Military Relocation Checklist Arkansas 2026 | PCS to Little Rock AFB

Military Relocation Checklist Arkansas 2026 | PCS to Little Rock AFB

PCS orders to Little Rock Air Force Base can come with 30, 60, or even 90+ days of notice — and there is a lot to coordinate. This checklist is designed specifically for military families relocating to Central Arkansas in 2026. Ashley Watters is a military spouse who has navigated PCS moves firsthand and has helped dozens of military families work through every item on this list.

As Soon as You Receive Orders

• Request your official orders document — you will need this for housing applications, VA loan pre-approval, and school enrollment
• Contact LRAFB Housing Office — get on the on-base housing waitlist immediately even if you plan to live off-base; waitlists can be long
• Request a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) — apply through VA.gov or ask a VA-approved lender to pull it for you; you need this for your VA loan
• Research Central Arkansas neighborhoods — use the area guides on this site to understand Jacksonville, Cabot, Sherwood, Conway, Bryant, and Little Rock options
• Contact Ashley Watters — the earlier you connect with a local military-savvy REALTOR, the more options you have: (501) 951-9200

90–120 Days Before Report Date

• Get VA loan pre-approved — work with a VA-approved lender to establish your purchase price range based on your BAH, entitlement, and income. Ashley works with several fast-closing VA lenders in Arkansas
• Determine your housing priority: on-base vs off-base. Run the BAH math — many ranks can cover a full mortgage payment with BAH at LRAFB home prices
• Decide your school district priority — Cabot (top-ranked, 20 min to base), Bryant (A-rated, Saline County), Conway (university town, 30 min), or JNPSD (designed for military families, 5 min to base)
• Schedule virtual home tours with Ashley — she can walk through properties on video call and help you make an offer remotely
• Research LRAFB installation details: gate locations, base services, CDC availability, chapel, Tricare clinic hours
• Begin school enrollment research — contact the target school district for enrollment packet requirements and deadlines

60 Days Before Report Date

• Make an offer on a home — targeting a 30-45 day VA loan closing timeline puts you in your home around your report date
• Book your PCS move through your TMO — coordinate moving company arrival with your projected closing date (leave buffer)
• If renting short-term: research furnished rentals in Jacksonville, North Little Rock, or Little Rock for a bridge period if needed
• Register vehicles for Arkansas — Arkansas requires registration within 30 days of establishing residency
• Update DEERS address and confirm Tricare enrollment region change if applicable
• Transfer medical and dental records — request copies from your current MTF and confirm nearest LRAFB clinic capacity
• Apply for Arkansas driver license — required within 30 days of establishing residency (military members on active orders may have exemptions)

30 Days Before Report Date

• Confirm your closing date with your lender and Ashley — coordinate keys handoff with your moving truck arrival
• Set up utilities for your new Arkansas home: Entergy Arkansas (electricity), Arkansas Oklahoma Gas or CenterPoint (gas), and local water/sewer through your city
• Set up internet service — AT&T Fiber and Spectrum serve most Central Arkansas areas; confirm availability at your new address
• Notify current state DMV of move — suspend or terminate any state-specific registrations or licenses
• Update forwarding address with USPS, banks, VA, Social Security (if applicable), and subscriptions
• Confirm school enrollment paperwork is ready for day one — many Central Arkansas districts can pre-enroll with copies of orders and immunization records

Arrival Week in Arkansas

• In-process at LRAFB — report to your unit and complete all arrival requirements
• Visit the Airman and Family Readiness Center (AFRC) — they can connect you with local resources, spouse employment help, and community integration programs
• Complete Arkansas vehicle registration — within 30 days of establishing residency
• Get Arkansas driver license — Department of Finance and Administration offices are in Little Rock and surrounding cities
• Complete school enrollment in person at your chosen district
• Explore your neighborhood — Ashley can recommend local restaurants, services, and community events to help your family settle in

Financial Steps Specific to Arkansas Military Families

• File for disabled veteran property tax exemption if you have a qualifying VA disability rating — contact your county assessor’s office (Lonoke, Saline, Pulaski, or Faulkner County depending on where you live)
• Update Arkansas state tax filing — military retirement income is exempt from Arkansas state income tax; ensure your tax preparer knows this
• Register with the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs — for state veteran benefits, burial benefits, and VA claims assistance
• Connect with LRAFB financial readiness services — free financial counseling available through the Airman and Family Readiness Center

Spouse Employment Resources in Central Arkansas

• LRAFB Airman and Family Readiness Center — spouse employment workshops, resume assistance, and job fair connections
• Military Spouse JD Network / US Chamber Hiring Our Heroes — national programs with local Central Arkansas employer partnerships
• Arkansas Workforce Centers — state employment resources in Little Rock and surrounding areas
• Major local employers actively hiring: Baptist Health, UAMS, Arkansas state government, Dillard’s corporate, Windstream
• Remote work: Central Arkansas’s low cost of living makes remote work especially powerful — ask Ashley about neighborhoods with reliable fiber internet

Contact Ashley Watters — LRAFB Relocation Specialist

Ashley Watters | REALTOR® | eXp Realty
Phone/Text: (501) 951-9200
Website: arkansashousesearch.com