My next to last duty station was in Ft. Wainwright, AK. When one of the NCOs in my company there that had previously been stationed at Ft. Polk learned I had orders to Ft. Polk, he told me: "On weekends, the only thing you will be doing will be walking around Walmart". I took that with a grain of salt as people like to exaggerate things. Guess what I did on my weekends at Ft. Polk 😒
Was at Ft Polk 89-91 and loved it there. Got into Bass fishing big time, weekend trips to Houston (It was nice back then), New Orleans... and there was an actual mall in Alexandria. Being Aviation didn't hurt either,
I was stationed at Wainwright from 74 to 77. One of the older NCO's told me he was up there in the 60's when Second Ave. downtown was still gravel. He said a flood up there one year caused them to later pave it.
Fort Polk was called "Tigerland" during the Vietnam War, and was used to acclimate troops to jungle environment before shipping out to 'Nam., and my cadre when I was in the Army in the late '70's called it the "armpit of the Army".
Tigerland was AIT. South Fort was mainly Basic, as I recall. Leesville cathouses/joints could be rough. Summer weather was hot and humid. Anyone remember the Tiger's Den club?
@@terryv I can tell you that they changed since you were there because I did the whole 16weeks all in Tiger Land! The bad thing is you was there in the hot summer months then you have to go to West Germany in winter! Well I was lucky because some of the people in my company had to go to Korea.
I was stationed at Ft Drum from 87 to 95 and the installation DID close on numerous occasions during winter snow falls. It also downsized to essential personnel as well. The lake effect snow up there was no joke. They forecasted "feet per hour." And they weren't wrong
I was at Ft Drum from 91-93 and your 100% correct about that lake effect snow and how it blows sideways. Crazy times, but these days I miss some of that good training back then-
I spent 5 years in Panama (awesome) then spent 2 1/2 years at Ft. Drum (96-98) SUCK! When I PCSed everyone thought they were getting bad assignments, when they heard I was going to Drum they thought theirs wasn't so bad.
@mattclawson704, @hagman1077...I guess we were all at Drum at the same time, maybe even bumped into each other, I was there from 92-95, I still remember the snowflakes dropping on Easter!, as a young man in his 20's...I founf Drum very boring, the weekends were dead. I still remember the 2 dollar movie theater and the bowling alley...that was it, Watertown was not much better @the time all they had was the mall which also had a movie theater. I still remember doing runs in 20 degree weather, the snot in out nose was frozen (no kidding), Watertown would often get closed because of the snow and it got REALLY boring. but you were expected to be at formation on time or that was your ass. remembere trying to get a taxi if you didn't have a car...sometimes it was a 2hr wait and the taxi would pick up multile passengers, our mess hall was clkosed on the weekends and we had to get a ride to an open mess hall on the weekends. Most of us lived off of pizza deleiveries on the weekend. I do not miss that palce at all By the way...41st ENGINEERS, HQ'S COMPANY, A & B PLATOON
It changed a lot since then as I was there from 05-12 and post only closed once. They didn't care about how bad the weather got. You would still PT or stayed in the field for training.
Oh they sent me to Korea for 3 months knowing I had orders to Korea for # of troops knowing that reenlistment was a joke. They told me flights funds had been frozen. Finally let me go after a trip to ig and only a gave me a month to out process. It sent me to my favorite duty station in all of Korea. Sooooo much off time super small post. Had I been able to stay there the rest of my career I might have been able to make 20 years
I worked as a civilian contractor on FT Drum. Snow, snow, Snow But the summers are nice and lots of outdoor activities. Fishing, Hunting, whitewater Rafting, Hiking, Boating. plus there are still drive in movie theaters in Black river and Alexander Bay. another downside is the lack of decent food.
I did 4 years in the Navy, and may have had one of the best duty stations ever. I was stationed on a destroyer in Athens, Greece, for 2 1/2 years. Sailed around the Mediterranean, made port visits in Italy, Turkey, France, Spain, and the Greek Islands. Being a small ship, it could get into all ports. This was in the 70s, before it all became commercialized, overgrown, dirty, and dangerous. Used to sit on the steps of the Parthenon and watch tour groups from all over the world. Laid naked on a beach on a Greek Island(Mykonos), for 9 days. Met girls from all over the world. NZ ladies were the nicest.
Only North Fort Polk was known as Tigerland. I was there in 1967. Its only purpose was to turn out combat infantrymen for Vietnam. One of the signs there said, "Every man a Tiger! Every man a killer! Kill Communists!"
Ohhhhhh clam up Seaman. 😄😄😄😄 I never really got to enjoy Fort Bragg. I was always getting deployed or tasked out to other units to go train. In my six years active duty I’d say I probably spent maybe a year on Fort Bragg.
@@rossnieuwsma7233 Please be nice. Lol. I am a former sailor and worked as a contractor with the US Army at Camp Doha, Kuwait 🇰🇼. I personally know about your struggles with duty assignments. I knew a female soldier who couldn't escape duty to Kuwait no matter where she went. From an E4 to E6, she eventually discharged and ended up as a coworker with me in Kuwait 🇰🇼. She could not escape the US Army lunacy. Blessings and HOOAH!
I just came from Fort Polk and it wasn’t the best. They do have some good restaurants off base, but their is nothing else to do there. Shit was boring as hell. You have to drive far to have some enjoyment.
