Fort Sill vs Fort Polk?

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 13:57:34 -0500

What are your thoughts for each base, especially for a 92g and 91b? What about housing on/off post? We also have a 3 month old son.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 9 at 2018 2:28 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 14:28:11 -0500

Fort Polk is the armpit of the Army.

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Nov 9 at 2018 2:50 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 14:50:36 -0500

Wish that I could help you, Private Dickey. Many prayers for you to find your answer, Honey. PV2 Private RallyPoint Member

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2018 3:02 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 15:02:33 -0500

Not much good to say about either of these bases. Both are about two hours away from major cities. Humidity is intense at Ft Polk, Sill has tornadoes and 3.2 beer.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2018 4:11 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 16:11:08 -0500

Never stationed at Ft. Polk, but I have been there for training. In my opinion- It's not somewhere you want to be stationed. It's really out in the middle of no where Louisiana & there is not much to do there, unless you want to catch some Gators! :) Just kidding.

I have been stationed at Ft. Sill, OK, while it's not the best post in the Army- it's way better than Ft. Polk, LA. it's at least a decent sized town 75,000-85K or so (it's been a while since I was there) and there's plenty to do there as far as restaurants, malls, etc. Many families that I knew lived outside of town for the better schools.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2018 4:35 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 16:35:38 -0500

I went to Ft. Sill for AIT 8 years ago. From what I remember it was boring and the weather was terrible. You literally would get all 4 seasons in one day. Tornadoes hit the area often. Not much to do there either. Never been to Fort Polk but I have buddies who have been stationed there and some who still are. They all said it’s a crappy duty station. Sorry I couldn’t give you more insight. Best of luck Private.

Response by SrA John Monette made Nov 9 at 2018 7:14 PM

SrA John Monette — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 19:14:00 -0500

gotta get this out of the way. I bet you got hell in BCT. that being said, I would prefer Ft. Sill simply because it's not Louisiana.

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Nov 9 at 2018 8:36 PM

MSG Danny Mathers — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 20:36:30 -0500

I loved Fort Polk, my wife hated it. The winter lasts about 6 weeks and the fishing is outstanding. I hunted, fished and enjoyed the local people. However, Fort Polk is situated near Leesville. I lived just off post in a nice trailer that I could afford. I have never been to Ft Sill but have heard GOOD AND BAD like a lot of people think about Ft Polk. You will have a good chance to go Airborne if assigned to Ft Polk. Jump pay is a lot of money when you are a private.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2018 1:23 AM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 01:23:25 -0500

Also we are from Arkansas! That's the main reason I ask about these two posts.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2018 4:35 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 04:35:23 -0500

I have spent several months in both areas within the past year and a half. I would take Ft Sill over Polk 8 days out of the week. Lawton OK, is not the best area but there are other towns to live in that are nice. You have everything you need in Lawton with all the major retailers and whatnot. In polk, you pretty much have a walmart in leesville and 20 min down the road, a walmart in Deridder....and thats it! You couldn't pay me enough to return to polk, whereas I would glady go back to sill.

Response by SSgt Dwight Deatherage made Nov 25 at 2018 6:11 PM

SSgt Dwight Deatherage — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 18:11:24 -0500

I spent 3+ years at Fort Sill a long time ago. There was plenty of off base housing in Lawton. At that time military housing for E-5 and below was almost non-existent.

As for Fort Polk - this is close to the worst assignment in the Army. Not sure what is worse, but there probably is one.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jul 13 at 2021 8:52 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 08:52:19 -0400

Neither are great options... The only thing either of those two have going for them is that they're not Fort Hood...
If I had to choose one, I'd go with Sill... There's nothing there, but Polk is a horror movie filled with backwoods, inbred cannibals waiting to happen.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2021 10:26 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 10:26:17 -0400

I can tell you that if the Army ever tells me I have to go back to Fort Polk ... I am going AWOL! Worst God Damn place I have ever been!!! I'll chew my foot off, sober, before I ever go back there! STAY AWAY FROM FORT POLK! LOL!!!! OF course, this is just my opinion...

I know this post is old, but it came up on my feed and brought out a beast in me ... needed to share

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2021 7:35 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 19:35:57 -0400

Hey everybody! Thank you for your input. Heres a little update. A few weeks after I posted we ended up pregnant again. Our daughter had a birth defect called Gastroschisis basically she was born with her intestines out of her body. I got out may 2019. And my husband reenlisted for Polk in January! We are very excited to be closer to family (Arkansas). Well wishes to everyone.