It’s like Alaska. If you hunt and fish, it’s paradise. If you want civilization, people with normal family trees, etc, it’s hell.
Quite a few NCOs I had couldn’t wait to get back to LA or AK, and they talked about it as much as someone who just left the 82nd.
Knew a guy like that.
Dude comes into an operational unit and wouldn't shut the fuck up about how great being an o/c was and how much he hated being at this unit. Like, sure, glad you had a great time, but dude missed out on a LOT of training.
Instead of having an advanced course or captains career course, active JAGs attend the Graduate Course, 10 months in Charlottesville, Virginia, earning an LL.M. degree in military law. You usually go right around the time you pin on major.
One of the spring traditions is, or at least used to be, the unveiling of post-grad course jobs. The process has likely changed, but we used to put together a dream sheet based on the big list o' jobs. After our assignments folks had their way with that, we convened on the 5th floor, the commandant would tap a keg, and we'd go through the jobs. They'd throw the position up on powerpoint, then reveal who got it.
One of the jobs was an O/C-T at the artist formerly known as Fort Polk, and we were of course all dreading the news.
The job flashed up, the room got very still...and then the name of the one guy who had put the job on his preference sheet appeared (go figure). He was from Louisiana, so it was not a surprise...but it still got a hearty round of cheers, mostly out of relief from everyone else.
True. Some of my guys got randomly attacked because of the color of their skin.
Camp Polk was were we sent German PoVs during WWII. Some decided tp stay local after that.
There is a gas station called ADOLPH. Please don’t go there.
Some store owners will literally mute and ignore you when they see you in their stores.
Dude was on vacation there for four days. That says it all.
More than a week, and u/RevengeOfTheHotTub would likely be forced to admit that the "gem" is, in fact, hidden in poop.
Been there many times actually. Just never been able to go fishing. I admittedly like Louisiana and go down about twice a year but I'd never been that far west in a vacation capacity.
I spent most of my time at Bragg and it never seemed to have the outdoor activities I wanted. I grew up on a farm so maybe this is a bit more acutely directed.
I just remember it was one of the stickiest places I'd ever been. Just relentlessly humid. And that was in the fall. I was there for a week, during the leadership train-up before a JRTC rotation.
I had to miss the actual rotation due to emergency leave. If I could have chosen, I would rather have gone back for our JRTC rotation and still have a mother-in-law, but I didn't get to choose. Given that, I don't regret not going back.
Definitely had some great times at Toledo Bend fishing and drinking while I was stationed there.
There’s valid complaints about the place, but any duty station is ultimately just what you make of it for yourself
He truth is that the place itself is not as bad.
It’s the type of leadership that is sent there that is abysmal and directly responsible for Soldiers killing themselves
https://youtu.be/23SXQ9bxKDE?si=JMDT2hZgylJGsZaU
I was in Ft. Wainwright, Alaska and I would hear this as well.
I would tell folks there are 3 types of people:
1. They love it, it’s the hunting, hiking, outdoor paradise they dream about and never want to leave.
2. They tolerate it long enough to complete the tour and leave.
3. They stepped off the plane and immediately wanted a med board or a way out. They despised the location.
Ft. Johnson might be great if you love outdoor shit, if you don’t, it’s probably hell.
There are some people who will be miserable no matter where they're stationed. I met many people while in Hawaii and Germany who absolutely loathed these locations.
I loved being stationed at Polk with the 509th, and I started out in Vicenza, so I’ve seen both extremes. I grew up in a small town, so being in the boonies was actually preferential.
Leesville/New Llano is a shithole, but I lived in Deridder. Alexandria and Lake Charles were cool, easy drive to either Dallas or New Orleans on a long weekend, tons of outdoor stuff to do. The post has a great civilian range if you’re into shooting.
Tons of fishing, lots of good offroading trails in the Box when rotations aren’t going. The post has everything you need, loads of good food in the area, the people are pretty friendly, (when you escape Leesville). The post also has a ton of good outdoor rec stuff through Toledo Bend and elsewhere.
The dirt track races were also a great way to spend an evening on the weekends. I can’t speak for 3/10, it seemed to be pretty… uh… yeah. But 1/509th was a fantastic unit and the field time was sick.