@@cannibalclown212 I was stationed there in '63 - 64. Leesville was nothing but about four blocks long with two bars and one movie house and the Texas Hock Shop. Best part of being there was being assigned to camp Tuto Greenland for four months.
They must have been Tigerland grads. My last 1SG was a Tigerland grad, and he hated any mention of Polk. He would get this sick look like he was going to puke. He said the training was great, but...yeah the horror stories are real.
@@jameswells554 Fort Polk and Tiger Land had a certain smell when you first step foot in that place. Always will be Old Hell Hole And Little Vietnam to me. I do not miss that place!
Interesting video. I was in the army from 1980 to 1983, and did all of my tour in Germany. I extended because I loved living in and experiencing a foreign country. I was fortunate to be put on separate rations and got to live in downtown Fulda! Best time of my life and I didn't even know it, lol. Blackhorse!!!
Yes, agreed....Frankfurt Military Community was the best! Former Camp Eschborn 12B here from the early 1980s....a combat unit 20 min S bahn ride to downtown and Sachsenhausen, K strasse, etc Many did an entire career in Frankfurt!
Fort Puke, Lousy-anna...not a huge shock. During my service with the Army National Guard in Texas, our company Commander decided to have us drive to gorgeous Leesville, Louisiana and complete qualifying on the M16A1. For the 3 days we were there, it rained continuously and we were all fortunate enough to stand in foxholes with water up to our shoulders to qualify in. Not the best situation to be in but it did Keep Us ready in case of Rapid deployment
I was in A.I.T. at Fort Huachuca in Arizona when I learned I was going to Irwin, so I was already used to a desert environment. I was just relieved to not be going to Drum.
I had an option of going to Ft Polk or Ft Irwin for training. I'd rather go to the Mojave than the swaps of Louisianna. At the least minute a spot to go Germany opened up and I took it. Thank God.
I was an Army BRAT in the 50s and loved every minute of it. When I joined in 66, my father told me the two most memorable duty stations I would remember would be the worst is the post I just left and the best is the next post I would be going to. How true that turned to be.
I was stationed at 2 of the 5. Fort Irwin my 1st duty station (4years) and Fort Bragg (13 years). Some advantages to both. Alot of field time. Work Hard, Play Hard. Fort Bragg gave me stability. My son (22) has been in Fayetteville all his life. Jump out of planes you don't have to leave. Good thing.
I served in Germany with a NCO that had literally spent his entire career either in the 82nd Airborne or in Germany (he’d volunteered for the 82nd on his first enlistment). Sure enough, when he came down on orders it was, “I’m ending my army career where I started. The 82nd Airborne Division…”
I was at Fort Polk in the 80's. I totally agree with it being number 1. When I was there we still trained for Reforger and other deployments. The surroundings just plain sucked. The heat was crazy.
Used to go there for family vacation every summer in the 80s lol. My uncle and aunt both moved there to work on the base. Lot of difference between 9 and 19 being there though.
A big miss re: Ft Bragg, which I really liked, is the crazy numbers of college girls at NC State, Duke, and UNC. It was pretty solid for a single guy - outside of Fayettenam obviously.
@@HisDudeness1986 Rick's was still going on Hay Street for my first two assignments to Fort Bragg, but was the last club there, and moved to somewhere off Bragg Blvd. Don't know if it was true, but rumor had it that Pat Benatar used to dance at Rick's.
My older brother got stationed at Fort Polk. He was drafted during Viet Nam and did his whole enlistment at that base. He was in communications and ended up being a instructor on the radios and walkie talkies the infantry carried . He did his last two years of active reserve going back and forth from New Orleans where we lived. They called it little Viet Nam back then and I've heard a lot of Veterans say they were glad to get out of Fort Polk to go the Viet Nam. I joined the volunteer army after all of that crap and got stationed at Fort Dix and then did AIT at Aberdeen MD.
I find that hard to believe since those going to Nam knew their life expectancy dropped 60-75% just by being in that nasty country. I was a kid here while training for VN was ongoing, my dad, a Cajun native to S> La. was also ex-WWII, Korea and VN vet himself after 24 years he got out and was hired on at Polk as a civilian employee. I grew up here and stayed to become a deputy sheriff here from 1980-1998. I got to patrol some of the good folks sent in to Polk from all over the country. The 5th I.D. with over 15,000 troops was here at the time. Most were great people. Some found their own boneheaded entertainment in local bars or by committing some of the worst crimes I ever saw then rotating out. But we got them all. Longest one took 8 years. A young woman working as a cashier at a convenience store was kidnapped, tied to a tree, raped and shot though an eye. And that after my partner and I sat with her half of a slow night because we didn't like seeing women work stop-n-rob's alone. He snatched her right after we left. That's bothered me ever since but all kinds came through here. Like I said took 8 years but we got got him.
@@ntvypr4820 well every thing I said is true. I don't know how hard to believe but it happened. I was just a little kid and remember it like it was yesterday.
Ft. Irwin was the BEST Duty assignment I ever had in the U. S. Army! Being in OPFOR was a great experience and an eye opener for the BLUFOR! Love that Training!
@@mc-xw8nzhey did you end up at Ft Irwin??? My son is in BCT right now and I’m hoping he gets Ft Irwin…It’s close to home. His mos is also 91B!! I have been told nobody likes or wants to go there, but my son wants to go there.
I'll never forget when my buddy was set to PCS to Drum and was braggin' about all of the skiing he was going to do and he was finally somewhere it was never hot ... and immediately deployed to Haiti once he got to Drum.
