Favorite and/or least favorite Army bases, why?

Question

Well we are getting ready for our first duty station this spring. We are pretty much up for anywhere. Not too picky but we rather be at least near a city so we can see museums,zoos,malls,etc, but also some nice scenery. I know they send you where they need you, but we're trying to pick his "dream sheet" choices just in case. So.. what is your favorite Army base and why (stuff to do,location,housing,activities, stuff for kids/families,weather etc..? THANKS

Answer 1

I think Ft Stewart is a nice place to live. The 3rd ID does deploy alot (getting ready for OIF III right now, 1 brigade already gone), so dont come here if you cant handle multiple deployments. Outside of that, it is beautiful scenery here and it is very quiet. The city outside Ft Stewart, Hinesville, SUCKS, but it is a typical small town. The best part is that Savannah is only about 30 minutes away. It is a nice old city, similar in many ways to New Orleans. AND it is near the coast...Tybee Island is a great family place. I am sure Savannah has a zoo, and I know it has an aquarium. Has 2 malls, and has an airport too.

In reference to family life here, I like it. There are 2 outdoor pools and 3 (or 4) gyms with pools, 2 bowling alleys, a youth gym that functions as rollerskating rink part of the year, a miniature golf course, a library, and an indoor play area. We have a nice size hospital, never had a problem with any of the docs and no trouble making appointments. 2 new housing areas have been built (each with a community center), and the not so new housing is very roomy. Good concerts..Billy Currington, Leanne Rimes here last year. Not sure if you have kids, so couldnt tell you what you might qualify for, but I really like it here. If you have any questions, do email me! Good luck!

Answer 2

I can't really tell you a great place to live, as we've only been at 3 duty stations, but I will tell you that Fort Polk, Louisiana was pretty awful. That's pretty much known throughout the Army, but I thought I'd throw it out there just in case. There is nothing - and I mean nothing - for at least 50 miles in any direction. The weather was awful. It was 110 degrees in the summer and humidity made it feel hotter than that. My husband's unit got home from Iraq in July and they complained about the heat. The housing wasn't great, but a lot of it has been remodeled since we were there.

Fort Campbell, KY isn't too bad. It's about an hour from Nashville, so there is stuff to do. And there's malls, movie theaters, etc in town so it's not bad. It is a fairly rural area, though, and if you don't mind living a little far from post you can live out in the country and it's nice. There's a lot to do outside - several lakes, and lots of hunting. The housing is ok but getting better. The housing list is long but BAH will get you a decent place to live. The weather is decent - not too hot in the summer, a little on the cold side in the winter but not too bad. A LOT of people retire here because they like it so much, so I guess that says something.

If we could pick anywhere to go, it'd be Ft Carson (Colorado), Ft Wainwright (Alaska) or Germany. I've only heard great things about all of them.

Just remember that any duty station is what you make of it. Find something there that you enjoy (a restaurant, park, etc) and try to make as many friends as you can. As much as we HATED Polk, I still miss some of our friends and there's a restaurant down there that everyone I know who's lived there still misses, even years later.

Answer 3

Ok...a lot of people hate it, but I loved Fort Riley, Kansas. It's near a college town so other people around are young. There is a mall and a zoo...and college bars to hang out at if your single. Junction City, is not very nice, but Manhattan was fun...and the people are very nice. There are a lot of parks and sports clubs for kids. There are also some great local restaurants. We extended there and stayed 7 years. The major downfall is that it's 2 hours from a main airport. Fort Knox isn't bad either, but it all depends on your branch where you can go. I don't like Fort Benning much and my husband says Fort Hood is too big. Hope that helps.

Answer 4

My personal favorite was Fort Huachuca, but I am biased because I love the desert and I loved the time I spent there.

It is 75 miles south of Tucson so you can go visit civilization any time you want, but you don't have to put up with all the pain of a city (traffic, polution, etc.)

I have NEVER heard ANYTHING good about Fort Polk Louisiana. To be fair I've never been on post, but I worked in the area after I got out... it is a LONG way from any big cites, and I didn't like the little towns around there. I worked in a little town just south of Ft. Polk, and outside the courthouse they have a monument to all the WW2 Vets from the area (Beauregard Parish La.) . On the monument they listed the black veterans at the bottom of the list with a C (for "Colored") by their name. To be fair the monument is a little old, (1960s?) but it didn't leave me with a good impression of the area.

If you can, try to get a joint assignment at an Air Force Base. They tend to be sweet. I worked at MacDill AFB in Tampa for a while, and the kids loved it...(we were an hour and half from Disney World).

Answer 5

Fort Sam, TX is great is in San Antonio
Fort Bliss, TX is not that great, there is nothing to do...
Fort Lee is not that good either but have a big city near by
Fort Sill, OK Do not go near it.
Stay away from New york
Fort Lenrwood in the middle of nowhere.
Fort Belvior is nice!!
East Coast bases are better...

Answer 6

Favorite - Ft. Belvoir, VA - located at Nation's capitol, 'nuff said

Least favorite - Ft. Leonard Wood, MO - 'Lost in the Woods in the State of Misery' (nightmares/memories of Basic Training)

Answer 7

listed under are mine: well-liked: Boltage, Crack Cat, Killzone, Chicago Bears Fan, Lemony. i'm specific i'm forgetting some... Least well-liked: The report nazis and Greased Up Deaf gay guy