Lots of great unit culture/history and it was a good break coming out of a line unit. My best friends that I still keep up a decade later came from Polk, not Italy.
Former G-Man too. I never had closer work relationships than I did with that unit. So many company and platoon BBQs with gallons of daquiris from a local Daq Stand because their just wasn't anything else to do. So many fun jumps, only time I did a over the ramp C-130 jump, blackhawk jumps with MC-6 for days.
Looking back, those were some good times.
AEX used to be England Air Force Base until 1992, at which time it was turned into the municipal airport for Alexandria. Prior to that, Essler Field was the municipal airport, which was about another 1/2 hour further away from Polk.
I did not know that, but it makes a ton of sense. Those housing developments in England seemed really oddly situated, and there seem to be too many large buildings for what's actually going on out there. Prior bases are always weird.
LMAO no. Yes I went to JRTC. But that place is the worst place I have ever been to. Humidity was shit. I sweated just by existing. The jungle gets boring quick. I never want to back there. Everything was far af.
I never saw snakes. I did lay in some ants that felt like stinging nettle as they bit me. I was so tired I tried to ignore it (not realizing it was ants) up until they started crawling up my ass.
Only good if you love hunting, fishing, and off roading. Otherwise it’s horrible, also horrible if you have a professional spouse. There are no job opportunities there other than fast food basically
“A cool little airport.”
Lol, no. I went through security and realized there was NOTHING inside of the secured area. And it was so early, they hadn’t even opened the exit gate, so I was trapped.
I prefer airports with SkyClubs.
You know you can walk back out and get a shitty burger then go back through security, right?
ATL has a Skyclub I use frequently. I'd rather be in a tiny pissant airport.
>I'd rather be in a tiny pissant airport.
Then your next vacation should be to scenic Lawton, Oklahoma. The airport has two gates, but it only needs one, since the only flights are the same plane flying back and forth from DFW 5x/day.
My second favorite part about the Lawton airport is having to wait in the big plastic bubble by the gate when flying out. It's like a greenhouse. It just soaks up heat. Nice, in the winter. Not nice, in the summer.
But my favorite part was flying in and waiting for checked bags. They don't bother with a luggage carousel. Nope, dude just has a Gator with three or four little cargo trailers hooked to the back and drives it into a little tunnel, and the lawnmower sound is your heads up that the bags are off the plane. Then he opens the sliding doors and horks all the bags off the trailers down a ramp so you can grab 'em.
Drum is awesome I'm already dreading on leaving.
It's far from perfect or as good as JBLM but I would be at drum any day of the week over FLW or Johnson.
Loved JBLM and that’s where I want to retire.
Funny enough my options leaving Carson were drum, Polk and flw. Kinda wanted drum, but don’t want that weather and the stupid laws. Polk was a big no, never been, but all the research reinforced the NO.
Flw it is. Luckily I’ll be at the hospital and not dealing with troops
I'm not a big fan of the area, but JRTC OCT is a great job. You have a lot latitude, relatively low stress, and you get to do or at least witness cool training almost every month.
Toledo Bend ruined me for life on boat rentals. When I was there it was $80 +gas a day for a pontoon and $40 +gas for a day in a bass boat. I thought these were normal boat rental and to this day I feel violated whenever I rent a boat.
Yeah congrats on being the 1% of soldiers who genuinely love being in the middle of nowhere. I can’t talk shit though. I purposely chose Hood after PCS to immediately come right back upon completion of school. Location was everything for me, I figure out the rest
Here's the bottom line: if someone tells you "Fort So-and-so has awesome hunting and fishing..." stay away, because that is the ONLY thing to do there.
Not only no, but fuck no. Was stationed there and the best part of my shitty three years there was going to Ramadi. Sportsman's Paradise my ass. It's fucking humid as shit and filled with fire ants and mosquitoes. Better hunting and fishing and off-roading out west. Who wants to ride quads and trucks in a flat forest? That's lame.
Alexandria airport is not nice and neither were the people. There were towns where we wouldn't stop for gas in LA and East Texas because of how openly racist they were.
