Ever wonder what the best Army bases are? My knowledge, experience, and time in the military have allowed me to travel quite a bit throughout the world and especially here in the United States. In that time, I have been able to visit and train in many different military bases, both in the country and out. Each base I’ve visited has had its own positive and negative traits. Some are great while others are just terrible places to train or be stationed at, either due to weather or old age. I will say that most Army bases are far better than the Navy bases I’ve been stationed at and visited.
The Best Army Bases
Here are some of the best Army bases that I have experienced during my time of service.
Ft. Bragg
Ft. Bragg is home of the 82nd Airborne—the finest airborne unit in the world. Here is a base built with and made of tradition. The maroon berets there shine bright in the sun. Ft. Bragg houses many different units of the 82nd but none as strong as those of their pride and joy—the 11Bs. These are the ones that (when the time comes) will ready their chutes and hop onto a C130 and head off to where they’re called upon to stand up for freedom in any way. No matter who is in charge, bright and early every morning you will hear the cadence of an airborne song as everyone goes off for an early morning run or a 12-mile ruck.
Ft. Benning
Only the best of the best will be called upon to train here, and that is the infantry. This is another base that is built on Army tradition. If you did not go to boot camp here, then you should be forever thankful. I was the unfortunate one to serve here and graduate boot camp here in mid-August. Other than Camp Shelby, MS, I have never felt heat and humidity like I did at Ft. Benning. I have been warned, however, that Ft. Polk, LS, is just as bad. Yes, I too have climbed the hill to graduate from boot camp. It was treacherous to say the least, and once it was over, I felt the pride that every infantryman who has served here has as well.
Ft. Hood
Ft. Hood is home to the cavalry units and some infantry, but the pride of Ft. Hood is their tanks. Up until a few years ago, Ft. Hood had claim to be the largest Army base in the world. Now that belongs to Ft. Bliss. Ft. Hood is old and some areas even look run down with barracks that have stood there for many decades. The tank trails will get you lost for days, but it has some of the best training areas the Army has to offer any mechanized unit. In 2007, I deployed from Ft. Hood. The weather was not so bad. However, when it rains, it pours and for days. If anybody says it does not get cold there, they’re very wrong. When I was there, it actually snowed. Ft. Hood does have some of the best Army base gyms I have ever been in. The DFAC, on the other hand, is not so good.
Ft. Sill
This a somewhat newer base compared to others. It’s home to cavalry units and boot camp training areas. It is somewhat smaller compared to some of the bases I have visited. The DFAC is a big plus. Ft. Sill has some traditions due to the fact that this is where Geronimo was buried. Other than that, there really is not much there.
Ft. Bliss
Ft. Bliss is my favorite. This is the largest of all the Army bases, and it has some of the best facilities the Army has to offer. It’s really more of its own city. It has a large mall that would take you more than a day to visit each store. I have deployed from Ft. Bliss twice now. The best thing I found about Ft. Bliss is the weather. I was there training in December, and it was great at 75 degrees. It rarely rains there, but it can get a bit windy. You never have to leave the base because they’ve got everything you need. The gyms are amazing and the same goes for the DFAC.
Best of the Best Army Bases
I have mentioned just a few Army bases, but there are many more. Ft. Drum, NY, home of 10th mountain is a great base with bad weather. Ft. Carson, CO, is a great base with amazing mountain scenery. I only spent a few hours at Ft. Leonard Wood and would say the engineers can have it. There are also other camps, such as Camp McCall at Ft. Bragg. If you’re looking for a base to get stationed at that has great weather and a safe place to live, there is none better than Ft. Bliss, TX.
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