Can someone sum up a tour at Fort Riley?

2015-09-30T22:33:29-04:00

I'm on order to Fort Riley and I need to know what to expect. I haven't heard anything good or bad about the post so I'm really interested in any opinions

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 10:36 PM

2015-09-30T22:36:52-04:00

Ft Riley is a blast. Manhattan is an awesome plane to spend your weekends. Don't mess around with junction city or Ogden too much, but you can expect a lot of field time. I had a lot of fun there.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 10:37 PM

2015-09-30T22:37:36-04:00

I left Fort Riley almost 10 years ago. I did not like the locations because it is in the middle on nothing, but community of friends that I was in was the best.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 10:38 PM

2015-09-30T22:38:40-04:00

The weather here is very extreme. During the summer it gets pretty hot without wind and during the winter it'll get to about 15 degrees and the wind could be blowing around 15-20 mph.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 10:41 PM

2015-09-30T22:41:25-04:00

The post is horribly structured (oxymoron). One traffic circle will back up traffic prior to PT from the top of the hill to the gate. You, as a Leader, are expected to put 10 lbs of shiza in a 5 lb bag. However, the fishing and hunting are awesome. So, when you're not explaining to your "Leaders", why a grown adult under your care gets a DWI and how it's your fault, you have something to do. Have fun, be safe. I had an apartment in a complex called "The Bluffs". It's far enough away from post to properly decompress after work. You'll need it.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 10:45 PM

2015-09-30T22:45:00-04:00

I was stationed there 4 years lived in the area another 4. The post has grown a ton. The facilities are good enough. New barracks. New on post housing. Junction City is a mostly typical military adjacent town. Good and bad parts. But overall a good community. Manhattan has just about anything you could ever need. There's plenty of hunting and fishing in the area. College sports are big with KSU, KC is two hours away with all the big city life, and Wichita has alot to offer. I loved my time there. The only draw back is traffic on and off post during pt and retreat. Young soldiers always bitch and moan because its not cool. But as a SSG it has enough of a life you should be past that. For families its exceptional. I would call Riley a hidden gem.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 10:46 PM

2015-09-30T22:46:50-04:00

I strongly recommend not getting an apartment at geary estates!

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Sep 30 at 2015 10:59 PM

2015-09-30T22:59:44-04:00

i was there twice, i loved it! i recommend living on-post, or driving a bit, Manhattan is expensive, the small tows are cheap but talk to people before just moving into one.

The post is well run, the civilians there understand that if we close the post they will not get another job and they make it a point not to have major issues.

If you require city life, its gona be rough, if you are more of an outdoors man, you will be in heaven.

Good Luck!

Response by SGT Christina Wilder made Sep 30 at 2015 11:20 PM

2015-09-30T23:20:29-04:00

Incredibly life altering. Great training that I was glad to have once I deployed. No regrets.

Response by 1SG Antwan Nicholson made Sep 30 at 2015 11:38 PM

2015-09-30T23:38:58-04:00

You can find a decent place to live in both Manhattan and Junction City. Junction City is less expensive to live in.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2015 1:54 AM

2015-10-01T01:54:28-04:00

If you love fishing it's awesome I haven't heard anything bad about the heavy brigades, I was in the light brigade(since deactivated). The post housing is great, they are in the process of building new houses.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2015 3:43 AM

2015-10-01T03:43:05-04:00

Be prepared to be in the field, and conduct training. That what we do as Leaders. My husband and I were stationed there 11 years ago and so far has been the best installation we been in, for us that we're the real Army was. We trained, deployed and I became an NCO with the Big Red One.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2015 3:51 AM

2015-10-01T03:51:16-04:00

Riley...NTC...Riley...NTC..KOREA...Riley...... I might have missed a NTC rotation or two, but you get the idea. Also, Little Apple Brewing Company is good. Don't bother going to Dodge.