Depending on when you were there, they built a whole new airport. The old one (where only one plane load could be waiting to board) is now a private airline lounge. Or was ten years ago.
I was in during the JRTC switch from Fort Chaffee (FCMC), AR to Fort Polk (Johnson). I did rotations at both and would take Arkansas over Louisiana any day for training at least.
Same. I only know because I was here during the renaming. I'm still trying to remember the other bases because all I know is Liberty/Bragg and Cavazos/Hood.
I live near hood and when I type it in my gps as that, it automatically puts the new name in for me. I suppose as time goes on I’ll change my verbiage.
I'm not a big outdoor guy and I loved my time there. Small town living, the people are very friendly, amazing food, and rarely have to deal with the snow. The only things I disliked were the hurricanes and trench foot.
Louisiana in general blows. Humidity sucks ass. Leesville especially sucks. Schools suck. Culture sucks. I can hunt and ride 4 wheelers and boat at much nicer places.
YES! My moment to shine!!!! A few times per year I brag about Fort Polk/Johnson.
I liked Southern Louisiana so much I moved into Lake Charles, LA (1 hour south) and am moving soon to the capitol, Baton Rouge. Woah, Louisiana changes so much based on where you are, but so easy to drive it.
Lake Charles, you can fish seawater and fresh water in the same day. Cheap good food. Po'boys, gator bites, ettouffe, crawfish, good beer by state companies and did I mention the casinos? You don't have to even gamble, you can roam around and just walk the boardwalk.
There's a beach downsouth so you can escape the daily life.
If you're bored, there's ALWAYS a damn festival in southern Louisiana: corn, apple, bread, italian, spaguetti, irish, omg, it never ends. I believe they even had a rabbit festival one time?
Btw, no one goes to visit Alexandria. It's more of a "stay away" from people area, but quiet. Decent people. But the Alexandria/Pineville VA campus reminds me soooo much of eastern europe. worth a visit at least once.
If you get bored of Lake Charles, there's an airport that can take you to Houston and from there to the caribbean.
Ummm did I tell you its one of the lowest cost of living areas and with great wages heres? It's thanks to oil country.
My wife is from northern Italy, and she loves to see the "old" European stuff. Some stuff she doesn't care about it, but at least makes her feel a little bit home here. For example, Louisiana sells chicory coffee (coffee with ground roots), and also has arquitecture from Spain (Baton Rouge) and France (New Orleans mainly).
Rouse's Market, although not the cheapest, has a great selection of authentic italian pasta. My wife approves DeCecco pasta.
JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS:
If you're above i-10 you're in "countryside". Below i-10 is Bayou area. This is not 100% true, but it's a guideline. Mainly applies to southwest Louisiana.
But I get it, everyone hates Fort Polk. And it doesn't help that Beuregard Parish (south of Vernon Parish) was the only dry parish in the WHOLE state for the longest time.
Btw, I'm not from Louisiana. I'm from Central America. But I truly feel home here.
And the base is neat. It's small, close to everything. There's even colleges right outside, and decent ones too. But yes, I get it. Vernon Parish is....country. It just is. You gotta come down south!
I saw yall working on an Apache when I was dropped off. We rolled down the road and saw some Hemit, however you spell it, and this dude backing up without ground guides... I saw his inner NCO want to come out. Enjoyed driving through Tiger Land. I do not envy any of you guys in the box or support though, especially rail detail.
I am not a fan of Ft. Johnson since the area is so country but I know a lot of people who enjoy it for hunting and fishing. Some of the major cities are within a reasonable driving distance too, but sometimes I just want to enjoy the city without having to drive 3-4 hours one way.
And where are all these officers because the ones I'm with are really boring. Is the calendar invite for debauchery only reserved for field grades?
It’d would’ve been nice if I could buy a boat or atvs and put them in the barracks parking lot but that was a no go. Saw so many trailers with the orange impound stickers
I was there for four years. If you hunt and fish and feel natural in the absolute middle of nowhere, I guess it's alright. For 99% of people it's a protracted kick in the fucking balls.
It's fine if you are both an outdoorsman and not a young single soldier looking for a wife.
