Army Wife Network’s
Post with the Most
Fort Knox, KY

Each month here at Army Wife Network, we do a segment that highlights an Army installation.  We do this so we can provide you with as much information about a post as possible.  We also call on you, our loyal AWN fans, to help us compile this information and give us a personal look at what life is like at each post.  Look for these spouse’s personal comments in red below.

This month we are taking a look at Fort Knox, Kentucky. More than $6 billion worth of gold is stored in the Ft Knox Depository or the “Gold Vault.” Here is what you need to know about Fort Knox!

GENERAL INFORMATION

Major Units/What Post is “known for” (i.e. basic training, AIT, MP Headquarters etc):

Fort Knox is home to the following units:

3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command 
19th Engineer Battalion
4th Cavalry Brigade
95th Training Division
113th Army Band
Ireland Army Community Hospital MEDDAC
84th Training Command
United States Army Recruiting Command
United States Army Human Resources Command
United States Army Cadet Command
Army Reserve Readiness Training Center
100th Training Division
11th Aviation Command

Name of Surrounding Cities:

Radcliff, Kentucky: 1.6 miles from Fort Knox
Elizabethtown, Kentucky: 12.5 miles from Fort Knox

Closest MAJOR City:

Louisville, KY – 40 miles from Fort Knox

Names of Area Colleges:

The following colleges and universities have classes available at the Fort Knox education center: Elizabethtown Community & Technical College, Western Kentucky University, Sullivan University, Central Texas College, and University of Louisville.

The main campus of Elizabethtown Community & Technical College is located in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, approximately 13 miles from Fort Knox.

The main campus of University of Louisville is located in Louisville, Kentucky, approximately 38 miles from Fort Knox.

Weather:

The warm season in Fort Knox runs from the end of May to the end of September with an average daily temperature of 77°F. The cold season in Fort Knox runs from November 30 to February 25 with an average daily temperature of 50°F.

Time Difference:  Eastern Time Zone

POST INFORMATION

Post Website:  http://www.knox.army.mil/

Map: http://www.knox.army.mil/about/docs/knox_map.pdf

Historical Facts/Landmarks on post: 

Fort Knox is home to the Buillon Depository, part of the US Treasury Department. It is also home to The Patton Museum. More information about the museum can be found here: http://www.generalpatton.org/. Information on the history of Fort Knox can be found here: http://www.knox.army.mil/About/History.aspx.

Housing:

On post housing is managed by Knox Hills. Information about on post housing can be found at https://www.knoxhills.com/.

“Housing here is not bad, I got a lot of space for the money we pay. And our neighbors are constantly rotating out so we always get a diverse group coming through here. The neighborhood I live in isn’t bad and we are close to things my kids can walk to like the mini golf course, Devers [Middle School and Teen Center], and shopette.” -Shanna, Military Spouse.

Major realty/rental companies in the area:

Coldwell Banker is one of the largest real estate offices in the Fort Knox area. Their website is https://www.coldwellbanker.com/real_estate/home_search/KY/Fort+Knox.

SCHOOLS

School Liaison Officer:  

The School Liaison Officer for Fort Knox can be contacted at (502) 624-2305 or Knox.School.Liaison@conus.army.mil.

Districts: 

Schools on Fort Knox are part of the DODEA school district. Their website can be found at www.am.dodea.edu/knox/FKCSCO. In order to attend the Fort Knox schools, students must live on post or obtain a 180-day waiver from Knox Hills stating that you are awaiting on post housing.

Off-Post Districts

Hardin County schools: www.hardin.k12.ky.us
Meade County schools: www.meade.k12.ky.us
Elizabethtown Independent schools: www.etown.k12.ky.us

Elementary

Van Voorhis Elementary School: http://www.am.dodea.edu/knox/vanvoorhis/index.htm
Macdonald Elementary School: http://www.am.dodea.edu/knox/macdonald/index.htm

Construction of the new Kingsolver-Pierce Elementary School is underway with a projected opening date of August 2016. The new elementary school will replace all existing elementary schools on Fort Knox and will house all on post students from grades preK-5th.

Middle

Scott Middle School: http://www.am.dodea.edu/knox/scott/index.htm

Students at Scott Middle School and Fort Knox High School must adhere to the school dress codes. Information for the middle school’s dress code can be found here: http://www.am.dodea.edu/knox/scott/new%20docs/DRESS%20CODE%202014-15.pdf.

High School

Fort Knox High School: http://www.am.dodea.edu/knox/high_school/

Students at Scott Middle School and Fort Knox High School must adhere to the school dress codes. Information for the high school’s dress code can be found here: http://www.am.dodea.edu/knox/FKCSCO/Pages/Dress_Code_rev_17_May_2012.pdf.

