Overview

RAF Menwith Hill is a Royal Air Force station near Harrogate, North Yorkshire which provides communications and intelligence support services to the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The site contains an extensive satellite ground station and is a communications intercept and missile warning site and has been described as the largest electronic monitoring station in the world.
The mission of RAF Menwith Hill, which is a U.S.

Air Force installation, is to provide rapid radio relay and conduct communications research. Much of the station consists of an antenna field with the land beneath the antennas sublet to local farmers for grazing. The land is owned by the Ministry of Defense and leased to the United States Government.

RAF Menwith Hill does not have an official website.

Location/Driving Directions

RAF Menwith Hill is located in the Yorkshire Dales in England, approximately 8 miles northwest of Harrogate, 20 miles north of Bradford, and 222 miles north of London. The Nidderdale region is known as an area of outstanding natural beauty. The local community is very much like a small town with many diverse cultures both on and off the base. To reach the base from Harrogate, travel west on the A-59 and follow the signs to RAF Menwith Hill.

From Manchester, travel east on the M62 to Leeds. Once in Leeds, take the A61 towards Harrogate, then go west on the A-59 and follow the signs to RAF Menwith Hill.

Main Phone Numbers

Base Operator 011-44-1423-77-0421 DSN: 314-262-0421

Menwith Hill Elementary/High School 011 44 1423 DSN: 262-7778

TRICARE Dental Program 1-800-866-8499

Population/Major Units Assigned

RAF Menwith Hill is a joint population base including Air Force, Army, Navy and Marines. The base also has a large DoD Civilian population along with major contractors from Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Hewlett Packard. Besides the U.S personnel assigned to the base, there is a large Ministry of Defense (MOD) workforce.

There are about 2200 staff from both UK and US. Approximately one third are British, drawn from HM Armed Forces, Civilian personnel, MDP and contractor staff.

About one third of the US personnel are active duty military personnel representing all four services (Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps); the rest are US civilians. The majority live off base and contribute substantially to the local economy.

The 421st Air Base Group is located at Royal Air Force Menwith Hill and is a component of the 501st Combat Support Wing headquartered at Royal Air Force Alconbury, England. The group is made up of 786 people assigned to the various squadrons throughout the group. The unit employs approximately 74 active duty military, 68 DoD Civilians, 72 Non-Appropriated Fund employees, 17 Local National Direct Hire and 61 contractors. 494 Ministry of Defence employees also work in the unit.

Temporary Lodging

RAF Menwith Hill does not have temporary quarters on base. Arrangements for quarters must be made prior to your arrival at RAF Menwith Hill, as securing accommodations will be difficult after arrival. All newly assigned personnel should have hotel/apartment arrangements made by their sponsor or corporate communications. Corporate communications can be reached at 011-44-1423-777-711 or DSN 314-262-7711 for assistance in securing hotel arrangements.

There are many hotels, and guest houses in the Harrogate area, and at a wide range in prices. If you want cooking facilities, you will want a self-catering accommodation. Some of the places that Americans use are listed below:

The Wellington
Darley
01423-780 362

Cloughouse Farm
Summerbridge
01423-780 823

The International
Harrogate
01423-500 000

Watermill Inn
Pately Bridge
01423-711 484

Millstone
Darley
01423-780 605

Ashness Apt.
Harrogate
01423-526 894
(self catering)

Alexander Court Hotel Harrogate
01423-503 348

Brookfield House
Harrogate
01423-506 646

Alexa House (B&B)
Harrogate
01423-501 988

For more places to stay consult the phone book, ask your sponsor, and/or Administrative Services at extension 7867 or 7711.

Housing

RAF Menwith Hill has over 137 government housing units located on-station and in the surrounding communities. These units are primarily for accompanied military personnel and accompanied DoD civilian personnel in the grades of GS-13 and below. Personnel in the grade of GS-14 and above will normally utilize private economy housing. Regardless of whether you are eligible for government or private housing, the goal of Menwith Hill Housing is to house you within 30 days of your arrival.
RAF Menwith Hill has very limited housing and medical care so all special needs housing must be worked individually with the Housing office and your medical provider.

Unaccompanied military enlisted personnel E1-E3 and E4 on first enlistment, will normally be assigned dormitory space by their respective service. E4 on second enlistment, E5 and above, unaccompanied officers and civilian personnel will be assisted in locating private economy housing.

Schools

A wide range of schooling is available to dependents, and family members of personnel assigned to RAF Menwith Hill. If you have school age children, a guide to the British and American school system is available from the Community Relations Advisor, and the Education Center.

