What is Fort Hood like?

2020-03-10T11:03:18-04:00

My girlfriend commissions in two months and she just received her first orders last week. She will be a signal officer at 1BCT-1CD at Hood. She reports there in November after SBOLC and I am thinking of moving down early for my graduate program. What is everyone’s experience with Fort Hood and any advice that can be giving. Most of what we have heard has been good but some of it is coming from the enlisted side or family that was there a decade ago. We are looking at living off post so any recommended areas would be appreciated as well!

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 10 at 2020 11:08 AM

2020-03-10T11:08:26-04:00

Second worst duty assignment, right after Fort Polk.

Unless you like gangs, drugs, violence and prostitution on a base surrounded by a third world ghetto, in which case it's fabulous.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2020 11:39 AM

2020-03-10T11:39:00-04:00

FT Hood is called "The Great Place"

Do not believe that lie.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 10 at 2020 11:46 AM

2020-03-10T11:46:05-04:00

Base housing

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 10 at 2020 11:48 AM

2020-03-10T11:48:35-04:00

Killeen Texas

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2020 11:52 AM

2020-03-10T11:52:07-04:00

There’s worse places you can go..

Response by Alec Roman made Mar 10 at 2020 11:54 AM

2020-03-10T11:54:48-04:00

Thank you all for the replies so far. Are the issues listed just around the Killeen area? I’ve been in the Bragg area for years now and have always felt like nothing is worse than Fayetteville, but I’ve also heard that every town right off post is pretty bad. Any recommendations on places to live off post then? Ie Temple, Georgetown, etc

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2020 12:24 PM

2020-03-10T12:24:42-04:00

The area isn’t bad, if you’re looking for a place off post check out copperas cove or Harker Heights.
The post itself isn’t bad I’m actually in 1ABCT 2-5Cav. We’ve had a crazy high optempo the past few months. If you have any specific questions feel free to ask. I’ve been there over 2 years.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2020 1:07 PM

2020-03-10T13:07:12-04:00

Spent a year there working with the Wounded Warrior unit, I did not mind it, Austin is less than an hour away, San Antonio is not that far either. Waco is close as well. It had everything I wanted, I was off post for quarters, close to the Lowes and Home Depot on that side of Killeen.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2020 1:11 PM

2020-03-10T13:11:18-04:00

Texas.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2020 2:07 PM

2020-03-10T14:07:52-04:00

I hated every minute of it. Spent it with phenomenal dudes, but hated my time there. 10/10 wouldn’t recommend. I’ve heard 3CR isn’t too bad, but 1CD is trash. Immmediate surrounding area is trash unless you get closer to Austin or Belton.
Only good things are it’s in Texas, Austin, DFW, Waco and San Antonio are pretty close.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Mar 10 at 2020 4:20 PM

2020-03-10T16:20:20-04:00

I own a home in Belton and my family and I are considering retiring there. I have seen plenty of "Killeens" in my life and is not a town I like. Belton is 20min away at the intersection of 190 and I35. Less than an hour to Austin or Waco, five hours from Dallas, and less than three from San Antonio. Other officers lived in Copperas Cove and that is a nice area as well. Where ever you live, don't expect to see a lot of her the first few years and before you move for her, be aware of that. New officers work a lot on duty and to make their OERs look good, do a lot off duty for the Army. There is good fishing and hunting in the area and I enjoyed my three years there.

Response by SSG Lonny Self made Mar 10 at 2020 4:26 PM

2020-03-10T16:26:40-04:00

its the one place that has all the elements we love to hate bad weather bad bugs lots of field time and too many troops stuffed into what was a small town in 1987 and to far from most places you would want to see

Response by WO1 Craig L Wirth made Mar 10 at 2020 4:40 PM

2020-03-10T16:40:24-04:00

I bought a house and lived in Copperas Cove just west of the Ft.

The area and assignments are OK, but look out for Jr field grade officers who try to get themselves ahead by putting you down.

The hardest part is the political games.

Good luck and enjoy everything you can.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 10 at 2020 6:53 PM

2020-03-10T18:53:55-04:00

Ft Hood is huge. The motor pool road is several miles long. The more levels of HQs it has, the crazier it becomes.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2020 7:09 PM

2020-03-10T19:09:37-04:00

Q: What is Ft Hood like?

A: Iraq

Response by SGT Christopher Hayden made Mar 10 at 2020 9:03 PM

2020-03-10T21:03:27-04:00

I don't recommended going off post after it gets dark. Actually, don't even go around on post after it gets dark.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2020 10:57 PM

2020-03-10T22:57:46-04:00

I loved training there.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2020 1:16 AM

2020-03-11T01:16:14-04:00

Its one of those places you can’t wait to leave. As a unit at least Texas is awesome. Harker heights is pretty nice, as a matter of fact anywhere except Killeen and you’re good.

