Which place is better for my situation as a geographical bachelor, Ft. Drum or Ft. Stewart?

2018-07-16T18:36:39-04:00

I am a GBR in PA right now that got Ft. Bliss as my duty station for after BOLC. Long story short, my amazing branch manager is willing to work with me to keep me closer to PA due to my daughter’s mother staying here and a tenuous custody situation. If I stay closer than Bliss (not too difficult obviously) she’s willing to figure out some kind of 50/50 custody arrangement, so obviously that’s a priority.

I’m wondering if I could get some community input into which place might be better in this situation. Drum is about 5 hours closer by car, but it always seems to be on these “worst five places to be stationed” lists. If you have knowledge of child care facilities, housing, area, etc. That would be particularly helpful. Thanks in advance! If it’s relevant, my daughter will be 3 when I leave BOLC.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2018 6:54 PM

2018-07-16T18:54:28-04:00

I hated Fort Stewart. I know a lot of people who didn't like Fort Drum, but loved the unit. I would personally take Drum over Stewart, even if it is freezing cold.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2018 6:55 PM

2018-07-16T18:55:25-04:00

I would either phone a friend and see what the training regimen is like in either place. I know if you end up in 3rd ID you might as well kiss your free time goodbye.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2018 7:31 PM

2018-07-16T19:31:52-04:00

Drum is amazing. It just snows a lot in the winter but once you learn how to bundle up you will be fine. It’s an easy drive to PA just go straight down 81 which is pretty much as soon as you go out the main gate. I lived at Eagle Ridge it’s a complex right of post, the rates were pretty good and they had a work out facility and pool. The some of the stuff seemed a bit slapped together but most repairs were done same day.

Response by SGT Christopher Hayden made Jul 16 at 2018 8:34 PM

2018-07-16T20:34:36-04:00

Drum isn't bad at all. People just bitch about the cold weather. The post is nice, lots to do in the area if you're into outdoor shit, Canada is close-by, NYC isn't that far of a drive, the units there are historically some of the best in the Army, Watertown is a lot nicer than most cities outside of military bases, etc.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 16 at 2018 9:00 PM

2018-07-16T21:00:25-04:00

I have not heard one soldier who liked Ft Drum.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2018 9:43 PM

2018-07-16T21:43:02-04:00

I was stationed at Drum as an infantryman, but I've only visited Stewart briefly. That being said, Hinesville is a much larger shithole than Watertown, in my opinion.

If you're a support MOS, like the outdoors, and have a 4WD or AWD, Drum should suit you just fine.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 17 at 2018 11:09 AM

2018-07-17T11:09:05-04:00

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picatinny_Arsenal

This is in NJ, I didn't know if you could be used there with your MOS, however, of you have any research inclinations at all, or if you could be used in some other fashion, it's at least physically close to PA, certainly, and could give you another option to ask for, that's all I'm suggesting, I'll try to see if there might be ITER comparable installations you could also ask for...the other thing that occurred to me, hough it'd depend if you'd want it, might be to ask if you could convert to Guard Tech, Reserve Tech, or AGR, for some period of time, to try to see if you could be permanent party at a Guard or Reserve facility, full time, at least as long as you'd need to, in order to try to make life relatively liveable for the present, at any rate, you know? Hope that was of use, I'd be most eager for your thoughts, if you think such ideas might possibly have any value, by alp means, anytime, of course....

Picatinny Arsenal - Wikipedia

The Picatinny Arsenal (/ˈpɪkətɪni/ or /ˌpɪkəˈtɪni/) is an American military research and manufacturing facility located on 6,400 acres (26km2) of land in Jefferson and Rockaway Township in Morris County, New Jersey, United States, encompassing Picatinny Lake and Lake Denmark. The Arsenal is the headquarters of the United States Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center. It is known for developing the ubiquitous Picatinny rail,...

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 17 at 2018 11:14 AM

2018-07-17T11:14:20-04:00

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Geospatial-Intelligence_Agency

Then, too, this is at Ft Belvoir in VA, I didn't know if this might be something that might interest you, or to what extent geospatial stuff might intersect with what you do, however, I merely offer it as another assignment possibility, not horribly far from PA, that:s all I'm saying, you could also maybe ask for Ft Meade, perhaps, or Ft Eustid, once again , it'd depend if you could be of use there, certainly, as well as your interests, obviously, you know? Or maybe ask for an actual Pentagon assignment, that was also another thought I just had, I mean Beltway stuff isn't horribly far from PA either, that was my only point, as well....

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency - Wikipedia

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is both a combat support agency under the United States Department of Defense and an intelligence agency of the United States Intelligence Community,[7] with the primary mission of collecting, analyzing, and distributing geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) in support of national security. NGA was known as the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) until 2003.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 17 at 2018 11:15 AM

2018-07-17T11:15:56-04:00

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Military_facilities_in_Pennsylvania

This might be useful to look through....

Category:Military facilities in Pennsylvania - Wikipedia

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 17 at 2018 11:16 AM

2018-07-17T11:16:40-04:00

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Military_installations_in_Pennsylvania

And this....

Category:Military installations in Pennsylvania - Wikipedia

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 17 at 2018 11:17 AM

2018-07-17T11:17:48-04:00

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Military_facilities_in_New_Jersey

Same here....

Category:Military facilities in New Jersey - Wikipedia

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 17 at 2018 11:18 AM

2018-07-17T11:18:29-04:00

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Military_installations_in_New_Jersey

This too....

