What is a good Army base to be stationed at?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 15:42:28 -0500

I just recently requested to go active Army and am looking for a good base to go to. I am a 68W and am mainly interested in a good command and a good team to work with. Any suggestions would be welcome. I currently do have choice of duty station. Thank you.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2019 4:17 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 16:17:10 -0500

Every unit is going to be different. There is no guarantee that the unit you get to will have a good command team or not. So, what you are looking for is really a roll of the dice and see how they land. Personally, I would recommend Germany or Italy as a choice assignment.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2019 6:17 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 18:17:20 -0500

Schofield Barracks, Fort Shafter, Tripler Army Hospital (all in Hawaii, on Oahu); I was going to also list some places in Germany, but everywhere I've been there is apparently closed down - even Bamburg, apparently. But Hawaii is pretty awesome.

Response by CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2019 4:02 PM

CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 16:02:41 -0500

According to most Soldiers the "last" duty station or the "next" duty station are the best in the Army.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Jan 21 at 2019 3:02 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 15:02:04 -0500

When looking at duty stations, look at what the installation has to offer. As SSG Livingston mentioned the individual unit Command climate is a roll of the dice. So look at what the installation can offer vs. what you want. Like the outdoors? Fort Drum, NY is a paradise. Hate the cold? Try Hawaii or Florida. Want all the amenities on post without having to go into town? Look at Fort Bliss. Great support for the family? Fort Campbell is for you. Single and looking to mingle? Any base near a college or larger city will work. And the list can go on and on.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Jan 22 at 2019 1:10 PM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:10:25 -0500

Fort Carson and FOrt Lewis best two places every if you really like the outdoors and beer breweries

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jan 22 at 2019 1:18 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:18:54 -0500

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member some of the “best installations” have been the worst assignments as well as the reverse. Example: I loved Ft Irwin. I had mixed feelings on Ft Carson. What do you like? Warm, cold, beach, mountains, island, mainland, Asia, Europe... Is Germany on the table? Overseas anything is usually awesome. You like big base regular Army or smaller posts?

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Jan 22 at 2019 2:06 PM

CSM Richard StCyr — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 14:06:50 -0500

Hood, Benning, Fort Lewis and Leonard Wood.

Response by CPO Clifford Henry made Jan 25 at 2019 11:24 AM

CPO Clifford Henry — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 11:24:56 -0500

Best two units in the military are the one you just left and the one you’re headed to!

Response by MSgt John Taylor made Jan 28 at 2019 11:56 PM

MSgt John Taylor — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 23:56:07 -0500

Your best two assignments will be your last one, and your next one.

Response by SGT Jet West made Nov 8 at 2019 5:20 PM

SGT Jet West — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 17:20:32 -0500

Germany
Learn the basics of the language
Learn how to take the train
Get a car
Get a girl (German)
Move in with your girl
Meet the family
Extend German tour
Good luck

Landstuhl might have you as a 68W
Wiesbaden or Stuttgart has larger variety of girls

Response by CPT Larry Hudson made Nov 9 at 2019 5:24 PM

CPT Larry Hudson — Sat, 09 Nov 2019 17:24:04 -0500

Ft Lewis, WA
Presidio Monterey, CA
Ft Belvoir, Va

Response by SFC Michael W. made Nov 11 at 2019 8:42 PM

SFC Michael W. — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 20:42:10 -0500

Go to Europe...plain and simple.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made May 28 at 2020 11:07 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Thu, 28 May 2020 23:07:46 -0400

All of them, and none of them, it is what you make of it.

Response by SPC Adrian Velasquez made Aug 30 at 2020 6:14 PM

SPC Adrian Velasquez — Sun, 30 Aug 2020 18:14:46 -0400

South Korea was good due to the mission and other members of my unit.

Response by SPC James Anderson made Aug 30 at 2020 6:48 PM

SPC James Anderson — Sun, 30 Aug 2020 18:48:44 -0400

My son is getting stationed at Fort Campbell, I have never been there but have heard really good things about it and the surrounding area. Can anyone confirm?

Response by SPC John Leite made Aug 30 at 2020 6:49 PM

SPC John Leite — Sun, 30 Aug 2020 18:49:11 -0400

I had AIT and permanent assignment at Ft. Sill, Ok.and I liked it there, can't say much about Lawton, OK. just outside the gates but there's some good places to hike, (or built a bonfire at the shore of one of the lakes and have a beer bash). BUT have no idea how it is these days as I was there from 1975 -1977 and back then I really liked it there, worked at the Radar School in a Staff and Faculty Battalion, (I was a 17B20) and things were pretty relaxed, had decent barracks and a great mess hall.

Response by SGT Greg Gold made Aug 30 at 2020 9:23 PM

SGT Greg Gold — Sun, 30 Aug 2020 21:23:05 -0400

There are only two good bases in the Army. The one you're leaving and the one you're going to.