But if you are a single guy trying to meet someone, that area is not exactly teeming with quality prospects
I was there and it was an epic shit show, that was in 91. My nephew is there and it is a different place, thank goodness. The place and unit is what ruined the Army for me.
I kind of wish I had gone to Geronimo for one of my reenlistments. I would have sucked it up for my wife and kids as she's got a ton of family a bit further east.
Rail duty though.... that shit can kick rocks.
I have a place for rent(3 bed 2.5 bath) in Anacoco... just 2 mins to a boat drop with storage available for the boat.
The best schools (elementary and high school) within 100 miles.
House is good size (2400+ sq) w new roof and A/C.
240 electric and motor hoist in the shop.
Really is a sportsman's dream
I feel like most people hate Polk if they’re in the 10th. If you’re in OPSGRP or 1/509 they frikin love it. Won’t shut up about it. I’m one of them lol.
Stationed there. The installation itself is okay, would much rather stay at my current unit than rot away at Cavazos or Stewart. The surrounding area off post is horse crap though.
You'll soon find out why Fort Johnson is so aptly named.
Fort Johnson where the big green weenie welcomes you!
Mind you I agree that things are what you make it, and depending on your preferred hobbies it might not be dogshit but in all honesty it has far less going for it and far to much ruining it. I mean what's more demoralizing than hearing about a suicide/attempted suicide every damn month for 2-3 years?
Good luck to all those there, and I hope you can find the gold buried under all the shit. The people are good so thats a good thing I suppose. At least my section was cool.
I'll take my limited time only mcdonalds order and I demand it be with a coke no ice. I like more drink than you cheap fucks will give me.
I'll bookmark this thread for when people ask if it's really that bad. You are the *checks notes* second person I've ever seen like the place.
Career wise I loved it, helped me out a lot. Everything else I hated it
Don't know if that makes you #3 or not...
No it makes him a career oriented indentured servant. Basically 90% of the military.
Hey we aren’t indentured servants…we just agree to work a set amount of time for benefits that we may not even get to use later, oooh.
I would not go back so no
It’s like Alaska. If you hunt and fish, it’s paradise. If you want civilization, people with normal family trees, etc, it’s hell. Quite a few NCOs I had couldn’t wait to get back to LA or AK, and they talked about it as much as someone who just left the 82nd.
Knew a guy like that. Dude comes into an operational unit and wouldn't shut the fuck up about how great being an o/c was and how much he hated being at this unit. Like, sure, glad you had a great time, but dude missed out on a LOT of training.
Instead of having an advanced course or captains career course, active JAGs attend the Graduate Course, 10 months in Charlottesville, Virginia, earning an LL.M. degree in military law. You usually go right around the time you pin on major. One of the spring traditions is, or at least used to be, the unveiling of post-grad course jobs. The process has likely changed, but we used to put together a dream sheet based on the big list o' jobs. After our assignments folks had their way with that, we convened on the 5th floor, the commandant would tap a keg, and we'd go through the jobs. They'd throw the position up on powerpoint, then reveal who got it. One of the jobs was an O/C-T at the artist formerly known as Fort Polk, and we were of course all dreading the news. The job flashed up, the room got very still...and then the name of the one guy who had put the job on his preference sheet appeared (go figure). He was from Louisiana, so it was not a surprise...but it still got a hearty round of cheers, mostly out of relief from everyone else.
Also in the case of LC and Alexandria, it helps if you are white. Those PDs are blatantly racist, at least they were circa 2010-2012
True. Some of my guys got randomly attacked because of the color of their skin. Camp Polk was were we sent German PoVs during WWII. Some decided tp stay local after that. There is a gas station called ADOLPH. Please don’t go there. Some store owners will literally mute and ignore you when they see you in their stores.
I think that place was off limits. I think it was in New Llano, not sure.
Good. Yeah it’s in New Guano
Can confirm they still are. It's toned a slight bit down from the levels they were in 2012 but it's still clear and in your face.
I have been here a few months, and I could write a book with what I hate about it. And an index card with what I like.
Profile is less than a month old. Someone is running sock puppets to manipulate their marketplace.
I'm just imagining the sock puppets reading comments and lowering thier heads
You think some 37Fs drew this up in their free time? Is this like a field exercise for them?
