If I want to take my family to Ft Bliss next, is it worth it living off post in El Paso?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 03:33:51 -0400

I am currently in Germany and Wanting to go to Ft Bliss next. I wanted to know is it worth it living off post in El Paso? I am trying to figure out what would be better for my family and I. My wife wants to live off post because she said she likes the housing and I want to live on post because I want it to be convenient for me going back in fourth to work and home as well as our kids going to school.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2018 5:10 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 05:10:29 -0400

Milam Elementary School in the Aero Vista neighborhood off the NE corner of Bliss main post has a 1 point better rating with GreatSchools than the average for the El Paso school district, which includes the Ft. Bliss schools, but I don't see any individual ratings for the on post schools, so your mileage may vary. I would say that on post would give you and your family various tangible and intangible advantages over living off post, such as a shorter commute for you, easier access to facilities, and a stronger sense of community and continuity for your kids.

However the main rule that applies here is "Happy Wife, Happy Life" so if your wish is to live on post, you are going to need to research and sell the advantages that will make sense to your wife so that it can become her idea to live there and take advantage of all that on post living has to offer.

Best of luck, and thank you for your service.

Response by CH (LTC) Robert Leroe made Jun 10 at 2018 8:48 PM

CH (LTC) Robert Leroe — Sun, 10 Jun 2018 20:48:00 -0400

I lived both on and off-post. I rented a house in EP but then moved on post. Quarters are pretty decent and Bliss is an above average post. The crime rate in EP is high and we felt much safer living on-base. I got a "club" and a sticker for my car requiring the border guards to ask for proof of ownership. Low cost of living makes off-post living attractive. BTW visit Riodosa and Cloudcroft NM, very nice towns not far away.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 27 at 2018 8:14 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 20:14:49 -0400

The on post housing on Bliss is pretty bad. If you have the option there are some great areas to living off post. Depending on where you get stationed on Bliss will say the best area to live (the post is pretty large to drive across). Hope this helps and let me know if you need more info.

Response by SSG Kristell Lee made Jun 28 at 2018 2:09 AM

SSG Kristell Lee — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 02:09:06 -0400

Research northeast. Park elementary is a great school with dual language. The area is safe and super close to either side of post. You're better off off post!

Response by MSG Dan Castaneda made Jun 28 at 2018 9:28 AM

MSG Dan Castaneda — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 09:28:44 -0400

El Paso is a great place. Maybe I'm just a little bias as its my home town. I've never been stationed there but the city is awesome. Good luck.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Jun 28 at 2018 1:46 PM

SGT Dave Tracy — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 13:46:08 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member If you want to live off-post, west side in nice, but it takes a bit longer to get to post, and I see that is a concern for you. Some people are fans of far east El Paso. I lived in on-post housing in the NE/Central area, and my kids went to Travis Elementary (thats an El Paso district school), and it was fine, but I can't really compare it to the on-post schools.

I knew several other soldiers who lived off post in the surrounding NE & central El Paso areas who had no problems, despite their reputations. That said, I would suggest staying away from Dyer St at night, as it can get a bit...hmm, shall we say, "exciting" there at night? LOL. Granted, that was 6 years ago, and who knows what may have changed since?

About half the people I knew lived on-post; the others, off, and of them, some liked it (loved it in fact), others got on the on-post waiting list. Its a mixed bag. Personally, I greatly enjoyed my on-post house. It wasn't as new as those being built during and after my time there, but it was really nice. When I was leaving--again, this was nearly 6 years ago--they were rehabbing old units and building new ones. I don't want to sway you either way, but if you are set on living off post, putting in a little homework to find the right area off post will be very worth the time for you.

Ft. Bliss is one of those posts where people either love it or hate it. I loved it, and greater El Paso too. There is so much to do on and off post. Hell, I regret not taking advantage of everything I could have when I was there.

Good luck!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2018 4:44 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 16:44:51 -0400

If you do decide to live on post try to get into the Rio Bravo, La Noria or Chamizal housing it’s the only housing worth it for enlisted.