Adult Education

http://www.knox.army.mil/Garrison/dhr/aces/Default.aspx

ON POST SERVICES

Youth Services:

http://www.knoxmwr.com/centerChildYouthbrSchoolServicescenter/tabid/288/Default.aspx 

Army Community Service (ACS):

http://www.knoxmwr.com/centerACScenter/tabid/287/Default.aspx

PX: 

http://www.knox.army.mil/fk/guide/support.aspx                                     

Commissary:

http://www.commissaries.com/stores/html/store.cfm?dodaac=HQCCAN

On-Post Library:

Barr Memorial Library – http://www.knoxmwr.com/centerRecreationbrLeisurecenter/BarrMemorialLibrary/tabid/98/Default.aspx

MWR Website:

http://www.knoxmwr.com/Home/tabid/36/Default.aspx

Hospital: 

Ireland Army Community Hospital –
http://www.iach.knox.amedd.army.mil/body.asp?M=3&PI=141&HS=False&HL=False

Spouses Clubs:

Fort Knox Spouses and Community Club –
http://fortknoxscc.org/

Chaplain & Religious Services/Organizations:

http://www.knox.army.mil/Garrison/supportoffices/rso/Default.aspx

OFF-POST INFORMATION

Restaurants:

Christie’s Cafe, Radcliff “They have the best burgers in town.” -Shanna, Military Spouse
Song’s Korean Restaurant, Radcliff
Good Taste- Chinese take out, Radcliff
Back Home Restaurant, Elizabethtown

Best place to get your hair/nails done:

Apex Hair Salon, Radcliff
Pink Cinnamon Salon, Elizabethtown

Shopping/malls:

There are many antiques stores in the Fort Knox area. Elizabethtown has a small shopping mall called Towne Mall and a large strip of stores such as Barnes & Noble, Old Navy, and Michael’s. Larger malls such as The Mall St Matthews can be found in Louisville.

Hidden Gems:

Red Brick Cottage
Saunders Springs
Army Community Service (ACS)

Must Do:

Louisville Slugger Museum, Louisville
Kentucky Science Center, Louisville
Mammoth Cave National Park
Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Louisville
Kentucky Kingdom Amusement Park, Louisville
Saunders Springs Park, Radcliff

There are many local events in the Fort Knox area and you can find something to do every weekend using the web sites www.elizabethtownfamily.com and www.louisvillefamilyfun.net.

THOUGHTS FROM SPOUSES:

“I cannot say enough about how wonderful living on Fort Knox was! I worked for Army Community Service, and they were some of the hardest working people that I ever got to know.  Everyone rallied around my husband’s unit (3-1 BCT) when they got back from their first deployment.  I will never forget that.  Amazing post and would go back in a heartbeat!” –Military Spouse, Robyn Mroszczyk

THANK YOU

Army Wife Network would like to thank the following spouses for their help in creating this Post with the Most segment:

Shanna Graham                  Susie Arevalo                      Sandra Baker

 If you have something to add about Fort Knox, please feel free to add your comments below!

Army Wife Network’s 
Post with the Most
Camp Zama, Japan

Each month here at Army Wife Network, we do a segment that highlights an Army installation. We do this so we can provide you with as much information about a post as possible. We also call on you, our loyal AWN fans, to help us compile this information and give us a personal look at what life is like at each post. Look for these spouse’s personal comments in red below.

This month we are taking a look at Camp Zama, Japan. Camp Zama is located 25 miles from Tokyo and is the Army component of US Forces Japan (USARJ), and a subcomponent of US Army Pacific. Here is what you need to know about Camp Zama, Japan!

GENERAL INFORMATION
Major Units/What Post is “known for” (i.e. basic training, AIT, MP Headquarters etc):

United States Army Garrison Japan

Honshu: 
35 CSSB
78th Signal Battalion
83rd Ordnance Battalion
88th MP Detachment
Military Police Battalion
Public Health Command District – Japan
Public Health Command District – Pacific
US Army Aviation Battalion – Japan
USARJ & I Corps, FWD – Special Troops Battalion
USARJ Band
US Army Dental Activity
US Army Engineer District

Okinawa:
1-1 ADA Regiment
10th Regional Support Group

Name of Surrounding Cities:

Yamato
Machida
Ebina
Atsugi
Ayase

Closest MAJOR City:

Tokyo – Approx. 25 miles

Weather:

The weather is similar to that of the United States’ mid-atlantic east coast.

Time Difference: There is a 13-hour time difference between Japan and the East Coast of the US. Japan is in the JST Time Zone.

POST INFORMATION

Post Website: http://www.usarj.army.mil/

Map: http://www.usarj.army.mil/japan-map-h.html (Honshu) and http://www.usarj.army.mil/japan-map-o.html (Okinawa)
http://www.usagj.jp.pac.army.mil/welcome/guide.aspx#maps

Historical Facts/Landmarks on post:

http://www.usarj.army.mil/history.aspx

Housing:

http://www.usagj.jp.pac.army.mil/organization/pw/housing.aspx

Adult Education:

Education Center:
U.S. Army Garrison, Japan, Unit 45006, Bldg. 278
ATTN: IMPA-JA-HR-E
APO, AP 96343-5006
Phone 011-81-46-407-3015
Phone (DSN) 315-263-3015
Fax 011-81-46-407-5306
Fax (DSN) 315-263-5306
Central Texas College
University of Maryland
University of Phoenix

