What are the pros and cons of Ft. Hood and Ft. Bliss?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 20:34:55 -0400

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2017 8:38 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 20:38:14 -0400

I know Fort Hood, so you better like heat and Fire Ants!!!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2017 8:48 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 20:48:00 -0400

Ft Bliss has an impact area the size of Rhode Island a pretty cool PX other than that I work at William Beaumont AMC so I can't speak about the day to day operations of the post except there isn't much to do off post without driving.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Apr 30 at 2017 8:52 PM

LTC John Shaw — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 20:52:45 -0400

Both places are cheap to live and generally safe for family with great support networks. The people of Texas are so veteran friendly or veterans themselves that it is almost like another country! It is really nice to visit and find it fun to visit along with my MW upbringing in KY.
Fort Bliss is near El Paso and many people love it. You will have opportunities to visit NM/AZ as it is more SW than TX, it takes eight hours to get to any other Central part of the state.
Fort Bliss is right on the border and has it's own unique culture that seems to be a good mix of both Texas and Mexico.
Fort Hood, is within short drives of San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Austin, Waco. Lots of things to do as the post is huge but it will take some driving to get there. If you don't like Texas, you will learn to love it before you leave, it seems to be the common requirement.
As a Duck Hunter, both bases seem to be strong support bases for your branch. I hope someone from your branch can weigh-in with some specifics for you.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2017 8:53 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 20:53:52 -0400

You already know Bliss,and never been to Hood...

Do you play with the devil you know, or play with the one you don't?

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2017 9:21 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 21:21:57 -0400

Fort Hood is a black hole but you will enjoy the surrounding area with Austin, Waco, Dallas and San Antonio. Never was bored on the weekend. I can't compare Bliss since I have never been there.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Apr 30 at 2017 9:51 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 21:51:52 -0400

The post is like anything else Ford Hood is the world unto itself
The surrounding towns that touch it are like any other military town, filled with great American hero’s murderers, rapists, thugs and thieves. You can get crack, fine art or a prostitute, a good book and a decent movie all within 5 miles of Fort Hood.
Outside of that small perimeter central Texas is pretty cool.
Having had my choice of pretty much anywhere in the world or US I wanted to live after retirement I stayed here because it fit our lifestyle.
Stay away from all stereotypical things of any other post, cash advance predatory lenders, predatory used car places, real estate rental agencies etc.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2017 11:03 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 23:03:40 -0400

I don't as at Ft Bliss from 2014-2016, and Ft Hood since then.

I like Ft Bliss much better due to the weather. Sunny days, high desert so cool nights! Great cycling and hiking there. EP Cyclists are the friendliest cyclists known to mankind!!! We had a beautiful view on the mountain in the Northeast. The neighborhood is older so there are a few rentals and great neighbors. EASY commute too. McKelligan Canyon has live band for " cool canyon nights" free! It's so much fun with the view and great food trucks!

Ft Hood is a little disjointed and our family has had a hard time adapting. Very few jobs and very little outdoors except the lake so you better have a boat and equipment. Ft Hood is a communtable distance to Austin (1 hour) and Houston (150 miles). Flights from Austin are super cheap with Allegiant to Albuquerque and Memphis and Ft Walton Beach. I've been here almost a year and still don't know very many people. The culture is MISCELLANEOUS as opposed to FT Bliss where there is a Hispanic and friendly culture.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2017 11:03 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 May 2017 11:03:42 -0400

Even though El Paso is remote..it's nice. Hood, though centrally located, not as family friendly as they advertise.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2017 10:13 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 May 2017 22:13:01 -0400

Fort Hood is "The Great Place"....You can't beat that with a stick!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2017 10:53 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 May 2017 22:53:40 -0400

FT Hood is better location. Unit and folks within makes all the difference.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2017 5:48 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 May 2017 05:48:40 -0400

It really depends on what you and your family like to do. I myself have only been to FT Bliss, but I did enjoy my time there as there seemed to be a mix of outdoor life and city life at FT Bliss.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2017 8:39 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 20:39:18 -0400

I work at 1AD Div and i dont know that much about ADA but what i can tell you is Fort Bliss is what you make it. Ive been here for about 5 yrs and at 1st i hated it but it grow on me. Its just like anywhere you go. It has its ups and downs.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2018 3:03 PM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 15:03:33 -0400

Fort bliss is ok. Its not great when i first moved it is a desert inside and outside of base..the post is ok. Yeah if you live in base your going to say i love it out of base is cool. I personally hate bliss been here for 3 1/2 years and cant wait to leave. Everything is fast paced. El paso is full of illegal aliens who work in base and hate the military. The stories i heard of el paso are real. Your going to need a car as everything is far. I found my wife here east of el paso so that kept me sane. Your going to need to have good friends here. I hate the desert if you dont like arid and dry as hell areas your not going to like bliss or anywhere around here. 3k ft above sea level sucks. I loved benning and going to hood. I heard good stuff from hood. Yeah Bliss is ok if you work on main post. Im tired of the scene here. Been deployed and been everywhere. Drivers suck here..people dont know how to use their turn signal. It is kind of like the wild west..anything goes. El paso people are not bad stores are everywhere. Prepare to be in over crowded walmarts..people here love walmarts and its always packed!! Im glad im moving. Its too hot for kids not many parks to go too. Its not bad but i personally dont like it its ugly and just there. Shooting guns in the desert was nice but everything else el paso is ugly.