Response by SGT Tom Recupero made Sep 2 at 2020 1:20 PM

SGT Tom Recupero — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 13:20:03 -0400

Fort Meade is the best

Response by SGT Donald Croswhite made Nov 26 at 2020 1:45 AM

SGT Donald Croswhite — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 01:45:21 -0500

Joint Base Lewis Mccord is the most re-uped for base in the Army. Beautiful, green and lots to do. Plus three towns around aren't directly dependant on the base to exist. Keep clear of Seattle, it's sad to say, but Seattle had turned into downtown Los Angeles.

Response by SGT Jet West made Mar 27 at 2021 5:24 AM

SGT Jet West — Sat, 27 Mar 2021 05:24:17 -0400

The US Army has a much smaller footprint in Germany now than it did prior to the fall of the Wall in '89. Nonetheless, it is still offers a great experience. Assuming you aim to get off post and terrorize the locals, Stuttgart is centrally located with a full load of amenities. Depending on your car, being centrally located means you can go pretty much anywhere in country on any given weekend using the Autobahn. Or rent a car for the weekend for those high need for high speed weekends. For that big Munich trip at the end of September, first week of October, DON'T DRIVE.. TAKE THE TRAIN to the Oktoberfest. The train station (Hauptbahnhof) is within walking distance of the fest and there are several affordable hotels just down the street. But, on your first trip, don't walk and risk getting lost on those windy streets. Take a cab from the train station to the hotel and walk down to the BIG O.
If you like live music, most every major act routes their tour through Germany at some point.. mostly in June. Don't miss ROCK-am-RING (Nurburg)/ROCK-im-PARK (Munich/Nuremberg). (Close spelling, but two different places.) A three day concert with 100+/- acts on multiple stages with camping areas for 50,000 fellow fans. Other than camping gear, you can buy anything your heart might desire on the fest grounds - including complete grocery stores set-up in full size fest tents. Alternatively, you can go to ROCK-im-Park near Munich/Nurburg, but The Ring is held on the Nurburg Ring Racetrack and is the far better party. Check the schedule, but fans start camping two/three days before the fest starts and stay a day or two after. Wiesbaden (20 minutes outside Frankfurt w/ 24 hr train service to Frankfurt) is only 1.5 hours away from the fest - but during the Fest week count on it taking several hours to get there. Think Woodstock traffic).
The Edelweiss Resort in the Alps is operated by the US military in a town called Garmisch. You can go on your own. However, done properly, you can book enough rooms for your company and get a great rate - esp. if you organize a company training/r-n-r exercise and put it on the company books.
If you're not interested in getting out on the economy, then Kaiserslautern/Ramstein isn't bad, if you can get over all the Americans stationed there. EVERYONE speaks English and most Germans speak it better than Americans. But the US military is what keeps the local economy humming and other than that it is fairly economically depressed compared to your other German options and the region doesn't get much in the way of int'l tours, etc. But that doesn't mean it's a bad assignment, just not as happening as the alternatives.
Whatever you do, remember being stationed in CONUS means you're turning down an all expenses paid trip somewhere in the world. There will be plenty of time to see the USofA after you ETS/retire (if you're fortunate enough to have the time/money/resources).
If you like it and want to extend your tour, the military offers some nice bonuses for extending your overseas tour. Whatever you do, DON'T even consider the extra $80 a month. Why do that when, by extending your tour for 12 months, you can get another 30 days leave and a round trip ticket anywhere in the world (equal to the cost of a RT to your home of record)? See: https://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/special-pay/overseas-extension-pay.html
If you decide on Germany, one piece of advice: DON'T shit an American spec car. Buy a German car MB/Audi after you get there. (There's a reason you don't see many "old" BMW's on the road). American spec cars never lasted me more than a year on the Autobahn. Not even close.
Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Zoom!

Overseas Tour Extension Incentive Program - OTEIP

The military may offer certain servicemembers an added incentive for extending their overseas tour.

Response by 1SG Ed Bernas made Aug 24 at 2021 6:26 PM

1SG Ed Bernas — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 18:26:19 -0400

Ft Bragg is the Center of the Universe. Never listen to a Leg!!!

Response by SPC John Leite made Aug 24 at 2021 6:37 PM

SPC John Leite — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 18:37:09 -0400

I had AIT and got assigned to the Radar School at Ft. Sill after graduation, back in 1975 / 76 / 77. I enjoyed Ft. Sill and being in a Staff and Faculty Bn. things were pretty relaxed, liked the Barracks, liked the food in the mess hall and liked the natural attractions in the area, didn't care for Lawton much but didn't spend much time there but did like weekends at one of the lakes with a bunch of beer , a bonfire, good friends and rocking out.

Response by SPC Roger Giffen made Aug 24 at 2021 9:09 PM

SPC Roger Giffen — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 21:09:36 -0400

Ft Sam Houston

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2021 11:44 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 11:44:55 -0400

So here’s the secret no one remembers, the grass is greenest where you water it the most. Units and command climates change every couple of years. I’d focus more on what you want to do, see or achieve throughout your career. If you want opportunities to do more Army schools, be sure to go to a FORSCOM unit, probably something under XVIII Airborne Corps. If you want to see the “world” go USAREUR and etc. Do what you can to make every unit you’re a part of be better, instead of complaining that it’s not good or how you wish it was. Good luck in your active career!