Active duty military members are eligible for 100% tuition assistance. There is a Spouse Tuition Assistance Program for which spouses of active duty Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines stationed at Menwith Hill can apply.

RAF Menwith Hill has one school, Menwith Hill Elementary/High School, which houses grades K-12 that includes a pre-school handicapped program for students from 3-6 years of age. There are approximately 300 students at the school. There is a hot lunch program available. There is not a before school program. There are many after school activities offered for both elementary, and high school students. DoD, and military family members attend free of charge, while contractor family members attend on a tuition-paying basis. Bus transportation is provided free of charge to off station family members who live near the bus routes.

The school year begins in late August, and concludes in mid-June. Children may enroll any time during the year. The school is organized to serve a mobile population, and transfers are accomplished relatively easily.

School Registration is an annual requirement by DoD regulation to determine continued eligibility for school enrollment. DoDDS-E students can register in one of two ways: 1.

Visit your school and register in person. 2. Register on-line. Registering on-line still requires a visit to the school to finalize the registration process.

Menwith Hill Child Development Center (CDC) is located in Bldg 619. The Phone number is DSN 314-262-7890 or 011 44 1423 777890. The hours of the CDC are Monday through Friday, 6:45 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. The CDC opens at 6:00 a.m. for dual/single military participating in morning PT. The CDC reserves the option to close when both British and American holidays fall on the same day.

The Center is open for working, mission-essential parents on American federal holidays, and for American, and dual working parents on British Bank holidays.
The Child Development Center offers the following options:

Full Day Care - The full day program provides services for working parents or full-time students requiring child care for 5 to 11 hours per day on a regularly scheduled basis.
Hourly Care - Hourly/drop in spaces are for short term care provided on an intermittent basis.
Part Day Preschool - A part day pre-school program is offered for children who are not in full daycare and are between the ages of 3-5 years. Hours of operation for this program are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Part day preschool is not in session during DoD school closures and vacations.

School Age Program (SAP) provides care for children of school age who need care before and/or after school hours. Fees are based on total family income. Parents need to sign up their children in advance for the program.

After School Program offers monitored activities Monday through Friday from 1500-1800. A full day directed program is also offered during the school term breaks, and holidays. The program is structured and the child must be registered for the program. The youth must be signed in and out and are constantly monitored.The School Age Program provides monitored activities on Mondays through Fridays for school aged children ages 6-12, and on School Holidays all day. Fees are based on total family income. Parents need to sign up their children in advance for the program.

Family Child Care(FCC) offers child care in a home-based setting for children between the ages of 6 weeks and 12 years. The hours of operation are determined by contract with the FCC provider and parent.

The RAF Menwith Hill Occupational Health Clinic serves as the primary care provider for personnel, and their family members who live on base as well as the provider of Occupational Medicine for those employed on base. Once you obtain permanent housing the Medical Clinic can provide you with a list of National Health Service (NHS) General Practioners who practice in that area. While you are in transition the Medical Center will take care of your immediate medical needs.

In order to receive medical care under NHS, you must register with a NHS physician in the village or town in which you live. There is no charge for visits to the GP or to NHS specialists to whom you are referred. Adults currently pay a small fee for each prescription; children and those falling in to certain exempt categories receive all of their prescriptions at no charge. Private health care, including private hospital care, is available on a fee for service basis.
NHS, and private consultants in numerous specialties (including a fairly extensive preferred provider network developed for TRICARE) practice in the local area. Although in most cases it will not be necessary, active duty military and their family members are entitled to utilize the services at RAF Lakenheath which is located 200 miles away. Civilians may use the Lakenheath medical facilities for a charge of approximately $136 per visit.

While the National Health Service provides comprehensive care, it is strongly advised that civilians continue private medical insurance.

Private insurance will afford you greater flexibility if you opt for private health care; furthermore, you will generally have NO coverage under NHS when traveling outside the UK. There is a dentist at Menwith Hill providing coverage for Active Duty Military members and their families.

Enrollment in the TRICARE Dental Program is voluntary, continuous, and portable worldwide. A new enrollment requires at least a 12-month service commitment for active duty sponsors or Reserve members. Exceptions are made for Reservists who have fewer than 12 months remaining but are called up to active duty for certain contingency operations.

Eligible persons interested in enrolling in the TRICARE Dental Program can obtain an application, and additional information from United Concordia, the dental program administrator, by calling 1-888-622-2256 or stop by the TRICARE office. For general information on the TRICARE Dental Program, members may call United Concordia at 1-800-866-8499.