I will reporting to my first duty station, Fort Riley KS, in less than three weeks. Is there anything I should know?

2018-05-10T21:58:49-04:00

I am switching from the WI Army National Guard to Army (took about a month to happen). Being prior service, I know there will be more expectations out of me and I would like to be as prepared as I can be. any advice would be great. Thank you.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made May 10 at 2018 10:10 PM

2018-05-10T22:10:07-04:00

Well, first off, if you have the northern accent be prepared for everyone to say something about it. I don't even have an accent from MN but for some reason everyone loved to talk to me like I just flew in from Fargo. Next, Riley isn't a bad place. I've only been there a handful of times, and I haven't been there recently, but I don't live far from there and pretty much all of Kansas is the same. Coming from the guard to Active Duty, don't let the schedule overwhelm you in the beginning. It may take a little bit of time but it gets easier. Lastly, expect for people to talk shit about the guard. Take it in stride and work hard to prove to them that you are on the same level if not better than all of them. Good luck and stay out of trouble.

Response by MSG Frederick Otero made May 10 at 2018 11:14 PM

2018-05-10T23:14:49-04:00

Welcome to Kansas SPC Kaitlyn M. Enjoy Manhattan in Spring and Fall. The state has much to offer you just have take time out to discover it. Wichita is doing a great job of improving its cultural environment so that might be placed on your visit list. Oh and for goodness sake watch out for deer they do their best to keep the insurance companies and auto body repair people in business.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made May 11 at 2018 5:40 AM

2018-05-11T05:40:13-04:00

Basically, just have all your paperwork in order, try to make a great first impression, and have fun.

Response by CW3 Clayton C. made May 11 at 2018 7:29 AM

2018-05-11T07:29:59-04:00

If you know to which Brigade you’ll be assigned I might have a lot of information or I may have very little, concerning your unit. I will say this; in the nearly 17 years I’ve been kicking around this gun club, this is my favorite duty station... by a long shot. You’ll be in rural Kansas so prepare for that, whatever that means for you. Let me know which Brigade you get and I’ll put you in touch with your leadership here. If you don’t have pinpoint orders, I’m sorry that I cannot help.

Working here is challenging because we work hard, just like everywhere. Take your free time and use it to explore the area and do things. The only Soldiers I have that don’t have fun on their time off are the ones who sit around the barracks and do nothing.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2018 10:45 AM

2018-05-11T10:45:05-04:00

Enjoy running Custer Hill

Response by SSG Lawrence Crow made May 16 at 2018 12:00 AM

2018-05-16T00:00:22-04:00

Expect Train as you would Fight!
No Mission Too Difficult!
No Sacrifice Too Great!
Duty First!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 16 at 2018 3:32 AM

2018-05-16T03:32:26-04:00

Spc I know I chimed in previously but would like to add the AD side is an entirely different world assuming you go to 1st BDE Big Red 1 you will be expected to know your job and PT. I was assigned to the WTB so we were in our own world down the hill. Just remember always be there 10 min early in the right place with the right uniform. You are going at the right time of the year too. Get use to singing the "Big Red 1" at pt and the dive run. City park pool in Manhattan is opening up (there is on on post). K State awill have football in the spring. Kansas City is 2h east. Good luck in the future

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2018 10:04 PM

2018-05-17T22:04:50-04:00

92A you’re probably headed for the SSAs, Sustainment Brigade has a large QM battalion, CAB has the best DFAC, if you like the night life, Manhattan is about 30 minutes away it’s a college town try not to get into too much trouble. If you like to hunt or fish there’s a lot of that on or right outside Riley.

If you’re a gym buff then there are some nice ones, Robinson’s is a lot of machines, long is mainly convatives now, theres kings and the new gym also by the CAB DFAC.

If you’re looking to deploy, the division as a whole is pretty high tempo there’s always a brigade deployed somewhere

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2018 3:08 PM

2018-05-19T15:08:55-04:00

Run

Response by SSG Shirley Hudson made May 21 at 2018 11:02 AM

2018-05-21T11:02:48-04:00

First of all I'm a Staff Sergeant I really don't know why they have me as a Sp6. Okay as assignments go I really like Riley. I was a Supply Sergeant at the 702. When it snows there is no going up or down Custer Hill hahaha. The biggest City is hours away so I would make it a weekend trip. I joined a bowling league, went camping and fishing, took college and tutored kids. I lived at Manhattan and being a die-hard Sooners fan I was only two blocks from KSU and I absolutely loved football season. Enjoy your time there.

Response by SGT Alfred Mcintosh made May 23 at 2018 2:47 AM

2018-05-23T02:47:18-04:00

Just do as you are ordered to do. Active duty is a little different from the guard or the reserve. They are more serious about the job that you are doing.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2018 7:45 PM

2018-06-04T19:45:11-04:00

Make sure that you are assigned a sponsor. They should be as blessed to walk you through all that is needed for you to succeed.

Response by SGT Chris Lynch made Jun 22 at 2018 11:43 PM

2018-06-22T23:43:47-04:00

Stay positive no matter what

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2019 11:08 PM

2019-07-23T23:08:23-04:00

Wow one month? It will take me a year to get release from
My command. How do you like it?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2019 1:41 AM

2019-07-25T01:41:08-04:00

I am stationed in ft riley

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 11 at 2020 5:29 PM

2020-04-11T17:29:38-04:00

Response by SGT Robert Pryor made Apr 12 at 2020 12:37 AM

2020-04-12T00:37:47-04:00

Keep your ruby slippers handy, SPC Private RallyPoint Member, and remember these words: "There's no place like home." Just sayin'

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Apr 12 at 2020 4:38 PM

2020-04-12T16:38:16-04:00

So how did things work out?

Response by PFC Donnie Harold Harris made May 14 at 2020 8:56 AM

2020-05-14T08:56:47-04:00

Do not be late. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive looking good.

Response by SPC Linda Chandler made Sep 6 at 2020 6:45 PM

2020-09-06T18:45:22-04:00

Sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner.
How was signing into you duty station, I was always excited going to a new area or new base. Seeing all the different stuff like country or cities that were close. Meeting new people.
Let me know how you’re doing.
Linda

Response by PFC Donnie Harold Harris made Nov 13 at 2020 7:38 AM

2020-11-13T07:38:06-05:00

You are going to love the end result more than the accumulated hard work.