I was with 1st armored back 1974-'75 in Ansbach. Couldn't wait to get out of there. But then again I felt my particular unit was probably the worst in the whole Army. Poor leadership and surprisingly bad NCOs.
I spent 3 years in the mid 80s serving in the 5th ID at Ft Polk situated near the beautiful hamlet of Sleaze-ville, I mean Disease-ville, I mean Leesville... The only positive was; I had just arrived from basic and AIT, so at the time I was thinking that the “permanent party” life was awesome! (That didn’t last too long though...). As time wore on, I remember volunteering for an NTC rotation at Ft Irwin (that actually was fun, but short lived), trying to PCS to Korea several times (denied every time), and finally volunteering to join the “nation building” force in Panama just as things started going south down there (denied once more). Anything to leave the swamp!!! So being really motivated, I separated from the Army, went to college, joined AFROTC, got commissioned in the USAF, went to UPT, flew jets for 17yrs and then retired. I’d say it all worked out OK... 😅
Hell, I joined up in '85 to work on "computers". Then 2 days before I was to in process at the recruitment center(i.e. get on the bus), I was told that the slot allocation had changed and that MOS was no longer available. I had 2 choices, avionics repair, requiring jump school (nope, not this boy), or Generator Repair (52D). Basic at Ft. Dix then Ft. Belvoir for AIT. Then guess where I got to go.... 4yrs fixing totable 1.5 & 3kw gens for the line units in 7th Eng. Bn. Sep., Ft. Polk, La. Gawd I hated that place. Got there in August, 1985....saw 1 guy in my platoon get promoted to E5 1 month after I got there...not 1 other solider got promoted to E5 by the time I left in 1989. They said, "Reenlist! We will send you to PLDC!" I said, "I made E4 by 9 months in service and had the points to qualify at 15 months. Your offer is about two and a half years late and only benefits you, not me." I ETS'd that week and never looked back. Note: I had friends in other units, 4/12 CAV and TRADOC and they also confirmed very low numbers of promotions at the E5 level and it appeared to be pretty common across the Post though I was never able to find out why but it was during the whole Regan 88,000 force reduction he signed in '88 so that may have had some influence on the whole mess.
@@harshbansal7982 Naw, they had all kinds of crazy enlistment schemes when I went in. I also did a "Try One" enlistment in the National Guard where I spent the first year of my 4yrs IRR in the National Guard and could re-up for the other 3 if I liked it....I did not (went from tracking down Op4 Rangers in the Piney Woods to playing nice for Politicians playing solider on the weekend cause it looked good on their resumes - and that's not a stereo-type, they would actually talk about it...in front of everyone!!! Morons!). 2yrs active was VERY common and I only did 4 for the Bonus..$2500 was a lot of money back then to a young man!!!
@@watcher2554 The Navy tried to pull something similar with my brother regarding his MOS. He signed up to be an MP and later on they tried to say there wasn't slot and he had to sign a paper to switch to a different MOS or some shit like that. He refused to sign any papers until he got his slot because they can't make him sign the paper anyway. Well, who would have thought that a few hours later there was suddenly an MP slot available for him.
I was stationed at Fort Drum. The cold wasn't the worst for me, since I'm originally from Michigan. I reason I hated Drum was the lack of things to do, and toxic leadership as far as the eye can see. Also, Drum doesn't have a hospital on post, just a medical clinic or two, with active hours. If you get hurt at night, you have to go to the hospital in Watertown, which is Drum's outside town. Cops are ALWAYS waiting outside Ft Drum to hand out DUIs. So many DUIs.
So just do not drink and rive. Been driving since 1966, never ever drove drunk. Now talking about the bad Drum, I was at Drum in( wooden barracks with a coal stove as hack up heat) 74 and was Camp Drum then. Reserve and Guard Training, Arctic War Fare Training. Had minor league base ball back then, Cleveland organization team I think. Son was there 12.and he liked it, good training areas.Little chicken shit. and he was a nontoxic N.C.O. # 1 Rule for Fort Drum and that entire area is to THRIVE in winter, not just survive it. Did you ever get out to Southwick Beach State Park on Lake Ontario 20 min away?Great beach,and if wind is right waves you can ride. Cape Vincent,Wolfe Island Ontario, Alex bay, Tug Hill ,D-1 Hockey in canton and Potsdam, fish the Saint, Lake Ontario Sunsets, for me there was a lot to do. Even annoying the snobby Canadians in Kingston.
Toxic enlisted make toxic NCO.s who then make toxic Officers. As for drunks, not as bad a Bragg or Benning.I mean Moore. I lost two friends to drunk drivers, so I hope all go to jail. As for nothing to do. Guess you missed winters in the Adirondacks, perhaps Saranac Lake. Winter Carnival. Summers in Alex Bay, cross over to Kingston Ontario,ridding waves at Southwick Beach State park. Laker Ontario is a fresh water ocean. Paddling, white water rafting, triple A baseball in Syracuse, D-1 Ice Hockey in Canton and Potsdam. Snow machine ridding Wolfe Island Ontario, all types of hunting hunting,world class fishing, world class. Key West level sun sets on Ontario. 1,000';s of female college students within a short drive.Great Skiing just three hours away.Lake Placid?. Man I do feel bad you never enjoyed all that there is up state NY.
