Can anyone give me any details on what it will be like for my husband at Ft. Eustis In VA? His MOS is 15T will he be able to have weekends off? Thanks guys

I was in Eustis between Sep 2004 and Apr 2005. Things might have changed since then, though I am assuming most would be same. Having weekends off is going to be up to him. I was on gold pass the entire time I was there, excluding the first 28 days mandatory red pass. This is of course they still have the pass program going... Gold pass people were able to leave friday night and came back to formation sunday evening. Green pass also cold go out though they had to report back at night to the barracks. Red pass were the those who were in trouble and they could not go anywhere. So he should be able to have the weekends off, at least during the day time...

samlynn:

I'm currently at Ft. Eustis, but I'm a 15U, not a Tango. Tangos are the next barracks over.

He will be in Charlie Company (C Co.), which is where all Tangos go. He might spend a few days or weeks (depending on the number of Tangos and school slots available) at HHD, which may become Foxtrot Company sometime soon.

Once he gets to C Company, Bushmaster is correct about pass status. The first 4 weeks is Red Pass, which means uniforms and work details (determined by the Drill Sergeant)throughout the entire weekend.

Pass status advancement is dependent on PT score and class GPA (test score average). For Green Pass, students must have a 60 in each PT event (push-ups, sit-ups, 2-mile run), and a GPA of 80%. For Gold Pass, students must have a 70 in each PT event, and a GPA of 87%.

Green Pass allows students to wear civilian clothes and leave post from morning release till 2200 recall formation.

Gold Pass allows students to leave post from final formation on Fridays till recall formation on Sunday (1700 hrs).

Pass status can be revoked/reduced for poor PT performance, sub-standard school performance, or disciplinary reasons.

So after Week 4 on post, your husband's pass status is up to him-- his performance (ie., motivation to get off post on the weekends).

Some pointers when you visit:
DON'T stay at the Howard Johnson Express motel!! It's cheap, but it's sleazy and dirty.

The Patrick Henry Mall is close by, and the Comfort Inn hotel next to the mall is very nice.

The Courtyard Marriott is even nicer than the Comfort Inn, but a little further down the road.

The Marriott at Oyster Point is VERY nice if you can spare the extra money.

Figure in at least an extra half-hour to get your husband back to post on weekends. I-64 turns into a parking lot or crawls during the weekends, as people are either going to or coming from Virginia Beach. Getting back late is very bad mojo, and may result in your husband being Red-Stat'ed the following day and/or weekend. Plan accordingly!

Matt
SPC, US Army
15U

Matt,

Where do you use the internet at?

quote:

Originally posted by Bushmaster78FS:
Matt,

Where do you use the internet at?

Either the MWR or when my wife comes up to visit on weekends. But MWR mostly-- they have an Internet cafe where you pay by the hour.

Matt
SPC, US Army
15U

My Great-Uncle was once post commander there...

Its extremely close to the Yorktown Battlefield if your interested in that kind of stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by Mad_Matt:
Either the MWR or when my wife comes up to visit on weekends. But MWR mostly

That is why I asked, they charge too much for damn internet. I was there 7 months and used the internet in that place for about 2 weeks while looking for other options. Try the ed center, free and fast internet. It is a bit walk from you are at, but worth it, I am sure weather in VA is great nowadays.

Or just get a PSP like everybody else and mooch wireless from the library (since the wait is pretty long on the weekends).

quote:

Originally posted by Bushmaster78FS:

quote:

Originally posted by Mad_Matt:
Either the MWR or when my wife comes up to visit on weekends. But MWR mostly

That is why I asked, they charge too much for damn internet. I was there 7 months and used the internet in that place for about 2 weeks while looking for other options. Try the ed center, free and fast internet. It is a bit walk from you are at, but worth it, I am sure weather in VA is great nowadays.

Bushmaster:

The weather here is....

HOT & HUMID!!!

Temps here over the last week have been in the high 90s and up to 105 degrees F. The USAALS hangar gets up to about 85 on a hot day, and even hotter the higher you climb up on the aircraft. Working on the rotorhead of the aft pylon is a treat (NOT!)

But... FTX on Monday till Friday. 26 and a wake-up for me!

Matt
SPC, US Army
15U

FTX in that weather... nice... Our FTX was only 3 days in the freezing weather of March, no weapon qual either... Take it easy... And I shall see you in one of our hangars downrange, when it is about 125 out there...

