Can anyone tell me what Fort Irwin, CA is like as a single soldier for a first duty station?

2017-01-27T20:25:10-05:00

Response by 1SG Al Brown made Jan 27 at 2017 8:55 PM

2017-01-27T20:55:54-05:00

It's a small post at the end of the road. Best place I was ever sent...but I love the desert. Single Soldiers have a lot of community programs and work to keep them busy. You will need to get away sometimes, and Fort Irwin provides not only a lot of hard work, but also a lot of time off. You are 40 miles from Barstow, and if you turn left Vegas is two hours, turn right and LA is two hours. Operations Group and the Regiment are serious organizations that train Brigades. You'll figure it out, then it's easy. P.S. Don't drink and drive, or ride with someone that has been drinking. You'll see why on your trip to the painted rocks. No one wants to be a white cross.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jan 27 at 2017 8:59 PM

2017-01-27T20:59:27-05:00

As a single soldier, meaning your off-duty time? If so, I'd suspect it wouldn't offer much in the immediate vicinity, besides outdoor activities in a dry, arid environment. It is in a remote area, so dining, entertainment, shopping, etc., is certainly sparse. If you have access to a vehicle, you could be in the LA and Las Vegas areas within a few hours. Those areas probably offer the best options for off-duty time. I can't comment on the work life there, or life in the barracks. I've only done a couple of NTC rotations, so my exposure to life on-post is limited. I know the new CEO of the local community hospital in Barstow. If you have specific questions about off-duty life, I can ask him.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2017 9:26 PM

2017-01-27T21:26:20-05:00

Yes. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Fort Irwin. Some people like it. Some people hate it. Victorville is a short 90 mile drive. The Los Angeles area is a little longer (Hollywood, Disney, and other themed attractions). San Diego area is longer (Gas Lamp District and Beaches). Las Vegas on a four day weekend is nice too. I personally enjoy the pinball museum on Tropicana, Hoover Dam and the Tillman Memorial Bridge, Lake Mead. Wine tasting in Temecula and Santa Barbara or Napa if you want to drive and you are 21. Beaches on the Coast. Yosemite, Sequoia, Lake Tahoe, Big Bear, and plenty of skiing, outdoor fun and recreation. The drive into Vegas is an all time favorite. Some of the officers from RSS occasionally planned trips to game shows in the Los Angeles area too.

I was at Irwin 2005-2007. I understand that they have done construction in the last ten years or so. I suggest the buddy system.

PS. Skip Barstow.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2017 9:57 PM

2017-01-27T21:57:11-05:00

I loved my assignment at FT Irwin. Now some words of advice/guidance for your time there:

Find a car and quickly. If you can't find a car, make a really great friend with someone who does have a car. While it's a great assignment, you're in the middle of nowhere. It's pretty much centrally located to major cities. Vegas, LA, San Diego, etc. Try to avoid Barstow as much as possible. It was a nasty sleezehole back in the late 90's....and I doubt it's changed much since. If you love theme parks, you have Disney Land, Sixx Flags, Knotts Berry Farm...

Lastly, and realistically, be prepared to get hit on by guys galore there. During your off time, and you decide to hit the club on base, don't go solo.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2017 12:52 AM

2017-01-28T00:52:36-05:00

I was stationed there for 35 months (April 2010-March 2013) but owned a home in Riverside. So I commuted to Fort Irwin (that sucked). You have Las Vegas, LA and San Diego within a three hour drive from post.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Jan 28 at 2017 11:57 AM

2017-01-28T11:57:10-05:00

While I was there for two years, I visited Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, Victorville, Ontario and other nearby smaller towns. I know Ft. Irwin has grown some from what friends have told me since I last left there. Barstow is 40 miles away but only offers so much. I'm sure the scenery and places have changed but overall, I enjoyed the time there. It get very hot as you may have already been told during the summer. One good thing is I was able to focus and earn a degree between unit rotations. The Education Center can assist you if you are looking to take some college courses.

