The Pentagon Duty Location Profile & PCS Resources

Get to know the duty location.

A major joint-service headquarters duty location in Arlington, supported by Washington Headquarters Services. Research the specific gaining organization alongside the shared National Capital Region — Northern Virginia Regional PCS Guide.

Arlington, Alexandria and Washington offer different transit and housing patterns around a headquarters assignment. A Pentagon duty location does not itself imply access to a particular installation housing community or family-service office. Identify the household support installation through the orders and gaining organization, then compare the actual work entrance and transport options with candidate addresses.

Names and search context: Pentagon · Pentagon Reservation. Match the gaining organization and current official identity when using older correspondence.

Use this independent editorial research alongside the gaining organization’s current instructions. Eligibility, benefits and availability are determined by the responsible offices.

Duty location history.

Construction of the Pentagon began during World War II, and the building was completed in January 1943. Its enduring role is as a headquarters workplace rather than a conventional residential military installation. The surrounding reservation and nearby regional support installations should not be treated as interchangeable reporting destinations.

Read the official installation history ↗ · Reviewed 2026-10-24

What The Pentagon is known for.

A major joint-service headquarters duty location in Arlington, supported by Washington Headquarters Services.

Publicly identified organizations

Office of the Secretary of Defense
Joint Staff
Washington Headquarters Services

Explore the official installation identity and organizations ↗

The wider community

National Capital Region — Northern Virginia

Nearby communities: Arlington · Alexandria · Washington, D.C.. Housing, schools, care, spouse employment and transportation belong in one regional comparison, with the actual duty site kept in view.

Read the National Capital Region — Northern Virginia Regional PCS Guide →

Other installations in this region

Regional housing & family resources.

Use the household’s designated support installation’s official housing contacts to confirm the current process for the household’s orders and arrival circumstances. Identify the gaining organization’s actual work location before comparing on-installation and civilian options around Arlington and Alexandria.

Find official headquarters arrival and regional support contacts ↗. The directory separates housing, education, childcare, medical and relocation contacts. Choose the office for the actual question and use the gaining organization’s directions for unit-specific reporting.

Open the official installation website & newcomer resources ↗

Arrival at The Pentagon.

Follow the gaining office and Washington Headquarters Services instructions for reporting, sponsorship and building access. Visitor touring arrangements are not employee onboarding instructions. Confirm the designated household support installation separately, and distinguish a Pentagon assignment from reporting to Fort Belvoir or Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. Recheck the current guide before the final travel day.

Keep the reporting destination distinct from nearby civilian landmarks and from other military sites in the region. Confirm lodging, the first reporting step and a contact for travel changes through the official installation resources before departure.

Local character & seasonal context.

The Potomac region has humid summers and variable winter weather, with rain and occasional snow or ice affecting both roads and outdoor walking connections. Allow for weather across the complete door-to-door route. The regional river and skyline artwork is illustrative and does not show the headquarters or current access conditions.

Notable regional features

Potomac River
Francis Scott Key Bridge
Rosslyn civilian skyline

Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail ↗ is a regional discovery starting point, separate from installation facilities. Check the responsible visitor resource for the specific location and current access information before planning an outing. The illustration represents the wider environment rather than a promised view, unrestricted route or documentary record.

Helpful reading for this move.

Your First 30 Days at a New Duty Station: A Practical Checklist →How to Research a New Military Installation Before Arrival →How to Compare Commutes and Neighborhoods Near Military Installations →

Find another household guide →

Sources & review notes.

Content reviewed 2026-10-24; installation identity and regional source verification 2026-10-24. Contact responsibilities, access, enrollment, authorizations and availability can change. Recheck the responsible office’s current instructions before making a commitment or departing.

Map point: published geographic source. National Capital Planning Commission published Pentagon Memorial point on the Pentagon Reservation. Orientation reference, not the headquarters building center or a reporting entrance. The point and generalized globe land shapes are for discovery, not navigation.