Do you recommend staying off or on post at Fort Drum?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 15:42:17 -0400

I recently found out that I will be getting stationed at Fort Drum. For those that have recently been there or are currently stationed there, do you recommend staying off or on post? I am married and it will just be my wife and I. I am from Ohio so I’m not worried about the weather. We plan on renting if we stay off post

Response by SPC Kevin Ford made Oct 6 at 2020 4:02 PM

SPC Kevin Ford — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 16:02:02 -0400

It's been 30 years since I was stationed at Ft. Drum so I probably don't have a good picture of the current housing situation. But I will say that your experience with the weather in Ohio will not be your experience in Ft. Drum. There will be a lot, and I mean a lot, more snow than you are used to.

https://www.syracuse.com/weather/2015/03/snowiest_place_in_america_tug_hill_lake_ontario_upstate_new_york.html

Edit to add: The reason I bring this up is it would impact my on-base / off-base thinking when it comes to making formation.

The snowiest place in America this year is a tiny town in Upstate New York

A bitterly cold winter means the snow is stacking up rather than melting

Response by SFC Stephen King made Oct 6 at 2020 5:48 PM

SFC Stephen King — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 17:48:02 -0400

Fort Drum is an experience. Living on post has both advantages and disadvantages. The rental availability is scarce but their some.

Response by SPC Ethan Reddick made Oct 6 at 2020 7:48 PM

SPC Ethan Reddick — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 19:48:29 -0400

I think it depends on how close you want to live. There are apartment complexes around post in Evans Mills and Calcium including Woodcreek, Eagle Ridge, Woodcliff, the Heights. A little further you have Watertown which has several places to rent from.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2020 9:06 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 21:06:20 -0400

DO NOT LIVE IN WATERTOWN! I bought a house in Antwerp and lived on the river about 20 mins North on highway 11. Philadelphia is good, Gouverneur is cheap but about 40mins to post in the summer and an hour in the winter. LeRay, Calcium, Philly, Black River are your best bets.

Response by COL Kelly Hines made Oct 7 at 2020 10:44 AM

COL Kelly Hines — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 10:44:22 -0400

Was there in the late 90's, I lived in Watertown for 6 months then moved on post...I'd go with on post housing due to WX/distance/heating bill/snow removal etc...

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 7 at 2020 2:44 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 14:44:49 -0400

I live right off post and I overpay for rent and the housing we live in is not worth it. I guess if you could find a good deal, living off post is great, but good luck with the BAH you receive and the price of living. I would say both living on or off post will have its pros and cons.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2020 2:32 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 14:32:50 -0400

I’m also from Ohio and I promise the winters are far more worse here. 3 years ago I thought I would be fine in the winter too.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2020 2:35 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 14:35:39 -0400

But living on our off isn’t too bad either. Just watch where they try to stick you on post. The E-4 and below housing is pretty shitty.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 9 at 2020 12:51 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 12:51:59 -0400

On post if you are not going to the aviation unit. If you are going to the aviation unit it on post, as close to the road leading from main post to the airfield or if off post, close to the airfield.

Things to consider is the snow which if you are not at the gate (either main post or the airfield) by 0550, you might be late to formation. If you are stationed on main post and live on base, you can actually leave a 0605 and make it on time to formation.

Response by SFC Jay Gilbert made Oct 22 at 2020 3:28 PM

SFC Jay Gilbert — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 15:28:06 -0400

If you are thinking of renting then I would opt for post housing. I lived of post for a while, the pickings at the time were slim and the winter heating bills killed my budget, eventually moved to post housing. Lost my BAH, but didn't have to worry about utility bills.