PCSing to Fort Hood (General)

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 21:44:29 -0400

i will be PCSing From South Korea, in the time frame of May-June Months and was wondering about off post housing.. The cost.. what is preferred and areas to stay away from.. also a avid hunter and would like to link up with people.. please get back to me ASAP. also have a Child on the way.. (June 14 DUE Date) and will be the places to stay by or within 5-10 miles of a Grocery Store. thank you in advance

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2014 9:53 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 21:53:10 -0400

There are grocery stores all over the Killeen area. I cannot give you housing prices but stay away from any area right around the gates of Fort Hood. Copperas Cover and Harker Heights are the 2 areas off post that I would live in.

Response by 1SG Eric Rice made Mar 31 at 2014 9:57 PM

1SG Eric Rice — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 21:57:42 -0400

As a junior enlisted soldier I highly recommend that you obtain on post housing. You will be close to what you need and everything else will be taken care of such as basic utilities. With the cost of living constantly fluctuating it would be more conducive for you and your young family.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2014 3:46 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 03:46:00 -0400

Jordan, I live in Killeen and work on Ft. Hood as a DA Civilian once I return from deployment. Would be happy to link up with you and show you around and go over your budget to see how much you are looking at spending/month for housing. The further away from post you live, the nice the area, but also more expensive. Also, what unit will you be going to. If the unit is on the West side of post then you will probably want to stay in Copperas Cove. If on the East side then Killeen, Harker Heights, or even Nolanville. There is a Rod & Gun Club on post and that's where you can get area access to hunt in the Ft. Hood training areas. Add me to your contacts and lets talk via email.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 16 at 2014 12:08 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 12:08:49 -0400

That's the replacement detachment. All enlisted Soldiers moving to Hood will receive orders there. From there, you will receive your pinpoint assignment.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 16 at 2014 5:40 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 17:40:40 -0400

The "WAGGAB" is your unit identification code, everywhere you go in the military has one, but it is mostly just used for paperwork and tracking personnel.
The other code (on your ERB I'm assuming) is the place holder that generates when you are projected orders. It will ALWAYS say something similar (REPL= replacement, So I'm guessing AR= ARMOR: you will be heading to a Cav or Armor sqdrn)

Once you arrive at your duty station Your S1 office will either change the code to your troop and unit or you will receive pinpoint orders to move like was previously stated.

Response by 1SG Alan Bailey made Apr 16 at 2014 5:50 PM

1SG Alan Bailey — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 17:50:30 -0400

That is the replacement center for Ft. Hood. As a SPC you will go there and than find out where your going, you will not get a pin point assignment.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made May 11 at 2014 4:24 AM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sun, 11 May 2014 04:24:55 -0400

Sounds like 2/1 CAV

https://www.facebook.com/Black.Jack.Brigade.1CD

2nd "Black Jack" Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2014 5:07 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 May 2014 17:07:01 -0400

PFC Enis,

The BAH for junior enlisted (E1-E4) with dependents is $1167.00 per month. Not the greatest sum of money, but certainly enough to find reasonable accommodations. The cost of rent changes, naturally, with the size and location of the house or apartment you choose to live in.

You don't need to worry about finding a location within 5-10 miles of a grocery store, because there are grocery stores everywhere. It's America.

As for hunting, you will be able to find hunting buddies once you get there, but I haven't checked to see if you can find any hunting lodges or groups on Facebook or elsewhere. Give it a try.

With respect to places you should *avoid* living -- avoid living anywhere close to Rancier Avenue, which is the street that the Airfield Gate opens up onto. That particular area is very run-down, and used to have a huge problem with drugs and gang violence -- not the kind of place you want your kid growing up around.

There are plenty of apartment complexes and townhouses available in the Killeen/Harker Heights/Copperas Cove area. Make sure to check in all of these places when searching for a house or apartment to rent.

Response by PFC Caleb Padgett made Apr 9 at 2015 4:24 PM

PFC Caleb Padgett — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 16:24:53 -0400

If you move off post I would suggest somewhere in Copperas Cove area. Especially if you end up being Cav.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2015 1:15 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 13:15:49 -0400

In my opnion if your looking for a family safe houses go north of the I190 interstate cause everything south is kinda ghetto and its all reasonable the cheepest i found for a 2bed 1 bath was 545 and most expensive is 990 in killeen/ft hood you can also look in hawker heights and coppars cove i dont know about there cause there kinda far from base

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2015 4:55 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 16:55:50 -0400

You can literally stay anywhere off post and be within that distance of a grocery store. When you get here there will be more than enough briefings on do's and don'ts...I do recommend staying away from east gate area (rancier and veterans memorial) also be aware that many places will be within your BAH limit for rent but you might have to pay out of pocket for everything else. Rent is very reasonable but you'll see the difference made up when you get your summer time electric bills! OUCH!!

Response by SSG George Holtje made Nov 30 at 2019 8:12 PM

SSG George Holtje — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 20:12:23 -0500

I liked West Fort Hood housing. It’s close to a Walmart and HEB. The day care center was very good for my son and my older children enjoyed the school. The training area is probably the best I’ve been to.