Can anyone tell me what Fort Irwin, CA is like as a single soldier for a first duty station?

Yes. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Fort Irwin. Some people like it. Some people hate it. Victorville is a short 90 mile drive. The Los Angeles area is a little longer (Hollywood, Disney, and other themed attractions). San Diego area is longer (Gas Lamp District and Beaches). Las Vegas on a four day weekend is nice too. I personally enjoy the pinball museum on Tropicana, Hoover Dam and the Tillman Memorial Bridge, Lake Mead. Wine tasting in Temecula and Santa Barbara or Napa if you want to drive and you are 21. Beaches on the Coast. Yosemite, Sequoia, Lake Tahoe, Big Bear, and plenty of skiing, outdoor fun and recreation. The drive into Vegas is an all time favorite. Some of the officers from RSS occasionally planned trips to game shows in the Los Angeles area too.

I was at Irwin 2005-2007. I understand that they have done construction in the last ten years or so. I suggest the buddy system.

PS. Skip Barstow.

I loved my assignment at FT Irwin. Now some words of advice/guidance for your time there:

Find a car and quickly. If you can't find a car, make a really great friend with someone who does have a car. While it's a great assignment, you're in the middle of nowhere. It's pretty much centrally located to major cities. Vegas, LA, San Diego, etc. Try to avoid Barstow as much as possible. It was a nasty sleezehole back in the late 90's....and I doubt it's changed much since. If you love theme parks, you have Disney Land, Sixx Flags, Knotts Berry Farm...

Lastly, and realistically, be prepared to get hit on by guys galore there. During your off time, and you decide to hit the club on base, don't go solo.

Stay away from the boys and booze! Make some friends and enjoy all the fun cities within a few hours drive. You'll have plenty of downtime so hit the gym, find a school to attend, get a degree (trust me it'll pay off), and get involved with some fun trips always going on. Don't become a barracks hermit, and did I mention stay away from boys and booze? Well if I didn't mention it yet, stay away from boys and booze!