In your opinion, what is the best duty station?

2018-04-11T14:41:15-04:00

I was pretty fortunate to spend the majority of my military career in California, but I did spend time in N.C,Florida and Okinawa. And to be honest Okinawa was an experience that I enjoyed not because of being in another country but the Marines stationed there had a much tighter bond. With that said I would still say SoCal was the best duty station(Camp Pendleton) I enjoyed every aspect of it the desert for offraoding, Big Bear for snowboarding, great riding weather year round etc...not mention Camp Pendleton

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Apr 11 at 2018 3:14 PM

2018-04-11T15:14:19-04:00

Well, I had my AIT at Ft. Gordon, Georgia; and, I had my Permanent Party at Pirmasens, Germany. Pirmasens, Germany is a great duty station. I was a Sports Director for Dependent Youths at Pirmasens.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Apr 11 at 2018 3:18 PM

2018-04-11T15:18:15-04:00

I get that Marines can only go so many places but I heard Japan for any of the branches is pretty nice.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2018 3:22 PM

2018-04-11T15:22:46-04:00

Sgt Adrian Jones Considering stateside only, I went through Boot Camp and Field Radio Operator School at MCRD San Diego. It was a beautiful base and a great city. I went through ITR, was stationed there, and went through training exercises at MCB Camp Pendleton, another great base. The worst base is MCB 29 Palms.

Response by TSgt David L. made Apr 11 at 2018 3:55 PM

2018-04-11T15:55:27-04:00

Pretty tough to beat Eglin AFB and Hurlbert Field on the Gulf Coast in NW Florida. Pensacola 45 minute west, Panama City Beach (Club La Vela, Spinnakers!!) 45 minutes east. That's the reason our EOD students had a hard time focusing on class. That and a few strip clubs. One RIGHT across the fence from the NAVSCOLEOD barracks!

Response by CPL Tom Turnbull made Apr 11 at 2018 5:09 PM

2018-04-11T17:09:47-04:00

Schofield Barracks Hawaii 25th ing div

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Apr 11 at 2018 7:07 PM

2018-04-11T19:07:41-04:00

This is very subjective. The way that I always thought about it is that you get one of two combinations. 1) a Post where the surrounding area is shit and the units are incredible or 2) a Post where the surrounding area is awesome and the units are absolute shit. Really, I suppose it depends on one's preference as to which would be the better of the two options. I would much rather have a good unit than a nice surrounding area with shit to do seeing as how most of my time is spent at work. I can always travel during leave blocks. Many people like the idea of having stuff that is enjoyable to do on the weekend in order to decompress from dealing with the shitty nit though.

Response by SGT George Herrera made Apr 11 at 2018 11:13 PM

2018-04-11T23:13:31-04:00

Ft Rucker Alabama. About an hour to two hrs to most major attractions in Florida , Panhandle .

Response by PO1 Gery Bastiani made Apr 11 at 2018 11:34 PM

2018-04-11T23:34:22-04:00

Hard to say I did three yrs with NSFA naval support force Antarctica 81-84 but what made it fun as we got to spend a week in New Zealand before returning to our home port, then there was NSU State Dept 84-87 and my last command was at the Naval Recreation Center Solomons MD 93-97

Response by SN Jay Perry made Apr 12 at 2018 1:52 AM

2018-04-12T01:52:47-04:00

Truth be known enjoyed San Diego (32nd street) the best, though the ship I was on (and the two cruises I did on her) were better out of Norfolk (though liberty in Norfolk sucked).

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2018 4:10 PM

2018-04-13T16:10:13-04:00

Fort Retirement.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2018 5:25 PM

2018-04-14T17:25:27-04:00

Camp Darby, Italy was my retirement assignment. Spent my last 38 months in the Army there. The post itself sucks as there is nothing there anymore. However, within a 3 to 4 hour drive are so many amazing things to see and places to go. If I could have gotten a Government job there upon retirement I would have stayed.

Response by TSgt Frank Cacciatore made Apr 14 at 2018 5:46 PM

2018-04-14T17:46:52-04:00

Nellis AFB
4450th TG 82-86

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2018 8:32 PM

2018-04-14T20:32:27-04:00

It depends on what you want to accomplish.

Response by SPC Roger Giffen made Apr 14 at 2018 8:42 PM

2018-04-14T20:42:43-04:00

Fort Sam Houston. Too bad they took out the Military Police

Response by SGT William Wise made Apr 15 at 2018 8:17 PM

2018-04-15T20:17:44-04:00

I must have to say camp hump korea 97-98 and 04-07

Response by SGT Dean Konrady made Apr 17 at 2018 1:33 PM

2018-04-17T13:33:34-04:00

Basic and AIT at Ft.Polk(lil Vietnam) 4 yrs at FT. Carson (10th Cav) Alaska,Hawaii, but to me I liked Germany the best.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Aug 16 at 2018 1:03 AM

2018-08-16T01:03:55-04:00

I actually had three first choice bases in a row, they were Hanscom AFB, MA, Lowry AFB, CO and Hickam AFB, HI and all three were good duty stations. All three had plenty of things to do in the area off base and were well located.

Response by MSgt Dale Johnson made Aug 16 at 2018 8:57 AM

2018-08-16T08:57:16-04:00

Can't give you an honest opinion here. Never got one of my "dream sheet" duty stations in 24 years of active military service. Just made the best of where ever I was at at the time.

In one respect I am lying, I was getting close to getting a one year non-voluntary remote. At the time AF had a program that if you volunteered for a remote they would guarantee a follow on if possible or you could turn down the assignment. I volunteered for an Alaska remote, so I did get one of my choices, got a follow on, six months into remote assignment my follow on was cancelled. Turned out a Chief I had worked for 5 years earlier saw my name on rotation list and had my follow on cancelled and pulled my name to go to HQ Air Communications Command. I talked to him on the phone, he told me do one tour at HQ and I can guarantee you E-8 and probably E-9, but I was PO'd to the max. I am not political, I am not shy and a very "Damn the torpedoes, Full Steam Ahead," kind of a person. Knowing me, first time an officer told me to get them coffee I would have told them where the coffee bar was, probably not politely. The chief made some calls but could not get my follow on reinstated, gave me 24 hours to choose between 6 different locations, none of them anywhere near where I wanted to go. Probably the reason I did not make E-8.