If you have orders for a PCS to Selfridge Air National Guard Base, you are headed to one of the more distinctive installations in the country. PCS stands for Permanent Change of Station, the military term for moving from one duty station to another. Selfridge ANGB sits in Harrison Township, Macomb County, Michigan — about 25 miles northeast of downtown Detroit on the shore of Lake St. Clair. This guide covers where to live, how housing pay works, schools, healthcare, and life in metro Detroit.
A move is a lot to manage at once. Our goal is to make the Selfridge part feel clearer.
What and Where Is Selfridge ANGB?
Selfridge Air National Guard Base is located in Harrison Township in Macomb County, Michigan, near the city of Mount Clemens and within the broader Detroit metropolitan area. It sits along Lake St. Clair, the smaller body of water between Lake Huron and Lake Erie that is part of the Great Lakes system.
According to the 127th Wing official website, the 127th Wing is the only Air National Guard unit to host a military installation — a distinction that shapes everything about Selfridge. The wing flies over 1,400 Airmen and supports 45 mission partners.
The current flying missions at Selfridge are the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the KC-135 Stratotanker. The 127th Wing's homepage describes the wing as one that "operates both the A-10 Thunderbolt II and KC-135 Stratotanker flying missions." The A-10 has been part of the wing's mission since 2008; the KC-135 aerial refueler has been in service at Selfridge since 2006.
Looking ahead, the wing has been announced as a future recipient of the F-15EX Eagle II. In April 2025, President Trump announced that the 127th Wing would receive 21 F-15EX Eagle II fighters to replace its A-10s, with first deliveries expected around 2028. The wing is also slated to receive KC-46 Pegasus tankers, with arrivals expected around 2030. This transition — called "Mission Next" — represents more than $1 billion in planned investment. As of this writing, the A-10 and KC-135 remain the active flying missions.
Beyond the 127th Wing, Selfridge is a joint-reserve installation. Tenant organizations include Coast Guard, Army, Navy, and Marine reserve units, making it one of the more diverse reserve installations in the country.
Where to Live When PCSing to Selfridge ANGB
Most families find housing in surrounding Macomb County communities. There is no large on-post residential area typical of active-duty installations; confirm current on-base housing options with your unit's housing office. Your choice usually comes down to commute time, schools, home prices, and the feel you want.
Approximate one-way drive times to Selfridge ANGB. Times vary with traffic and which gate you use.
Harrison Township
Harrison Township is the home of Selfridge ANGB. Living here means a commute of about five minutes to the gate. It is a waterfront community on Lake St. Clair with established homes, marina access, and a quiet suburban feel — the shortest drive and a lakeside neighborhood in one package.
Mount Clemens
Mount Clemens is Macomb County's county seat, about ten minutes from the base. A walkable small city with a historic downtown and a mix of homes and rentals for families who want an in-town feel close to the gate.
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is about 15 minutes north of the base and offers newer subdivisions, good schools, and a growing commercial corridor.
Clinton Township
Clinton Township is one of the larger communities in Macomb County, about 15 minutes from Selfridge. It has a wide range of housing, strong access to services along the Hall Road corridor, and is among the most popular choices for Selfridge families.
New Baltimore
New Baltimore, about 20 minutes north on Anchor Bay, is a smaller waterfront city with a historic downtown and a community feel for families who want a shoreline setting with a lighter commute load.
Macomb
Macomb Township, roughly 20 minutes from the base, has grown quickly and offers a large stock of newer homes at a range of price points, farther inland with good school options.
Sterling Heights
Sterling Heights is about 25 minutes southwest of the base — one of Michigan's largest cities with an extensive range of housing, dining, and services and good access to the broader metro.
Selfridge ANGB BAH and the Cost of Living
If you live off base, the military helps cover your housing through BAH, which stands for Basic Allowance for Housing. BAH is a monthly, tax-free payment. The amount depends on three things: your rank, whether you have dependents, and your duty station's Military Housing Area, or MHA. An MHA is the geographic zone the Defense Department uses to set local housing pay. Selfridge ANGB falls within the Detroit, Michigan MHA.
Because rates change each year and vary by rank and dependent status, we do not publish a rate table here. To find your exact figure, use the official DoD BAH calculator: travel.dod.mil BAH Rate Lookup. Enter your rank and ZIP code to see the current rate. Always confirm your exact BAH before signing a lease or making an offer.
For a sense of buying costs, the typical home value in Macomb County was about $273,048 as of May 2026, according to Zillow — a typical value, not a median sale price. Harrison Township runs around $277,000 and Clinton Township around $261,000 by the same measure. As of the week of June 18, 2026, Freddie Mac reported the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 6.47 percent. Whether buying or renting makes more sense depends on how long you expect to be here, so run the numbers for your situation.