P.S. I hope you have a great time.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2015 8:03 AM

2015-10-01T08:03:03-04:00

Manhattan is not a bad little town for the weekend...freak'n cold in the winter...pretty awesome history there from the U.S. Cav to the "Big Red One". All in all, I thought it wasn't a bad place...if one has to be "land-locked" :)

Response by CSM Michael Evans made Oct 2 at 2015 9:56 AM

2015-10-02T09:56:57-04:00

Ive read most of the comments in regards to this question. Some are accurate, some are merely personal opinions that Im sure your smart enough to disregards. As I tell everyone who ask me, FT Riley is a great place to live and work. Then again, as with all duty stations, its merely what "you" make it. Folks have their own agendas when they get here. Family time, sporting events, shopping, training, etc. You can find it all here and then some. The OPTEMPO is busy at best. Once you know your gaining unit, Id recommend asking your sponsor for more details as you plan your travels to here. A BDE is typically always rotating in and out of here for a deployment, then again, this is common with all other main DIVs in the Army, so you should not be surprised. Good luck!

Response by SSG Broderick Sample made Oct 2 at 2015 7:40 PM

2015-10-02T19:40:30-04:00

On post a lot of history off post down on the farm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqb0em452CM It's the middle of middle America.

"Thank God Im A Country Boy" Lyrics

these are the lyrics to the song, "Thank God Im A Country Boy." by John Denver Lyrics: Well, life on the farm is kinda laid back Ain't much an old country bo...

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 3 at 2015 12:12 PM

2015-10-03T12:12:41-04:00

Growing up in MO and going to school at KU might make me a bit biased but after being in the Army a few days I still have to say that FT Riley was top two of all the places we have been stationed. This is truly one of the hidden gems of the Army. There are few other places that offer the same great training areas and resources. You can't ask for a better place to have a family. Sure it is way to hot in summer and way to cold in winter but it still is great. Explore the area and you will find treasure to enrich your life and expand your career.

Response by CSM James Winslow made Oct 6 at 2015 3:25 AM

2015-10-06T03:25:50-04:00

Best kept secret in the Military. Something for everyone, whether you hunt, fish, study, read, like outdoor stuff or whatever. It is a small post, and I found the duty pretty good. Training is realistic and the units are pretty common sense. Lots of field time, so be ready. You will have enough time to decompress afterwards. Junction city is the local town and is pretty much an "Army Town" though more subdued. Manhattan is where it's at, with Kansas State University there. There is a medium sized regional Airport that flies to Chicago and Dallas regularly. from those two places you can get pretty much everywhere. Riley is 2 hours by car from Lincoln, NE, Kansas City and Wichita, 4 hours to Tulsa and 6-8 Hours from Denver. It is Located in the Flint Hills, the largest remaining Tallgrass prarie in the US. There are two reservoirs in the area, and lots to do on the weekends (concerts, and sports opportunities). Enjoy!

Response by SGT Frank Pritchett made Jun 5 at 2016 5:14 PM

2016-06-05T17:14:51-04:00

If you love to hunt, fish and doing redundant training then this is the place for you, but it is very family orientated with a lot to do. A huge lake off post.

Response by SGT Frank Pritchett made Jun 5 at 2016 6:56 PM

2016-06-05T18:56:40-04:00

I was there from 2009 till 2015 and I actually liked it there. Once you have gotten over the shock of being far away from a large city; its pretty good. You can advance yourself if your motivated since most the core schools are there. You can excel with no problem. Ft. Riley has a bad problem with toxic leadership so just know your stuff and don't get caught up in the politics. As an NCO take care of your young soldiers, alcohol is a major problem since a new Soldier doesn't really know what to do with himself. A really good place to go is the Warrior Zone. Who ever set it up had their stuff together. Hope you like fishing and hunting.

Response by SSG Brad Moscou made Aug 16 at 2021 8:46 PM

2021-08-16T20:46:25-04:00

Keep a open mind. What you make it is what you get