The Airman & Family Readiness Flight
would like to welcome you to Ellsworth AFB!

This page will provide you with information and resources that the Airman & Family Readiness Center can offer you. If you are looking for reporting, lodging, postal information, please take a look at the Ellsworth AFB public page for newcomers.

Relocation Assistance
Inbound Personal Property
Free Child Care
Happy Landings
Youth Sponsorship Program
Pet Care
Loan Locker
Driver's Licenses
Vehicle Registration
Vehicle Insurance
Unique Rules of the Road
Unique Ellsworth AFB Rules During Winter

Relocation Assistance

Stop by our center to meet our staff and hear about what services we can offer you. You can pick up a copy of the base phone book, local maps and we can try to answer any questions you may have. You can also email us at relocation@ellsworthafrc.org.

We can also provide you with resources to deal with those unique PCS difficulties.

Inbound Personal Property

Inbound shipments are managed by the Joint Personal Property Shipping Office in Colorado Springs, Colorado (JPPSO-COS). Personnel arriving should contact the JPPSO-COS Inbound Section directly at:

1-800-771-1819

Print out a copy of the JPPSO-COS Customer Service Brochure
(Adobe® Acrobat® Reader® Required)

Click HERE for more information from the Ellsworth Personal Property Office.

Free Child Care for PCS

Do you need some time to unpack or take care of mandatory appointments?

You can receive 20 hours of free childcare per child with a licensed day care provider. This is available to all ranks and needs to be used within 60 days of your PCS. Bring a copy of your PCS orders to the Airman & Family Readiness Center in order to get your voucher for each child and a list of day care providers.

Happy Landings

New to Ellsworth AFB? Join us for Happy Landings - Stop by the Holbrook Library every Thursday 10:30-11:30 AM to learn about all the programs, services, and facilities available on Ellsworth AFB. Bring the kids for the library's 11:00 AM story time or stop by Grizzi's for a hot cup of coffee or tea. We hope to see you there. For more information call (605) 385-4663.

Youth Sponsorship Program

The Youth Sponsorship Program from the Youth Center is currently in development and more information will follow shortly.

Pet Care

The Ellsworth Veterinarian Clinic is located at 2800 Doolittle Drive. Their phone number is (605) 385-1589.

Services Available:

• Routine exams, annual physicals, vaccinations, and health certificates
• Spaying and neutering (call for requirements)
• Heart worm testing and preventative
• Registration - Microchip registration is mandatory.
• Parasite control and health products available

ALL animals must be registered on base within 72 hours of arrival to comply with base regulations.

Recommend scheduling appointments two weeks in advance. Clinic days vary based on availability of veterinarian.

Loan Locker

If you are still waiting for your household goods or just need a household item, visit family services. This is a service provided by the A&FRC where you can check out (for free) items such as sleeping mats, pots & pans, dishes, folding tables, baby items, etc.

The loan locker is located within the Airman & Family Readiness Center. It is open on Monday from 0900 to 1630 and Tuesday through Friday from 0730 to 1630. You can call (605) 385-4663 for more information.

Driver's Licenses

Any South Dakota resident who operates a motor vehicle or motor-driven cycle on public roadways in South Dakota is required to have a driver license. You are required to have a South Dakota driver license if you live here for more than 90 days. Members of the Armed Forces on active duty or members of foreign military on temporary duty with the Armed Forces, as well as their spouse and children can drive on a valid license from their home state, so long as they are at least 16 years old.

Get It Together!
Effective December 31, 2009, to apply for or renew your driver license or identification card the applicant will need to provide four (4) unique documents. Click here to view the PDF detailing the types of documents required.

Visit the South Dakota Driver Licensing home page for more information at http://dps.sd.gov/licensing/driver_licensing/default.aspx

Vehicle Registration

• Are you a resident of another state? The South Dakota Department of Revenue & Regulation, Motor Vehicles Division (http://www.state.sd.us/DRR2/motorvehicle/index.htm) basically states that vehicles owned by nonresidents (military personnel stationed in this state while in the military service of the United States and their dependents) are not required to register their vehicles in South Dakota provided the vehicle has valid registration in your home state or the state of military assignment at the time of registration. Source: South Dakota Codified Laws - 32-5-46 and 32-5-47.1.

• Motor vehicle titling and registration fees are done through your local county treasurers office. Click here for all applicable license fees that must be paid to the county treasurer.

• Deployments/TDY does not excuse the owner from properly registering or insuring the motor vehicle. (Insure that you do not allow the registration or insurance to expire simply because of a deployment or TDY commitment).

