Posted on May 10, 2018
If you had to choose between Fort Bliss vs Fort Riley, what one would you consider and why?
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 34
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Spent four years at Riley and hated the winters and other than KC I was extremely bored. Five years at Bliss before retiring and yeah the summers are hot, the nights were cool, the winters never reached single digits, and there sure as hell is so much more to do locally or traveling a few hours in any direction (from Dallas/Austin/San Antonio to Albuquerque to Tucson/Phoenix to San Diego); not to mention the local mountain towns for hiking, camping, fishing, and skiing.
Quality of life on post is far better at Bliss; 1AD invested far more money in family housing, MWR facilities, a new hospital, Freedom Crossing and Grand 10 post movie theater (grand opening was in 2011), etc. 1ID and Riley still playing catch up.
As far as unit assignments go, not much difference between a BCT in 1ID and 1AD. FT Riley was a decent assignment but I highly recommend FT Bliss.
Quality of life on post is far better at Bliss; 1AD invested far more money in family housing, MWR facilities, a new hospital, Freedom Crossing and Grand 10 post movie theater (grand opening was in 2011), etc. 1ID and Riley still playing catch up.
As far as unit assignments go, not much difference between a BCT in 1ID and 1AD. FT Riley was a decent assignment but I highly recommend FT Bliss.
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honest answer - a duty station is what you make of it - the experiences, the travel and appreciation are all subjective to what YOU personally want to make of it - If you go with a negative attitude - then the place is gonna suck because your looking for confirmation of your bias. My advice - whichever one you decide - go in with an open mind, and the exhilaration of seeing a new place, with new experiences to be had.
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SPC (Join to see)
Of course, SSG Perrotti. I just wanted to hear what the people had to say. Thank you!
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1LT (Join to see)
I partially agree with this response. Ft Carson was my first duty station, and it was the only place I wanted to go to. I was really disappointed though, not because of the area but because of the unit. I PCS’d to Ft Riley having very low expectations and the leadership here changed my jaded attitude within 2 weeks, and I never thought I would say “I love the Army” or “I love Ft Riley”
I think what can heavily make or break your experience is the leadership.
I think what can heavily make or break your experience is the leadership.
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SSG Robert Perrotto
1LT (Join to see) - a soldier cannot account for command climate - nor is it something they can control - but if you enjoy the area you at at, take advantage of sights and local culture, it can do wonders to offset the stress of a bad command climate. but I also understand that people handle the stresses of our profession differently and what worked for me may not necessarily work for others.
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The two best bases you will ever stationed on are the one you are leaving and the one you are going to next. You learn to take the good with the bad. It makes you a stronger person and better service member.
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CW4 Craig Urban
Been to bliss twice. Basic and then as a SSG. As a cw3 Donald infante asked me to go to bliss again. I said I am single I am going to the beltway. I am not ada.
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Fort Bliss, simply because there is more to do there as a Family and for single Soldiers, the Bade is currently growing, has its own mall on post, has bars, pubs and Restaurants on post other than Burger King. I have been to both places, I enjoyed Fort Riley, But I Hunt and Fish and had a boat and motorcycle, so Riley was Ideal for me. At Bliss, I was lucky enough to be able to be stationed there with my Son in Law, Daughter and Grandsons, there was plenty of things to do on post and you are right In El Paso. Plenty to do.
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If you like the desert go to Bliss, if you don’t go to Riley. If you enjoy travel on the weekends go to where you have the most places to enjoy within driving distance. Both organizations are strong and both based take care of Family and Soldiers. Thank you for your service.
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I’ve never been to Ft. Riley but I can tell you that Ft. Bliss was one of my favorite duty stations in the 14 years that I’ve been in. The night life in El Paso is great, the city is growing with plenty to do. Head north into New Mexico, and you will find yourself with plenty to do as well. Ruidoso has a casino, Inn of the Mountain of the Gods as well as log cabins for rent. Albuquerque and Santa Fe are nice tourist destinations. Carlsbad has the Carlsbad Caverns which is a site to see. East of El Paso you have Balmorhea which has a nice state park with one of the biggest spring fed pools you’ve ever seen.
If you like racing there’s a quarter mile strip right outside of El Paso that my friends and I used to enjoy, which I heard is supposed to become a state of the art Motorsport complex.
If you like racing there’s a quarter mile strip right outside of El Paso that my friends and I used to enjoy, which I heard is supposed to become a state of the art Motorsport complex.
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Ft. Riley hahaha listen to the name Ft. Bliss.... it is literally in the middle of nowhere. Plus the SGM Academy is there so definitely Ft. Riley. Either way both of them are out there. Riley winters are brutal.
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SGT Dave Tracy
Middle of nowhere? At the junction of NM, TX and ol' Mexico, surrounded by 638,000 people jus in the city of El Paso alone, and FT. Bliss is in the middle of nowhere? Compared to Riley; the middle of Kansas? Now you've piqued my curiosity as to what you would consider the middle of somewhere.
As for USASMA, they don't mess with anyone (unless they catch you at that hole-in-the-wall gym nearby they treat like its their own...it aint)...except they do oversee the local WLC/BLC. So okay, there is that.
As for USASMA, they don't mess with anyone (unless they catch you at that hole-in-the-wall gym nearby they treat like its their own...it aint)...except they do oversee the local WLC/BLC. So okay, there is that.
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Depends on what you like to do,Riley has fishing,hiking,hunting,and grass. Ft bliss not so much
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If you want to recreate Iraq/Kuwait type temps and have Afghanistan type scenery go to Fort Bliss. If you want to creat Korea like humidity, monsoon like season including winder go to Fort Riley. You can equally enjoy or hate both. I have been all those places mentioned. I equally hated and loved Bliss and Riley.
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Summer in Fort Bliss can get to about 115 degrees in the sun. Winter had a few cold days. Not much greenery around El Paso. It wasn't my favorite post. However, I took a lot of trips on weekends into the "Old West" of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and southern Colorado. West Texas was pretty empty. Sign on I-10 eastbound as you drove out of El Paso had some ludicrous number of miles to San Antonio and the only stopping place on the interstate itself of any size on that journey is Fort Stockton about halfway.
My brother was at Fort Riley and liked it. Don't know his reasons, though.
My brother was at Fort Riley and liked it. Don't know his reasons, though.
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