@@alfredpaquin3563 I am from upstate NY,1 hour Drum Drum.I was stationed there too. Snapping Turtles are PROTECTED by the State of New York. You can NOT kill them. You were dam lucky M.P.did not turn you over to State D,E,C, Cops,you would have gotten 1 year. And a D.D. Drum was the BEST for me. I was there at the change from Camp to Fort. 1000 Islands area GEM, your fault you never enjoyed them. Soldiers who say thee is nothing to do, never ever tried to find things or places. You can surf Lake Ontario, just 15 to 20 min from Drum.Lake Shore Wildlife Area Southwick Beach, Black rock area. Selkirk Shores. So much to do up there. And again If I had been the M.P.who caught you killing a Snapper, I would have turned you over to the D.E.C. Cops.
Pretty much sums up the options of troops that never had to spit shine boots or use a P-38. I spent several years at Bragg and found the post to be great. Nice attitude in civilian communities. 9-11 regulations for mandatory gates became a hassle for living off base. Geographically, Bragg is nice. Relatively mild winters, Mountains and the ocean are only a few hours drive away in each direction. Great hunting and fishing nearby. I would have liked more densely wooded forest and less scrub and small pines. Personally I don't think it belongs on the list from what I've heard and read about other bases.
I might be that guy but I was stationed at Fort Polk for 4 years and I loved it. 5-25 FA has been so far the greatest unit I've been part of. Yes, there isn't much to do around the post but once you drive to places like Shreveport, New Orleans and Texas -you will find plenty of things to do. Plus, the unit kept us entertained and busy with all of the BOSS activities and the FRG was killing it as well.
I was there 85 to 86 . I couldn't get over the way the post was ran .I was an E-4 promotable . In Germany I had done the jobs of E-6's. In Polk you were crap unless you were an E-6.
Wow......you are the ONLY person I know that said they liked it there. I was an MP, trapped for a total of 6 years there. Sleezeville had a few decent restaurants but other than that, the Pegasus and T Town was about all there was to do. Rubber it up though....more STDs there than a science lab. Lol. I did like doing rotations in the box though but the tank trails at Camp Beauergard sucked. Speedy Bs (little gas station) right off post had some of the best breakfast though.
I was in only 23 years. Started in Navy and after they turned me down for extension for a longer tour in Vietnam, I came back and enlisted in the Army, I was stationed on Fort Irwin in OPFOR for three years. The NTC was my favorite duty station in the Army. I agree that driving into Barstow was a pain in the butt, but I liked to 4x4 and target shoot, so I spent a lot of time in the desert with my rifles and metal detector. My kids loved the area too, two of them got married while there and one still lives in the area.
Some folks really dig the desert. My father was like that, and as a result I was born and raised just south of there in the Imperial Valley. As soon as I graduated high school... like the very next week, I was in the Army, and specifically asked for my first duty to be on the other side of the planet in S. Korea. Loved it there. That was '83. Guess where I was in '91? Desert Storm. Ended my enlistment with my very last exercise in NTC in '93.
Good info, thanks for sharing. Fort Bragg was great for me. Loved the 82nd Airborne which I reenlisted for. Infantry here. Two Combat deployments. Yes Fayetteville is a typical army town out for the soldiers money. I you are careful, it is a nice Southern town. The outward counties are friendly and charming Southern Carolina ways. Fort Bliss? Never been there except for a haircut traveling through. Fort Drum. Ugh. Never been there. All I know about them is they are light infantry and walk everywhere. Lots of ruck-movements forever. All pure foot infantry soldiers: no thanks. Fort Irwin? A desert. No thanks. Continuous training cycle in the fricking heat and dry desert. Barstow? Sorry, no. Oh yes! Fort Polk, LA. next to fort irwin the most hated place I ever was....multiple times. In the Summer, In the Winter...oh gawd. The perfect example of why the US Army buys the worst shittiest land to make a fort. I have been there in training exercises probably 4 times....geez it stinks. The field, well it is the field. The post itself is an old dilapidated old school hell hole. What a dump. Okay, sorry for ranting, I'm letting this go.
@@jeffreysepulveda8588 That they do. I've heard it from many that come through on rotation and those that are stationed. I really do wish it could change though, but there is no way to help Leesville at least nothing immediate.
Germany was both my worst and my best. Worst because of Baumholder. I swear Baumholder has its own weather. You experienced the 4 seasons in a day and it’s often gloomy. When I was stationed there, commissary was only open 4 days in a week. For a big post, population wise, that’s sucks. You always have to go Ramstein for better stuff and procrastinate how bad the Army and how good the Air Force got it. My best was Hanau. Units were all scattered but the atmosphere with locals were awesome plus Hanau is big enough city and it’s so close to Frankfurt.
@Christopher Chaos, 'Sup man. I'm currently serving in the Army at Fort Riley KS and is also my 1st duty station. I've been serving there off and on for about 3 years now and I actually really enjoy it there. For the most part, I've had a great experience there. I like the fishing, the volunteer opportunities, the beautiful nature/landscape, and I like the division itself. I'm a big history buff and that's why I'm proud that we were both apart of the 1st ID. I get that you didn't like it there and I know plenty of soldiers who also dislike it at Riley. I'm not offended because I'm open to all points of view and it does depend on experiences like you said. Your YT videos are great and I thank you for your service brother.
I was Air Force stationed at Homestead Fla just south of Miami. We had our own marina and went fishing and Scuba diving in the keys. Us flyboys had the good life
After over 20 years in the Army, I can tell you which one is the worst and which one is the best. The worst duty station is the one you just left and the best duty station is the next one you're headed to.
