MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE: IN-DEPTH WELCOME CENTER

Introduction

Welcome to March Air Reserve Base, home of the 452nd Air Mobility Wing! The base covers about 160 acres and employs over 8,000 military and civilian personnel, contractors and tenants. It is one of the oldest airfields operated by the U.S. military, having been established in 1918 as Alessandro Flying Training Field. The airfield was renamed March Field shortly after to honor the recently deceased son of then-Army Chief of Staff Peyton March. In March 1993, March was chosen for realignment under the Base Realignment and Closure. In 1996, March officially became an Air Force Reserve base, ending a 78-year active duty military presence. Continue reading for an in-depth guide to help aid you in your transition to living and working on March Air Reserve Base. 1. Where Is March Air Reserve Base? 2. Google Map View 3. Getting There – Directions to the Base 4. Entering March Air Reserve Base and Amenities

• Check-in Procedures for Incoming Personnel
• March ARB Visitor Center
• March ARB DEERS Office
• March ARB Gate Hours
• March ARB Commissary
• March ARB Exchange
• March ARB Barber Shops
• March ARB Post Office
• March ARB Finance Office
• March ARB Legal Office
• March ARB Library
• March ARB Hotels

5. Where Should I Live Near March Air Reserve Base? 6. What Schools are Near March Air Reserve Base? 7. What’s the Weather Like in March Air Reserve Base? 8. Things to Do Near March Air Reserve Base

Where Is March Air Reserve Base?

March Air Reserve Base

2145 Graeber St. March ARB, CA 92518

Phone:

1 (951) 655-4137

Map of March Air Reserve Base

March Air Reserve Base Directions

Public Transportation

There aren’t any Amtrak stops close to March but there are Metrolink trains which connect you to destinations throughout Southern California. Alternatively, you could take a Greyhound bus from nearby Perris and connect to Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Diego, Dallas and even down to Tijuana.

Flights to March Air Reserve Base, MA

The closest major airport to March Air Reserve Base is Ontario International Airport. The bustling airport is about 45 minutes from the front gates of March Air Reserve Base and is served by 11 major airlines.

Driving Directions to March Air Reserve Base

1. If you drive from the airport, you will take state Route 60 East.
2. Keep right at the fork to continue onto Interstate 215 South.
3. Take exit 23 for Harley Knox Boulevard and turn left..
4. Take the next left to merge onto I-215 North.
5. Use the second from the right lane to take exit 25 for Van Buren Boulevard.
6. Turn left onto Van Buren Boulevard and follow the signs for March ARB.

March ARB Transportation Office

March ARB Military Personnel Flight

1351 Graeber St. Bldg. 2314 March ARB, CA 92518

Phone:

1 (951) 655-2892

Entering March Air Reserve Base and Amenities

If you don’t yet have a DOD-issued identification, you will be subject to a background check at the Visitor Center before you’re allowed to enter March Air Reserve Base. Click here to learn more about where to go.

Check-in Procedures for Incoming Personnel

Active duty, permanent party military members and Air Reserve technicians assigned to March ARB will in-process according to the instructions they get from their gaining unit. Check in with your commander’s support staff upon arrival during normal duty hours to learn next steps after you have arrived and checked in according to instructions from your gaining unit. All personnel who report to March ARB for Reserve training are required to report for a one day in-processing event. Call the Civilian Personnel Flight at 1 (951) 655-4857 has more information.

March Air Reserve Base Visitor Center

March ARB Visitor Center

363 Graeber St. March ARB, CA 92518

Phone:

1 (951) 655-3790

DEERS March ARB

The March ARB DEERS Office is an appointment-based system. Update DEERS due to marriage, divorce, birthday or death. You can also renew or get issued your CAC/ID cards. To schedule an appointment, click here.

March ARB DEERS Office

1351 Graeber St. March ARB, CA 92518

Phone:

1 (951) 655-3790

March ARB DEERS Office Hours

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday -

  0800 to 1400

• Wednesday -

  1200 to 1500

March ARB Gate Hours

There is one main gate that provides access to March ARB. Two other gates are open during duty hours for deliveries or if the main gate is closed for construction or other reasons.

