Moving to Fort Johnson
Housing, neighborhoods, schools, and 2026 BAH for families PCSing to Leesville, Louisiana.
Also known as: Fort Polk
Fort Johnson, in rural western Louisiana, is home to the Joint Readiness Training Center, one of the Army’s premier combat training centers. Families PCSing here settle in Leesville and Rosepine right outside the gate, in one of the lowest-cost markets of any Army post, where buying with a VA loan is easy but the area is remote.
Last updated: 2026-07-19
On-base vs off-base housing
On-post housing is widely used given the rural, isolated location. Off-post, Leesville is the main town right outside the gate with the most inventory, Rosepine offers a quieter option with decent schools, and DeRidder provides more amenities a bit farther south. Prices are among the lowest of any Army post, so buying is easy, but the area is remote.
Where military families live near Fort Johnson
Families PCSing to Fort Johnson most often settle in Leesville, Rosepine, DeRidder. The table below shows typical rents, home prices, and drive time to the gate for each.
| Area | 3-bed rent | Home prices | To gate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leesville | $900-$1,300 | $150k-$230k | 5-15 min | Main town at the gate with the most inventory and shortest commute. |
| Rosepine | $950-$1,350 | $170k-$250k | 10-20 min | Quieter small town with decent schools just north. |
| DeRidder | $900-$1,300 | $160k-$240k | 25-35 min | More amenities and a larger town about 25 minutes south. |
2026 BAH near Fort Johnson
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) at Fort Johnson is set by the LA115 (Fort Polk, LA) military housing area. Rates below are monthly, by pay grade, for 2026.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $1,218 | $1,128 |
| E-7 | $1,872 | $1,404 |
| O-3 | $1,938 | $1,611 |
Source: DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rate table (travel.dod.mil), effective January 1, 2026.
Schools near Fort Johnson
| School | Level | District | Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leesville High School | High | Vernon Parish Schools | Leesville |
| Rosepine High School | High | Vernon Parish Schools | Rosepine |
| Vernon Elementary | Elementary | Vernon Parish Schools | Leesville |
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Get my free quotesFort Johnson PCS FAQ
Is Fort Johnson the same as Fort Polk?
Yes. The post was renamed from Fort Polk to Fort Johnson in 2023, honoring Sergeant William Henry Johnson, a World War I Medal of Honor recipient. Many people and the official BAH military housing area still use the Fort Polk name, but the installation and its Joint Readiness Training Center mission are unchanged.
What should families know before PCSing to Fort Johnson?
It is remote and affordable. Fort Johnson sits in rural western Louisiana, so the nearest amenities are in Leesville and the larger cities are a couple hours away. Housing is among the cheapest of any Army post, making buying easy, but plan for a small-town lifestyle and longer drives for major shopping.
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More: Army bases · Bases in Louisiana