Is Malmstrom AFB a Good Assignment? What Military Personnel Should Know
Yes, Malmstrom AFB is a good assignment. It won't look like orders to Hawaii or San Antonio, but Great Falls delivers where it counts most for military personnel: affordable housing, a low cost of living and a community that genuinely supports its service members.
I've been through PCS moves myself. I know the sinking feeling when you Google your next base and see "Montana winters" in every result. But, I can tell you the reality is better than the reputation.
Your BAH stretches further here than at most bases.
Montana charges zero state income tax on active-duty pay and zero sales tax statewide.
And you'll live within a few hours of Glacier National Park and some of the best outdoor recreation in the country.
For our complete relocation resource, visit the PCS to Malmstrom AFB guide.
Is Malmstrom AFB still active?
Malmstrom AFB is fully active and growing.
The base is home to the 341st Missile Wing, one of three Air Force wings that operate the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile.
About 3,300 active-duty airmen and 600 civilians work on base supporting a mission that runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The base is also at the center of a massive modernization push.
In January 2026, the first operational MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter mission launched from Malmstrom, replacing Vietnam-era Hueys.
The Air Force has committed $1.2 billion in Sentinel ICBM construction at the base with groundbreaking planned for summer 2026.
In December 2025, the new commander of U.S. Strategic Command chose Malmstrom as his first official base visit. That tells you everything about this base's future.
Malmstrom isn't going anywhere. It's getting a major investment.
What is Malmstrom known for?
Malmstrom operates the largest ICBM missile complex in the world. Its 150 missiles sit in hardened silos spread across 13,800 square miles of Montana terrain.
That's larger than some states.
The 341st Missile Wing was the first Minuteman wing in the country, going on alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.
It also houses the largest security forces group in the Air Force.
For career progression, a Malmstrom assignment is a core operational tour.
The mission is considered "deployed in place," meaning missileers maintain constant nuclear alert without typical overseas deployments.
Support career fields like security forces and maintenance gain specialized nuclear enterprise experience that stands out on any record.
The 819th RED HORSE Squadron is also based here, giving civil engineering and construction personnel a unique assignment with worldwide deployment opportunities.
Housing at Malmstrom: what to expect
On-base housing is managed by Balfour Beatty Communities across six neighborhoods.
Homes include 2, 3 and 4-bedroom floor plans with garages, fenced yards and community amenities like a heated pool and fitness center.
Your BAH goes directly to rent. Contact the Military Housing Office at (406) 731-3056 for current availability and wait times.
Off-base is where most personnel find the best value.
The median home sale price in Great Falls sits around $305,000 to $345,000.
That's roughly 39% below the national average.
A typical 3-bedroom house rents for $1,400 to $2,000 per month.
The average commute from off-base neighborhoods to the gate is about 14 minutes.
No traffic jams. No hour-long drives. Just a straight shot to work.
See our guide to off-base housing near Malmstrom for neighborhood breakdowns.
Learn how to use your VA loan in Great Falls.
Is Montana military-friendly?
Montana ranks among the most military-friendly states in the country.
Veterans make up 8.9% of the adult population, the third-highest rate per capita nationally.
This isn't a state that merely tolerates the military. It actively supports it.
Here's what matters for your wallet:
- Active-duty pay is fully exempt from Montana state income tax
- Montana has no state sales tax anywhere in the state
- Active-duty members get resident-price hunting and fishing licenses after just 30 days
- Disabled veterans receive property tax reductions of 50% to 100%
- Veterans get 50% off camping at Montana State Parks
Great Falls has supported its military community since 1939 when the Chamber of Commerce actively lobbied for a military base.
The city petitioned to rename the installation after Col. Malmstrom and has won the Abilene Trophy for outstanding military-community relations.
When you show up to a local business in Great Falls, people thank you for your service and mean it.
The honest pros and cons
Every assignment has trade-offs. Here's what I'll tell you:
The good:
- Your money goes further here than at almost any other base in the Air Force
- Summers are spectacular with 80-degree days, low humidity and daylight that stretches past 9 p.m.