I belive I could have the date wrong by a few days but I think I'm correct but Monday 5/20/2020 a specialist truck was found off base on fire and he was found 12 miles away in the street shot he did not make it sadly
My Husbands last duty station before retirement we were at Fort Polk, He loved it, He was stationed at JRTC the main place in S-3, He was in charge of setting up the AAR reporting films. We came from Fort Benning. But going fishing at Toledo bend to going South of Lake Charles to go crabbing, throw cast nets for shrimp, or going down to Cameron to fish off the big piers, We loved it. I am originally from up near Shreveport in Texas so I was used to the heat. The only thing we did not like was we lived in Leesville and we should have moved to DeRidder when we got there
Ft. Liberty (fmr. Bragg) used to be a open base until 9/11. It since became a closed base, but there was a public federal road that went thru the base that couldn’t be closed, so that remained open, but created that double sided base. They’ve since added in a highway for public use and the previously public road has now been absorbed into the base, unifying the base.
A lot has changed in the last 3 years. Ft Bragg is completed seperated from Fayetteville now. You can't drive through post on Bragg Blvd anymore. Also Fayetteville doesn't surround Ft Bragg, the base actually touches a bunch of towns in 3 different counties. Fayetteville, Southern Pines, Spring Lake, Cameron, Raeford, etc.
As a prior service/other service NCO, got orders to Fort Sill for reclassification since my Navy MOS didn’t cross over to any Army MOS. Although it was a communications repair school, the training cadre, other than the instructors in the classroom, were hardcore 13B drill sergeants. However the CSM was one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in or out of the military.
I am a Army Engineer (Combat Engineer, Topo Engineer, and Civil Engineer) and was in the Army for over 32 years. One thing a lot of soldiers don't know about Engineers, is their career path, which can put them into Corps of Engineer Districts and Division (mostly civilian organizations). So, for military posts in states within the US, I was stationed at: Ft Bliss, Ft Benning, Ft Belvoir, Ft Hood, Schofield Barracks, Ft Shafter, Ft Meade, Ft McPherson, and the Pentagon. Of those posts, I liked Ft Hood. I was with the 17th Engrs/2AD from 1977 to 1981. Ft Hood was very active with multiple field exercises throughout the year, with at least one a month, and deployments to Germany for REFORGER. As a soldier with a family, we enjoyed the area and ability to go to lakes, and many great towns/cities in the area. Most of all, we had a great command and great soldiers.
@@bLitz407 For me it was. As a young kid from Philly going down South and spending 16weeks at Tiger Land in the summer made me wonder why did I join The Army! But I can always say I survived the old Tiger Land at Fort Polk!
My husband, Bill was in the Navy and his best place was in RAF Mildenhall Suffolk England 1973-76 it was overseas shore duty. A McHale Navy. He got to travel alot
I pretty much agree with your list. When I joined The reserves, my activation bast was Ft Polk. I had drove past it one time and it looked like run down, desolute fort, so I worked hard to get my activation fort changed. It took me about 2 years to get it changed. It was changed to Ft Hood. At least I had family in the area, so I was happy.
I was stationed there and was surprised to learn it was named after a LTC Bliss, rather than a piece of dark humor by the troops. Common saying: "The wind doesn't blow at Fort Bliss - it sucks."
I loved Drum, I retired from there and stayed. 10th Mountain is the most deployed Division in the Army. So if you go to Drum expect to Train and deploy.
I’m at drum right now and have yet to do my job at all. They just throw me around to do anything else but my job. Everyone in my unit hates their lives and takes it out on everyone around them
You’re a psycho. That place is hell frozen over. And Watertown, NY is a shithole that would have been a ghost town if it wasn’t for Drum. Only positive thing was driving to Canada when you could get time off or weren’t deployed
I agree with Ft. Drum being one of the worst. Spent seven years there and post only closed once and delayed a handful of times. I'm from Wisconsin so the snow and cold never bothered me. Leadership was horrendous and limited things to do unless you hunting and fishing. Rarely did they authorize that you could to Canada and even if they did, you would have to sit through a security briefing that wad only held on Fridays at the main building hall.
Fort Hood literally takes the hood part serious. I was shocked to hear Bragg is hated so much. I really didn't mind it at all, sure Fayetteville is a shithole and Bragg Blvd going through post literally made no sense. I mean yeah Bragg is a bit bland but in my experience wasnt that bad.
“It only really has two seasons: Winter and July.” Hmm lol Edit: I only pointed that out cause I thought it was funny. I’m not trying to make fun of Mr. Chaos, I truly love his content.
I am from that area and never got stationed there, go figure. But did PLDC there in February and was a reservist in the 90s from Oswego NY. Worst part of Fort Drum is not the cold but the damn punkies, little gnat type flys in May and June in the field. Only place I had to wear a bug net over my face in order not to eat my weight in bugs every day. But, after leaving 25th ID at Scholfield I dropped my 2 mile run from a 13 to a flat 12 minutes. Loved running there. Even on the ice and snow packed roads. And hunting on my camp on Tug hill. Only Fort Lewis can compare to the hunting and fishing of Watertown and surrounding areas.
I was at Ft Polk as an OC(L48). Best assignment I ever had. The area leaves a lot to be desired but then again i spent 4 years in Wildflecken, Germany.