Schools

School Liaison Officer:

Districts:

Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDs) – http://www.dodea.edu/
http://www.dodea.edu/Pacific/Schools/index.cfm

Elementary

Arnn Elementary School – http://www.arnn-es.pac.dodea.edu/
Lanham Elementary School – http://www.lanham-es.pac.dodea.edu/

Middle School

Zama American Middle School – http://www.zama-ms.pac.dodea.edu/

High School

Zama American High School – http://www.zama-hs.pac.dodea.edu/

Youth Services:

http://www.armymwrjapan.com/cyss

Army Community Service (ACS):

http://www.armymwrjapan.com/army-family-team-building

PX:

http://www.shopmyexchange.com/ExchangeLocations/CampZamaStore.htm

Commissary:

https://www.commissaries.com/stores/html/store.cfm

On-Post Library:

http://www.armymwrjapan.com/new-media-zama

MWR Website:

http://www.armymwrjapan.com/

Hospital:

BG Crawford F. Sams US Army Health Clinic –
http://www.usarj.army.mil/organization/meddac/

Spouses Clubs:

https://www.facebook.com/ZaCSA

Chaplain & Religious Services/Organizations:

http://www.usarj.army.mil/organization/stb/chaplain.aspx

OFF-POST INFORMATION

Restaurants:

Great Blog by FoodJapan about some of the best places to eat in the Camp Zama area:
http://foodjapan.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=80:day-9-us-army-camp-zama&catid=34:blog&Itemid=66

HELPFUL OVERSEAS PCS TIPS:

http://www.usarj.army.mil/information/overseas/info.aspx#Child Care

For more information on what to do when you arrive, what to eat, do, learn, where to live, and travel while in Japan, check out Okinawa Hai.

THANK YOU

Army Wife Network would like to thank the following spouses for their help in creating this Post with the Most segment:

If you have something to add about Camp Zama, Japan, please feel free to add your comments below!

Army Wife Network’s
Post with the Most
Fort Gordon, GA

Each month here at Army Wife Network, we do a segment that highlights an Army installation.  We do this so we can provide you with as much information about a post as possible.  We also call on you, our loyal AWN fans, to help us compile this information and give us a personal look at what life is like at each post.  Look for these spouse’s personal comments in red below.

This month we are taking a look at Fort Gordon, Georgia.  Fort Gordon is an installation that has a lot to offer based on its location.  There is always something to do when you are only 138 miles from Charleston, SC and Myrtle Beach, about 2 hours from Atlanta, and 122 miles from the historic streets of Savannah, GA.  Here is what you need to know about Fort Gordon!

GENERAL INFORMATION
Major Units/What Post is “known for” (i.e. basic training, AIT, MP Headquarters etc):  
Fort Gordon is home to the following units:

116th Military Intelligence Group 
15th Regimental Signal Brigade
202nd Military Intelligence Battalion
206th Military Intelligence Battalion
297th Military Intelligence Battalion
31st Intelligence Squadron
35th Military Police Detachment
35th Signal Brigade
369th Signal Battalion
442nd Signal Battalion
447th Signal Battalion
513th Military Intelligence Brigade
551st Signal Battalion
63rd Signal Battalion
67th Signal Battalion
73rd Ordnance Battalion
Company D, Marine Support Battalion
Detachment 1, 338th Training Squadron
Navy Information Operations Command Georgia
US Army Signal Corps Band

Name of Surrounding Cities:

Augusta, GA
Grovetown, GA
Evans, GA
Martinez, GA

“Evans, GA is a township outside Augusta that was recently named one of the top 25 places with affordable home to live in the US by CNN money and top 50 places to live in the US.” – Military Spouse, Naomi Fenn

Closest MAJOR City:

Charleston, SC – Approx. 138 miles
Columbia, SC – Approx. 1 hour
Atlanta, GA – Approx. 2 hours
Savannah, GA – Approx. 122 miles
Charlotte, NC – Approx. 3 hours

Names of Area Colleges:

Augusta State University
Paine College
Augusta Technical College
Aiken Technical College
The Medical College of GA
University of South Carolina at Aiken
Georgia Regents University
Georgia Military College
Brenau University
Troy University
University of Phoenix

Weather:

“VERY hot and VERY humid in the summer. Very mild winters.” – Military Spouse, Naomi Fenn

“Hot and humid in summer; winter is chilly but not horrible. Watch out for the allergies in spring and fall!” – Military Spouse, Teresa Hopkins

Time Difference:  Eastern Time Zone

POST INFORMATION

Post Website:  http://www.gordon.army.mil/

Map:  http://www.fortgordon.com/directory_map.php#map

Historical Facts/Landmarks on post:

You can find an account of the history of Fort Gordon at the following link: http://www.gordon.army.mil/history.htm

Housing:

Housing on Fort Gordon is operated by Balfour Beatty
http://www.ftgordonfamilyhousing.com/

