Alabama · Army

Fort Novosel

Ozark, Alabama

Installation overview

About Fort Novosel

Fort Novosel, formerly Fort Rucker, is the home of Army Aviation and the United States Army Aviation Center of Excellence.

Use this page for location context, nearby community factors, and related base discovery pathways.

Location

Fort Novosel Location & Map

Ozark, Alabama

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Fort Novosel, AL 36362

Quick Facts

Branch
Army
Installation type
Fort
State
Alabama
Nearest city
Ozark
Official website
Visit official site
Area hazard risk
Relatively Moderate

Public sources

Visit official installation website

This page is an informational directory entry. For gate access, visitor rules, and operational procedures, always use official military websites.

Last verified: January 2024

Living Near the Base

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  • Use official channels for updated traffic, gate access, and installation-specific procedures.

Family and Lifestyle

  • Family fit varies by school zones, commute times, and community amenities in surrounding areas.
  • Lifestyle can range from urban convenience to suburban quiet depending on where you choose to live.
  • Climate and recreation options around Fort Novosel should be factored into relocation planning.

Things to Do Nearby

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PCS and Relocation Notes

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PCS Climate and Natural Hazards

Climate and hazard profile near Fort Novosel

NOAA climate normals from the nearest reporting station (ENTERPRISE 4 W, AL US), plus community-level hazard exposure for Dale County.

Avg high
78°F
Avg low
54.9°F
Annual rainfall
57.9 in
Typical snowfall
0 in

Natural-hazard exposure

Overall: Relatively Moderate
HurricaneVery High
WildfireVery Low
TornadoRelatively Low
FloodRelatively Moderate
Extreme heatRelatively Low

Climate normals period: 1991-2020. Hazard ratings are community-level public references for PCS planning and are not installation-specific determinations. Sources: NOAA NCEI and FEMA National Risk Index methodology. Compare bases by natural-hazard risk.

Name and Status Timeline

History of names and status for Fort Novosel

Curated, sourced redesignation and BRAC/closure events. Last verified 2026-07-31. Official names and statuses can change — confirm with primary DoD or Army sources.

Current name: Fort Ruckeractive

Former names: Fort Novosel · Fort Rucker (Edmund Rucker namesake)

  1. Rename

    Redesignated Fort Novosel

    Fort Rucker → Fort Novosel

    Reason: Naming Commission / FY2021 NDAA Section 370 implementation

    Fort Rucker redesignated Fort Novosel in honor of Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael J. Novosel Sr. under Naming Commission recommendations.

  2. Rename

    Redesignated Fort Rucker (Edward W. Rucker)

    Fort Novosel → Fort Rucker

    Reason: Army redesignation announced June 10, 2025, honoring Capt. Edward W. Rucker

    Army announced redesignation from Fort Novosel to Fort Rucker in honor of Capt. Edward W. Rucker, a World War I Distinguished Service Cross recipient. Directory slug remains fort-novosel pending seed sync.

Browse the full renaming and closures tracker

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Related Hubs

Fort Novosel FAQ

Quick answers to common relocation and location questions.

Where is Fort Novosel located?

Fort Novosel is located near Ozark, Alabama.

What city is closest to Fort Novosel?

Ozark is the nearest listed city for Fort Novosel.

What is it like to live near Fort Novosel?

Living near a military installation varies by commute, housing market, school access, and community amenities. Use this page as a starting point and verify local details directly.

What is the natural-hazard risk near Fort Novosel?

The surrounding Dale community has a FEMA National Risk Index rating of Relatively Moderate. Climate normals nearby include average high near 78°F, average low near 54.9°F, about 57.9 inches of annual rainfall, about 0 inches of typical snowfall. These are community-level public references for PCS planning, not installation-specific hazard determinations.

What is the current official name used in this timeline for Fort Novosel?

This timeline lists the current name as Fort Rucker (status: active). Last verified 2026-07-31. Confirm with official Army or DoD sources before citing.

What former names are recorded for Fort Novosel?

Fort Novosel; Fort Rucker (Edmund Rucker namesake)