Now there's a blast from the past; "Ain't no flickin like a Wildflecken". Spent an eternity on those mortar ranges trying to fire up a brigades allotment of 4.2 inch training ammo.
I’m from LA. I agree with your Ft Puke assessment. Never stationed there but can’t imagine doing an FTX August. Heat, snakes, mosquitoes, red ants make it unbearable. Luckily, I was stationed in California where an FTX was more like a camping trip. I also thought the climate in Iraq was more livable.
I would agree with Polk. Being in a 91B unit we were stationed there to support an infantry unit coming out of the field and we had to service all their vehicles coming out of the field. The barracks, dfac and motorpool they had us in were awful. The bathroom was really run down and pretty nasty. Our commander said that the toilets were still clogged with previous remnants of something.
Fort Polk: In the 1960s, Tigerland was AIT. South Fort was mainly Basic, as I recall. Leesville cathouses/joints could be rough. Summer weather was hot and humid. Sure, there were snakes and insects but no problem if you grew up outdoors. Anyone remember the Tiger's Den club? Basic training food and cold milk were really fine as we mainly had troops making company meals NOT retirees/civilians.
Fayetteville has always been rough apparently. I remember hearing stories that the paratroopers training at Bragg during the WWII era got into trouble on account of this plenty of times. One of the commanding officers of the 82nd Airborne Division during the war was quoted as saying (and I am paraphrasing a little bit); "If they fight in Africa like they fought in Fayetteville, we'll have this war won very soon."
I was an MP (503rd MP Bn) stationed at Bragg for 14 months 1966-67. Pulled a lot of town patrol in Fayetteville and it was pretty rough most nights back then. I enjoyed being stationed there. Ft. Polk and Ft. Gordon were absolute dumps.
@@texasblues46 How was your experience as an MP would you recommend it? I want to enlist for Allied Trades Specialist(91e) in the Army as I am already a proficient welder but am curious of other backup plans. (I only scored a 67 on the asvab though.)
@@alan7761 Being an Army MP at Ft. Bragg and the Dominican Republic was a good experience, but that was 1966-67, many years ago. Based on my experiences 55-56 years ago I would recommend becoming an MP and maybe looking at getting into CID. I never worked in CID but I had friends that did and they told me that they liked it and it and said it was better than pulling patrol. However, having said all that, the world and the Army are entirely different animals today than they were in my time so do some investigating. Funny, I was a welder when I got drafted. The first week at Ft. Polk they asked what I preferred to do and where I preferred to be stationed. I answered welder stationed in Germany. They sent me to MP school in Georgia and upon graduation I was sent to the 218th MP Co. in Santo Domingo, DR. Go figure. Good luck at what ever you choose.
I was stationed at Drum in the mid 90’s. It was a doozy. One winter in 1 snowfall it snowed like 40 inches. There was a tunnel of snow walking out the barracks. We were delayed, but still did PT in the motor pool. Lots of snow, slush, and ice running on lesser snow days. When I 1st arrived and was getting my gear, they gave me white BDU’s. I said, “I think you made a mistake!” Supply Sgt laughed and said, no son, check it off. It’s on your sheet. That’s when I knew. Ton of field time there. SAPPERS FORWARD!!!
My duty station in the army was Garmisch West Germany in the winter as a ski patrolman for AFRC Europe (Armed Forces Recreation Center). My mos was 95B.
So your "duty uniform" was a ski outfit? Being from Colorado, after skiing on the Zugspitze and meeting a U.S. Army ski patrolman, I tried to get transferred into your unit, but my CO said I was needed in K-Town. Even there, Germany was great. I was 43E1P at that time.
When I first got to drum it was in a snow storm the duty van picked us up an then we went to the gas station to fuel up an 3 snow mobiles pulled up it was then I knew shit was gonna suck and suck did it. Snow runs an snow PT were awful
Funny story, I grew up in that area. I hate winter. I joined the Army hoping to get away from winter. First duty station, Fort Carson, CO. One of the worst winter wise.
I joined in 75, Fort Polk was known as little Vietnam. Most of the Vietnam Infantry training went on there. There was also a large Ex-Pat Vietnamese population.
8 yrs Army, last 2 was stationed at Polk. Was gonna be a lifer, Ft Polk changed my mind! Fav bases were Gordon and Benning. Ft Hood could go either way with me. Was in the field alot, but it was overall a positive.
I joined the army November 1963 in Nashville, Tn.Traveled by train along with about 100 guys, all the way to fort Polk. The trip took 4 days. When to basic and AIT, when to Ft Benning to jump school , then to Ft Bragg. The next 13 years back and forth from Vietnam and Germany. Always thought I would retire in NC. I finally came to the realize that nobody was going to pay me to put barb wire around a city. So I switched MOS, becoming an Air Traffic Controller. When I got ready to retire (1984) I was station in Korea. I took terminal leave and when home to AR. Since I was on terminal leave they ask me where I wanted to process out. I told them Ft Polk. Wife and I drove there, I process out, we went to New Orleans.
