My husband is a 15y going to graduate from Eustis 6 june and his ako has just changed to his proj. being Fort Drum.... i was wondering if anyone had any information as to what unit he may go to, housing we have 2 infants, what the surroundings are like.how often deploymants are. i know where we were going before they were often (hood). basically any info you have i will love to hear. thanks in advance!

Ma'am:

I am an Aviation soldier (15U) currently stationed at Ft. Drum.

15Y is Armament/Electrical/Avionic Systems Repairer. He will definitely be in the 10th Aviation Brigade, as we're the only one here so far. We have a "Shops" section (avionics, sheetmetal, electrical, etc.) in our company, but I have not met any armament guys yet, so I don't know about that. We have 6 companies in our Battalion (A-F), so he could end up in any one of them, except Charlie Company, which is our flight guys (crewchiefs and flight engineers).

Housing is sparse here. Only 37% of those assigned here are able to live on post. I got lucky and got housing less than a month after reporting in. I live in a nice 3 BR/2.5 Ba 2-level apartment because we have 2 kids. We also have a small back "yard" that is fenced.

When you get here, you will most likely be in The Fort Drum Inn until you either get on-post housing (if you want it) or find a place off-post. Even off-post, housing is in great demand, and is expensive. It's definitely more advantageous for the management companies. So if you're going to rent off-post, better start looking NOW. Check out AHRN (Army Housing Referral Network)-- it's a good resource. If you are going for on-post housing, they will likely use your husband's enlistment date to put you on the waiting list.

Surroundings: Watertown is about 15 minutes away. There is a decent mall with a multi-plex theater, so you will be able to see all the latest movies when they come out. Lots of good restaurants around there too. When you get into town, if you stay at a hotel in Watertown, stay at the Ramada right off 81. It's nice, inexpensive, across the street from the mall, and there is a Bob Evans restaurant across the parking lot. The Best Western Carriage House Inn is nice, but the interior decor of the rooms is creepy-- my wife said it looked like a set from "Psycho."

Deployments: The 10th Mountain Division is the most deployed division in the Army. The 10th is a QRF (Quick Reaction Force) Division. The 10th Aviation is deploying in the fall (due to OpSec, I won't say exactly when) so he MIGHT be coming with us. If not, Rear Detachment sucks!

If you have any additional questions, please let me know.

Matt
SPC, US Army
15U

Yankees at a non-Apache post... maybe we are sending some out there from 3ID after this rotation... Sucks to be them...

quote:

Originally posted by Bushmaster78FS:
Yankees at a non-Apache post... maybe we are sending some out there from 3ID after this rotation... Sucks to be them...

There are Apaches at drum now.

6/6 CAV moved from Germany to Drum a few years back.

He will either go there or to the ASB, and be in Shops Platoon like Matt stated.

6-6 was reflagged and is now a 58 unit. I know makes tons of sense. Wouldn't be shocked if Apaches end up at Drum eventually.

He will end up in the ASB.

quote:

Originally posted by PSU18:
6-6 was reflagged and is now a 58 unit. I know makes tons of sense. Wouldn't be shocked if Apaches end up at Drum eventually.

That is EXTRA GAY.

quote:

Originally posted by PSU18:
6-6 was reflagged and is now a 58 unit. I know makes tons of sense. Wouldn't be shocked if Apaches end up at Drum eventually.

Yeah, haven't seen any Apaches here yet. Lots of 'Hawks, lots of 58s in the Cav units (3-17 and 6-6).

Matt
SPC, US Army
15U

I am a 15Y as well and had a guy that I went to school with get orders to Drum as well. There is rumors with the BRAK changes and such but he waws told by Branch it was a mistake. If you are still at Ft. Useless (Eustis) talk with one of the Drills. There is an a Guy there I believe he in Instructor. SSG James Kelly. Talk with him he is High Speed enough to help you get a hold of branch.

Not likely a mistake:

quote:

The soldiers from the 3-17 will be part of the switch that Col. Kevin W. Mangum announced at the Fort Drum Regional Liasion Organization annual meeting. The unit will consolidate and then move to Hunter Army Airfield at Fort Stewart, Ga. to become part of the 3rd Infantry Division.

In return, an AH-64A Apache battalion will be reassigned to Wheeler-Sack and the 10th Mountain Division. The consolidation should be completed by the end of this year.

Source

Although, I'm pretty sure it will be an AH-64D Apache Longbow battalion. Just sayin'...

quote:

Col. Kevin W. Mangum

NSDQ, Sir.

quote:

Originally posted by Crazyhorse30:
Not likely a mistake:

quote:

The soldiers from the 3-17 will be part of the switch that Col. Kevin W. Mangum announced at the Fort Drum Regional Liasion Organization annual meeting. The unit will consolidate and then move to Hunter Army Airfield at Fort Stewart, Ga. to become part of the 3rd Infantry Division.

In return, an AH-64A Apache battalion will be reassigned to Wheeler-Sack and the 10th Mountain Division. The consolidation should be completed by the end of this year.

Source

Although, I'm pretty sure it will be an AH-64D Apache Longbow battalion. Just sayin'...

Interesting info!

3-17 Cav just came home from Iraq. It'll be interesting to have Apaches flying around the airfield... As well as the Attack Guys struttin' around too! Seriously, I talked to a couple of -64 guys from 3-3 while at JRTC; they seem really cool.

Matt
SPC, US Army
15U

We haven't all made it home yet. You'll get to test out what it's like to have little Longbow gods running around soon enough...