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My first duty station is Schofield with 2-35 (B Co). I was wondering if anyone had opinions, experiences, thoughts, etc. on what it’s like being stationed here in Hawaii.
Schofield Barracks
11B: Infantryman
SPC
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
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Hawaii is beautiful. Lots to do, if you get the chance - and not just touristy stuff (though there is plenty of that, as well.) Dole Plantation, North Shore, Water Park in Kapolei is pretty decent, plenty of great hiking and biking, Ploynesian culture center, a surprising number of museums, a decent zoo. When I had the chance, relaxing at one of the lagoons at Ko Olina was great - much less crowded than Waikiki, and water is beautiful. (Of course the *ahem* "scenery" is not as good, either, so it depend on why you want to go to the beach.) Obviously surfing is world class, if you surf, but there is plenty of places to SCUBA (including getting certified) or snorkel, as well.
Schofield Barracks, however..... well, it ain't the greatest. I left there almost a decade ago, so HOPEFULLY things have improved. We had black mold in the air systems for both our offices and our barracks - the Command solution was to just issue us a spray bottle and tell us to go buy some bleach. And the folks in the barracks had to buy their own spray bottle, too. PX was tiny, and the Commissary was a joke. Cost of living is INSANE, so you really need that PX and Commissary to make your dollar stretch - but good luck making it work for you. Chow Hall was... average.
Hours were HORRIBLE and the higher level CoC (BDE and DIV) had the attitude of "It doesn't matter how much we abuse you, you are stationed in paradise so quit bitching." Lower level CoC (BN and Company) did their best, but could only shield us from so much.
Worst duty station I have had - and I was stationed at Fort Drum.
Schofield Barracks, however..... well, it ain't the greatest. I left there almost a decade ago, so HOPEFULLY things have improved. We had black mold in the air systems for both our offices and our barracks - the Command solution was to just issue us a spray bottle and tell us to go buy some bleach. And the folks in the barracks had to buy their own spray bottle, too. PX was tiny, and the Commissary was a joke. Cost of living is INSANE, so you really need that PX and Commissary to make your dollar stretch - but good luck making it work for you. Chow Hall was... average.
Hours were HORRIBLE and the higher level CoC (BDE and DIV) had the attitude of "It doesn't matter how much we abuse you, you are stationed in paradise so quit bitching." Lower level CoC (BN and Company) did their best, but could only shield us from so much.
Worst duty station I have had - and I was stationed at Fort Drum.
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SFC Domingo M.
I don't know when they went from open bays to private areas in the barracks but this is actually pretty nice now. We had partitions when I was there in the early '70s. https://www.google.com/search?q=schofield+barracks+rooms&tbm=isch&hl=en-US&client=firefox-b-1-d&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjz2Ofh7cnyAhVOQKwKHf7hCNMQrNwCKAB6BQgBENoB&biw=1349&bih=643
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Two economies the one for the locals (much less expensive but may not be food you know) and the tourist one (glitter, shiny and sucks your money away) I recommend you go to one Hawaiian Luau which has little guitar music (called a Ukulele) and Hulu Dancing. After the first time its only good when relatives visit. One good thing is the USO and MWR have free tickets sometimes but most of the time they're just discounted.
Rental cars in Hawaii are inexpensive, cheaper by the week and often less than a car payment you would make on the same model, just a couple of years older rather than brand new.
If the ground on the big island's Pohakuloa Training Area (called PTA) starts to get hot and your boots begin to smolder it's time to vacant the area. There may be a lava tube under your feet - Just kidding since it hasn't happened since ... oh yeah there is an active eruption going on right now.
Enjoy yourself and don't mess it up as it will not happen again.
Rental cars in Hawaii are inexpensive, cheaper by the week and often less than a car payment you would make on the same model, just a couple of years older rather than brand new.
If the ground on the big island's Pohakuloa Training Area (called PTA) starts to get hot and your boots begin to smolder it's time to vacant the area. There may be a lava tube under your feet - Just kidding since it hasn't happened since ... oh yeah there is an active eruption going on right now.
Enjoy yourself and don't mess it up as it will not happen again.
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SFC Domingo M.
During my time there alerts were a common thing. They would lock us in, block all exits from the Quads and post MP's, and sometimes we even got trucked or bused to an airfield and in the air for a couple of laps and then come back down, return to the barracks and the alert was called off. This was in 1972 and '74 1st BN 19th Inf Bde.
I used to love those early morning runs around the main post and especially the special runs up to Kole Kole Pass. If anyone reading this was there during the same period, I was the one who didn't want to wait for transportation to show up and ran back down the hill and still made it back before those who waited.
The East range (Kahuku mountains) is where you might spend much of your time if you are 11B. Then there's the Big Island at the PTA (Pohakuloa Training Area) I got bored after two years and requested an ITT (inter-theater-transfer) and went back to Korea. I only served two of the three-year assignment there. I and two of my friends got a place off-post on the beach in Waiale'A on the North Shore. We had our backyard and then about 50 meters of sand to the water. I guess it just gets old when you can drive 30 minutes in any direction and run into water.
Since I'm older now, I realize just how privileged I was to have been stationed at Schoefield Barracks. I hope the government never decides to put it on the hatchet list. Schofield Barracks should always remain as a reminder of when the Japanese attacked and all the destruction they caused. Those Quad barracks should be placed on the historical list for all times.
Enjoy your tour there and make the best of it. There are some fun times to be had.
I used to love those early morning runs around the main post and especially the special runs up to Kole Kole Pass. If anyone reading this was there during the same period, I was the one who didn't want to wait for transportation to show up and ran back down the hill and still made it back before those who waited.
The East range (Kahuku mountains) is where you might spend much of your time if you are 11B. Then there's the Big Island at the PTA (Pohakuloa Training Area) I got bored after two years and requested an ITT (inter-theater-transfer) and went back to Korea. I only served two of the three-year assignment there. I and two of my friends got a place off-post on the beach in Waiale'A on the North Shore. We had our backyard and then about 50 meters of sand to the water. I guess it just gets old when you can drive 30 minutes in any direction and run into water.
Since I'm older now, I realize just how privileged I was to have been stationed at Schoefield Barracks. I hope the government never decides to put it on the hatchet list. Schofield Barracks should always remain as a reminder of when the Japanese attacked and all the destruction they caused. Those Quad barracks should be placed on the historical list for all times.
Enjoy your tour there and make the best of it. There are some fun times to be had.
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Suspended Profile
Hawaii is the best duty station in the Army. Congrats! I was on an infantry battalion (though I was an FA officer) and life is really solid overall for 11B…the units are often really good and you are living in paradise.
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