My last duty station was drum, and it's the reason I retired. Most of my soldiers weren't stationed on the fort, but in many of the small towns that the Army had built housing. Very little unit cohesion. Bus transportation was provided, but at ungodly hours. Wives could get a bus ride once a week to the commissary and PX. These towns had little or no after hours action. Many of the older people in Watertown and the surrounding area still hate the Army because they closed the base after WWII. Sorry assed command structure. 1989 1990
One reason the locals hated the Army was the Reserve and National Guard units training at Camp Drum. Before they activated 10th Mountain, units would arrive at Camp Drum and it would be an endless drunk party. The 10th Mountain commanding general put an end to most of that, but there were still pockets of organized crime - especially in the 42d Infantry Division where theft was so bad, they'd make us active duty guys as well as the itinerant personnel take off our rain parkas before entering the PX. When 10th Mountain started deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, they would let loose soldiers off-post with PTSD and that wasn't a good way to integrate them back into the real world.
What about Fort Stewart GA, terrible living conditions post wide. The city of Hinesville (right outside of post) has absolutely nothing to offer and the closest main city (Savannah) has nothing to offer either, besides bars and trouble making environments…i guess you have the beach close by but it sucks too
I spent 2 1/2 years as OPFOR at Ft. Irwin back in the mid 90s. Yeah, the workload was ridiculous--we generally only got 4 days off per rotation (each rotation lasting 4 weeks), and we could only put in for leave during post-wide blocks in the middle of summer and over Christmas/New Years. For those of us in the Support Squadron, we also got to go downrange and play with BLUFOR every single rotation, rather than every other one like the combat arms guys did. Of course, the alternative to being out in the desert doing Krasnovian stuff was being back in garrison (still in the desert) spending every single day in the motor pool trying to coax another month out of our vehicles, so we didn't much mind going downrange. For the record, it's not only unbearably hot there. During the winter it gets quite cold at night; 60+ degree temperature swings in a 24-hour period were not all that unusual. Plus if you're one of those lucky people (like me) whose equipment needed to be on top of a big hill for peak performance (pun intended), you also got the warm & cozy feeling of being buffeted by 50+ mph winds on a regular basis (pro tip: you're going to piss all over your pants anyway, so don't waste time freezing your dick off trying to avoid it). Oh, and you forgot one definite downside to the NTC, at least if you're single: the male:female ratio among single soldiers is ridiculously lopsided (like, legitimately 50:1 when I was there). And since the closest "town" is Barstow and, well, the typical woman there was not exactly a "10" (not even on the beer scale), you're probably going to do most of your "dating" online. Did I mention that I was stationed there before the internet really existed? That said, the stories I got from my time at Irwin are worth all the blood, sweat, and crumpled-up kleenex I left there. I pulled a 4-wheel drift in a Humvee, spent a night on a hilltop listening to A-10s doing gun runs a couple ridges over, made a colonel cry on his own command channel (he was BLUFOR, I was doing my job), not only got to see an SR-71 fly over the post at supersonic speed but also got to _see_ the shock wave rippling through the atmosphere, grilled hot dogs on a whip antenna using nothing more than a multi-million dollar electronic jammer, finagled a tour of the Goldstone Deep Space Tracking Center (which borders the post), and soooooooo much more. For the reasons you mentioned, I couldn't wait to leave Ft. Irwin, but looking back now it was by far the best experience I had during my time in the Army.
If you are a cook, or feuler yes lots of work, unless you got called out for garrisen rock laying, land scaping, hands accross shit😢 I did my share but I did more work even in Iraq 2003 as an NCO!
Infantry at Irwin in the late 80s early 90's, back when it was a Soviet cold war deal. Out every rotation. And Coldstone (Goldstone) trench training in alternating sleet and snow - never trust that weather lady. Only MOSs that could live in the barracks with infantry were our mechanics. They were tough bastards and we needed them. Anybody else... no. MPs wouldn't come in without our brass escorting them. Good times.
A couple of notes about Fort Drum: -Delayed reporting and snow days actually are a thing. -Get used to below zero temperatures from Jan-Feb -If you're single, I hope you have a car because you won't a nice woman near post -Fort Drum has some of the best facilities that I've seen throughout the Army -Fort Drum is NOT close to NYC (5 hour trip) -Get a passport before you PCS to Drum. Canada is an hour away. -If you're not from the Midwest, get used to lake-effect snow
I spent 5 years there and it was only about 2.5 hours from my home town in the Adirondacks. If you're an outdoorsy person, Drum is a great place to go to hunt and fish, but you have to know the right people and places to do so. If you don't have a car, you're pretty much stuck on or close to post. Niagara falls as he mentioned is also a good drive away. I'm sure a ton has changed since I was last there in 2005, but if the cold and snow is the worst thing about Drum, then it's a pretty nice place to be stationed. Running in snow storms and your eyelashes icing up, trying to find a parking spot on post before the lots and roads have been plowed was never fun. But yeah, Winter and July. That about sums it up.
@@Its_Esoteric I forgot the name of the other gym. I believe it was Atkins Functional Fitness Center. Anyway, I loved Atkins but McGrath was also an awesome gym. I just remembered Ft. Drum also has Monti gym, which is also a nice facility.
I was TDY once at Fort Drum, we had to go to Watertown to have a good time. Most of the women there was BIG! Some of the fellas referred to them as "Water-Buffaloes"
I was stationed at Ft. Irwin for two years from 1988 to 1990 and enjoyed it. It was the SECOND best assignment of my 22 year career, with my 4 years at Merrell Barracks, Nürnberg, Germany the best, supporting the 2nd Armd Cav Regt. Of course, I am retired Air Force but being in Tactical Air Control Party assignments, I spent 15 years supporting Army units. At Ft. Irwin, I was part of Team Raven as "Raven 08".