My husband is at Fort Eustis right now, too. He is 15F. He has been there since June and last weekend his company was red passed. So far what we understand is usually during the first part of training you get green pass then towards the end you can get gold pass, which means you can leave Friday and come back Sunday. But lately the drill sgts haven't been so nice!!! My husband's company ha snot gotten gold pass yet and he only has 8 weeks of training left. SO hopefully for your husband he lives with a good bunch of guys!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Bushmaster78FS:
FTX in that weather... nice... Our FTX was only 3 days in the freezing weather of March, no weapon qual either... Take it easy... And I shall see you in one of our hangars downrange, when it is about 125 out there...

It was HOT & HUMID (again!) during FTX. Our tents (GP-L) had HVAC units, which kept them a few degrees cooler during the day and froze us at night. I wrote about it at length on my Yahoo 360 blog (Click Here) under "FTX... Q" dated today.

My time here is getting shorter (19 and a wake-up) and still so much to get done!

happywife209:

Pass status is generally based upon individual performance. HOWEVER, collective mess-ups can get everyone in trouble. For example, yesterday, the entire 3rd floor of our barracks was a mess, so the residents of the 3rd floor got Red-Stat'ed until their floor passed inspection, and the DS released them to pass status. Tell him to keep himself squared-away, but also square-away his battle-buddies!

Matt
SPC, US Army
15U

Where did you say you got orders to?

quote:

Originally posted by Bushmaster78FS:
Where did you say you got orders to?

As of right now, my orders are to Ft. Drum, 10th Aviation. However, I'm trying like mad to get an appointment with the EFMP coordinator so I can hopefully get reassigned to Ft. Bragg. I've spoken to the EFMP Coordinator several times, but it seems like they do everything possible to prevent you from even making an appointment!

'Till next weekend!

Matt
SPC, US Army
15U

I'm siting in my car behind the the library now stealing the wifi....its hot as hell and humid. I am in hotel company and have weekends off and a short week next week. Have friday, saturday, sunday, monday and tuesday off....yippie!!! Have him get a laptop if he can. Oh and I am getting stationed in Hawaii....HAHA

quote:

Originally posted by Mad_Matt:
As of right now, my orders are to Ft. Drum, 10th Aviation. However, I'm trying like mad to get an appointment with the EFMP coordinator so I can hopefully get reassigned to Ft. Bragg. I've spoken to the EFMP Coordinator several times, but it seems like they do everything possible to prevent you from even making an appointment!

'Till next weekend!

I would not push this to hard because you are a new soldier. It might cause a negative effect. Do you have a good justification that they would pay attention? If not, let it be. I would understand if you were a CW4 or similar and not happy with the assignment, but ... you know...

Hey MAD_MATT did you get my PM?

quote:

Originally posted by 2173965:
Hey MAD_MATT did you get my PM?

Negative. FOr some reason, I'm not allowed to access my own PMs...

Bushmaster:

I managed to get to the hospital to meet with the EFMP coordinator and then someone at Army Community Service (ACS) who is an "expert" with Compassionate Reassignment packets. So I got my son enrolled in EFMP, and got the list of paperwork needed to put together the reassignment packet. My wife brought my son's school paperwork and IEP up too, so I should be able to submit my packet sometime in the coming week and get the ball rolling. With any luck (and some clear thinking by Army Human Resources Command), I hope to be reassigned to Ft. Bragg.

Matt
SPC, US Army
15U

I have a few more questions and would appreciate it if anyone answered them. I've been in the National Guard for 6 years now and have decided to get out of the 11B game and join an aviation unit. My new AV unit promised me a crew slot as a 15T. Now because of the time of year instead of going to the transition course at FTIG, PA I have to head to Ft. Eustis. When I was in my IET phase at Benning we had some prior service guys who were changing their MOS and they got all kinds of special privliges. They got passes when others didn't and were almost immune from details. Is this likely to happen at Eustis? Also what are the barracks like, are they similar to basic training living quaters or more like real army barracks? Are you cut loose after final formation monday-friday or are you stuck in the Barracks? My AIT was basically another 5 weeks for Basic so I have no idea what other AITs are like. Are the DS's strokes like in basic training or are they a little bit more laid back until someone screws up? It just kind of sucks having to deal with all that stuff again. I'm a 24 year old teacher who is giving up a better pay check so I can reclass and deploy much sooner than with my old unit, I finished Basic and AIT 5 and a half years ago the DS bullsh*t seems beneath me at this point and I'm not looking forward to dealing with it again, however if I must I'll soldier on and dominate all they throw at me. Anyway Thanks for listening and answering if any of you have answers to my questions

Sorry to bother again but 2 more quick questions. I know if I was going to the Reclass course at FTIG, PA I would have been allowed to drive my POV and receive travel pay, do you think as prior service I'll be allowed to? Also does anyone know about how long we get off, or the dates for christmas exodus 2007? I've never been on active duty orders around christmas time.
Thanks Again
Steve
SPC