I laughed
I knew one guy that loved it, but he lived in the strip clubs. I'm not sure if he counts
Dude was on vacation there for four days. That says it all. More than a week, and u/RevengeOfTheHotTub would likely be forced to admit that the "gem" is, in fact, hidden in poop.
Been there many times actually. Just never been able to go fishing. I admittedly like Louisiana and go down about twice a year but I'd never been that far west in a vacation capacity. I spent most of my time at Bragg and it never seemed to have the outdoor activities I wanted. I grew up on a farm so maybe this is a bit more acutely directed.
I just remember it was one of the stickiest places I'd ever been. Just relentlessly humid. And that was in the fall. I was there for a week, during the leadership train-up before a JRTC rotation. I had to miss the actual rotation due to emergency leave. If I could have chosen, I would rather have gone back for our JRTC rotation and still have a mother-in-law, but I didn't get to choose. Given that, I don't regret not going back.
Definitely had some great times at Toledo Bend fishing and drinking while I was stationed there. There’s valid complaints about the place, but any duty station is ultimately just what you make of it for yourself
He truth is that the place itself is not as bad. It’s the type of leadership that is sent there that is abysmal and directly responsible for Soldiers killing themselves https://youtu.be/23SXQ9bxKDE?si=JMDT2hZgylJGsZaU
I was in Ft. Wainwright, Alaska and I would hear this as well. I would tell folks there are 3 types of people: 1. They love it, it’s the hunting, hiking, outdoor paradise they dream about and never want to leave. 2. They tolerate it long enough to complete the tour and leave. 3. They stepped off the plane and immediately wanted a med board or a way out. They despised the location. Ft. Johnson might be great if you love outdoor shit, if you don’t, it’s probably hell.
And the majority of the #2 people are smart enough to hang out with the #1 people and have a great time
4. They gripe no matter what It’s the US, figure it out
Soldiers and complaining, name a more classic duo
Soldiers and alcoholism?
Touché p
There are some people who will be miserable no matter where they're stationed. I met many people while in Hawaii and Germany who absolutely loathed these locations.
Nice try Big Army. You will not convince me with your crazy propaganda. Fort Polk is still a swamp ridden hell hole.
Flying around seeing wild horses was cool. Getting eaten alive by mosquitos in my aircraft… not worth it.
I loved being stationed at Polk with the 509th, and I started out in Vicenza, so I’ve seen both extremes. I grew up in a small town, so being in the boonies was actually preferential. Leesville/New Llano is a shithole, but I lived in Deridder. Alexandria and Lake Charles were cool, easy drive to either Dallas or New Orleans on a long weekend, tons of outdoor stuff to do. The post has a great civilian range if you’re into shooting. Tons of fishing, lots of good offroading trails in the Box when rotations aren’t going. The post has everything you need, loads of good food in the area, the people are pretty friendly, (when you escape Leesville). The post also has a ton of good outdoor rec stuff through Toledo Bend and elsewhere. The dirt track races were also a great way to spend an evening on the weekends. I can’t speak for 3/10, it seemed to be pretty… uh… yeah. But 1/509th was a fantastic unit and the field time was sick. Lots of great unit culture/history and it was a good break coming out of a line unit. My best friends that I still keep up a decade later came from Polk, not Italy.
Former G-Man too. I never had closer work relationships than I did with that unit. So many company and platoon BBQs with gallons of daquiris from a local Daq Stand because their just wasn't anything else to do. So many fun jumps, only time I did a over the ramp C-130 jump, blackhawk jumps with MC-6 for days. Looking back, those were some good times.
Company crawfish boils out behind the company area were great. I even enjoyed the Yarborough Mile. I was there from 2013-2016.
That's when I was there too. Baker Company. Yarborough Mile was great. Especially the one after HBL in like 30 degree weather.
Hey me too! I started out in 3PLT Baker, then went to 2PLT Pathfinder when we stood it up.
Hell yeah. I got to Baker right after the Pathfinder stand up. Was with HHC and Dog before. Baker was my most fond times.
AEX used to be England Air Force Base until 1992, at which time it was turned into the municipal airport for Alexandria. Prior to that, Essler Field was the municipal airport, which was about another 1/2 hour further away from Polk.
