How many PCS moves have you had in your career?

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 16:05:20 -0500

How many times have you moved while in the military? What has been the best and worst assignment?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2013 4:11 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 16:11:43 -0500

CPT Guzman, I'm AGR and I don't PCS as frequent as the AC, but I have moved 5 times since 1999. I cannot say that any of my assignments were bad, because I think the individual determines whether the assignment is going to be good or bad. Now that is not to say you want run into some bad individuals.

Response by SFC Istvan Nagy made Dec 4 at 2013 8:42 PM

SFC Istvan Nagy — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 20:42:54 -0500

Eight total. The best was to Ft Bragg, NC, and I didn't have a worst.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2013 8:53 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 08:53:09 -0500

I think I should have asked which was the most challenging

Response by SFC James Baber made Dec 6 at 2013 8:58 AM

SFC James Baber — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 08:58:59 -0500

Over 27 years, 11 total, not including deployments (combat and other), or extended TDYs over a year.

Best was drug interdiction in DC, worst was last Korea tour.

Response by SSG Luis Ortiz Rodriguez made Dec 6 at 2013 9:58 AM

SSG Luis Ortiz Rodriguez — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 09:58:28 -0500

I have 4 PCS times and one deployment. Every place has their bad things but, for me the good things outweigh the other.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2013 10:04 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 10:04:03 -0500

I was stationed at Little Rock AFB for close to 7 years then to Ramstein AB and then back to McGuire. All this in 11 years.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 6 at 2013 10:07 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 10:07:35 -0500

Oh and I loved Germany and was not at McGuire long enough to really get to enjoy it. Though did go to the racetrack at Wall Stadium. Had press credentials there.

Response by SSG Richard Stevens made Dec 6 at 2013 8:26 PM

SSG Richard Stevens — Fri, 06 Dec 2013 20:26:13 -0500

how many times three times from Germany to FT, sill OK. and back to GERMANY and than back to FT.sill OK. i never had a bad one, and i flew home for my dad's Death.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2013 5:17 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 14 Dec 2013 17:17:45 -0500

3 times in my first 7 years
Germany 1997
Ft Riley 2000
Ft hood 2004
Reserve
Ft Campbell 2013
Best was Riley
Worst is Campbell

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2014 1:34 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 13:34:06 -0500

3 not counting deployments

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Jan 17 at 2014 1:41 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 13:41:20 -0500

9...with 2 of those locations being "repeat homes." (Fort Knox KY, Hohenfels Germany, Fort Knox KY, Camp Casey Korea, Fort Carson CO, Fort Belvoir VA (HRC), Schofield Barracks HI, Fort Huachuca AZ, Fort Riley KS, Fort Huachuca AZ and SHAPE Belgium)

Deployments not included.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2014 1:47 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 13:47:44 -0500

8... Little Rock Arkansas (NG), Fort Bragg, Wiesbaden Germany, Fort Stewart, Camp Hovey Korea, Fort Bragg 82nd, Bamberg Germany, Fort Riley Kansas.

Deployment not included...

Response by Lt Col Luis A. Rojas made Jan 17 at 2014 2:39 PM

Lt Col Luis A. Rojas — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 14:39:24 -0500

In my 25.5-year military career, a total of 11 locations soon to be 12 with my upcoming PCS to Maxwell AFB Alabama.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Jan 17 at 2014 3:00 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 15:00:52 -0500

I'm an idiot because when I first read this I was thinking where I've "called home" from....like on the telephone to say hi Mom. Don't mind me.

Response by CDR Richard Tucker made Jan 17 at 2014 5:58 PM

CDR Richard Tucker — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 17:58:31 -0500

Many different with USS in the front of them! Loved it.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 17 at 2014 7:56 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 19:56:07 -0500

OSUT Fort Leonard Wood 16 weeks 21B

1. Fort Hood

2. Iraq 12 months

3. Back to Hood

4. Iraq 15 months

5. Back to Hood

6. Iraq 12 Months

7. Back to Hood Then PCS to Bragg

7. Fort Bragg 19 months

8. Fort Jackson "Drill Sergeant until Oct 2014

9. Hopefully back to Bragg or Campbell

* Total time in the Army 10 years 6 months. I feel like I have been pretty busy. Oh well... 9 years 6 months to go.

Response by SSG Thomas Magee made Jan 17 at 2014 8:09 PM

SSG Thomas Magee — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 20:09:02 -0500

MCAS Iwakuni, Japan - NAS Pensacola - Camp Lejeune, NC - Fort Lewis, Wa So 4 not counting deployments.

Response by 1SG Edward Tushar made Feb 13 at 2014 4:53 PM

1SG Edward Tushar — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 16:53:19 -0500

I PCS'd 8 times in 23 years if you count my first move to Fort Polk, LA. From there I went to Korea to Fort Sill to Cleveland, OH (Recruiting) to Fort Bragg to Korea to Fort Bragg to Fort Campbell.

