What is life like as an 11B in Hawaii?

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 May 2021 16:53:18 -0400

My first duty station is Schofield with 2-35 (B Co). I was wondering if anyone had opinions, experiences, thoughts, etc. on what it’s like being stationed here in Hawaii.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2021 5:10 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 May 2021 17:10:14 -0400

1LT Private RallyPoint Member Wasn't there... but I did spend my last month in Vietnam on the China Beach... It beat the hell out of where we were. Best of Luck in your upcoming assignment! I took my 11B AIT at Ft. Polk... how about you?

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2021 5:55 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 May 2021 17:55:02 -0400

Ivan!!!!

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made May 8 at 2021 7:08 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Sat, 08 May 2021 19:08:31 -0400

Hawaii is the best duty station in the Army. Congrats! I was on an infantry battalion (though I was an FA officer) and life is really solid overall for 11B…the units are often really good and you are living in paradise.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made May 8 at 2021 8:35 PM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Sat, 08 May 2021 20:35:34 -0400

Two economies the one for the locals (much less expensive but may not be food you know) and the tourist one (glitter, shiny and sucks your money away) I recommend you go to one Hawaiian Luau which has little guitar music (called a Ukulele) and Hulu Dancing. After the first time its only good when relatives visit. One good thing is the USO and MWR have free tickets sometimes but most of the time they're just discounted.
Rental cars in Hawaii are inexpensive, cheaper by the week and often less than a car payment you would make on the same model, just a couple of years older rather than brand new.
If the ground on the big island's Pohakuloa Training Area (called PTA) starts to get hot and your boots begin to smolder it's time to vacant the area. There may be a lava tube under your feet - Just kidding since it hasn't happened since ... oh yeah there is an active eruption going on right now.
Enjoy yourself and don't mess it up as it will not happen again.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made May 8 at 2021 9:19 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Sat, 08 May 2021 21:19:14 -0400

Hawaii is beautiful. Lots to do, if you get the chance - and not just touristy stuff (though there is plenty of that, as well.) Dole Plantation, North Shore, Water Park in Kapolei is pretty decent, plenty of great hiking and biking, Ploynesian culture center, a surprising number of museums, a decent zoo. When I had the chance, relaxing at one of the lagoons at Ko Olina was great - much less crowded than Waikiki, and water is beautiful. (Of course the *ahem* "scenery" is not as good, either, so it depend on why you want to go to the beach.) Obviously surfing is world class, if you surf, but there is plenty of places to SCUBA (including getting certified) or snorkel, as well.

Schofield Barracks, however..... well, it ain't the greatest. I left there almost a decade ago, so HOPEFULLY things have improved. We had black mold in the air systems for both our offices and our barracks - the Command solution was to just issue us a spray bottle and tell us to go buy some bleach. And the folks in the barracks had to buy their own spray bottle, too. PX was tiny, and the Commissary was a joke. Cost of living is INSANE, so you really need that PX and Commissary to make your dollar stretch - but good luck making it work for you. Chow Hall was... average.

Hours were HORRIBLE and the higher level CoC (BDE and DIV) had the attitude of "It doesn't matter how much we abuse you, you are stationed in paradise so quit bitching." Lower level CoC (BN and Company) did their best, but could only shield us from so much.

Worst duty station I have had - and I was stationed at Fort Drum.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2021 10:17 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 May 2021 10:17:16 -0400

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2021 11:49 AM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 May 2021 11:49:38 -0400

Cacti! Left hand high.

I was in A-CO (several years ago though). Enjoy the time there and take advantage of being in such a unique geographical location.

As for your day to day life, it will all depend on your command and leadership. I was there during multiple change of commands both with our enlisted and officer leadership and things were always changing based on the goals and tempo of the leadership. Ramping up to deployment was always a really exciting time that afforded lots of valuable training, days off for family time, and sharpening of soldier skills.

As a SPC going green into an infantry squad you might be expected to be a little more high speed than your E1-E3 peers. Most of the guys I was with as a SPC already had 2 years with the unit and a lot of them were on their second deployment. You might not be expected to lead right off the bat but you are definitely going to be held to a higher standard, both by your peers and your leadership. Make sure you are fit both physically and in terms of being an infantryman. Best of luck and enjoy Cacti!

