Assignment to Fort Sill, OK. What am I in for?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 21:27:24 -0400

Been requesting an assignment on the east coast for the last 2 months and now I just received an email saying that I'm going to Fort Sill. I have a baby due in January and my wife has job connections in the NC, TN, VA area (family lives in NC). Definitely wasn't expecting to end up in the midwest. I'm just trying to figure out what I'm in for and if anyone has had experience requesting a change in duty assignment. Up until now I've lined up my PCS with my reenlistments so I've never had this issue.

Response by SGT Steve McFarland made Jun 29 at 2020 9:39 PM

SGT Steve McFarland — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 21:39:12 -0400

I'm sure Lawton and Fort Sill have changed a lot since 1977, but both were pretty nice when I was there. (2/75 - 6/77).

Response by SGT Robert Pryor made Jun 29 at 2020 9:47 PM

SGT Robert Pryor — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 21:47:50 -0400

Set your watch back twenty years.

Response by SGT Justin Brothen made Jun 29 at 2020 9:48 PM

SGT Justin Brothen — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 21:48:30 -0400

How many years in? Are you making a career? I ask because a buddy pcs'd from germany to hood hated it, reenlisted with choice of station. He went back to Germany

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Jun 29 at 2020 10:02 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 22:02:40 -0400

It is all that you make of it. FT Bliss was the last place I wanted to go and is my second best assignment. FT Sill is not far from OKC and Dallas.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2020 11:57 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 23:57:35 -0400

Hour and a half from OKC, 3 hours from Dallas, everything is empty during the week (px, gyms, commissary) obviously a bunch of artillery dudes both Field and Air Defense... a lot of history there.... I made the best of my time there reclassing ... best of luck

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2020 1:16 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 01:16:23 -0400

Got assigned to Sill right out of Army Anesthesia school. Was there Jan 2012 - Jun 2015. The post was ok with normal Army facilities. The hospital shut down all inpatient stuff a few years back. No ER, surgeries, OB, floor stuff. Elgin is close by and seemed to me an ideal place to live with easy access to OKC, Lawton, and post. Lots of stuff to do in OKC area. Lawton is OK and has enough stuff like restaurants, shopping, auto dealers, etc for most stuff. My wife ended up driving about a hour one-way for work in OKC (she’s a nurse). Wasn’t bad place just not enough to want to go back, look for work, live there again.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2020 11:00 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 11:00:59 -0400

I would call your branch manager and explain the situation. I have done this before and it worked for me. The worst they can say is sorry I don’t have anything else.

Response by LCpl Michelle Williams made Jun 30 at 2020 4:37 PM

LCpl Michelle Williams — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 16:37:54 -0400

I say request a change the worst that can happen is they say no, another way is to see who is heading to the duty station you want and contact them for a trade if possible.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2020 12:16 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 00:16:51 -0400

It all depends on what unit you are going to. If it’s the Health clinic then should be fine. If it’s Basic training side then you know long hours. If it’s 75th FA or the ADA bde then you will probably deploy soon. For family either live on post or make sure you look really good around Lawton or out in Cache or Elgin area. Hope that helps.

Response by 1SG John V. made Jul 7 at 2020 7:47 PM

1SG John V. — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 19:47:39 -0400

Sill isn't a bad place. Its about 75 minutes from Oklahoma City and 2.5 hours from Dallas. Lots of new housing developments in recent years. Gets real hot in the summer, and real cold (with ice storms) in the winter. I've been out of uniform for a few years so can't really comment on the various units.

Response by SGT Andrew West made Jul 10 at 2020 6:25 PM

SGT Andrew West — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 18:25:35 -0400

All im ganna say is have fun and stay far away from the city of lawton even tho thats were its at!! Its very dull there but super cheap. Alot of hiking if you like desert type landscaping! Also if you like to drink youll do fine haha

Response by SPC John Lebiecki made Oct 22 at 2020 12:08 AM

SPC John Lebiecki — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 00:08:35 -0400

It’s what you make of it. While I didn’t enjoy it, my daughter was born there plus my wife and I spent many 4 day weekends in Dallas. OKC is nice every once in a while. Just get away when you can because there is nothing in Lawton

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 31 at 2020 6:44 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 18:44:41 -0500

Welcome to the Army