“Off post housing is very affordable here especially if you want to buy a home. The area has seen significant growth in new homes being built. We also live within walking distance of Evans Towne Center where there is a locsl farmers market and various festivals concerts throughout the year. There is an abundance of affordable off post rentals off base. There also is a ton of brand new houses being built right outside one of the gates here.” – Military Spouse, Naomi Fenn

Realty Companies:

Blanchard and Calhoun http://www.blanchardandcalhoun.com/
Meybohm Realtors http://www.meybohm.com/
Century 21 Larry Miller- http://www.c21larrymiller.com/

Adult Education:  

http://www.gordon.army.mil/aces/

Schools:  

School Liaison Officer:  

http://www.gordon.army.mil/school_liaison/Default.htm

Districts:  

Columbia County – http://www.ccboe.net
Richmond County – http://www.rcboe.org
Aiken County (South Carolina) – http://www.aiken.k12.sc.us

Elementary & Middle School On-Post

Freedom Park School (Richmond County) http://freedompark.rcboe.org/

“Ft. Gordon sits between two counties Richmond County and Columbia County. Pretty much everyone here will tell you to put your kids in Columbia County schools they are some of the best schools in the state. Columbia County is a rapidly expanding and flush with money and they have put a lot of money into their schools and its shows. Several schools are new which means new equipment. They also are very military friendly will work with you. Every time we have lived here we have always lived in the Columbia county school district and have never been disappointed with the education our children have received. Greenbrier HS has an extensive extracurricular activities program and extensive sports program.  Lakeside HS which is also in Columbia County was named one of the top 250 schools in the United States by US News and World Report.” – Military Spouse, Naomi Fenn

Youth Services:

http://www.gordon.army.mil/school_liaison/programs.htm

Army Community Service (ACS):

http://www.gordon.army.mil/acs/

PX:  

http://www.shopmyexchange.com/ExchangeLocations/FtGordonStore.htm

Commissary:

http://www.commissaries.com/stores/html/store.cfm?dodaac=HQCSJZ

On-Post Library:

Fort Gordon Woodworth Consolidated Library – http://gordon.army.mil/library/

MWR Website:

http://www.fortgordon.com/

Hospital:  

Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center – http://www.ddeamc.amedd.army.mil/

Spouses Clubs:

Fort Gordon Spouses & Civilians Club – http://www.fgscc.com/

Chaplain & Religious Services/Organizations:

http://www.gordon.army.mil/chaplain/

OFF-POST INFORMATION

Restaurants:

Bees Knees
Blue Sky Kitchen
Rhinehart’s Oyster Bar
The Pizza Joint
Poblano’s Mexican Grill
T-Bonz
French Market Grille

Best place to get your hair/nails done:

Modish Salon
Fringe Hair Salon
His and Her Hair Salon

Shopping/malls:

Augusta Mall
Mullins Crossing
Augusta Exchange

Must Do:

Augusta Canal Cruise
Kayak the Augusta Canal
Attend the “Arts in the Hearts” festival in the fall
Attend the Border Bash (It is in honor of the GA/SC game every year. It’s a HUGE thing here and a lot of fun).
Attend the Masters (It is held in April)
Morris Museum of Art
The Augusta Greenjackets – Minor League Baseball

THOUGHTS FROM SPOUSES:

“The Fort Gordon/Augusta area is great place to be stationed. There is no shortage of things to keep you busy locally. The area is very military friendly probably more military friendly then a lot of other places we have been. Fort Gordon has one of the most robust MWR programs I have seen anywhere in the Army from an indoor/outdoor swimming pools, riding stables, bingo hall, camping grounds, and etc to an extensive CYS program. The base itself has its shortcomings and I am not going to lie trying to get anything done can be very frustrating as customer service on the base is probably the worst I have seen anywhere in the Army but the local area and everything off base has to offer makes up for it.” – Military Spouse, Naomi Fenn

THANK YOU

Army Wife Network would like to thank the following spouses for their help in creating this Post with the Most segment:

Naomi Fenn            Teresa Hopkins

If you have something to add about Fort Gordon, please feel free to add your comments below!

Army Wife Network’s
Post with the Most
Baumholder, Germany

Each month here at Army Wife Network, we do a segment that highlights an Army installation. We do this so we can provide you with as much information about a post as possible. We also call on you, our loyal AWN fans, to help us compile this information and give us a personal look at what life is like at each post. Look for these spouse’s personal comments in red below.

This month we are taking a look at Baumholder, Germany. Baumholder, also known as “The Rock” is located in the Western Palatinate in the German Federal State of Rheinland-Pfalz. This installation plans and executes force protection operations, deployment support operations, garrison support operations, and German-American relations. Here is what you need to know about Baumholder, Germany!

