What can I expect going to Fort Campbell as my first duty station regarding my daily routine and life outside of training?

2020-05-11T00:24:05-04:00

i should be PCSing shortly from OSUT at Fort Benning. What can I expect from Fort Campbell as my first duty station for my daily routine. What all is there for life outside of training to participate and immerse myself in?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2020 1:31 AM

2020-05-11T01:31:33-04:00

Step 1: in process
Step 2: air assault school
Step 3: run 15 miles a week
Step 4: ruck 15 miles a week
Step 5: (applies if you in Strike only) screw with Rakkasans
Step 6: (applies only if in Rakkasans) screw with strike
Step 7: screech at top of lungs when entering base
Step 8: argue with 82nd individuals about how airborne is out dated and air assault is modern and practical

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2020 1:32 AM

2020-05-11T01:32:53-04:00

I can't answer much about how your daily work life is going to be at a Campbell, as I lived at Campbell as an dependent, and have only been stationed at fort Drum while on AD, but as far as life outside of training there is a lot to participate in the local community ( Clarksville, TN) there is a lot of trails in the city ( the greenway) Nashville, TN is only a 45 minute drive, with lots to do, from NHL games, NFL games, tones of great food, live music, top golf, escape rooms, Nashville is just great, Land between the Lakes is about an hour and a half away which is has some of the best hunting and outdoors opportunities that TN has to offer, in Clarksville, there's a local university ( Austin Peay state university) with D! athletics, they have a really good football and basketball team. stay away from Cat west and the Pink Lady, if your looking for Good strip clubs just go to Nashville, in Clarksville there is like 3 Walmarts, the mall isn't too bad, there's a lot of food options, the main strips are Wilma Rudolph BLVD, Fort Campbell BLVD ( aka 41A) and Tiny Town road. some people will say there isn't much to do, but if you are actively looking for something to do then I promise you'll find something, almost forgot at Campbell you will 100% get the opportunity to attend Air Assault school.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made May 11 at 2020 2:25 AM

2020-05-11T02:25:57-04:00

First thing on your agenda will be Air Assault School and since your 11 series you get the Air Assault school from hell deal where they keep sending you over and over until you pass (lol). So pass it the first time and save yourself a lot of humiliation. It might not be right after you get there and can be up to a year after you arrive depending on your units schedule but.....it's going to happen. Comming out of Infantry OSUT, it is fairly easy school to pass as long as you take the acedemic part seriously (phase II slingloading). They teach phase II as an accelerated college course not like OSUT where they repeat everything over and over......so take notes on how to rig a slingload for various pieces of equipment. As for life outside of Fort Campbell, I last traveled there in 2009 on vacation for week of eagles and have enough off post activities to keep me busy for a week. They used to offer a Pathfinder school there in addition to Air Assault, not sure if they still do. They also offer additional company level schools like unit armoers course. BTW, I was able to keep my regular job in a line Platoon and still do Assitant Armorer as a SPC. It's not hard and it did eat up some of my personal time but it was really cool doing both. So if they still offer that, see your 1SG if he will allow it. They usually want one armorer living in the barracks if one lives off post for EDRE coverage. You learn a lot more about weapons as an armorer. Now I heard "todays Army" no longer offers that as a duty path for Infantryman, if not then too bad you missed out. Places to see and things to do off post. Mamouth Cave, 5 mile underground hike that will kick your azz a little, Nashville.....try to go to at least one Country Music venue there. Loretta Lynn has a spread an hour or two away. Also some famous country western bars in Nashville. Not sure if the Grand Ole Opry is still there but if it is try to attend one show. National Corvette Museum - Bowling Green, KY hour or two from Mammoth Cave. If your into Burbon, lots of Burbon distilleries AND you definitely want to visit Bardstown, KY just for the history. Lots of other stuff. If you get bored of the regional area. Chicago is only a 6-7 hour drive away. Memphis is I think 4 hours. Heard Beale Street in Memphis is outstanding but I never made it there. Good Luck! 101st has awesome training and is a notch above the rest of the Regular Army because it is Airborne Corps. So you lucked out on your first unit.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made May 11 at 2020 2:29 AM

2020-05-11T02:29:14-04:00

BTW, off topic but Amtrak is trying to sell Tennessee on overnight Nashville to Atlanta Passenger Train service. I personally do not think TN can afford the price tag but the state has always been nostolgic for restoring rail passenger service since they dissolved the old Tennessee Central.......which a portion is still used by Fort Campbell as their rail connection to Hopkinsville, KY....(it used to head South to Clarksville and then onto Nashville then due East from there).

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2020 10:01 AM

2020-05-11T10:01:19-04:00

Some great outdoors. All types of it. If you prefer the nightlife, try Nashville. Mostly good folks in KY/TN with the usual vermin around any military base.

Response by SFC James Cameron made May 11 at 2020 10:21 AM

2020-05-11T10:21:19-04:00

Hope you become a Blue Spader.

