How far would you drive for a squared away unit?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 10:04:01 -0400

I drive nearly 800 miles every drill weekend round trip. Yes there are units closer to me, in the same town even. I've been in four units in my career and two of them ( including the one I deployed with) we're horrible, how far would you drive to serve in a squared away unit?

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Sep 7 at 2015 10:08 AM

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 10:08:55 -0400

That's a lot of driving! I'll take your word for it that it's worth it, and I hope I never get to a unit that would make me willing to drive that far just so I don't have to deal with them.

Response by SGT Scott Bell made Sep 7 at 2015 10:24 AM

SGT Scott Bell — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 10:24:24 -0400

all the way

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2015 10:27 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 10:27:01 -0400

I have 3 Soldiers that drive Anywhere from 300-500 miles ONE WAY for drill. I ask them every weekend if they are happy doing that and if they are sure they don't want to transfer. I get the same answer. Nope. They like the unit and platoon they are in.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2015 11:04 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 11:04:06 -0400

Well, I drive about 890 miles round trip too! I have been in some ate up units. But you never know about the unit until you get there,unless you do some research on the unit.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2015 11:08 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 11:08:33 -0400

I regularly drive about 350 miles, one way, to home station drill. Away drills are typically 400-500 miles one way.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2015 6:41 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 18:41:28 -0400

I drive about 380 miles to my unit, have for years.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2015 8:14 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 20:14:15 -0400

This is a difficult situation. I have been asked to come to a unit that is about a 6 hour drive. I would love to go to that unit. But I am trying what I can in my own state. It is very tempting. But it would put more of a strain on my family overall. If I were a single man I would. I am not saying by any means that my unit is bad but I would love to be in an Airborne unit again.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2015 8:18 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 20:18:55 -0400

I flew from Phoenix, AZ to Mountain View, CA for BA. That was one of the best units I've been apart of.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2015 9:10 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 21:10:10 -0400

4 hour radius is my limit.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2015 10:42 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 22:42:26 -0400

I have traveled 500 miles one way for two years while working out of state. I didn't think twice about it.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Sep 8 at 2015 10:01 AM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 10:01:02 -0400

My longest drive was right at 800 miles round trip. If there is still a rank-appropriate slot for me there when I come off orders, I would go again. I MIGHT consider a longer commute for the right unit and/or location (HI, looking at you.....)

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 10:35 AM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 10:35:09 -0400

Like the motivation. But isn't that the entire check pretty much. Not being pessimistic but seems a little over board. But hooah to you for having that motivation to be in a good unit.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 8:40 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 20:40:19 -0400

I feel like a leader can make a difference anywhere he or she is put. You have to be a flexible leader.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 12:05 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 00:05:25 -0400

I have driven 60 miles round trip to go to my last national guard unit that i retired from.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 4:09 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 16:09:31 -0400

As far as I need to.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 9:44 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 21:44:09 -0400

Depends how far away I am from 3-144 inf

Response by CPT Arch Nissel made Oct 29 at 2015 11:57 PM

CPT Arch Nissel — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 23:57:06 -0400

I drove 250 miles one way and would have driven farther to stay with a unit I liked and was proud to be part of. We had one guy fly in from Vietnam to the guard drill in the unit I was in when I retired. Never have I seen a collection of members capable of accomplishing ANYTHING you ask of them in my life. Very proud they even let me be part of the unit.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2015 7:45 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 19:45:46 -0500

I regularly do a 400 mile round trip, but the guys in my company make the trip worth it.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2015 8:15 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 20:15:57 -0500

Fortunately I drive about 7 minutes to the Armory, and have a great unit. But I've seen guys drive or fly hundreds of miles to get to this unit.