GENERAL INFORMATION
Major Units/What Post is “known for” (i.e. basic training, AIT, MP Headquarters etc):
Baumholder is home to the following units:

102nd Signal NEC 
16th Sustainment Brigade
240th Quartermaster
24th Brigade Support Battalion
317th Maintenance Company
421st Multifunctional Medical Battalion
515th Transportation Unit
51st Transportation Company
720th EOD
92ND Military Police Company
United States Army Garrison Baumholder
US Army Dental Clinic
US Army Health Clinic
30th Medical Command
Warrior Transition Unit
405th ASFB LRC

Name of Surrounding Cities:

Kusel, Germany
Landstuhl, Germany (30 min.)
Ramstein, Germany (30 min.)
Idar Oberstein, Germany

Closest MAJOR City:

Kaiserslautern, Germany – Approx. 45 minutes
Mannheim, Germany – Approx. 1 hour and 15 min.
Frankfurt, Germany – Approx. 1 hour and 45 min.
Luxembourg – Approx. 1 hour and 30 min.

Weather:

“It rains often here (“Baum” translates to wet). Last winter was the worst winter the area had seen. It tends to be overcast and high 60s.” – Military Spouse, Allyson Williams

“Overcast 60% of the time and the other 40% is a mix between snow and sun.” – Military Spouse, Nicole West

Time Difference:
Germany is 6 hours ahead of the Eastern Time Zone here in the United States. So if it is 6:00 am in Atlanta, GA – it is noon in Germany.

POST INFORMATION

Post Website: http://www.baumholder.army.mil/sites/local/

Map:
None Found

Historical Facts/Landmarks on post:
http://www.baumholder.army.mil/sites/local/HisIndex.asp

Housing:
Baumholder Housing Division – Building 8745, Phone – 011-49-6783-66137

On-Post Housing – Housing on base is limited – there are only 2 housing complexes

Off-Post Housing Guide – http://www.baumholder.army.mil/sites/newcomers/OffPostHousing.pdf

“There are 2 housing complexes, Wezel and Smith. It is stairwell housing, as they turned old barracks into family style apartments. Most of the housing is in the process of being updated (now that the closure of the base was revoked a couple years ago). Most of the apartments have hardwood floors, upgraded kitchens with a dishwasher and American stove, and a washer and dryer in the unit.” – Military Spouse, Allyson Williams

Adult Education:

Baumholder Education Center – Building 8332, Smith Barracks – Phone – 011-49-6783-66484
https://www.goarmyed.com/public/facility_pages/Baumholder_Geo_Ed_Center/default.asp

University of Maryland
Central Texas College
University of Oklahoma
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
University of Phoenix

Schools:

School Liaison Officer:

Location: Building 8743, 2nd Floor, Health Clinic Complex, Phone – 011-49-6783-66968
http://www.baumholder.army.mil/sites/SLO/SLO.pdf

Districts:

DODDS School District – http://www.dodea.edu/Europe/

“There are two elementary schools: Smith Elementary and Wetzel Elementary; both are grades 1-6. The two schools come together in Baumholder Middle/High School for grades 7-12. Wetzel Elementary and Baumholder Middle/High School are located on Wetzel. Smith Elementary is located on Smith Barracks.” – Military Spouse, Allyson Williams

Elementary

Smith Elementary School – http://www.baum-ess.eu.dodea.edu/
Wetzel Elementary School – http://www.baum-esw.eu.dodea.edu/

Middle & High School

Baumholder American High School – http://www.dodea.edu/Europe/Kaiserslautern/Baumholder/BaumholderMHS/index.cfm/

Youth Services:
http://www.baumholder.armymwr.com/index.php/europe/baumholder/programs/child-youth-and-school-services-cyss/

Army Community Service (ACS) –
http://www.baumholderacs.blogspot.com/

PX:
http://www.shopmyexchange.com/exchangelocations/BaumholderStore.htm

Commissary:
http://www.commissaries.com/stores/html/store.cfm?dodaac=HQCE27

On-Post Library:
http://www.library.eur.army.mil/locations/baumholder/

MWR Website:
http://www.baumholder.armymwr.com/index.php/europe/baumholder/

Hospital:
Baumholder Army Health Clinic – http://ermc.amedd.army.mil/baumholder/index.cfm

Spouses Clubs:
Baumholder Community Spouses Club – http://baumholdercsc.wordpress.com/
Find them on FaceBook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Baumholder-Community-Spouses-Club/338895639531316

Chaplain & Religious Services/Organizations:
http://www.baumholder.army.mil/sites/local/ChapelIndex.asp

OFF-POST INFORMATION

Restaurants:

Afrin Kebab
Café Dolomiten
Chuckwagen
Cihan’s Kebab House
Gasthaus Guthausmuhle
Hong Kong 97
Hotel Berghof
Hotel Westrich
Hotel Zum Stern
Landhotel Ullrich
Pizzeria Etna
Pizzeria & Pasteria
Ristorante Italia Pizza
Subway
Zum Stadtkrug (Steakhouse)
Portofino
Zur Dicken Emma – Ramstein

“Do not, I repeat: DO NOT, leave Germany without having a Doner Kebab at least once – they are life changing. Stadtkrug is an amazing steak house & inside they have hung license plates all over the walls from all over the US.” – Military Spouse, Amy Matney

