What is life like as an 11B in Hawaii?

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!

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

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.