Response by CSM Danny S. made Mar 11 at 2020 10:48 AM

2020-03-11T10:48:21-04:00

Hood is what you make of it. It is a large base with 45,000-ish soldiers. There are areas in Copperas Cove and Belton that are good to live in. It's not that far from Austin or Dallas. I was station there in 2004 and have been back several times since. My experience wasn't that bad.

Response by SGT Dave Matteson made Mar 11 at 2020 2:10 PM

2020-03-11T14:10:11-04:00

1st year I hated Fort Hood. I lived in Lampasas and loved it there. My second year at Hood wasn't bad because my former master gunner became my 1st SGT and I drove for him. I loved it then but I still lived in Lampasas.

Response by SSG George Holtje made Mar 11 at 2020 9:52 PM

2020-03-11T21:52:32-04:00

I recommend W FT Hood or Copperas Cove bear the Walmart. Access to stores is great. Gyms are great. Never been a civilian there but I am told there is a lot of civilian employment. Certain area are trash and should be avoided at night.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2020 5:54 AM

2020-03-14T05:54:46-04:00

Some say its one of the worst duty stations. At least in the top 5. But its the REAL Army there. Everything there is the most stereotypical norm that the Army is based off of. Fort Hood is the biggest military base in the US (maybe the world?). Everything you need is most likely right there on base. A whole lot of gyms also. REALLY good dining facilities.

I will say that its part of the "Big 3". There are 3 duty stations that are doing constant rotations to South Korea and eastern Europe (mainly Poland). Those 3 are Fort Stewart, Fort Riley, and Fort Hood. The rotations are usually 9 months. If you are single its alright. But if you are married there is a possibility that your wife will view a rotation to Poland or Germany as some kind of military vacation getaway. But that is for another topic.

Response by SSG Dennis R. made Mar 16 at 2020 4:28 AM

2020-03-16T04:28:14-04:00

I first saw Ft Hood in Oct '71 after returning from Vietnam. The post had been home to about 20,000 troops and then the 1st Cav was dropped in and suddenly there were over 45,000, mostly fresh from 'Nam and carting new wives with them. Killeen was a dry town, although Bell County was not. One had to drive to Harker Heights to get alcohol. Killeen cops were driving Rambler Matadors. There were frequent racial outbreaks. It was during this time that the military began to do away with the W.A.C.s and integrate women into previously male-only units. I left Ft Hood in Nov '74 for 13 months in Korea, only to return for another 4+ years before heading to Germany.
I last visited the post in 1998, just over 10 years after retiring. It's not a place I'd ever want to be stationed again.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2020 11:04 AM

2020-03-16T11:04:33-04:00

It’s not to bad. Avoid Killeen like the plague. Belton is super nice and lampasas county isn’t bad either.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2020 3:43 AM

2020-06-26T03:43:49-04:00

Since y’all would be on the 1st Cav side it would make sense to move towards copperas cove and those surrounding areas ETC. If driving 15 to 20 minutes to work isn’t a problem, Harker Heights isn’t a bad option.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2020 10:46 AM

2020-12-21T10:46:58-05:00

I spent 11 years at Ft Hood; a lot with 1st Cav. I truly loved being there; mostly because the soldiers who I had would actually listen and do the right thing. My family truly loved it because everything was so close by. So just make of what you will. I am heading back there soon. Just hope the gyms are open.

Response by PFC Cindy Hammack made Sep 1 at 2021 11:51 PM

2021-09-01T23:51:46-04:00

I was stationed there from 1989 - 1992 and I worked with the Corps of Engineers about 7 years ago during the construction of the new hospital so that's the point in time that I'm basing my information on..

Killeen is your typical GI town - tattoo shops, lot of used cars, and pawn shops. The PX is not very big. I think they might have a newer and larger commissary now.

Just a couple general comment/suggestions. I would not buy anything on post except groceries. If you plan to live off post, try either Harker Heights or Copperas Cove. Killeen other than what I wrote earlier, has a very high crime rate, so avoid it. If you want to buy a car go to a larger city like the Austin or Dallas area. Don't even try Waco either.

That's all I've got but, I hope it helps.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Nov 5 at 2021 4:50 PM

2021-11-05T16:50:47-04:00

Response by SGT Joshua Jennings made Feb 28 at 2022 12:42 AM

2022-02-28T00:42:36-05:00

Fort hood is the literal butthole of the army