“ZUR dicken EMMA in Ramstein is delish and worth the drive since the food is HUGE, literally huge! You can do the EMMA challenge: drink the giant glass filled with 3 liters of beer and eat your plate of a 32 oz. steak plus sides or the full size burger which was bigger than someone’s head. It is a great outing if you want to par-take in the challenge or just get a good meal.” – Military Spouse, Nicole West

Best place to get your hair/nails done:

The Salon on Ramstein AFB
Many find a local spouse who does hair/nails – ask around for recommendations

Shopping/malls:

Saarbrucken – Mall
Ikea
Kik – Clothing store
Mall on Ramstein AFB

Must Do:

Oktoberfest!
Kusel Castle
Beer Tour in Belgium
Military Resort in Garmisch, Germany – Edelweiss – http://www.edelweisslodgeandresort.com/

THOUGHTS FROM SPOUSES:

“Be open-minded. Life on “the rock” is far from easy–but we’re all in this together. Make friends, get out of the house, and make memories. Jobs are hard to come across here–if you are considering heading back to school (or wanting to start school), now is a better time than ever.” – Military Spouse, Allyson Williams

“While we lived in Germany, I didn’t follow a lot of my own advice & complained a lot about our time there while we were there. In hindsight, I would go back in a heartbeat, no questions asked. Every duty station is what you make of it – so make an effort to enjoy your time abroad and you will have memories that will last you a lifetime.” – Military Spouse, Amy Matney

“I can not stress it enough…..TRAVEL, TRAVEL, TRAVEL!!!!! Bamholder doesn’t have a lot and it may not be the best base to be stationed at. One thing Baumholder is, is the great place to travel from! You can take the train to Paris in under 3 hours! (we went 4 times in our 1 ½ years there) Just GO, you will not be disappointed!!!” –  Military Spouse, Nicole West

HELPFUL OVERSEAS PCS TIPS:

“1.)  Be patient. Jobs are few, but the friends you will make over here are for a lifetime. This is Germany, slow down and enjoy it.
2.)  Nothing is instant over here. Don’t be so determined to finish all your “to-do’s” in one day that you skip over doing some research. Contracts here are usually for 2 years with the ability for the company to renew without you asking.
3.)  VAT Forms: There is a 19% tax here. But with a VAT form, you can have that 19% back. Head to the VAT office located at the CMR and pick some up!
4.)  Be prepared. Have a folder with everything related to the PCS. Every place you go for the first time usually wants a copy of your orders.
5.)  Ship everything with PLENTY of time (if you can). We only had 1 month notice to get here, and waited for 2 months for our HHG’s once we were here. If you can have your HHG’s packed ahead of time and bunk with family/friends–DO IT!
6.)  Get into the Health Clinic. They are working towards becoming a PCMH facility–meaning you can only see your primary care provider so a relationship is established. The sooner you get into the clinic (even if it’s for an initial look over), the less likely it is that you will struggle to get an appointment when you fall under the weather.” – Military Spouse, Allyson Williams

“Use the lending closet at ACS to help you with odds & ends (pots, pans, microwave). The government will provide furniture for you either temporarily or for your entire time in Germany.”- Military Spouse, Amy Matney

“Overseas isn’t America! Don’t expect to have all the luxuries you had in the states. Enjoy your time in Europe! Travel as much as you can, see new places, try new things. You won’t be sorry you traveled too much or tried something new, you will be sorry if you stayed on base and didn’t get to see what Germany and Europe has to offer.” – Military Spouse, Nicole West

For more information on what to do when you arrive, what to eat, do, learn, where to live, and travel while in Germany, check out Germany Ja.

THANK YOU

Army Wife Network would like to thank the following spouses for their help in creating this Post with the Most segment:

Allyson Williams    Amy Matney     Nicole West

If you have something to add about Camp Humphreys, please feel free to add your comments below!

Army Wife Network’s
Post with the Most
Fort Polk, LA

Each month here at Army Wife Network, we do a segment that highlights an Army installation. We do this so we can provide you with as much information about a post as possible. We also call on you, our loyal AWN fans, to help us compile this information and give us a personal look at what life is like at each post. Look for these spouse’s personal comments in red below.

This month we are taking a look at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Fort Polk is home to the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). Right outside the main gate you will find the towns of Leesville and Deridder, and is better known as the “crossroads.” Louisiana is also unique in that instead of having counties like most states, they have parishes. Here is what you need to know about Fort Polk!

GENERAL INFORMATION
Major Units/What Post is “known for” (i.e. basic training, AIT, MP Headquarters etc):
Fort Polk is home to the following units:

HQ JRTC – Joint Readiness Training Command 
115th Combat Support Hospital
162nd INF BDE – FSF – TT
1st BN, 509th Infantry Battalion
1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division
519th Military Police Battalion
DENTAC
MEDDAC (Bayne-Jones Army Hospital)
Operations Group (OPSGRP)
Veterinary

Name of Surrounding Cities:

Deridder, LA
Leesville, LA

Closest MAJOR City:

Alexandria, LA – Approx. 45 minutes
Lake Charles, LA – Approx. 70 minutes
Shreveport, LA – Approx. 2 hours
Baton Rouge, LA – Approx. 2.5 hours
New Orleans, LA – Approx. 4 hours

