My options are Bragg, Irwin, Riley, Drum, and Bliss. Where should I PCS to?

2018-10-19T22:36:44-04:00

I've already been stationed at Fort Drum so I will gladly cross that one off the list.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Oct 19 at 2018 10:43 PM

2018-10-19T22:43:27-04:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member If you ever see the “space dishes” at NTC, Fort Riley will seem like you are on the real ‘earth’!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2018 10:53 PM

2018-10-19T22:53:36-04:00

Bragg, of course. It's the center of the Army universe. Everyone is special there, except those who aren't, but we still get to ride in the sidecar. ;)

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2018 11:07 PM

2018-10-19T23:07:45-04:00

Sgt, I was a drum for a while and now I'm stationed on Bragg. I enjoy it here. The summers are a bit much at times with the heat, but it's a fairly nice area outside of Fayetteville. Fayetteville isn't that bad just not fantastic. Raliegh is just under a hour away, the ocean is just over 2 depending on the beach you go to. There's tons to do within a few hours in all directions.

The education center here on Bragg is great, tons of on post colleges and lots of night classes. The gyms here are very good too.

The optempo can be a bit much but I'm sure you're familiar with it coming from Drum. Like most will say it depends alot on the unit you go to. As far as your other choices go, I'd never want to get stationed at Irwin or Bliss. I've never been to Riley but I know the hunting up there is great so thats a plus.

Good luck with the PCS SGT.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2018 11:41 PM

2018-10-19T23:41:51-04:00

I'd say Bragg for sure. But then I'd say Bragg no matter what other posts you listed.

Response by SPC Henry Francis made Oct 19 at 2018 11:55 PM

2018-10-19T23:55:25-04:00

Unless you are fond of the West Texas desert you should cross Bliss of your list too.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Oct 20 at 2018 12:27 AM

2018-10-20T00:27:10-04:00

This is going to sound insane. Fort Irwin. Especially in the OPFOR. Historically had lots of predictability

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2018 12:34 AM

2018-10-20T00:34:33-04:00

Definitely not Bliss. I just PCS’ed to Riley, it’s a beautiful installation. But it doesn’t feel like there’s much to do unless you’re really big into the outdoors.

Response by SFC Harry H. made Oct 20 at 2018 12:53 AM

2018-10-20T00:53:57-04:00

Bragg

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2018 1:05 AM

2018-10-20T01:05:15-04:00

It really depends on what you want to achieve. Drum and Bragg are both good, Drum (leg) Bragg (airborne). The other options (hell no) that is just my opinion, but your only two options is being a (leg) or (airborne) the other options are "Stay the hell away" as much as possible, I have not been to bliss, Irwin, or Riley but I have fellow brother's and sister's who have and good god, no way!!! If you like the cold Drum, if you like seasonal weather then Bragg. But in all actuality, it depends on what you want to achieve, Drum is fast past but (leg) Bragg is fast past but (airborne). Do you want to fly out of planes with a parachute or land and walk off the plane. Your choice. I would not go to the other three I have heard nothing but terrible stories for those three and glad I never came on orders for them.

What every your choice, it is your choice, I spent a total of 6 years at Fort Drum and a few weeks at Bragg for training. I would of stayed at Fort Drum for 20+ years if I could of but it was not in the cards for me. Fort Bragg is an excellent base too, I wouldn't say they are elite, but they are a different breed of infantryman. Not sure what your MOS is but again, it depends on what you want to achieve in your career.

Best of luck to you either way, hope you achieve your goals!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2018 1:17 AM

2018-10-20T01:17:33-04:00

Try Bragg or Bliss unless you are a California resident, then try Irwin.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2018 1:32 AM

2018-10-20T01:32:47-04:00

Sorry, I would not want to go to any of those choices. I'd call branch and say screw it, send me to Alaska.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Oct 20 at 2018 7:33 AM

2018-10-20T07:33:23-04:00

Wow! They hit you with some of the worst of the worst! The only good thing about those is they aren't Hood or Polk. Now THOSE are death..

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2018 7:55 AM

2018-10-20T07:55:31-04:00

What’s your MOS and are you Airborne or trying to get Airborne?

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2018 9:04 AM

2018-10-20T09:04:10-04:00

Fort Bragg no doubt. Fort Bragg is a whole new tempo, amazing one at that

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Oct 20 at 2018 9:39 AM

2018-10-20T09:39:08-04:00

What ever is closer to family. They all suck. Just each has its own suck factor.

Response by CW4 Jimmy Gomez made Oct 20 at 2018 9:43 AM

2018-10-20T09:43:18-04:00

Korea

Response by CPT Ray Gilmore made Oct 20 at 2018 10:10 AM

2018-10-20T10:10:49-04:00

That leaves you with Bragg!

