Compare military bases / Military bases by state / Alabama
Military bases in Alabama: installations, personnel and BAH
The major military installations in Alabama in our directory, with 2026 housing allowance and Defense Manpower Data Center personnel counts by branch.
Data vintage: DMDC personnel as of August 31, 2026 (compared with September 30, 2025); BAH effective January 1, 2026; HUD FY2026 fair market rents. Last checked 2026-10-27 by The CompareTheData team.
Data: DMDC, DTMO and HUD. Jump to sources · Methodology
Key takeaways
- Alabama hosts 9,172 active-duty members, the 25th most of any state, plus 18,660 Guard and reserve members and 20,776 DoD civilians (August 31, 2026).
- The Army is the largest branch here (4,655 active duty, 51% of the state's total).
- Active-duty personnel changed by +47 (+0.5%) since September 30, 2025.
- Among the 3 bases in our directory here, 2026 BAH for an E-5 with dependents ranges from $1,572 at Fort Rucker to $1,797 at Redstone Arsenal.
Military bases in Alabama
Click a column heading to sort. Open a base for schools, weather, taxes and PCS comparisons.
| Base | Branch | Nearest city | BAH E-5 with dependents | BAH E-5 without | BAH O-3 with dependents | HUD fair market rent, 2BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Rucker | Army | Daleville | $1,572 | $1,251 | $2,262 | $776 |
| Maxwell Air Force Base | Air Force | Montgomery | $1,683 | $1,431 | $1,932 | $1,016 |
| Redstone Arsenal | Army | Huntsville | $1,797 | $1,443 | $2,226 | $1,310 |
Active-duty personnel in Alabama by branch
| Branch | Active duty | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Army | 4,655 | 50.8% |
| Air Force | 3,192 | 34.8% |
| Coast Guard | 1,020 | 11.1% |
| Marine Corps | 176 | 1.9% |
| Space Force | 70 | 0.8% |
| Navy | 59 | 0.6% |
How to read these numbers
- The base list covers major installations we profile, not every DoD site in Alabama.
- Personnel counts are statewide and include members at sites not listed here.
Common questions
How many military bases are in Alabama?
Our directory covers 3 major installations in Alabama: Fort Rucker, Maxwell Air Force Base, Redstone Arsenal. Official DoD inventories also list smaller sites, reserve centers and Guard facilities.
How many active-duty military are in Alabama?
9,172 as of August 31, 2026 (DMDC), ranking 25 of 50 states and D.C.
Which branch has the most members in Alabama?
The Army, with 4,655 active-duty members. Next is the Air Force (3,192).
What is BAH in Alabama in 2026?
For an E-5 with dependents, from $1,572 to $1,797 a month at the bases listed here. See all 2026 BAH rates.
Related
Sources
- DMDC, Military and Civilian Personnel by Service and Location (by state), August 2026 and September 2025. as of August 31, 2026; prior September 30, 2025.
- Defense Travel Management Office, 2026 BAH rates (ASCII file, all locations and pay grades). effective January 1, 2026.
- HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026.