Does anyone have any insight on Fort Sill and what it's like being stationed there?

2020-04-20T12:57:02-04:00

Anyone have any insight on Fort Sill and what it's like being stationed there? My husband and I are possibly headed there next by the end of the year. My husband and I are dual military but he is ETSing next month. Just wondering what day to day life is like and what work will look like as an 88M and where I might possibly end up unit wise. We are PCSing from NTC with 2 small kids.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2020 1:02 PM

2020-04-20T13:02:27-04:00

not bad. there are some pretty good places to eat in Lawton and there are things to do within easy driving distance. Never been stationed there but have spent a LOT of time there as a contractor doing radar testing. As far as day to day life of an 88M? prepare to be disappointed. My nephew was 88M stationed at Sill and was bored out of his skull. Lots of PMCS and routine stuff. Occasionally he would get tagged to drive a vehicle to haul a radar or other equipment out to the test ranges. And watch out for the snakes. Rattlers as big as your freaking leg. I opened up my radar one morning and found a 6 footer coiled up inside the laptop compartment.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2020 1:02 PM

2020-04-20T13:02:37-04:00

In for updates as I have 15 weeks of school there coming up.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Apr 20 at 2020 1:05 PM

2020-04-20T13:05:12-04:00

Heard that it was cold during the winter months, and you roast in the summer months.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Apr 20 at 2020 2:22 PM

2020-04-20T14:22:14-04:00

Being an 88M you could end up in any unit. If you like small town America, it and the areas surrounding are just that. The Fortbis relatively nice, and well suited for FA. There are no large cities closer the Dallas. As for mid-sized there are a few within an hour up to two hours. The weather is fickle, and fluctuates greatly. Lots of outdoor activities in the region. Anyway it depends on your preference. All assignments are what we make ourselves open too. Many people retire their from the military, can’t be all that bad.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2020 6:35 PM

2020-04-20T18:35:46-04:00

Honestly, it was a dump. Now, it's a bit better.

Response by SGT Bleddyn Wilson made Apr 20 at 2020 7:29 PM

2020-04-20T19:29:24-04:00

Visited once ugly

Response by SPC Rob Hunker made Apr 21 at 2020 12:17 AM

2020-04-21T00:17:25-04:00

I was stationed at Ft. Sill from 1983 to 1985, so I am sure it has changed a lot since I was there. It is hot and humid in the summer and cold and windy in the winter. They have very bad hail storms and a lot of lightning. Sometimes they have tornados as well. But other than that, I liked it there.

Response by COL Dana Hampton made Apr 21 at 2020 1:47 PM

2020-04-21T13:47:59-04:00

My last tour before retiring, I lived on post when I was stationed Sill. Left there in 2015. My wife and I enjoyed Fort Sill and the Post community a great deal. The Lawton area, not much. If you enjoy hunting, fishing, camping and generally out door activities, you’ll generally like what south-central OK has to offer. OKC is about an 1.5 hr north with lots to do. The weather is the toughest part to deal with since it goes from extreme heat to cold, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, wind and cold.

Over a 30+ year career as an artillery officer, I bounced back to Ft Sill 3-4 times. Each time was different, but each time it was a positive experience.

Response by SSG Jason Trammell made Apr 23 at 2020 3:40 PM

2020-04-23T15:40:30-04:00

I was in 15th Trans, it was a great unit, the commander there currently is great, it would be a great place for u to land.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2020 3:44 PM

2020-04-24T15:44:18-04:00

I did two tours at Ft. Sill. Once on post and once off post. I enjoyed it both times. I don't care about nightlife though. Some of my Soldiers complained that there wasn't much to do at night over the weekends. I can neither confirm or deny since my idea of a night out is taking the family to the movies. I'd consider living off post in Cache. I though the school was better. Lawton elementary schools can be hit or miss depending on where you live. The on post elementary was pretty decent when I lived on post, I still preferred Cache. OKC has a good zoo as does Ft Worth. OKC also has a good science center for the kids.