• Main (Cactus) Gate -

  Open 24/7.

• Riverside Gate -

  Open daily from 0600 to 1600.

• Meyer Gate -

  Open daily from 0600 to 1600.

March ARB Commissary

There is a commissary on March Air Reserve Base where you can save money on groceries and other necessities. In-store amenities and specialties include an ATM, a bakery, a deli, special orders for events, and more.

March ARB Commissary

15150 Sixth St. March ARB, CA 92518

Phone:

1 (951) 653-2206

March ARB BX

The March Main Exchange offers a price-match program that guarantees the best prices in town. The exchange is open every day.

March ARB Main Exchange

23640 N St. Bldg. 758 March ARB, CA 92518

Phone:

1 (951) 653-3112

March Main Exchange Hours

• Monday through Thursday -

  0930 to 1800

• Friday and Saturday -

  0930 to 1900

• Sunday -

  1030 to 1800

March ARB Barber Shop

There is one barber shop on base. It is open from 0900 to 1700 Tuesday through Saturday, and 1000 to 1600 on Sunday. Call for more information.

Main Exchange Barber Shop - Bldg. 758

Phone:

1 (951) 653-5577

March ARB Post Office

The official mail center is located near the base exchange. It is open from 0900 to 1500 Monday through Friday, closed at 1330 for 30 minutes for lunch. It is closed on Saturdays, Sundays and federal holidays.

March ARB Post Office

1486 Graeber St. Bldg. 2406 March ARB, CA 92518

Phone:

1 (951) 655-3010

Official Mail and Distribution Center Hours

• Monday through Friday -

  0900 to 1330 and 1400 to 1500

March ARB Finance

The March Air Reserve Base Airman & Family Readiness Center is open from 0800 to 1600 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 1200 to 1600 Wednesday. It is open on UTA weekends from 0800 to 1500. The office has resources available to help you understand and manage your finances, including one-on-one counseling to assist your family with financial readiness, from basic planning to long-term investing.

March ARB A&FRC

1261 Graeber St. Bldg. 2313 March ARB, CA 92518

Phone:

1 (951) 447-5350

March ARB A&FRC Hours

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday -

  0800 to 1600

• Wednesday -

  1200 to 1600

• Saturday and Sunday (UTA weekends) -

  0800 to 1500

March ARB Legal Office

The March ARB Legal Assistance Office provides legal advice and assistance to eligible clients, including active duty, retired, and dependents with a military ID card. The office is where you want to go to get a will prepared or have other legal documents reviewed, including powers of attorney, living wills, bills of sale, simple affidavits, leases, name changes, uncontested divorces, etc. Call for hours or to make an appointment.

March ARB Legal Office

875 Adams Ave. March ARB, CA 92518

Phone:

1 (951) 655-4479

March ARB Legal Office Hours

To make an appointment with the Legal Assistance Office, call 1 (951) 655-4479.

March ARB Library

There is not a library on base at March ARB. The closest one is about 5 minutes away in Riverside.

Orange Terrace

20010-B Orange Terrace Parkway Riverside, CA 92508

Phone:

1 (951) 571-0281

March ARB Hotels

The March Inn on March ARB is your home away from home while you get settled in. The hotel is conveniently located on base. The inn generally has availability Sundays through Thursday but is generally not available on weekends due to the base’s reserve training missions. The hotel offers guests pet-friendly accommodations and a smoke-free environment. The front desk is open 24/7, though check-in starts at 1600 and checkout is at 1100.

March Inn

655 M St. Bldg. 100 March ARB, CA 92518

Phone:

1 (951) 655-5241

Where Should I Live Near March Air Reserve Base?

Cities Near March Air Reserve Base

There are two main cities near March ARB — Riverside and Perris, and several smaller towns. Most people connected to March choose to live in Riverside as it offers big-city conveniences, easy access to major interstates to connect to other parts of Southern California and a short commute to work.