Names of Area Colleges:

Central Michigan College (On-Post)
Central Texas College (On-Post)
Louisiana State University (LSU – On-Post)
Upper Iowa University (On-Post)
Northwestern State University (On-Post)
McNeese University

Weather:

“Mild, swampy! HOT, HOT, HOT, in summer” – Military Spouse, Alison Dunham

“We do have four seasons here. Our winters just are not very long. I have not seen it get any colder than 30 lol, so I don’t really know if that’s actually called a winter or not, but it feels cold to us. Summers are HOT!!!, and humid. Only thing we really watch out for here are Tropical Storms and Hurricanes, but we are so far inland we just get a lot of rain, tornados, and lose power.” – Military Spouse, Jaime Parker

Time Difference: Central Time Zone

POST INFORMATION

Post Website: http://www.jrtc-polk.army.mil/

Map: http://polk.corviasmilitaryliving.com/relocating/explore-our-community/map-of-this-post

Historical Facts/Landmarks on post:

You can read more about the history of Fort Polk at this link:
http://www.jrtc-polk.army.mil/JRTC-Polk_NEW/sites/about/history.asp

Housing:

Polk.CorviasMilitaryLiving.com

“Housing here is being updating drastically. This year they tore down a bunch of houses and are building brand new houses. They have remodeled the others for the most part. I live in a very nice 5 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 car garage. We have a huge yard and a fenced in back yard. They moved us into this house when they tore down our old house. Our maintenance crew here in Dogwood are great. They are really nice and always quick to fix whatever needs to be fixed. There are older houses on the outside so don’t be too shocked when you get here. They are new on the inside, plus the community centers are amazing!! Playroom for kids while you workout, because the gyms here on post do not offer daycare. They have a huge room for parties, video room, and you can come in and play pool with the family. A computer room, fax and printer all for free. They really try to help the families here.” – Military Spouse, Jaime Parker

“Varied new and old on post, DeRidder is closest ‘bedroom community’ and has lots to offer families and a variety of neighborhoods that are affordable.” – Military Spouse, Alison Dunham

Major realty/rental companies in the area:
Rentals:
Delia Century 21

Buying:
Candice Skinner Realty
Coldwell Banker
Gold Realty
ERA
Tracey R. Wrisper

Adult Education:

Fort Polk Education and Learning Center:
http://www.jrtc-polk.army.mil/JRTC-Polk_NEW/sites/services/EducationCenter.asp

Schools:

School Liaison Officer:
http://www.fortpolkcyss.com/

“A lot of parents here homeschool. The Home Schooling community here is large and active.”
Military Spouse, Jaime Parker

Districts:

Vernon Parish: http://www.vpsb.k12.la.us/ (On-Post Elementary Schools are a part of this parish district)
Beauregard Parish: http://www.beau.k12.la.us/

Elementary

North Polk Elementary School (On-Post / Pre-K – 1st) – http://vernonparish.northpolk.schooldesk.net/
South Polk Elementary (On-Post / 2nd – 4th) – http://vernonparish.southpolk.schooldesk.net/

Middle

Leesville Junior High (Services on-post families) – http://vernonparish.leesvillejhs.schooldesk.net/

Vernon Middle School (Services on-post families) – http://vernonparish.vernonms.schooldesk.net/

High School

Pickering High School (Services on-post families) – http://vernonparish.pickeringhs.schooldesk.net/

Youth Services:

http://fortpolkmwr.com/cys_services

Army Community Service (ACS) –

http://www.jrtc-polk.army.mil/ACS/index.htm

PX:

http://www.shopmyexchange.com/ExchangeLocations/FtPolkStore.htm

Commissary:

http://www.commissaries.com/stores/html/store.cfm?dodaac=HQCSKB

On-Post Library:

Allen Memorial Library – http://fortpolkmwr.com/allen_memorial_library

MWR Website:

http://fortpolkmwr.com/home

“Post has a great library, a fun splash park, playground, and lots of festivals. The community centers are great! They also have an awesome arts and craft center.” – Military Spouse, Paula Garner

Hospital:

Bayne-Jones Memorial Hospital – http://www.polk.amedd.army.mil/

Spouses Clubs:

Fort Polk Spouses Club – http://www.fortpolkspousesclub.com/
Chaplain & Religious Services/Organizations:
http://www.jrtc-polk.army.mil/Garrison/chaplain/index.htm

OFF-POST INFORMATION

Restaurants:

Booker Lewis House – Romantic Spot
Cecil’s
Double D Steakhouse
Presley’s BBQ
P’s Seafood & Steakhouse
Mexico Lindo
HANAS

Best place to get your hair/nails done:

Fleur de Shearz
Queen Nails
Sean’s
Solar Nails

Shopping/malls:

You can find Malls / Shopping areas in Alexandria and Lake Charles

“NONE! If you can’t get it at WalMart, you can’t have it in SWLA! But Houston is a fun shopping trip and DeRidder has LOTS of quaint local gift shops.” – Military Spouse, Alison Dunham