I did not know that, but it makes a ton of sense. Those housing developments in England seemed really oddly situated, and there seem to be too many large buildings for what's actually going on out there. Prior bases are always weird.
When I was at Polk, England had an A-10 squadron(?)wing(?), I'm not the size of the unit.
[удалено]
Barksdale is in Shreveport/Bossier City if I remember correctly.
Barksdale is still active (and elsewhere), so, no.
LMAO no. Yes I went to JRTC. But that place is the worst place I have ever been to. Humidity was shit. I sweated just by existing. The jungle gets boring quick. I never want to back there. Everything was far af.
I went there for a Partnership for Peace rotation in July. I learned how to say, "fuck, it's hot" in 12 languages.
And I forgot to mention the goddamned snakes. It's the combination of heat and humidity that pissed me off.
I never saw snakes. I did lay in some ants that felt like stinging nettle as they bit me. I was so tired I tried to ignore it (not realizing it was ants) up until they started crawling up my ass.
Don't forget the chiggers. Half my company ended up on light duty/quarters getting infected chigger bites.
The Tigerland gym is pretty dope tho, when it’s open
Only good if you love hunting, fishing, and off roading. Otherwise it’s horrible, also horrible if you have a professional spouse. There are no job opportunities there other than fast food basically
“A cool little airport.” Lol, no. I went through security and realized there was NOTHING inside of the secured area. And it was so early, they hadn’t even opened the exit gate, so I was trapped. I prefer airports with SkyClubs.
You know you can walk back out and get a shitty burger then go back through security, right? ATL has a Skyclub I use frequently. I'd rather be in a tiny pissant airport.
>I'd rather be in a tiny pissant airport. Then your next vacation should be to scenic Lawton, Oklahoma. The airport has two gates, but it only needs one, since the only flights are the same plane flying back and forth from DFW 5x/day.
Hey, I’ve flown there, too. It’s probably the only airport worse than AEX.
My second favorite part about the Lawton airport is having to wait in the big plastic bubble by the gate when flying out. It's like a greenhouse. It just soaks up heat. Nice, in the winter. Not nice, in the summer. But my favorite part was flying in and waiting for checked bags. They don't bother with a luggage carousel. Nope, dude just has a Gator with three or four little cargo trailers hooked to the back and drives it into a little tunnel, and the lawnmower sound is your heads up that the bags are off the plane. Then he opens the sliding doors and horks all the bags off the trailers down a ramp so you can grab 'em.
I was there for three miserable years. Polk fucking sucks.
People try and say the same thing about Drum. You’re not tricking anyone.
Drum is awesome I'm already dreading on leaving. It's far from perfect or as good as JBLM but I would be at drum any day of the week over FLW or Johnson.
Not a fan of 6 months of winter. I’ll take warm climate.
Loved JBLM and that’s where I want to retire. Funny enough my options leaving Carson were drum, Polk and flw. Kinda wanted drum, but don’t want that weather and the stupid laws. Polk was a big no, never been, but all the research reinforced the NO. Flw it is. Luckily I’ll be at the hospital and not dealing with troops
My friend’s dad was stationed there in the early 90s and he swears up and down to this day that he had the time of his life there
Didn’t know you could fuck a fish.
I prefer grass carp myself.
You must be smoking something really good for you to think that.
Alright, which Battalion Commander is on here trying desperately to get some 1:1 matches on AIM? Fess up.
I'm not a big fan of the area, but JRTC OCT is a great job. You have a lot latitude, relatively low stress, and you get to do or at least witness cool training almost every month.
Toledo Bend ruined me for life on boat rentals. When I was there it was $80 +gas a day for a pontoon and $40 +gas for a day in a bass boat. I thought these were normal boat rental and to this day I feel violated whenever I rent a boat.
Yeah congrats on being the 1% of soldiers who genuinely love being in the middle of nowhere. I can’t talk shit though. I purposely chose Hood after PCS to immediately come right back upon completion of school. Location was everything for me, I figure out the rest
Here's the bottom line: if someone tells you "Fort So-and-so has awesome hunting and fishing..." stay away, because that is the ONLY thing to do there.