Best Places to Live Near March Air Reserve Base

Perris, CA

Just about an hour east of Los Angeles sits Perris. More than 77,000 people call the city home. The city is known for Lake Perris as well as offering residents and visitors access to their choice of aerial activities, such as skydiving and hot air ballooning. Housing is affordable in Perris, falling under the national average, and there are plenty of options to buy or rent near March Air Reserve Base. Perris visitors looking for a thrill are drawn to the Perris Auto Speedway while nature lovers flock to Lake Perris State Recreation Area to enjoy swimming, fishing, camping and biking.

Riverside, CA

Riverside County’s seat and namesake boasts a population of nearly 327,000. Its economy is largely supported by its close proximity to March Air Reserve Base, just a few miles away. Housing in the area is more affordable than the California average, though it’s higher than other states. The median monthly owner costs for a mortgage are $1,905 and median gross rents are $1,378. As the birthplace of California’s citrus industry and home to the University of California, Riverside, the area has a lot to offer its residents, from access to historical venues via the Mission Inn Museum and Fox Performing Arts Center to stunning nature at the Whitewater Preserve and the California Citrus State Historic Park.

Hot Tip: Look for March Air Reserve Base homes and apartments for rent or sale, and find BAH, PCS, TLA & ETS military housing information at AHRN.com.

March Air Reserve Base Schools

There is no on-base housing at March Air Reserve Base so the schools your children attend will depend on where you live. If you’re right outside March in Perris, your children will attend Val Verde Unified School District. Or, conversely, if you live in Moreno Valley they will attend Moreno Valley Unified School District. If you’re living in nearby Riverside, your children will enroll in Riverside Unified School District. Wherever they attend, rest assured that they’ll have access to the finest education possible. And if your child requires extra help, there are a number of programs available through their respective district. Find more local school information at The Best March Air Reserve Base Schools: Daycare - High School.

March ARB Weather

Sweltering summers, cold winters and year-round sunshine await when you live and work in March Air Reserve Base.

Spring

The threat of rain starts in the spring. Other than that, the temperatures are quite pleasant, trending on the warm side with a few colder days sprinkled in. The season is ideal for outdoor recreation, hiking, fishing and boating. Just make sure you have a plan to leave quickly if there is a threat of showers.

Summer

The warm season lasts for nearly four months, from Memorial Day to just after Labor Day, with an average daily high temperature in the low-90s. The hottest day of the year is usually in July, with an average high about 95. Indoor activities or water sports are best enjoyed in the summer.

Fall

Fall months are still sunny and warm, with very few rainy days. This lasts until the end of October where temps dip below 60 and it starts getting wetter. September is the ideal month to take advantage of the outdoor activities in the area.

Winter

As you would expect, the coldest time of the year is during winter. Lows are found just below freezing and the highs are usually creeping toward the mid-50s. Riverside County rarely sees snow but you can take a short drive to the mountains to experience snow and winter activities like sledding and skiing.

Things to Do Near March ARB

There are tons of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors with fishing, hiking, boating, and camping at nearby parks and nature reserves. There are also fun annual events like the March Field Air and Space Expo, a can’t-miss event that showcases the Thunderbirds and a wall of fire, or the Festival of Lights at the Mission Inn, an unforgettable holiday experience. Fantastic restaurants, live music, and special events are prevalent in the Inland Empire. Not to mention the recreation and entertainment options available on base thanks to March Airman & Family Readiness Center. Check out 15 Of the Best Things to Do Near March ARB for more recreational ideas around the base.

Hot Tip: Connect with military-trusted businesses and deals exclusively for March Air Reserve Base at MyBaseGuide.

Conclusion

March Air Reserve Base has more to offer than meets the eye. The area is bustling with things to do and there’s more to offer just a short drive away. While stationed at March ARB, you’ll have the opportunity to train at one of the most historic Air Reserve Bases in the nation while the location provides the chance to experience everything the Inland Empire and Southern California have to offer. Moving to a new place has its challenges but you’ll be glad to be here.  

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.