When arriving to a new post, there are several family concerns that are involved. Most families consider housing, child care and schools at the top of the list. Aberdeen Proving Ground and the surrounding communities offer a wide selection to choose from in meeting the needs of a growing military family.

The Relocation Assistance Program focuses on ensuring that support and assistance is available for inbound and out bound military personal including their family members.

Welcome Packets will include an Aberdeen Proving Ground SITES book, information on the installation, local community, schools, employment, daycare, medical and dental, housing, a welcome letter from Major General Doesburg, Aberdeen Proving Ground's Home Alone Policy, an area map of AA and EA area and a Courtesy Phone Book from ACS with listings of on post agencies.

English classes available for speakers of a different language, Spanish, Korean and also German Classes are also offered.

The Lending Closet provides basic housekeeping items for temporary loan. These are available to incoming and outgoing military personnel and their families. The ACS Lending Closet is equipped with dishes, pots, pans and other kitchen items. The Lending Closet also has playpens, high chairs, baby car seats and futons. These items are usually loaned on a 30-day basis but extensions may be granted for those waiting on household goods.

Living on base is not the preference of many military families. The local communities have many options for other forms of housing that may be more suitable to your lifestyle. If you are looking for offbase housing, log on to the Automated Housing Referral Network at www.AHRN.com to find housing in the local area. This site is sponsored by the DoD and is free of charge. You can use the search engine to find specific rental housing that meets your needs. These include pictures, full descriptions of the property and most listings are reviewed by your local housing offices. AHRN.com includes an automated BAH search, military clause acknowledgments and rental partnership programs to offer you benefits. Additionally, the listings are identified as to whether or not the housing office has inspected the property.