what is fort wainwright like?

Question

my son just graduated form basic traing at fort benning and is on his way to fort wainwright.What can he expect besides cold weather,I heard housing is on a waiting list he also has a wife and baby.he is trying to get a pass to come home because the baby was born premature and is still in the hospital,what are his chances of coming home.

Answer 1

I was stationed at Ft. Wainwright from 1984-1991.

Yes, it does get bitterly cold there, but the worst of it is from the middle of January to the middle of February. The rest of the winter it just gets really frickin' cold. Summertime, though, it gets up to the high 80's/low 90's.

And, yeah, they train regardless. We did our PT inside in the winter (H Co, 123rd AVN, we had hangers 7 and 8 on the airfield), but ran outside until the temperature dropped to -20. Field problems, normal work, etc, still goes on in the cold.

Be prepared for LOTS of gear. On top of your normal TA-50, you get all the cold weather gear, plus snowshoes and skis.

If he's a hunter or fisherman, he'll be in hog heaven...no pun intended. Moose, caribou, sheep, bear, and salmon are the big tickets.

Aurora borealis......you'll never forget it.

Housing: It took me about 6 months after getting married to get housing. The housing is good, and they remodel/refurbish it fairly regularly. We lived offpost until it was available, but it's NOT cheap. In 1985, we had a basement two-bedroom apartment that flooded in springtime, and paid $550 a month for it. I can't imagine what 20 years has done to that price.

It's a good assignment, but God only knows why people actually CHOOSE to live up there.

Answer 2

Fort Wainwright Weather

Answer 3

My husband had orders to Ft Wainwright, which unfortunately got cancelled. Yes, it's cold, but everyone I've talked to who lived there LOVED it, and would go back in a heartbeat. There is a lot to do, if you like to be outside, and the land there is absolutely beautiful. It is very far from anything, but there is pretty much anything they could need in Fairbanks.

When we were looking at going up there, the housing wait list was really long (a year or more). Thats honestly not uncommon for any duty station though. The housing allowance he will get to live off post is pretty high, and they will also get Cost of Living Allowance.

As far as getting to come home, getting a Red Cross message to him will help. They will try to help out if they can, but a lot of it depends on his new unit and how sick the baby is. I hope he gets to come home though!

Answer 4

I was stationed there when it was Ladd Air Force Base.
The base front gate leads right into town so a kid can get buy without a car (which don't work worth a darn in the winter anyways)
If your son takes advantage of the environment he is in, Fairbanks is the center of heaven on earth. If he sits in the barracks feeling sorry for himself it is a hell like no other.

Answer 5

Check the website:) If he can't get housing quickly he will still get money to live off post, BAH. As far as coming home, contact the american red cross.

Answer 6

Very Chilly