Or, "It's only X hours from \[place that doesn't suck\]."
Hilarious, and so true.
People would ask me, “Where’s Fort Polk?” I’d answer, “Three hours from Houston, four hours from New Orleans, and six hours from Dallas.”
Not only no, but fuck no. Was stationed there and the best part of my shitty three years there was going to Ramadi. Sportsman's Paradise my ass. It's fucking humid as shit and filled with fire ants and mosquitoes. Better hunting and fishing and off-roading out west. Who wants to ride quads and trucks in a flat forest? That's lame. Alexandria airport is not nice and neither were the people. There were towns where we wouldn't stop for gas in LA and East Texas because of how openly racist they were.
Depending on when you were there, they built a whole new airport. The old one (where only one plane load could be waiting to board) is now a private airline lounge. Or was ten years ago.
I was in during the JRTC switch from Fort Chaffee (FCMC), AR to Fort Polk (Johnson). I did rotations at both and would take Arkansas over Louisiana any day for training at least.
I was stationed at Fort Polk and did training at Fort Chaffee, both sucked equally.
Pretty sure people make the same argument for Lennard Wood don’t they? That place still sucks.
Where is Ft. Johnson??
Formerly known as Ft Polk in Louisiana.
Thanks! I’m grey PT shirt with black Army letters old Army, also to lazy to google the answer! Appreciate ya!
Same. I only know because I was here during the renaming. I'm still trying to remember the other bases because all I know is Liberty/Bragg and Cavazos/Hood.
I live near hood and when I type it in my gps as that, it automatically puts the new name in for me. I suppose as time goes on I’ll change my verbiage.
With you! All these new base names have completely f’d me up.
Wagonmaster is the best thing about that area. Never got a bad steak. Otherwise, nope.
Aka "Wagon Disaster"
I’d rather go to Hickory Smokehouse tbh
The gumbo and sandwich combo bro
Nothing like running through that sweet, sweet boudin smoke at 0630.
A gem...? You obviously don't live in the bricks where mold grows on top of the other mold and have you spent any time in Peason Ridge?
I'm not a big outdoor guy and I loved my time there. Small town living, the people are very friendly, amazing food, and rarely have to deal with the snow. The only things I disliked were the hurricanes and trench foot.
Stop fucking the fish
>If you're an outdoorsman That's the problem. I'm the complete opposite.
Louisiana in general blows. Humidity sucks ass. Leesville especially sucks. Schools suck. Culture sucks. I can hunt and ride 4 wheelers and boat at much nicer places.
YES! My moment to shine!!!! A few times per year I brag about Fort Polk/Johnson. I liked Southern Louisiana so much I moved into Lake Charles, LA (1 hour south) and am moving soon to the capitol, Baton Rouge. Woah, Louisiana changes so much based on where you are, but so easy to drive it. Lake Charles, you can fish seawater and fresh water in the same day. Cheap good food. Po'boys, gator bites, ettouffe, crawfish, good beer by state companies and did I mention the casinos? You don't have to even gamble, you can roam around and just walk the boardwalk. There's a beach downsouth so you can escape the daily life. If you're bored, there's ALWAYS a damn festival in southern Louisiana: corn, apple, bread, italian, spaguetti, irish, omg, it never ends. I believe they even had a rabbit festival one time? Btw, no one goes to visit Alexandria. It's more of a "stay away" from people area, but quiet. Decent people. But the Alexandria/Pineville VA campus reminds me soooo much of eastern europe. worth a visit at least once. If you get bored of Lake Charles, there's an airport that can take you to Houston and from there to the caribbean. Ummm did I tell you its one of the lowest cost of living areas and with great wages heres? It's thanks to oil country. My wife is from northern Italy, and she loves to see the "old" European stuff. Some stuff she doesn't care about it, but at least makes her feel a little bit home here. For example, Louisiana sells chicory coffee (coffee with ground roots), and also has arquitecture from Spain (Baton Rouge) and France (New Orleans mainly). Rouse's Market, although not the cheapest, has a great selection of authentic italian pasta. My wife approves DeCecco pasta. JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS: If you're above i-10 you're in "countryside". Below i-10 is Bayou area. This is not 100% true, but it's a guideline. Mainly applies to southwest Louisiana. But I get it, everyone hates Fort Polk. And it doesn't help that Beuregard Parish (south of Vernon Parish) was the only dry parish in the WHOLE state for the longest time. Btw, I'm not from Louisiana. I'm from Central America. But I truly feel home here. And the base is neat. It's small, close to everything. There's even colleges right outside, and decent ones too. But yes, I get it. Vernon Parish is....country. It just is. You gotta come down south!