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made May 10 at 2021 1:30 PM

SPC Erich Guenther — Mon, 10 May 2021 13:30:14 -0400

Never been there but heard from a Infantry SSG that had post 2000. You still get all four seasons in Hawaii. They march you up some mountain for the winter training so you can freeze your azz off. Also the terrain is all up and down terrain wise so the long distance road marches were tough as well. Second hand information. I would not expect all palm trees, sunny weather and sand beaches though.

Response by SPC Chad Nelson made May 21 at 2021 3:28 PM

SPC Chad Nelson — Fri, 21 May 2021 15:28:11 -0400

Was there 92-95 1/21 and was with an incoming cohort unit out of Benning - about 100+ of us, so already had a bunch of buddies rolling into Schofield, which made it an easy transition from AIT to Unit. The first year you'll do all the touristy stuff (Waikiki Beach, Downtown stuff, Beaches, Pearl Harbor, etc) it's crazy expensive, but you need to do. Once you get settled in, you'll spend more time on or towards the North Shore (closer to the barracks) - me and all my boys surfed, body boarded, snorkeled, hiked and got scuba certified, so had lot's to do if you're into those activities. Don't be a barracks rat!!! I can't tell you how many dudes just sat in their barracks (no one had cell phones or computers), so who knows what they did all day. It's expensive, so learn to budget your money. It's a beautiful place so take advantage of it. Don't lip off to the locals - it's their island. Most are really cool, but you'll get a few, especially if you're surfing or on the beach who will push your buttons, just be chill. Most important....make friends with someone with a CAR if you don't have one; pitch in for that gas.

When you're doing your grunt thing....hump...hump...and more hump! You'll road march your tail off and spend most of your time in the Kahukus (land of the red dirt)! You'll train and train some more. You'll become a landnav guru quickly. The 25th does an outstanding job for schools - take advantage (if you're highspeed and want to). They have more available schools now; like their Jungle School (wish we had when I was in). They'll send you to Air Assault fairly quickly. When I was in; each Battalion had their own Scout/Sniper teams - I was on the Scout team (after a year being in a line company) - highly recommend to try out for. I don't know if they still have their LRSD, but that's recommended as well. You have opportunities to go to Pre Ranger and Ranger School if they have slots and you pass everything. Hopefully you're in a unit or company that travels - I was fortunate to go to Alaska, South Korea, the Big Island (twice) and the Philippines for training. Anyways, it's what you make of it and how high-speed you want to get. I took full advantage of Oahu and training/schools offered and it makes the time go fast when you're staying busy. Good luck! Bore-Brother-Bore!

Response by SPC Paul Clayton made May 23 at 2021 2:09 AM

SPC Paul Clayton — Sun, 23 May 2021 02:09:13 -0400

I would suggest reading James Jones' From Here to Eternity, probably the best war novel of them all. Of course, the army is now not anything like it was in 1941... which is a shame. Hope you have a good experience.

Response by SPC Russell Carroll made May 24 at 2021 11:24 PM

SPC Russell Carroll — Mon, 24 May 2021 23:24:49 -0400

Lots of dirt.. running..fast paced. Heard that in 96

Response by SGT James Johnson made Aug 23 at 2021 9:01 PM

SGT James Johnson — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 21:01:44 -0400

At the pubs don't order food.. you get orderves with each drink you order called poo poos. Do everything you can in Hawaii you will never regret being there. I don't.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2022 8:25 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 20:25:14 -0400

Most say that were there, operations in Mosquito AO, keep you alert, for flying insects.

Response by Maj John Bell made Apr 4 at 2022 9:08 PM

Maj John Bell — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 21:08:59 -0400

The good - Spam, the Hawaiians make amazing stuff with Spam
The bad - Pineapple on pizza.
The ugly - People who shouldn't, wearing speedos and micro-bikinis.

Response by LTC Ray Buenteo made Apr 4 at 2022 9:29 PM

LTC Ray Buenteo — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 21:29:04 -0400

Why would you go on a social media site and disclose that info.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 4 at 2022 9:48 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 21:48:36 -0400

Go to Waikiki beach. You would pop wood for sure.