Welcome, Service Members & Military Families
Whether you're PCSing to Keesler AFB, NCBC Gulfport, or Stennis Space Center, this guide has everything you need — from BAH rates and housing to schools, VA benefits, and settling in.
Military Bases on the Gulf Coast
The Mississippi Gulf Coast is home to four major military installations, making it one of the most military-friendly regions in the Southeast.
Keesler Air Force Base
Home to the 81st Training Wing, Keesler is the Air Force's premier technical training installation. It provides electronics, computer, cyber, and weather training to approximately 150,000 students annually across nearly 500 courses. The base also hosts the 2nd Air Force and the 403rd Wing (Air Force Reserve).
Naval Construction Battalion Center (NCBC)
Home of the Atlantic Fleet Seabees, NCBC Gulfport has served the Navy since 1942. It provides training and deployment support for Naval Mobile Construction Battalions. The base sits directly on the Gulf of Mexico and is a key facility for construction, disaster recovery, and expeditionary operations.
NASA Stennis Space Center
NASA's primary and America's largest rocket propulsion test site. Stennis operates as a unique 'Federal City' hosting over 50 federal, state, academic, and private organizations including the Navy Special Warfare Center (SEAL training), Lockheed Martin, and Boeing. It tested engines for the Space Shuttle and now tests SLS engines for the Artemis program.
Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center
One of the largest military training installations in the United States, Camp Shelby spans over 134,000 acres. It serves as the primary annual training location for National Guard and Reserve units from Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. The center supports mobilization, demobilization, and pre-deployment training.
BAH Rates & Home Buying Power
The Gulf Coast's affordable housing market means your BAH goes further here. Most service members can purchase a home with their BAH alone using a VA loan.
BAH Calculator
2026 Gulfport, MS Military Housing Area
Estimates based on 2026 BAH rates for the Gulfport, MS MHA. Home buying power assumes a 30-year VA loan at ~6.5% with zero down. Actual amounts depend on credit, rates, taxes, and insurance. Source: DoD BAH Tables, effective Jan 1, 2026.
What Your BAH Covers Here
The Gulfport, MS Military Housing Area covers all Gulf Coast installations including Keesler AFB and NCBC Gulfport. With a median home price of $230,000, an E-5 with dependents receiving $1,602/month in BAH can comfortably afford a mortgage payment on a home in the $200,000-$250,000 range using a VA loan.
Unlike higher-cost duty stations, your BAH on the Gulf Coast typically covers your entire mortgage payment — including taxes and insurance — with room to spare.
VA Loan Advantage
- $0 down payment — keep your savings intact
- No PMI — save $100-$200/month vs. conventional
- Competitive rates — often 0.25-0.5% lower
- No transfer tax in Mississippi
- MS Veterans Home Purchase Board — additional programs
Required Documents & Forms
Gather these essential documents before your PCS move. Keep originals in a secure binder and carry them with you — never pack them with household goods.
Orders & ID
- PCS Orders (multiple copies)
- Military ID cards (all family members)
- Dependent ID cards / DEERS enrollment
- Passport(s) if applicable
- Power of Attorney (general & special)
For a printable version, download the free MS Gulf Coast Relocation Guide which includes a complete PCS checklist.
What Military Families Should Know
Practical advice from experience — tap each topic to learn more about making the most of your Gulf Coast assignment.
Helpful Resources
Official links and tools to help you plan your PCS move to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Ready to Find Your Home Near Base?
Alexis specializes in helping military families find the right home near Keesler AFB, NCBC Gulfport, and Stennis Space Center. VA loan expertise included.
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Expect Realty
Alexis Dauphin · Associate Broker