Response by SGM (R) Antonio Brown made Jul 1 at 2018 11:50 PM

SGM (R) Antonio Brown — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 23:50:17 -0400

Where to live depends on what you like to do. I know some people lived on Biggs(1AD) because it kept them close to on post activities. We lived in NE El Paso and loved it. It was 20 minute highway trip to Biggs but that was okay. We spent a lot of time downtown at the museum and shopping. I was able to find some nice gowns with shoes and jewelry for my wife at low prices. They have now connected all of the new highways around the city so trips from one side of the to the other has gotten a little faster. We moved where we did because the schools were a better. We liked El Paso but the altitude gave my wife and daughter constant nose bleeds. There are many places to eat throughout the city. It is easy to find places to take your family for free or at little cost. Main Post Bliss is designed for military personnel living on base not to go outside the gate. It has a small open air stage for concerts. Nearby is a large movie theater with a lot of shops and more to open. The area does not look like your typical Army base. You can travel from Bliss to Biggs without going through a security gate which is good.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2018 9:05 AM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 09:05:38 -0400

My wife and I got a place on the NW side of Bliss. Nice homes and neighborhoods. Like others have said, the on-post housing was lacking and while my wife and I would have preferred to be on post, we still chose off post.

Response by CH (LTC) Robert Leroe made Aug 4 at 2018 7:12 PM

CH (LTC) Robert Leroe — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 19:12:38 -0400

I did for a year in a rented house, and the homes are nice. We used evaporative, "swamp" coolers for AC. I preferred living on base for security and convenience. I was a Major at the time and the quarters were decent. I knew many who bought homes in El Paso. At the time I thought I wouldn't want to retire there but after 18 years in Massachusetts I'm ready for a warmer climate!

Response by 1SG Brian Adams made Feb 15 at 2020 12:52 PM

1SG Brian Adams — Sat, 15 Feb 2020 12:52:33 -0500

Good ol' Ft Bliss and El Paso Texas!!! Well, I did a lot of time there. It was my first duty station after Basic and AIT. Charlie Battery 3/43 Patriot Battalion, 11th Brigade...El Paso has grown a lot since I was there in 1986. I did go back to visit Ft Bliss last year and wow has El Paso grown. The East side and West side.
My advice would be, keep your wife happy! Keep your family happy. If your spouse wants to live off post, I would look for nice apartments on the East side of town for easier access in and out of the gates. Especially on PT mornings, you got to get up at O dark thirty and drive to PT. This is part of the life of a Soldier.
So I would take care of your family, get nice housing. There are some rough areas in El Paso so be sure you get a nice place and use that BAH you get to your advantage. It is also a border city with Juarez just across the Rio Grand. Be careful if you decide to take a trip down there. Don't get me wrong, I had a blast going to Mexico. In fact I met my ex wife there. Now days, you have to be careful as Americans can be targets. Your Ft Bliss intake will explain all this to you.
Good luck at Ft Bliss. Its a different place, exciting to see. New Mexico is right by you. Lots of places to see when you have your free time off.....remember, keep your family happy !!! Hoooah!!

Response by 1SG Brian Adams made Jul 11 at 2020 6:03 PM

1SG Brian Adams — Sat, 11 Jul 2020 18:03:12 -0400

I did a lot of time at Bliss and Biggs Field. El Paso has changed a lot since I was last stationed there (1999). I returned to Ft Bliss @5 years ago for the 25th anniversary of the Gulf War.
I would recommend living on the west side of town. I used to own a home just North of Coronado High School near Redd Rd...nice area. Your wife will like this area. It can be daunting driving in and out of the gates for PT days, but I have heard that you can get to a new built section of Ft Bliss off of Trans Mountain Rd. Take care of your wife and find things to do. New Mexico has ski resorts. There are numerous parks and a few lakes in the area. Hope this helps you out. I enjoyed my stay there. Good luck...hooah!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2020 10:00 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 22:00:33 -0400

The houses here in El Paso is fairly cheap. My family and I came from Germany as well. When we first got here we lived on post and actually liked it a lot. The housing area was really nice we decided to buy a house bc I will be getting out soon and after seeing some of the off post houses I believe it is really nice. I have a few friends who rent off post. Honestly I think it’s all about how comfortable are you going on and off post. The only annoying thing is the fact that the gates change all of the time in which one are open and not.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2020 10:03 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 22:03:21 -0400

Of intrested I’m off post The west side a a bit expensive but it’s were UTEP is. The fast East is actually cheaper and a new area that is still developing. I would stay away from the Northeast and maybe even enteral areas off post.