As to work, i'd say it's pretty typical. Pt in the morning then work. Your work will be unit/ job dependent. When I was there the op-tempo wasn't bad unless you were preping for a deployment. Didn't live in the field, but still went often enough. I'm FA and can't speak to the ADA side of the house though.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2020 8:48 AM

2020-04-25T08:48:41-04:00

It is a place where good intentions and dreams go to die... but not a horrible post. Lawton is a cesspool... if you are going to live on post, they redid housing not many years ago and looks a lot better.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2020 11:50 AM

2020-04-25T11:50:16-04:00

The locals were unfriendly, the base was huge, lost of sand and mole hills. Home of the King of Battle; Artiliry, so 88M would most likely support the training missions with logistics for haz and all the rest.

Response by PVT Steven Hoffman made Apr 25 at 2020 11:50 AM

2020-04-25T11:50:42-04:00

I was at Ft. Sill for both Basic and PDS, but that was in 1983-1986, and being from California it sucked in my opinion. Nothing to do really, mostly stripper bars (as soon as you leave base going into Lawton), but things may have changed in the last 20+ years, so can't really tell you what it's like now.

Response by MAJ Terry LaFrance made Apr 25 at 2020 4:23 PM

2020-04-25T16:23:52-04:00

I was there in the 90s but I'm retired in OKC. As far as the weather, we have 4 seasons, sometimes all on the same day. The wind blows. Every. Day. It's a TRADOC post with III Corps Arty as tenants, along with some support units. Things have changed since the ADA school moved so I hear it's crowded and training space is a premium. Lawton is ok as towns go, OKC is 90 miles and that's where you may want to spend some weekends. I don't know what else to tell you besides get used to the FA mentality, if you've been around IN troops you get the idea, similar but more neurotic. :-)
Feel free to reach out for anything off post related, I haven't been on base in a few years. But i'm happy to help.

Response by MAJ Terry LaFrance made Apr 25 at 2020 4:27 PM

2020-04-25T16:27:39-04:00

I missed that you're and 88M, 15th TC was my first duty assignment. We had to find work. All the units there have their own support assists. I was fortunate in that I had commanders that went job hunting and found us some really good missions supporting DLA. You MIGHT get lucky and get tasked to support a unit going to NTC or White Sands but that's rare. See my other comment for off post/weather.

Response by 1SG Joseph Dartey made May 8 at 2020 1:08 PM

2020-05-08T13:08:53-04:00

I was stationed at Fort Sill, 88 - 89 and my daughter was born there. As a SNCO, my family and I lived off post. It depends on which unit you are assigned to and if you like hearing artillery firing at night, shaking everything. The establishments on base were very good. However, there are places in downtown Lawton that you would want to avoid and your unit can tell you more about that. Depending on what you and your family like to do, there are many things to do outside of Fort Sill and Lawton. I enjoyed my time at Ft. Sill and stayed away from downtown Lawton.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2021 4:04 PM

2021-11-20T16:04:36-05:00

How was fort sill for you

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 8 at 2022 2:00 PM

2022-10-08T14:00:37-04:00

Yes, when in Lawton and you hear incoming, what is the immediate contact drill?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2022 6:26 PM

2022-10-08T18:26:26-04:00

It sucks. Lawton is the arm pits srm.pit of the world. Hech even tornadoes avoid it like the plaque.

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Oct 20 at 2022 8:13 PM

2022-10-20T20:13:30-04:00

I went there for the WTC course in 2010. I do know it gets really cold during the Winter months and hot during the Summer months. I was only there for three months so I don't really know what's outside of the post.

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Oct 20 at 2022 8:14 PM

2022-10-20T20:14:51-04:00

Also, it snows a lot during Winter. I recall one day the pist got two feet of snow and half of the post lost power that day.

Response by SSG Douglas Lasley made Jun 19 at 2023 12:36 AM

2023-06-19T00:36:40-04:00

I'm a old 64C I spent most of my career state side on FT SILL. This is not a bad post to be at. Lawton is a good town , the people are mostly nice. I meet my wife of 44 years here. I'm from the hills of WV. But I retired here. plenty of thangs to do here , on and off post. As for the units I'm not sure now days.