Bliss & Riley are no mans land, with nothing to.

If you really want to learn..... take Irwin. The soldiers I got back, after a rotation as OPFOR & Red Force..... they were burnt out, but they knew their shit.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2018 11:19 AM

2018-10-20T11:19:04-04:00

I liked Bragg and I had friends who liked Bliss. I drove by Riley once... It looks like a random post in the middle of a corn field. I've never been to Drum, but everyone seems to love the unit and hate the location.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2018 11:21 AM

2018-10-20T11:21:30-04:00

Definitely Bragg

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Oct 20 at 2018 3:46 PM

2018-10-20T15:46:25-04:00

If I had the option I would go overseas. But if you are limited, Bliss or Brag offer a very diverse set of opportunities for someone in your field. Thank you for your service.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2018 10:34 PM

2018-10-20T22:34:41-04:00

Irwin, Riley, and Drum are armpits. Bliss is actually a very nice place overall. It’s nice to be stationed in a city of 700k people, cheap housing is everywhere, and there are plenty of cool places nearby (like Ruidoso). Bliss has the best civilian gun range I’ve ever used, too.

Response by SGT Rodrigo Contreras made Oct 21 at 2018 12:15 AM

2018-10-21T00:15:31-04:00

If you want a lot of field time but not necessarily be deployed: NTC, Ft Irwin. 1 week prep, 2 weeks in the Box, 1 week recovery... wash, rinse, repeat.

You want to deploy more: Bragg

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2018 8:02 PM

2018-10-21T20:02:02-04:00

Dude. Bragg has an insane optempo and if you don't go airborne you'll hear leg jokes all the time.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2018 7:33 AM

2018-10-22T07:33:32-04:00

I'm currently at Fort Bliss, been here for a little over three years. Its a high up tempo, no room for downtime always in the field training or on rotations. Not a place you want to go if you have family, only up side is it close to CA. Not too many things to do here but camping and hiking pretty much.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2018 1:15 AM

2018-10-23T01:15:21-04:00

Fort Irwin is horrible just had an NCO come from there and he had something like 20 ntc rotations under his belt from it FT Bliss is not too bad it’s a college/military town so there’s plenty to do if you look around

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2018 8:45 AM

2018-10-23T08:45:59-04:00

Stay away from Irwin, theres nothing there!

Response by 1SG Harold Piet made Oct 24 at 2018 6:00 AM

2018-10-24T06:00:40-04:00

Bragg, I spent 10 years there. Airborne All the Way!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2018 11:28 PM

2018-10-25T23:28:59-04:00

No lie. I am based here at Fort Irwin and I absolutley love it here. It’s very different from any other base I have been to. The only down side is the isolation but the people here are amazing. I had my doubts before I got here but once I ecperienced this duty station, it’s actually not bad at all. I love it here. But hey you make your own decision and best of luck to you.

Response by SPC Kenneth Keeling made Oct 27 at 2018 8:08 PM

2018-10-27T20:08:44-04:00

Since you only have Bragg as an option I would say just go to bragg, I would probably still be in if I had never left.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2018 11:44 AM

2018-10-30T11:44:26-04:00

Avoid Bliss like the plague

Response by PO2 Steven Michaeli made Oct 31 at 2018 5:36 AM

2018-10-31T05:36:57-04:00

Bragg. The weather is great, you are a short Drive from the mountains, the beach, D. C., fishing and hunting. Pinehurst this is just to the south. I loved my time at Bragg.

Response by SGT Bruce Barber made Nov 4 at 2018 5:51 PM

2018-11-04T17:51:21-05:00

Bragg. If your looking to go into Special Ops or want to be Ready to deploy at a minutes notice for whatever pops up on the global radar, 82nd is it.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2018 8:01 AM

2018-11-05T08:01:59-05:00

Choose Fort Bragg!

Response by CPL Perry Trowbridge made Nov 5 at 2018 5:49 PM

2018-11-05T17:49:52-05:00

Ft Bragg

Response by SSG Robert Perrotto made Nov 5 at 2018 5:54 PM

2018-11-05T17:54:24-05:00

Bragg by far - you might even get a Airborne slot, and the op tempo is a lot of fun.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2018 9:04 PM

2018-11-05T21:04:56-05:00

Sgt,
If you have family with young kids Ft Riley is a good place to go to.

Response by MAJ Scott Bembry made Nov 6 at 2018 4:11 PM

2018-11-06T16:11:42-05:00

I loved NTC it was like living in a small town.

Response by SFC Dennis A. made Nov 6 at 2018 4:25 PM

2018-11-06T16:25:31-05:00

I've never been stationed at any of them, so can't help you.

