Eastern Arizona - AZPSS
Eastern Arizona
Where Military Families Connect, Belong, and Thrive
Eastern Arizona offers military-connected families a unique combination of military heritage, welcoming communities, mountain landscapes, open spaces, outdoor recreation, and a strong sense of community. At the center of southeastern Arizona's military community is Fort Huachuca, a historic U.S. Army installation with deep connections to Sierra Vista, Cochise County, local schools, and communities throughout the region.
Military families arriving in Eastern Arizona become part of a community that understands the opportunities and challenges associated with military life. Arizona Purple Star Schools help ensure students experience intentional support, meaningful connections, and a welcoming school environment from the moment they arrive.
Welcome to Eastern Arizona
Every military move represents more than a new duty assignment. Students may be leaving teachers, friends, activities, teams, and familiar routines behind. Arizona Purple Star Schools work to make each transition an opportunity for students to connect, belong, and succeed.
Fort Huachuca
At the Leading Edge of Our Nation's Defense Since 1877
Fort Huachuca has been part of Arizona's military history since 1877 and remains one of the state's most important military installations. Located next to Sierra Vista in Cochise County, Fort Huachuca supports military operations, training, intelligence, communications, aviation, testing, and national defense missions.
Fort Huachuca is home to the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command, 2-13th Aviation Regiment, Electronic Proving Ground, Joint Interoperability Test Command, and numerous additional organizations and supported tenants.
For military families, Fort Huachuca provides access to educational support, relocation assistance, Child & Youth Services, family readiness programs, recreational opportunities, employment resources, Exceptional Family Member Program support, and connections to the surrounding community.
Visit Fort Huachuca Fort Huachuca Services
Fort Huachuca School Liaison
The Fort Huachuca School Liaison serves as an important connection among military families, schools, educators, installation leadership, and community partners throughout southeastern Arizona.
School Liaison services help families navigate educational transitions associated with Permanent Change of Station moves, enrollment, educational options, deployment, special education concerns, graduation requirements, homeschooling, college and career readiness, and the Military Interstate Children's Compact.
School Liaison Program Manager: Brittany Ramsey
Email: [email protected]
Fort Huachuca School Support Services
Murr Community Center
Cushing Street, Building 51301
Fort Huachuca, AZ 85613
Phone: 520-533-0874
Supporting School Transitions
A student's transition does not end when enrollment paperwork is completed. Students are also learning a new campus, meeting teachers, building friendships, finding activities, adjusting to academic expectations, and discovering where they fit within their new school community.
Arizona Purple Star Schools create intentional support systems designed to help military-connected and highly mobile students make those connections more quickly.
Welcoming Students
Schools can create purposeful systems that ensure newly arriving students are welcomed, introduced to their school community, and connected with peers and adults who can support their transition.
Student Connections
Student-led transition programs and peer mentorship provide newly arriving students with someone who can answer questions, explain school culture, and help them develop friendships.
Academic Continuity
Schools can help families navigate course placement, educational records, graduation requirements, special programs, and other academic considerations associated with school transitions.
Family Connections
Schools can connect military families with installation resources, community organizations, School Liaisons, and other supports available throughout Eastern Arizona.
A successful transition is more than enrolling a student. It is helping that student become part of the school community.
Youth Sponsorship
One of the most effective ways to welcome a transitioning student is through another student. Youth Sponsorship helps connect incoming military youth with peers who understand the experience of arriving in a new community.
A student sponsor can help answer questions about school, activities, youth programs, the installation, and life in the surrounding community. These peer connections can reduce uncertainty and help students begin building friendships before or shortly after they arrive.
Soldier & Family Readiness Center
The Fort Huachuca Soldier & Family Readiness Center supports Soldiers and families throughout military life. The center connects families with programs designed to strengthen readiness, resiliency, and successful transitions.
Programs may include relocation assistance, financial readiness, employment resources, deployment support, family programs, Exceptional Family Member Program services, and connections to installation and community resources.
Fort Huachuca Soldier & Family Readiness Center
640 Smith Avenue
Building 50010
Fort Huachuca, AZ 85613
Phone: 520-533-2330
Relocation Readiness
Making the Move to Arizona Easier
Permanent Change of Station moves affect the entire family. Fort Huachuca's Relocation Readiness Program connects Soldiers and families with information and resources designed to make moving to a new duty station easier.
Families may find newcomer information, relocation counseling, community resources, sponsorship assistance, orientation programs, and information about Sierra Vista and surrounding communities.
Preparing for a School Transition
Military families are encouraged to keep important school documents readily available during a PCS rather than packing them with household goods.
- Recent report cards and transcripts.
- Current course schedules.
- Course descriptions for high school students.
- Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
- Section 504 Plans.
- Evaluations and specialized service records.
- Immunization and health information.
- Gifted education documentation.
- Extracurricular and athletic records.
