Good day everyone,
I just found this site (love it!). I am mom to my only child, 19 yr old Josh. He is in the Army. He graduated from BCT at Fort Jackson, SC 1/23/09. Tomarrow he finishes AIT at Fort Sill in OK and gets to come home for a few weeks for HRAP Hometown Recruiter Assistance Program. Then he will be stationed at Fort Polk in. Our family is new to military life. It's been quite an adjustment! I'm not used to my "baby" being away from home. BCT was definately harder on me than it was for him!
He was told that Fort Polk is on "deployment status". What does that mean?
When he gets to Fort Polk, what can he bring with him? His TV, Xbox, DVD player? Does he need to bring bedding and kitchen supplies? How will I get these items to him? Is his food prepared for him (like in BCT and AIT)? Or does he need to prepare his own meals?

Let me address the last first. He will still go to DFAC to get food if he wants. Ft. Polk is a good size base so there are probably fast food places on post also.

With the base in deployment status, I would suggest not bringing very much with him. When he gets there, he may get deployed immediately (within a very short time) and it is easier to do if you don't drag a bunch of stuff with you. He may start off in transient barracks and end up moving a couple of times at first which, also, is easier without a bunch of stuff.

There are several units at Ft. Polk, including 10th Mountain. I know that at least a portion of 10th Mountain is deployed right now because they relieved 3rd Infantry last May.

Once he gets settled in, he will be able to find out what he wants/needs and can ask for it. I made at least two trips to my son's post prior to his deployment to get everything settled.

Check out this site to get more information on Ft. Polk. http://www.jrtc-polk.army.mil/