What is the optempo like for Fort Wainwright and JBER?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 14:01:05 -0400

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2017 2:23 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 14:23:21 -0400

You get a good amount of time off in the summer to hunt and fish. Was told we were going to deploy but kept getting cancelled. Due to the extreme cold, you are busy as hell in the winter

Response by CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret) made Oct 15 at 2017 6:14 PM

CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret) — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 18:14:18 -0400

I was stationed in Ft Rich 1982-83 as a 11B1P (airborne). We were in the field a LOT in the winter (back when we were the 172d LIB). Each C company in the brigade was airborne. You learn about severe cold VERY fast. If you hunt and fish you will be in paradise. I don't ever remember having a good amount of time off in the summer or any other time but that was the infantry and a long time ago. Wainwright is warmer in the summer and colder in the winter than Ft Rich. The northern lights are absolutely AMAZING!

Response by SGT Patrick Wells made Oct 15 at 2017 9:01 PM

SGT Patrick Wells — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 21:01:13 -0400

I was at Wainwright 77-79 I extended my tour. I was aircraft maintenance 68B, It was pretty laid back for us .My neighbors on either side were infantry and seemed to be in the field a lot. We had some really good extreme cold weather gear.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2017 9:28 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 21:28:43 -0400

I’m at Wainwright now, it isn’t too bad. From what I hear it’s more lax than bases that consistently rotate overseas. If you’re getting stationed up here get ready for the cold, and get on a vitamin D regimen sooner rather than later.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2017 10:04 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 10:04:17 -0400

Can't speak for the current OPTEMPO at FWA, but the last BDE CDR had a pretty good mix of work and rest/play. It was not the hunting fishing BDE everyone was used to. The guy that was complaining about the place is off-base in my opinion. I would go back in a heartbeat. I enjoyed my time there. JBER is about to deploy, from what I saw recently. First time since like 2011/2012 that I'm aware of. 4/25 was on the chopping block, not sure if it has officially been saved or if it is extended

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 2 at 2017 9:28 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Nov 2017 21:28:11 -0400

I was at Wainwright for 6 years up until 2015. I loved it. It is a lot more laid back than most bases but there are additional annual training like cold weather training that I don’t miss. Make sure you consider the cost of heat if you get a place off Post. That can run a few hundred dollars a month easy.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2017 9:48 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 Dec 2017 21:48:55 -0500

The optempo depends on the unit you go to