If you like outdoors there’s more things to do than you can shake a stick at. Hunting, fishing, Ashville and Boone, NC aren’t too far away if you ski/snowboard in the winter. If you ride a motorcycle, the dragons tail isn’t an unreasonable ride away. If you off road there are trails for that. If you’re into NASCAR, there are several tracks reasonably close. Depends on what you’re into honestly. Most of all, screw with Rakkasans.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2020 11:42 AM

2020-05-11T11:42:34-04:00

Aside from Carson, Campbell has one of the best towns outside the post (Clarksville...not Oak Grove). But unlike Carson, the unit is actually good and Soldiers have the most pride I've ever seen, though the BDE rivalries are insane - they will unite to protect Old Abe from some All American dirt dart. Great location - halfway between Chicago and Atlanta, Nashville is amazing (Military Monday Predators tix!!)
Expect to run, expect to ruck - not just on Thurs, but to and from ranges as well. You need to know your job, going through the motions is not tolerated.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2020 1:06 PM

2020-05-11T13:06:22-04:00

You will in process, that will take 1-2 weeks of mindless boring briefings
You will get to your unit where you will be fully aware you do not have an Air Assault Badge and that your life will suck until you get it (it will suck in different ways once you get it but at least you have chest candy)
Most days 0630 pt, if your rucking be ready to wake up 0300-0400 then work a full day after.
Like the SSG before me said you will Run and Ruck well over 10 miles a week and will spend your free time hating the Rakkasans or loving yourself for being a Rakkasan. You will most likely do a field problem every month or at least every quarter.
Once you get an Air Assault Badge make sure you remind people how it is much more practical and how obsolete airborne is because you will likely never get an airborne slot.
If you like the outdoors or "country" life, land between the lakes is great, Nashville is 45 minutes away
and make sure you get your haircut at Bo's Barbershop. If you want to know a place to do kickboxing or jiu jitsu I know a guy who owns a school.
Good luck.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2020 1:52 PM

2020-05-11T13:52:39-04:00

The real question no one asked is, how are you still in OSUT and have your phone? We didn't get ours back until graduation day?

Response by SSG Daniel Brewster made May 11 at 2020 5:51 PM

2020-05-11T17:51:27-04:00

All that stuff the other guys said is good in terms of stuff to do in the local area. Fort Campbell is an awesome post. I enjoyed my time there. You’re going in as a PFC so you’ve either got some college or are an Eagle Scout. Good for you, either way.

Some things the other guys didn’t mention - go find the army education center and figure out how to take college courses and work on a degree while you’re there. It will pay major dividends later in life, regardless of whether you stay in or go do other things. Also go find a financial advisor and start investing - not savings - investing. Take 20% of your take home and get the market working for you. You’ll be shocked at how much you will have in four years. You’ve got zip for expenses now - don’t blow through that money now.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2020 10:27 PM

2020-05-11T22:27:26-04:00

Can you say "Run Forest, Run"? You will run and you wi go to Air Assault unless you're injured or on permanent profile. Learn the 101st ABN Air Assault song and make the best of your time off. Clarksville was okay for me, but I preferred Nashville for the nightlife and shopping. This was in 2002-2005. Times have changed and its probably built up more. The most important thing is to listen to your leadership and ask questions. If it doesn't seem right it most likely isn't. Next to Ft. Bragg, it was the best duty station I was assigned to for training and deployment purposes. Enjoy your time there.

Response by SSG Mike Busovicki made May 15 at 2020 1:43 PM

2020-05-15T13:43:14-04:00

I did 6 years at Campbell (3 each in Strike and Currahee) in the early 2000's. What do you mean by life outside training? You go to work, its dark outside. Half the time when you go home after work, it's dark outside again. Other than PT, PT, PT, ruck, ruck, ruck, EIB, deployment (combat or other mission support), AASLT, PRC, NCO academy, and staff duty, I didn't realize that there *was* anything outside of training. I agree with SFC Jeffrey C... "going through the motions is not tolerated". There is a reason why people are proud of wearing "Old Abe" (the name of the eagle on the division's unit patch). The division has one of the most illustrious histories in the military, with a lineage going back to the Civil War. But it's not only WWII that has earned the reputation of the 101st!

https://www.army.mil/article/91178/the_story_of_old_abe_famous_wisconsin_war_eagle_on_101st_airborne_division_patch

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/05/10/climbing-hamburger-hill-years-after-vietnam-wars-brutal-haunting-battle/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2003/07/23/husseins-two-sons-killed-in-firefight-with-us-troops/214c57b8-9c7c-4123-8d33-60e2385d1bb5/

The Story of

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2020 11:33 PM

2020-05-15T23:33:38-04:00

FCky is very stupid bro god bless u u are not a 13b

Response by SSG Mike Busovicki made May 21 at 2020 8:36 AM

2020-05-21T08:36:26-04:00

Another thought is to check out some Facebook pages of the folks that are there now. See what they're up to and what they post. Here's one:
https://www.facebook.com/1506BakerCoFRG/

Baker Company, 1-506 IN "Red Currahee"

Baker Company, 1-506 IN "Red Currahee". 475 likes · 3 talking about this. Check back often to keep up with Baker Co!