Vehicle Insurance

• Ensure that you know the limitations of your auto insurance policy coverage. In some cases insurance obtained in another state may not be valid in South Dakota based on limitations specified in your policy. You must ensure you tell your insurance company that you are in South Dakota.

Unique South Dakota Rules

Read the South Dakota Motor Vehicle Laws

• A South Dakota state statute requires motorists in South Dakota to stop when coming from any direction and approaching any stopped authorized emergency vehicle using red visual signals/lights. The law now requires you to move over and slow down when passing any vehicle displaying amber or yellow flashing signals/lights.

What is meant by any vehicle? This includes any vehicle that is broke down and using their amber or yellow flashers. If on the interstate system or a divided highway you must, if possible, move to the other lane. If on a two lane road you must reduce your speed by twenty miles per hour and if in a twenty five mile per hour zone you must reduce your speed to five miles per hour. This is to protect all of the motoring public.

For example, if someone is pulled over onto the shoulder with their amber or yellow lights flashing, on the interstate system or a divided highway you must pull over to the opposite lane. If on a two lane road, slow down as described.

The law is aimed at protecting vehicles stopped on the shoulder of the road from being hit by passing vehicles. Protected vehicles include law enforcement, emergency response vehicles, service vehicles (tow trucks, etc.), and motorists experiencing mechanical trouble.

Under the new law, motorists on South Dakota Interstates and other highways with two or more lanes traveling in the same direction as the stopped vehicle, must merge into the lane farthest from the stopped vehicle and proceed with caution, unless otherwise directed.

On two-lane highways, motorists must slow to a speed that is at least 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit or slow to 5 miles per hour when the speed limit is posted at 20 miles per hour or less and proceed with caution, unless otherwise directed.

A violation of this law is a Class 2 misdemeanor, which is punishable by a fine of $200 and/or 60 days in jail.

Source: South Dakota Codified Laws 32-31-6.1

Unique Ellsworth AFB Rules During Winter

Ellsworth AFB can experience some extreme weather conditions during the winter months. During this time the base will notify the base community on the status of the roads. The following conditions are strictly enforced to protect the base, it's personnel, families and base assets.

Road Condition Green - Normal installation speed limits and traffic rules are in effect.

Road Condition Yellow - The maximum speed limit for all motor vehicles is 10 mph below the posted speed limit. The speed limit for parking areas is 5 mph. The vehicle will be operated in such a manner that ensures complete control of the vehicle at all times. Vehicle operators are cautioned to remain a safe distance away from snow removal equipment, with the understanding that the snow removal equipment operator may be operating at an increased rate of speed and with visibility limitations.

Road Condition Red - The maximum speed limit for all motor vehicles is 10 mph on general roadways, and 5 mph in military family housing areas and parking areas. Travel is restricted to essential travel only (i.e. military personnel who have not been instructed to remain away from duty, family members traveling to and from their place of employment, etc.). Persons found to be in violation of this traffic instruction (i.e. recreational driving, non-emergency visitation, etc.) are subject to being cited in accordance with this traffic code, and to points being assessed on their driving record accordingly. Travel during Road Condition Red is at the vehicle operator's own risk. During Road Condition Red, the vehicle operator assumes all liability for vehicle damage should the vehicle become immovable due to weather or road conditions, such as damage from passing snow removal equipment, damage from exposure to severe weather, or any other damage which may occur.

Housing

• Ensure vehicles are removed from base streets and parked in the driveway if on TDY, vacation or when snow begins to accumulate.

• Disconnect all water hoses from the outside faucets to prevent freeze-ups. If a connected hose should cause a freeze up and damage occurs, the occupants may be responsible for the repair.

• Keep all garage doors closed when not in use to prevent freeze-ups and rodent infestation.

• Replace furnace filters monthly by obtaining one from the self-help store at housing maintenance.

• Turn water off, but leave the heat on, if the house will be unoccupied for more than three days. Also, Ellsworth housing residents must contact the housing office to advise of the occupant's absence and give the name of the person who will be watching over the residence.

Snow removal

In order to facilitate snow clearing as fast and as safely as possible, vehicles must not be parked in housing area streets during winter weather advisories and actual snowfall. Housing residents should not park their car on the streets overnight if there's snow in the weather forecast. Parking on the streets is allowed after snow plows clear the streets.

Do not leave vehicles on the streets for extended absences or TDYs. Either put it in the driveway or use the TDY parking lot located at the corner of Schriever Street and Spaatz Drive. Vehicle owners who violate this instruction may be ticketed or have their cars towed at their own expense.

Housing occupants are required to clear snow from their sidewalks, driveways, fire hydrants and cluster mail boxes in front of their unit within 24 hours after the snowfall stops. Please help keep a clear path for children walking to the bus stops.