When I was stationed in Ft. Carson we had a new Platoon Sgt. that came from Alaska. He said there wasn't much to do up there so most soldiers ended up becoming alcoholics. He on the other hand chose to climb Mt. McKinley. I trained at NTC and it was called the Dust Bowl for a reason.
syracuse is ok big on college activities/bars, toronto you need a 4 day pass to go to same with niagra falls, kingston bout thirty mins just another college town in canada. And the closest watertown is a crack city with very stuck at home old people possibly racist and has nothing to do there since the last existing club was shut down...
My granddaughter (1LT) is currently on TDY at Ft Irwin; her permanent duty station is Ft Bliss. My brother did his AIT at Ft Polk. That is 3 of the 5. I was at Ft Leonard Wood, MO.
Well I definitely think you got your number one pick right. I was stationed at Fort Polk for almost a decade back in the early 90's when you had to have a GT score above 100 to pcs state side. My ticket out was Korea and they still sent me back to Fort Polk. Finally before I got out in 2002 they offered me Hawaii but I turned it down and got out. I did go back in the Army after serving with the Texas National guard and finished up my time in the Army. But Fort Polk grew on me, you take advantage of the culture and festivals like in Shreveport with the crawfish festival and of course New Orleans which was about 4 hours away was great. First two years there sucked! No car! I'm from San Antonio Texas.
I really enjoyed Ft Polk for several reasons. 1. Hunting 2. Fishing 3. Lots of family within 3 hours drive. Basically, the only time I was on Ft Polk was to work or shop at the commissary. Other than that I was in the woods, on the water, visiting family, or coaching my girls sports teams.
I knew you would get to Fort Polk . Commonly known as the Armpit of the Army. I was stationed there for 4 years. My oldest son was born there .I really didn't mind Fort Polk that much. But I've always been the type of person that makes the best of things. So I did enjoy it. I have some great memories from Fort Polk. But I also understand why this is number 1 on your list. I love Fort Hood. Killeen sucks , but Texas is great. I'm a Harley rider , and there is no better place to ride than central Texas. And I was a 1SG in the 1st Cav. So , part of my career I will never forget. I was there 5 years , but deployed 27 months of that. And my last duty station was Fort Riley. I like it there too. There isn't much there . I still own my house I bought in Abilene. That is a little away from post. And there is a ton of history , which I enjoy exploring. Great list though.
Ft Bliss '70 to '72 and as a kid from Chicago, I really liked the desert. Thought I was on my way to Nam, so when they said I was a 16R and going to Bliss, I was pleasantly surprised. Eventually became a 16P and then, as a draftee, got a 6 month drop. Can't really complain about my service.
Amen on Fort Polk! Stationed from 1965 to 1967. Glad to hear things have not gotten any better, although I understand the WWII barracks have been replaced.
Surprised Ft. Campbell didn't make the list. Worst thing I hated about it was the Air Assault badge or as we in the 101st called it the Boomerang Badge. as it usually meant 2-3 years at Campbell and 1 year unaccompanied to Korea and as a Married soldier it was the worst. I was stationed at Campbell from 93-96 and in those 3 years I spent more time deployed: Sinai, Panama twice, Haiti, NTC, JRTC, (both of which were on your list lol), and let's not forget the 30 day field exercises every 2-3 months during black cycle. I think me and my wife calculated I saw her and the kids 1 day for every month I was assigned there. Talking about a culture shock coming from Germany as my first duty assignment. Ft. Campbell is literally the only reason why I only did 2 enlistments instead of making the Army a career as I originally planned.
Campbell can wear on you was a Rakkasan myself for several years. I was just glad my family was only 70 miles away and could go home quite often. Going to Nashville or Memphis wasn't bad. I went with a friend who was a Civil-War nut to a lot of old battle sites.
@@user-hb4dj2kt4w Yea I re-enlisted to go to Ft Campbell, tried for Knox but was not available the first 2 times I submitted. I am from Ashland KY, 6 hour drive from Campbell but much closer then say Ft. Bliss as was my original destination before I got stop lossed during Desert Storm. Decided to go 101st, ironically I was an unofficial Rakkasan since I was in 3rd Platoon of the 101st Military Police Company.
I was at fort bliss for over 3 years. I didn't like El Paso. Felt like forever, but there are worse places. I was caught in a sandstorm at the machine gun range and was wearing contact lenses when sand got caught under my contacts, plus the machine gun gas in the scratches as they still made me qualify.. I ended up getting severe corneal abrasions and have been light sensitive ever since. I somehow still shot expert relying solely on my spotter.
In the Army's infinite wisdom, I was taught German, then sent to Hood. I then had the added pleasure of going to Irwin for training.....in the Winter. I wondered why we were issued parkas. The most miserable three weeks of my Army career.
I was stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas in the 80's and yes, we were always in the field most of the time and back and forth to Ft. Erwin, California but believe it or not I didn't hate the duty station.
I'll say it. I was at Ft Polk from 89-91 when it was 5th ID and I loved it there. My favorite duty station by far. There was a lot of great places to go to on the weekends, great fishing with an MWR spot at Toledo Bend, Lake Charles, Houston. Lots of good food everywhere too. I've heard it sucks now as JRTC, but it was great back in the day if you were an outdoors person or liked exploring a bit.
After spending 19 months in Germany in the early 1980's I returned to the states and was assigned to FT Hood for 14 months, hated it. I did end up reenlisting and going to Hawaii for almost 3 years, and spending some time in South Korea, miss the travel.