- Graduation and credit information.
Exceptional Family Member Program
Supporting Families With Exceptional Needs
The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) supports military families who have family members with special medical or educational needs. A military move can be especially complex when a student receives special education, related services, specialized medical care, or other supports.
Fort Huachuca EFMP Family Support helps families identify resources and navigate programs available through the installation and surrounding community.
EFMP Family Support
Soldier & Family Readiness Center
640 Smith Avenue
Building 50010
Fort Huachuca, AZ 85613
Phone: 520-538-5899
Moving With an IEP or Section 504 Plan?
Families are encouraged to contact their receiving school as early as possible. Keep copies of current evaluations, IEPs, Section 504 Plans, related service information, and educational records easily accessible throughout the move.
The School Liaison and EFMP Family Support can help families identify resources and appropriate points of contact during the transition.
Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission
The Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission (MIC3) addresses common educational transition issues experienced by eligible military-connected students as they move between states and school systems.
The Compact addresses areas including:
- Enrollment.
- Educational records.
- Course and program placement.
- Attendance.
- Eligibility.
- Graduation requirements.
Families experiencing an educational transition concern should work with their school and Fort Huachuca School Liaison to determine whether provisions of the Compact may apply.
Child & Youth Services
Fort Huachuca Child & Youth Services provides programs and resources for military children and families. Programs include child development, school-age care, youth programs, sports and fitness, parent services, and school support.
These programs provide military-connected children and youth with additional opportunities to build friendships, participate in activities, and become connected to the Fort Huachuca community outside of school.
Fort Huachuca Child & Youth Services
Parent Central: 520-533-0738
School Liaison: 520-533-0874
School-Age Center: 520-538-1198
Middle School & Teen Center: 520-533-3205
Living in Eastern Arizona
Mountain Views, Open Spaces, and a Strong Sense of Community
The Fort Huachuca and Sierra Vista area offers military families a side of Arizona that can be very different from what newcomers expect. Surrounded by mountains, grasslands, desert environments, and historic communities, southeastern Arizona combines outdoor recreation with a relaxed community atmosphere.
Sierra Vista
Sierra Vista is the primary community surrounding Fort Huachuca and provides families with access to shopping, dining, recreation, healthcare, parks, schools, community programs, and other services.
The longstanding relationship between Sierra Vista and Fort Huachuca means military families are an established and valued part of the community.
Outdoor Adventure
The region offers opportunities for hiking, camping, cycling, birding, wildlife viewing, horseback riding, and exploring Arizona's mountains and desert landscapes.
The area's higher elevation also creates seasonal changes and temperatures that may surprise families experiencing Arizona for the first time.
History and Heritage
Eastern Arizona is rich in military, Native American, ranching, mining, and Western history. Fort Huachuca itself has played an important role in the history of the U.S. Army and the American Southwest since the nineteenth century.
Community Connections
Military families can become connected through schools, youth activities, recreation programs, community organizations, civic events, local businesses, and the strong relationship between Fort Huachuca and surrounding communities.
Education in Eastern Arizona
Families relocating to Fort Huachuca have access to multiple educational options depending on where they live and the needs of their students. School boundaries, transportation, enrollment requirements, programs, and services can vary, so families should contact individual schools and districts for current information.
Brittany Ramsey, Fort Huachuca School Liaison, can help military families better understand local educational options and connect with appropriate schools and districts.
When Exploring School Options, Consider
- School and district boundaries.
- Academic programs and curriculum.
- Advanced coursework.
- Career and Technical Education opportunities.
- Special education and Section 504 services.
- Gifted education.
- Extracurricular activities.
- Athletics.
- Transportation.
- Before- and after-school programs.
- Support for military-connected and highly mobile students.
- Arizona Purple Star School designation.
Arizona Purple Star Schools
Arizona Purple Star Schools create intentional systems of support that help military-connected students and families navigate educational transitions while becoming part of their new school communities.
The designation recognizes schools that build sustainable transition systems, strengthen communication, develop student-led support programs, connect families with resources, and foster partnerships among schools, military installations, families, and communities.
Creating a Culture of Belonging
Arizona Purple Star Schools do more than welcome military students. They create a school culture where military-connected and highly mobile students can connect, belong, and succeed.
Arizona Purple Star School Program
Resources for Military Families
Military families should not have to navigate educational transitions alone. Arizona Purple Star Schools, School Liaisons, installation programs, educators, and community partners work together to help families find the information and resources they need.
Start Here
AZPSS Parent Resources School Liaison Resources Fort Huachuca School Support Relocation Resources
Welcome Home to Eastern Arizona
Every military-connected student arrives with a story, experiences, strengths, and connections to the communities they have previously called home.
Through partnerships among Fort Huachuca, Arizona schools, educators, military families, and local communities, Eastern Arizona can make the next chapter of that story one defined by connection, belonging, opportunity, and success.