Category:Military installations in New Jersey - Wikipedia

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 17 at 2018 11:19 AM

2018-07-17T11:19:59-04:00

https://militarybases.com/pennsylvania/

This looked quite good, I'm sure you could do a search for other states as well, of course, besides just PA....

Pennsylvania Military Bases | MilitaryBases.com

There are four military bases in Pennsylvania: two Army bases, two Navy bases. The Coast Guard, Air Force, and Marines do not have bases in PA. Learn more about each individually below.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 17 at 2018 11:21 AM

2018-07-17T11:21:16-04:00

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlisle_Barracks

This would seem to be perfect, right in PA, of you could somehow get it, you know?

Carlisle Barracks - Wikipedia

Carlisle Barracks is a United States Army facility located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. It is part of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command and is the site of the U.S. Army War College. It is the nation's second-oldest active military base.[2]

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 17 at 2018 11:23 AM

2018-07-17T11:23:37-04:00

You could also see if other svcs, USAF, Navy, USMC, or USCzg, might have Army units as tenants, frequently, I've seen that many times, or ask if another unit in another svc might be able to somehow use you for some period, I realize the thought might not initially occur to you, however, as I'd tried to explain, I'm !merely offering suggestions, of course....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 17 at 2018 11:26 AM

2018-07-17T11:26:28-04:00

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_Intelligence_Agency

Them, too, given your MOS, this obviously also occurred to me, maybe you could ask to be junior staff there, as well, it:s in DC, also Beltway, so it wouldn't be all hat far from PA, you know?

Defense Intelligence Agency - Wikipedia

The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), an external intelligence service of the United States federal government, specializes in defense and military intelligence.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 17 at 2018 11:28 AM

2018-07-17T11:28:44-04:00

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberdeen_Proving_Ground

This is one you might not have considered, in MD, just south of PA..also really interesting if you have any research inclinations, as I'd said....

Aberdeen Proving Ground - Wikipedia

Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) (sometimes erroneously called Aberdeen Proving Grounds) is a United States Army facility located adjacent to Aberdeen, Maryland (in Harford County). Part of the facility is a census-designated place (CDP), which had a population of 3,116 at the 2000 census, and 2,093 at the 2010 census.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 17 at 2018 11:30 AM

2018-07-17T11:30:10-04:00

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Meade,_Maryland

And, as I'd already !mentioned in passing, there's also here, also in MD, just south of PA as well, of course....

Fort George G. Meade - Wikipedia

Fort George G. Meade[4] is a United States Army installation located in Maryland, that includes the Defense Information School, the Defense Media Activity, the United States Army Field Band, and the headquarters of United States Cyber Command, the National Security Agency, the Defense Courier Service, and Defense Information Systems Agency headquarters. It is named for George G. Meade, a general from the U.S. Civil War, who served as commander...

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 17 at 2018 11:33 AM

2018-07-17T11:33:03-04:00

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Base_McGuire%E2%80%93Dix%E2%80%93Lakehurst

And I just René!need this one in NJ, of course....

Bad title - Wikipedia

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 17 at 2018 11:34 AM

2018-07-17T11:34:24-04:00

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Base_McGuire_Dix_Lakehurst

That last link didn't load, I retyped it, hopefully, this one should work....

Joint Base McGuire Dix Lakehurst - Wikipedia

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 17 at 2018 11:35 AM

2018-07-17T11:35:23-04:00

Uep, that one worked, there are a zillion others I could possibly think of, if you'd want more, hope those all might be of some possible help at least, as I'd said....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Jul 17 at 2018 11:35 AM

2018-07-17T11:35:38-04:00

Sorry, typo, yep....

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 17 at 2018 12:51 PM

2018-07-17T12:51:03-04:00

Fort drum

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 17 at 2018 6:36 PM

2018-07-17T18:36:08-04:00

Drum is easily closer to PA than Stewart. As long as you can get used to the snow, that would be probably your best bet. Good unit too, from what I've heard at least. If they could hook you up with Campbell, it's also closer than Stewart.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 17 at 2018 9:46 PM

2018-07-17T21:46:19-04:00

Been to both - Fort Drum and Fort Stewart. I tried to get out of my orders to Fort Drum...but couldn’t. Glad - because once I got there I loved Fort Drum. I just left Fort Stewart - don’t plan on going back. Fort Drum...hands-down. Plus - you’ll be a lot closer to PA.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 18 at 2018 8:08 PM

2018-07-18T20:08:06-04:00

Drums not all that bad. They have bachelors quarters on post so the work commute wouldn’t be bad. Plenty of CYS services here to help with the childcare while working

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2018 2:16 PM

2018-07-19T14:16:59-04:00

I am at FT Drum currently and the area is okay and yes the cold is a big drawback. Base housing is newer than most places I have seen. Watertown is the closest decent sized town to Drum at about 10-15 min away. Off base apartments are not hard to find. If you have fire arms you probably don’t want to bring them here due to the NY Safe Act. PA weather isn’t all that different from here.

Response by SFC Randall Atchison made Jan 7 at 2019 1:52 PM

2019-01-07T13:52:05-05:00

Any where but Drum! Most deploying Division in the Army. Highest sexual assaults in the Army. Colder than Alaska at times! Out of the two choices I would choose Stewart. Been stationed at both and the choice is a no brained! Just curious, where in PA and what is your MOS?