Fort Polk
Fort Johnson South, LA
Known Toxins1
Years of Operation1941-Present
Base Background
Located in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, Fort Polk was established in 1941 as a training site for the Louisiana Maneuvers, the large-scale Army exercises that helped prepare U.S. forces for World War II. The base has operated under the Army continuously since, later serving as a Vietnam-era basic training post and, since 1993, as home to the Joint Readiness Training Center. The post was renamed Fort Johnson in 2023 and then renamed back to Fort Polk in 2025; it remains an active military base, home to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team and the 10th Mountain Division.
PFAS Contamination
Like hundreds of other Army posts, Fort Polk is working through a Department of Defense review of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) left behind by decades of firefighting-foam use. The U.S. Army Environmental Command completed a preliminary assessment and site inspection of PFAS at Fort Polk in June 2022, and as of August 2025 the installation’s cleanup was in the remedial-investigation scheduling phase.
The Army monitors the base’s own drinking water system for PFOS and PFOA, and it separately requires prompt action, such as bottled water, filtration, or connection to municipal water, for any private well near the installation found at or above 12 parts per trillion of either chemical during a five-year window running through 2029, with a possible extension to 2031.
Because cleanup and investigation are ongoing, new documents, sampling results, and reports could still emerge – staying current with VA news and Army, EPA, and base‑level environmental releases is important for claim development.
Toxic Exposure and VA Claims
The presence of a PFAS investigation does not itself guarantee VA acknowledgment of exposure. Veterans will still typically need to show individual connection: unit assignment, location on base near impacted water systems or foam use sites, duration of exposure, medical records, etc. Hill & Ponton’s VA disability lawyers are experienced in toxic exposure claims and may be able to help – get in touch for a free case evaluation.
Known Toxins
The following chart outlines the medical conditions associated with toxic exposure at this base, classified by the strength of evidence required (strong, good or limited).* Please keep in mind that it is not a complete list.
| Toxin | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong | Good | Limited | ||
| PFAS (Firefighting Foam) | Potential Effects & Strength of Evidence Needed | - | - | Testicular cancer Renal (kidney) cancer... Prostate cancer |
*Effects are according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry unless otherwise noted.
If you served at Fort Polk and later developed health conditions linked to chemical exposure, you may be eligible for VA disability benefits. These claims can be complex, but strong environmental evidence, paired with expert medical opinions and legal assistance from a skilled VA attorney, can help establish the connection between your service and your diagnosis.