Response by 1SG Shane Hansen made Feb 13 at 2014 8:20 PM

1SG Shane Hansen — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 20:20:37 -0500

I have moved a total of 11 times, worst assignment so far was Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. Too much traffic for me. Best assignment so far was in Germany.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 13 at 2014 8:41 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 20:41:36 -0500

10 moves with Bragg ALWAYS being the worst place to be stationed for anyone that doesn't enjoy treating people like crap. Peterson AFB being the best with 5SFG a very close second.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2014 3:44 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 15:44:44 -0500

Sir,

Out of 19 years in the Army I have moved eight times not including deployments.

The best has been my Germany tours three in total and all in the same place Bamberg. My worst place was Fort Leonard Wood MO.

V/R

1SG Haro

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2014 4:17 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 14 Feb 2014 16:17:33 -0500

ehh I have PCS'd like 5-7 times if you include on post transfers. I have always like Ft. Sill. Now, having said that, I could surely go without living in Lawton, but I do like the installation. Especially with ADA having moved here. I'm not all giddy about them having moved here, but it is nice to have the GOV'T finally giving the installation some spending money to improve the place trying to make them happy. I also liked Ft. Riley, mostly because I was 2 hrs from KC, where I grew up and all my family lives there. Korea was a good experience. I saw a lot of the country playing on the Area 1 (South) softball team and playing in racquetball championships. But the babysitting aspect of being there and being restricted due to others actions really got old, fast. Germany was pretty, good for travel.

Response by MSG Gene Potocki made Feb 24 at 2014 3:28 PM

MSG Gene Potocki — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 15:28:31 -0500

I moved 5 times during my career, best by far was my first assignment (Vicenza, Italy 1st BN 509th INF). No bad assignments each was different in it's own way, challenging. which is why I kept reenlisting. The army offered me many unique opportunities to travel and excel in my career field.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2014 3:39 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 15:39:39 -0500

2 Initial Entries

1 ETS

8 PCS

3 Deployments

Best assignment was in the Defense Attache Office, US Embassy, Skopje, Macedonia followed closely by Baumholder, Germany.

Managed to find something fun at every assignment so I don't have a bad one but my least favorite would probably be Ft. Leonard Wood.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2014 4:44 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 16:44:26 -0500

So far I'm on my 7th duty station/11th unit with 6 deployments since 98.

Cannot say I've ever had a bad assignment, but if I had to pick a worst, it would be Korea. Best would be Germany hands down, 5 years at Vogelweh working the kasernes as an SP.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2014 5:31 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 17:31:12 -0500

In 7.8 years four times and one deployment. Honestly all my assignments were great, I guess I'm one of the lucky ones.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2014 12:49 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 00:49:47 -0500

Almost 13 years in and if you count Basic and AIT Im looking at 5 (with a 6th coming very soon), and 3 TCS. I loved my time at Hood, I had fun in Korea, Germany has been fun but IM ready to get out of here.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Mar 24 at 2014 5:03 PM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 17:03:15 -0400

11 different locations over the years.....

Ft. Knox, KY 19E OSUT Sept '87-Jan '88

Ft. Carson, CO Jan '88-Sept '91

Fulda, FRG Oct '91-Oct '93

Ft. Riley, KS Dec '93-Sept '95

Hollywood, FL (Recruiting Duty) Sept '95-Sept '98

Cp Garry Owen, RoK Oct '98-Oct '99

Ft. Stewart, GA Nov '99-Apr '06

Kuwait/Iraq Jan-Aug '03

Samarra, Iraq Jan-Dec '05

Ft. Knox, KY May '06-Feb '10

Cp Arifjan, Kuwait Mar '10-Mar '11

Ft. Benning, GA Apr '11-Sept '13

Response by SSG Dave Rogers made Mar 24 at 2014 6:55 PM

SSG Dave Rogers — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 18:55:47 -0400

Savannah, GA

Camp Red Cloud, Korea

Colorado Springs, CO

Fort Bragg, NC

Heidelberg Germany

Wisconsin

Birmingham, AL

Pocatello, Idaho

New York City

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Mar 24 at 2014 7:10 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 19:10:49 -0400

Orlando, Pensacola, Pearl Harbor, Adak, Sugar Grove WV, London UK, Washington DC, Bremerton and Deigo Garcia. Had to spell them out to count them all 9.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made May 2 at 2014 6:55 PM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Fri, 02 May 2014 18:55:30 -0400

So far 8 PCS moves, 3 deployments, and one tour to S. Korea. I liked Ft Stewart and Ft Carson as my favorite locations. Didn't care too much for Ft Bliss at the time.