Best thing was exploring with friends in the desert. We could drive off road and travel for miles to see what was out there. You may get lucky and find an abandoned car from the 50s or 60s. Despite Ft. Irwin being far from Barstow or other cities, you will have to find ways to keep busy or entertained. All 4-day weekends make Ft. Irwin look like a ghost town and you will see why. Do find some battle buddies and explore and enjoy the area. Be safe and have sun block ready.

Response by SGT Thomas Lucken made Jan 28 at 2017 4:09 PM

2017-01-28T16:09:10-05:00

Great duty, but the location is something left to be desired! :-)

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2017 1:39 PM

2017-01-29T13:39:10-05:00

As long as you have a vehicle, it's great! Everything is about 2 hours away (beaches, skiing/snowboarding, and Vegas). BOSS activities were good when I was there a long time ago. Everything is what you make of it. It's all about your attitude. Good luck!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2017 4:11 PM

2017-01-29T16:11:55-05:00

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2017 10:05 PM

2017-01-29T22:05:09-05:00

I'm here now and like it but I don't go in the box for 17 days every month so I'm sure that would change my opinion if I did. Like others have said, there is plenty around you just have to drive 2+ hours to get there. Don't let other people and their opinions bring your time down here. Your attitude will make or it break it for you

Response by SPC Jesse Bevil made Jan 31 at 2017 3:16 PM

2017-01-31T15:16:12-05:00

Honestly it all depends who you get stationed with. I was part of the MCT with 171 under 916 and 1916th as an 88N. We ran our rotations opposite of others. We have air, surface and rail sections which operated the recieve equipment prior to rotations. Only surface is located on post. Since everything on the installation revolves around training the rotations we are often forgotten about. All post events happened while we worked.

The work itself was not hard, though the hours sucked. More often than not we left at 430am from post to be at the rail section by 6am, we then worked all day and into the night. Often times I did not walk in my front door till 10 or 11pm. This was 7 days a week until mission complete. Once off rotation there was no recovery days from the maddness. If you were lucky it ended friday and you got the weekend. Otherwise it was your typical 6am to 5pm day except off rotation was when you did your training, usually the only thing that kept you after hours were range and landnav if you couldn't find your way around.

Professionally 88M get to do their MOS in 916. Which is a plus. If you have more specific questions about the MCC I still have soldiers stationed there I could talk too.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2017 7:26 PM

2017-01-31T19:26:43-05:00

PFC Private RallyPoint Member I was stationed for two years at MCB 29 Palms. A car will get you to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, etc. I owned a used car while stationed in the desert. That was good, because after two years of sand storms, my car color went from a blue to a very light blue. As far as being a soldier, I will offer four suggestions: Stay squared away and listen closely and observe the best soldiers, NCO's, and Officers. Save and invest your money, as money management skills are easy to learn. Take advantage of your educational benefits. Be a short term and long term planner, as there will be a life after the military. Enjoy the beauty of the desert.

Response by SFC Josh Weatherbie made Feb 11 at 2017 6:57 AM

2017-02-11T06:57:04-05:00

Stay away from the boys and booze! Make some friends and enjoy all the fun cities within a few hours drive. You'll have plenty of downtime so hit the gym, find a school to attend, get a degree (trust me it'll pay off), and get involved with some fun trips always going on. Don't become a barracks hermit, and did I mention stay away from boys and booze? Well if I didn't mention it yet, stay away from boys and booze!

Response by CPL Joe Supplee made May 25 at 2017 4:54 PM

2017-05-25T16:54:54-04:00

It's a national desert training center

Response by B. Burke made Apr 10 at 2018 5:02 PM

2018-04-10T17:02:29-04:00

I’m considering joining the military and this is one of my favorite prospective stations. Was wondering the same thing.

Also, anybody know what the barracks are like for single soldiers? Do you share one single room with another soldier or are they more modern like Bragg and Carson where you share a room, but have your own personal bedroom space. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks fellas.