Response by CH (CPT) Ephraim Travis made Nov 7 at 2018 12:58 PM

2018-11-07T12:58:51-05:00

BLUF: You do what's best for you and your goals. There are so many factors to consider before coming to a conclusion. And only you can figure that out. By way of example, my first duty station was Bragg. It was okay. When I was PCSing to Stewart, so many at Bragg told me that Stewart was terrible and that I would hate it. As it turned out, I LOVED my time on Stewart with 3ID and only wish I would have stayed longer...

Response by SGT Gary Vaught made Nov 9 at 2018 8:02 AM

2018-11-09T08:02:23-05:00

It really depends on what your use too, weather can be tough at some of the bases you put on there.
I like Fort Bliss but it isn’t ideal for some. What is your MOS and what will your duties be.
One thing for sure everyone of them has it’s good and bad things.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2018 7:54 PM

2018-11-11T19:54:43-05:00

Bliss or Irwin

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2018 7:58 PM

2018-11-11T19:58:38-05:00

I'm currently at Irwin. Everything is an hour-2 hours out off post. Not bad. Ft. Bliss has an astounding community Center along with much to do in El Paso.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2018 3:34 AM

2018-11-15T03:34:48-05:00

Irwin. NTC. The Army’s hidden secret. The post is isolated which lends to the charm. Because of it, services tend to get amplified and are better than non isolated posts. Vegas is two hours away and do is Southern Cal. It was my first duty station and my last. I had to call branch and beg to go back. First tour was in the pre 11th ACR Opfor days. (6/31st Inf) Second was in the Medevac unit. Loved both tours. It was quiet at night, you could see the stars and the people were great.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2018 8:17 AM

2018-11-17T08:17:14-05:00

Good luck

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2018 6:38 AM

2018-11-23T06:38:31-05:00

Bliss isn't bad. People make El Paso out to be an awful city, but there is a ton of things to do in the area. The worst part about Fort Bliss is 1AD... I have been in three brigades so far and the morale gets worse with every one. Plus the SBCT is in the process of converting to an ABCT. Think about it you want to be in a mech unit or not. If it was me, I'd go back to Drum. I plan on going back for a second time voluntarily.

Response by LTC Ken Connolly made Nov 25 at 2018 9:03 PM

2018-11-25T21:03:11-05:00

What's your rank and why these posts?

Response by LTC Ken Connolly made Nov 25 at 2018 9:03 PM

2018-11-25T21:03:48-05:00

What is your rank and why this installations?

Response by CPL Perry Trowbridge made Nov 28 at 2018 12:33 AM

2018-11-28T00:33:00-05:00

I’ve done time at Riley and Irwin... I would choose Ft Bragg if I were you...

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2018 10:28 PM

2018-12-02T22:28:03-05:00

Drum

Response by SSG Joseph Dowell made Dec 26 at 2018 12:41 AM

2018-12-26T00:41:54-05:00

Been to Bragg, Bliss and Irwin (though Irwin was only for desert training), as others have said Braggs the place you auta be. Especially if you are a Jummper.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2019 9:11 AM

2019-03-06T09:11:24-05:00

Not ft drum.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2019 6:18 PM

2019-03-06T18:18:36-05:00

Honestly, out of those options the only place I have been is Bragg. I'm currently here and enjoy it for the most part. It's pretty unique as you learn the history of the 82nd and the honor behind it and Fort Bragg itself. Definitely full of history and respect. Fort Bragg is a base like no other. Just as 82nd.

Fort Bragg is high tempo as there is quite a bit going on with needing everyone deployable at the drop of a hat. Everyone is always doing something but there is a certain pride and "Hoah" factor that I haven't seen or heard about in many other places. Being home to SF and 82nd definitely increases the tempo aswell as the "Hoah" factor just that much more.

As far as stuff do to around here, there are multiple Military history museums (many dedicated to 82nd) throughout post and the surrounding area. Others have also pointed out that Rayliegh isn't too far away and there is quite a bit to do there as well as beaches just a couple hours out. Also, if you are an outdoors person there is lots of areas for hunting/fishing, boating, camping, hiking, etc. Fayetteville itself doesnt have a whole lot to offer other than a couple theaters and bowling alleys, yet there are some good eateries to enjoy. For sure Fayetteville is a little lower class but most cities outside of Post are.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2022 3:29 PM

2022-03-07T15:29:56-05:00

The only good option is Fort Bliss, hope you get that one. NTC, Drum and Bragg are some shitty holes, Riley never been there never want to. El Paso is great for diversity of foods, mall is decent size and hiking is a wonder on those mountains.