to assist residents in protecting their quarters and personal property while away on leave, TDY, etc. through increased security forces surveillance.
Child fingerprinting provides parents or guardians a positive means of identifying their children in instances of serious injuries, kidnapping, etc.
Additional information about these programs is available from the 2nd Security Forces Squadron Crime Prevention Section (Bldg. 5676) or by calling 456-3508/3580.
Food service is available in the Red River Dining Facility, Touch N’ Go Flight Kitchen, Barksdale Club, Fox Run Golf Course, Barksdale Bowling Center, and several Army and Air Force Exchange Service snack bars.
The Red River Dining Facility, located in the heart of the dormitory area, serves meals at the following times:
Monday through Friday – breakfast, 6 to 8 a.m.; lunch, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; dinner, 4 to 6 p.m.; and midnight meal, 10:30 p.m. to midnight.
On weekends and holidays, the dining facility opens for brunch, 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; dinner, 4:30 to 6 p.m.; and midnight meal, 11 p.m. to midnight.
On large UTA weekends, the facility operates as follows:
Breakfast .5:30 to 8:00 a.m.
Lunch 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Dinner 4 to 6 p.m.
Midnight meal 11 p.m. to midnight
On small UTA weekends, the facility operates as follows:
Brunch 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Dinner 3:30 to 6 p.m.
Midnight meal 11 p.m. to midnight
The Shreveport/Bossier area has several outlets for news and entertainment:
| KDAQ 89.9 FM |
KDKS 103.7 FM |
| KLKL 92.1 FM |
KRMD 101.1 FM/1340 AM |
| KITT 93.7 |
KEEL 710 AM |
| KITT 93.7 FM |
KEEL 710 AM |
| KRUF 94.5 FM |
KOKA 980 AM |
| KSTR 95.7 FM |
KBCL 070 AM |
| KVKI 96.5 |
KWKH 1130 AM |
| KTAL 98.1 FM |
KFLO 1300 AM |
| KTUX 98.9 FM |
KIOU 1480 AM |
| KMJJ 99.7 FM |
|
The Times (Shreveport)
Bossier Press-Tribune
Forum Magazine
Barksdale Warrior
KTBS Channel 3 ABC
KTAL Channel 6 NBC
KSLA Channel 12 CBS
KMSS Channel 33 FOX
KSHV Channel 45 UPN
KLTS Channel 24 PBS
Barksdale Channel 12
Cable Access Television
The Barksdale Air Force Base Guide is published by Benchmark Publications Incorporated, a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Barksdale AFB. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts and supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or Benchmark Publications, Incorporated of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. The Barksdale AFB Guide is an unofficial publication authorized by AR 360-81. Editorial content is prepared, edited and provided by the Public Affairs Office of Barksdale AFB. All photos are provided by the Public Affairs Office unless stated otherwise.
|
FROM COTTON FIELDS 
