So far this is my post dream sheet (I need 6 CONUS and 4 OCONUS):

Hawaii (it's Hawaii)
Ft. Lewis (4 SBCTs and 1 Fires Brigade with HIMARS, hoping the SBCT though)
Ft. Knox (1st ID)
Ft. Carson (heard very good things about this post)
Ft. Drum (can go home potentially on weekends, lots of deployments)
Germany (it's Germany)
Alaska (heard good things about Alaska)
Ft. Hood (Texas seems cool)
Ft. Bliss (see above)
Korea (born there)

Any input on that?

Blech on Bliss....messed up post far as I'm concerned.
Yea on Lewis--we're here now. (17th FiB)

Got nothing on anything else..lol...never been to any of them...here's to hoping though!

BTW Gerald: early congrats on the promo!

ha-ha "dream sheet" congradulations on your new assignment to FORT POLK LA.

Not commissioning for a 7 months, but need my choice of posts in soon.

Benning is not bad.
Florida gulf coast in a few hours drive.
New Orleans over a long weekend.
Atlanta not far with lots of concerts, parties and culture.
Temps not bad year round.

You would have more fun in Germany than Alaska. A lot more fun and the ratio of women to men ain't no where as bad.

Don't do Alaska, its snowing and cold. I live here. Actually if you do Alaska, ask for Richardson, their Airborne and its not as cold. So try that.

quote:

Originally posted by PSU18:
Don't do Alaska, its snowing and cold. I live here. Actually if you do Alaska, ask for Richardson, their Airborne and its not as cold. So try that.

There is that refund every year from the State if you declare residency.

Germany was awesome in the 90s, but I haven't seen a post there (not counting Hohenfels) in about 6 years. WORTH it though.
Ft. Hood's alright. It's in a bubble of Central texas that doesn't count as REAL Texas. But, you're 45 minutes from Austin, 2 from San Antonio, 3 from Houston or Dallas, and there's plenty to do if you have a car. Also, AWESOME place to go on motorcycle rides.
Screw Bliss.
Campbell's not too bad, all things considered. Nashville's not far away.

Put down 5 places you absolutely don't want to go. The way the dream sheet works is they send you to the opposite place of what you wanted.

quote:

Originally posted by ronald45:
ha-ha "dream sheet" congradulations on your new assignment to FORT POLK LA.

Actually in the case of newly commissioned officers, the success rate on the "dream sheet" is really high. If you request something reasonable, you will probably get it. In my whole time with the Green Machine, I knew one 2LT who didn't get his top pick.

Too many mech and leg units in your list.
CONUS:
1: Bragg-Division only
2: Campbell
3: Drum
4: Lewis-SBCT only
5: Carson-some newly minted lightfighters out there.
6: Knox if they build a light division. I know their 3rd BCT did well as a light unit.

OCONUS:
1. Vicenza(FSO time only--the FA bn is in Bamberg)
2. Bamberg(4/319)
3. Ft Richardson, AK
4. Toss up between 2CR in Vilseck, Hawaii, and the SBCT in Fairbanks. I'd pick Germany.

Try to avoid mech and GS units. You'll learn your job a bit more in a light unit.

quote:

Originally posted by FreshDonutsCoffee:
Try to avoid mech and GS units. You'll learn your job a bit more in a light unit.

I get leery about giving specific advice on something like this as I have been out of the system for some time. However, when I was in during the early and mid 90s, I would disagree with this for most branches.

I was a QM officer. My first assignment was in Korea with a theater level fuel handling operation. I came out knowing fuel ops backward and forward. I also did time with 3/24 ID at Benning. It got me familiar with all sorts of support operations. I also put in some light time with 7th ID. From that experience I learned how to yell, "HOOAH, Lightfighter!!".

I got some interesting input from two vastly different sources. One was a QM Major who told me the light support command's structure was insufficient for sustained field operations. The other was a Specialist in my platoon who had deployed to Panama for Just Cause. As he saw it, the CS/CSS units were glorified replacement dets for the infantry units. He was miffed he couldnt get a CIB because shortly after stepping foot on Panamanian soil, he and a bunch of fuel handlers and supply specialists got tossed in rifle platoons to fill vacancies.

I'm not saying the light world is a complete waste of time. When I left 7th ID (L) for the mech world, I had a whole host of tricks under my sleeve on things like calling for fire, employing weapons, etc. But I practically had to relearn logistics!

quote:

Originally posted by 300_Spartans:
But I practically had to relearn logistics!

As a general rule, light units struggle horribly at logistics.

I was giving advice in regards to artillery. If he wants to learn gunnery, he should stay light. Now the heavy units are great for breeding good FSOs. Instead of planning fires for the next 10 Ks, they traditionally plan and execute for 100Ks if not more. It requires someone to think fast, shift your planning, and leverage the systems available. Nowadays nobody is moving, so you might as well get real good at the basics of your job---think any unit currently firing M119s or M198s.

FWIW, Hawaii is a very small island, very far from the East Coast. I've never heard anyone stationed in Alaska say they wouldn't go back. I loved Europe but then again, I like to travel. A post with an actual city nearby is preferable (IMHO) to one surrounded by nothing but used car lots and pawn shops.

Hawaii, back in the 1980's it was much sought after post because the tour there for single Soldiers was 18 months maybe 24 months. It used to count as a overseas assignment.

You get sent there these days it's Guantanamo part II from what I heard. Too expensive to fly back to the United States regularly and my guess would be Military Hops are difficult because of the vacation tour. Once you tour the Islands.....what else is there to do?

quote:

Originally posted by Shardik:
FWIW, Hawaii is a very small island, very far from the East Coast. I've never heard anyone stationed in Alaska say they wouldn't go back. I loved Europe but then again, I like to travel. A post with an actual city nearby is preferable (IMHO) to one surrounded by nothing but used car lots and pawn shops.

Alaska is cold, and dark. But other than that its awesome.

quote:

Originally posted by ErichG2:
Hawaii, back in the 1980's it was much sought after post because the tour there for single Soldiers was 18 months maybe 24 months. It used to count as a overseas assignment.

You get sent there these days it's Guantanamo part II from what I heard. Too expensive to fly back to the United States regularly and my guess would be Military Hops are difficult because of the vacation tour. Once you tour the Islands.....what else is there to do?

I believe Hawaii is still a 3 year, overseas/OCONUS assignment.

If I get assigned there, I'd love it! I've SCUBA-dived at Molokini Crater south of Maui. I could SCUBA there for 3 years!

BAH and COLA are pretty substantial, from what I hear.

Matt
SPC, AV
US Army
OCS Selectee
Class 303-10

My best memories are from Bliss. Loved it there

HHB 5/52 ADA all the way!

Oh.. and hawaii. I hated it there. I got rock fever big time. Nothing to do but go to lame clubs and be on the beach- ok if that is your sort of thing, but I hate the sun and I don't do club scenes