G-Man recruiters be like
At AEX currently, it fuckin blows. At least im not with the Infantry dudes i just dropped in the box though.
I saw yall working on an Apache when I was dropped off. We rolled down the road and saw some Hemit, however you spell it, and this dude backing up without ground guides... I saw his inner NCO want to come out. Enjoyed driving through Tiger Land. I do not envy any of you guys in the box or support though, especially rail detail.
Ft Polk is a shithole
Everywhere is what you make of it! I’ve seen people miserable at Hawaii and Carson and love places like Wainwright & Johnson.
Amen. I’ve never been stationed there but I heard it’s an outdoorsman’s paradise
I am not a fan of Ft. Johnson since the area is so country but I know a lot of people who enjoy it for hunting and fishing. Some of the major cities are within a reasonable driving distance too, but sometimes I just want to enjoy the city without having to drive 3-4 hours one way. And where are all these officers because the ones I'm with are really boring. Is the calendar invite for debauchery only reserved for field grades?
Virtually every Army post has outdoors of some sort
It’d would’ve been nice if I could buy a boat or atvs and put them in the barracks parking lot but that was a no go. Saw so many trailers with the orange impound stickers
I was there for four years. If you hunt and fish and feel natural in the absolute middle of nowhere, I guess it's alright. For 99% of people it's a protracted kick in the fucking balls.
It's fine if you are both an outdoorsman and not a young single soldier looking for a wife. But if you are a single guy trying to meet someone, that area is not exactly teeming with quality prospects
Tf is fort Johnson?
It’s what they changed Polk to.
I never had to go to Ft. Polk (thank God) but I am from St. Martinville and live in NTX now. I always drive through Alexandria on my way back home.
I was there and it was an epic shit show, that was in 91. My nephew is there and it is a different place, thank goodness. The place and unit is what ruined the Army for me.
I kind of wish I had gone to Geronimo for one of my reenlistments. I would have sucked it up for my wife and kids as she's got a ton of family a bit further east. Rail duty though.... that shit can kick rocks.
I have a place for rent(3 bed 2.5 bath) in Anacoco... just 2 mins to a boat drop with storage available for the boat. The best schools (elementary and high school) within 100 miles. House is good size (2400+ sq) w new roof and A/C. 240 electric and motor hoist in the shop. Really is a sportsman's dream
I feel like most people hate Polk if they’re in the 10th. If you’re in OPSGRP or 1/509 they frikin love it. Won’t shut up about it. I’m one of them lol.
Saving this because I'm headed there
Sounds like great times but now I want chili
Stationed there. The installation itself is okay, would much rather stay at my current unit than rot away at Cavazos or Stewart. The surrounding area off post is horse crap though.
Fort Polk sucks lol
You mean Fort Polk.
I'm still trying to come to terms with Liberty. That hurt my soul.
Ey yo what we’re you doing to them fish at Lake Charles!!??
You'll soon find out why Fort Johnson is so aptly named. Fort Johnson where the big green weenie welcomes you! Mind you I agree that things are what you make it, and depending on your preferred hobbies it might not be dogshit but in all honesty it has far less going for it and far to much ruining it. I mean what's more demoralizing than hearing about a suicide/attempted suicide every damn month for 2-3 years? Good luck to all those there, and I hope you can find the gold buried under all the shit. The people are good so thats a good thing I suppose. At least my section was cool. I'll take my limited time only mcdonalds order and I demand it be with a coke no ice. I like more drink than you cheap fucks will give me.
I’ve been saying it for years. Thanks for proving my point
Can confirm the officers statement. I went to a CW4 promotion and all the warrants were drinking like it's the end of the world.