- Glacier National Park sits about 2.5 hours from your front door
- The Missouri River offers world-class fly fishing right in town
- Great Falls is genuinely welcoming
The hard truth:
- Great Falls averages 58 inches of snow per year and the cold season runs from mid-November through early March
- The city ranks as the 7th windiest in the U.S. with an average wind speed of 12.7 mph
- The population is about 60,000
- The nearest large metro is Billings at roughly 3 hours
- Shopping and dining options are limited compared to bases near bigger cities
- The Great Falls airport offers flights to Denver, Minneapolis, Las Vegas and Phoenix, but it's not a major hub
But here's what most military personnel discover after a year: the tight-knit community and outdoor lifestyle make up for what the city lacks in size.
Cost of living and BAH
Great Falls runs 4% to 12% below the national average for cost of living depending on the index.
Housing costs are 13% lower.
Utilities run about 19% cheaper.
And with no sales tax, every purchase saves you money at the register.
| Pay Grade | With Dependents |
|---|---|
| E-5 | $1,608/month |
| O-3 | $2,268/month |
These rates jumped 7.6% from 2025, well above the national average increase of 4.2%.
An E-5's BAH covers most 2 to 3-bedroom rentals in town.
An O-3's BAH comfortably supports a mortgage on a median-priced home with room to spare.
Your housing dollar goes further in Great Falls than at the vast majority of Air Force installations.
Visit our complete PCS to Malmstrom AFB guide for detailed housing and neighborhood breakdowns.
Schools and Support Services
There are no DoDEA schools on base.
All children attend Great Falls Public Schools, which operates 15 elementary schools, 2 middle schools and 2 high schools.
School buses serve on-base housing directly.
Montana generally offers smaller class sizes than national averages — Great Falls averages 15–17 students per teacher across its public schools.
On base, the Airman and Family Readiness Center provides relocation assistance, deployment support, financial counseling and spouse employment help.
The Child Development Center offers daycare and preschool.
The Education Center supports college coursework through Park University and testing services for advanced degrees.
For spouses looking for work or education, Great Falls College Montana State University sits just 4 miles from the gate.
The local job market includes healthcare, education, financial services and government positions.
Benefis Health System, Blue Cross Blue Shield and D.A. Davidson are among the top employers.
Recent job listings show 1,400+ open positions across the Great Falls area.
Remote work is also increasingly viable with solid internet infrastructure in town.
What Chris Burton says:
Malmstrom is the assignment that surprises people.
Most personnel arrive nervous about the winters and the size of the town.
Most leave wishing they could stay longer.
The affordability is real.
The outdoor access is unmatched.
The community treats military personnel like neighbors, not numbers.
If you just got orders to Malmstrom, take a breath.
You're heading to a place where your BAH actually covers your housing and you'll never sit in traffic.
The Sentinel missile modernization program means billions in investment and thousands of additional workers coming to Great Falls over the next decade.
This community is growing, not shrinking.
I'm a US Air Force veteran.
I've done the PCS moves.
I know the stress.
Let me help you make this one smooth.
Ready to start your PCS to Malmstrom?
Chris Burton
Chris Burton is a US Air Force veteran and licensed real estate agent specializing in military relocations to Great Falls, Montana and Malmstrom Air Force Base. Chris helps service members navigate PCS moves, VA loans and the unique challenges of relocating to or from Montana. Chris brings 28 years of HVAC industry experience to every transaction, allowing him to identify potential home system issues that other agents might miss. Combined with his software development background, Chris uses custom tools and data-driven analysis to give clients a competitive edge in the market. Having lived through multiple PCS moves himself, Chris understands the stress of military timelines and remote house hunting. He knows how BAH rates align with local housing costs, and how to make the process straightforward when time is limited. Chris co-owns Painted Sky Realty Group with his business partner Jamie Burton, serving Great Falls and all surrounding Cascade County communities.