Response by SFC Christopher Perry made May 2 at 2014 7:12 PM

SFC Christopher Perry — Fri, 02 May 2014 19:12:59 -0400

I have a total of five PCS moves under my belt. My worst assignment would be Fort Huachuca AZ. This is not to say it was a terrible assignment. At that point there was just nothing to the place. Ft Huachuca itself was pretty run down. Sierra Vista was all but nonexistent. My best would be Okinawa which edged out Mannheim Germany by a hair. There is just something to be said for being assigned to one of the top dive destinations in the world.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2014 10:05 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 May 2014 22:05:13 -0400

10.5 Years in the Army. 3 PCS moves with my 4th one soon to come in October.. just don't know where the Army will send me next. I started at Fort Hood, TX... then it was off to Fort Bragg, NC... then it was Fort Jackson, SC... and now I am praying I can get back to Bragg, Campbell, or Stewart. Love the East Coast.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 3 at 2014 12:26 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Sat, 03 May 2014 00:26:53 -0400

Sir, I have 6 total PCS moves and my worse was Fort Sill, OK mostly because Lawton seems to be a very trashy town. My favorite is Fort Hood, TX. I love that place and I hope to go back as we have a home in Copperas Cove.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2014 3:14 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 03 May 2014 03:14:40 -0400

This is my third PCS move (two in Germany) and my recent to Hawaii. My only complaint is due to my MOS being overstrengthed. Big Army is reducing 12T MTOEs by half starting FY15. On a side note paradise is expensive, lol.

Response by SGT Craig Northacker made May 20 at 2014 8:45 PM

SGT Craig Northacker — Tue, 20 May 2014 20:45:46 -0400

Do foxholes count?

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 21 at 2014 3:06 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Wed, 21 May 2014 03:06:50 -0400

I have called at least 6 duty stations home. I really shouldn't include Lawton, OK by Fort Sill.

Response by LTC Jonathan Howell, CSEP, PMP made Jun 16 at 2014 4:12 PM

LTC Jonathan Howell, CSEP, PMP — Mon, 16 Jun 2014 16:12:29 -0400

I've been on active duty for 20-years and grew up in an Army household. I am surprised by the distinction between my own career and my father's. Before I joined the Army, my father's career took the family to eight different locations in 18 years. My own career has moved me 15 times due to a number of dependent-restricted and combat tours (11 total duty stations). My daughter's 11-year old life is framed by four military moves.

I can't think of a worst assignment but the worst move was one with an absolutely incompetent packing crew. They broke nearly every piece of furniture I owned. The claim processing took nearly a year to resolve and was of course depreciated. I even had to file an amendment to the claim settlement because so many similar items were damaged (i.e., bookcases) the adjuster thought the entries were inadvertant duplicates! Fortunately I had photos to accompany the damage claim along with the inventory control sheets and this was one of the first on-line "test" cases (maybe that wasn't fortunate though) for the claim processing.

There have been many "best" aspects of so many assignments. I have been fortunate to be surrounded by excellent NCOs, Soldiers, and officers my entire career.

Thank you to my brothers and sisters in arms!

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 28 at 2014 9:50 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 21:50:01 -0400

I've PCS'd a total of 6 times. Haven't really had a "bad" assignment. Denver for graduate school was by far the best. Benning was the location I liked the least....but even that wasn't a bad place to be.

Response by SSG Angela Valtierra made Jun 29 at 2014 11:12 AM

SSG Angela Valtierra — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 11:12:56 -0400

I pcs'd a total of 6 times my best assignment was Ft Hood I really didn't have a bad assignment just sometimes bad leadership at a great place. But if I had to pick the assignment I did not like It would have been Korea.

Response by SFC Stephen Carden made Jul 23 at 2014 12:03 AM

SFC Stephen Carden — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 00:03:13 -0400

Let's see....
Enlistment #1:
Ft Bragg, NC 1991-1993
Wiesbaden, FRG 1993-1993
Mainz-Wackernheim, FRG 1993-1994

Enlistment #2:
Ft. Bragg, NC 1999-2001
Camp Eagle, Korea 2001-2002
Ft. Bragg, NC 2002-2007
Camp Carroll, Korea 2007-2009
Ft. Bragg, NC 2009-Present

TDY/Deployed for more than 180 days:
Goodfellow AFB, TX - 1992
Camp Lemonier, Djibouti - 2005
Herat, AFG - 2011
Herat, AFG - 2012

Attending a School for more than 30 days:
Ft. Jackson, SC - 1988
Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD - 1989
Ft. Huachuca, AZ - 1990-1991
Baumholder, FRG - 1993
Camp Robinson, AR - 1995
Ft. Lee, VA - 1999
Ft. Eustis, VA - 2007
Camp Humphries, Korea - 2007

Best assignment? Germany all the way!
Worst assignment? I didn't really have a worst assignment per se, but I really did not like Ft. Eustis at all.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2014 6:36 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 18:36:32 -0400

I made 13 PCS moves in 23 years, three times in the last three years... We are getting pretty efficient at setting up and tearing down camp...