Hidden Gems:

“Hodges Gardens in Florien, LA is a lovely botanical garden, Toledo Bend Recreation areas offer lots of camping and boating, Lake Charles has a vibrant downtown Lakefront, and Mardi Gras activities are plentiful and LOTS of fun.” – Military Spouse, Alison Dunham

“There is the Kistachie National Forest nearby, and Toledo Bend for hiking and fishing. It’s beautiful! There is also a great nature inspired B and B in Pitkin called Allen Acres. We stayed there while house hunting and it was so worth the drive.” – Military Spouse, Paula Garner

THOUGHTS FROM SPOUSES:

“Try to treat Ft. Polk has a learning experience, take advantage of the opportunity to live in a very affordable area and try to make the most of family time.” – Military Spouse, Alison Dunham

“We moved to Ft Polk in Jan and love it here! We have had a very different experience but how basic and simple the area is. We were kinda blindsided by orders to here last year and with everything that I had heard of Polk I was not excited. I searched online and found nothing but negative. We have lived at some of the best bases (Savannah GA and Monterey CA) and while this post may not compare to those, it’s not as bad as its reputation.” – Military Spouse, Paula Garner

“This state is full of history and life. From Cajun music and food, to festivals and fairs, you will have something to do every weekend. Visit a plantation, go see the most haunted mansion in America, go visit the swamp, see Duck Dynasty, go to Mardi Gras, or go swim in the gulf. There really is so much to do. It might not be city but it is fun.” – Military Spouse, Jaime Parker

THANK YOU

Army Wife Network would like to thank the following spouses for their help in creating this Post with the Most segment:

Alison Dunham                   Paula Garner                      Jaime Parker

If you have something to add about Fort Polk, please feel free to add your comments below!

Army Wife Network’s
Post with the Most
USAREC – Nashville, TN

Each month here at Army Wife Network, we do a segment that highlights an Army installation.  We do this so we can provide you with as much information about a post as possible.  We also call on you, our loyal AWN fans, to help us compile this information and give us a personal look at what life is like at each post.  Look for these spouse’s personal comments in red below.

This month we are taking a look at US Army Recruiting Battalion, Nashville, TN.  Except for the westernmost part of Tennessee, the Nashville Recruiting Battalion encompasses all of Tennessee, Kentucky, and portions of Illinois, Indiana and Virginia. Here is everything you need to know about USAREC Nashville, TN!

GENERAL INFORMATION

Battalion Breakdown:  

Battalion – Nashville, TN – 615-871-1032

Companies & Stations –
Nashville Company (TN) – 615-889-1032

• Columbia Recruiting Station (TN) – 931-388-1301
• Murfreesboro Recruiting Station (TN) – 615-890-1810
• Gallatin Recruiting Station (TN) – 615-452-0463
• Antioch Recruiting Station (TN) – 615-366-0518
• Lebanon Recruiting Station (TN) – 615-453-1442
• Madison Recruiting Station (TN) – 615-865-0456
• Bellevue / Franklin Recruiting Station (TN) – 615-778-9728

Johnson City Company (TN) – 423-282-8981

• Johnson City Recruiting Station (TN) – 423-926-9143
• Johnson City Extended Recruiting Station (TN) – 423-926-7147
• Bristol Recruiting Station (VA) – 276-669-3171
• Kingsport Recruiting Station (TN) – 423-245-1471
• Middlesboro Recruiting Station (TN) – 606-248-1113
• Wise Recruiting Station (VA) – 276-679-6194
• Pikeville Recruiting Station (KY) – 606-437-6042
• Greeneville Recruiting Station (TN) – 423-638-2261
• Morristown Recruiting Station (TN) – 423-586-0661
• Hazard Extended Recruiting Station (KY) – 606-439-4557

Knoxville Company (TN) – 865-525-6755

• Cookeville Recruiting Station (TN) – 931-528-8474
• Crossville Recruiting Station (TN) – 931-456-6229
• Knoxville West Recruiting Station (TN) – 865-690-0473
• Maryville Recruiting Station (TN) – 865-982-5515
• Oak Ridge Recruiting Station (TN) – 865-482-1031

Clarksville Company (TN) – 931-648-2585

• Clarksville Recruiting Station (TN) – 931-647-1708
• Dickson Recruiting Station (TN) – 615-740-1615
• Henderson Recruiting Station (KY) – 270-826-1646
• Paducah Recruiting Station (KY) – 270-442-2949
• Paris Recruiting Station (TN) – 731-644-9021
• Hopkinsville Recruiting Station (KY) – 270-881-9612

Louisville Company (KY) – 502-425-2653

• Scottsburg Recruiting Battalion (IN) – 812-752-0358
• Shively Recruiting Station (KY) – 502-447-5400
• LaGrange Recruiting Station (KY) – 502-225-0229
• Louisville Downtown Recruiting Station (KY) – 502-583-2769
• Louisville East Recruiting Station (KY) – 502-491-5858
• Clarksville Recruiting Station (IN) – 812-283-9299
• Louisville / Preston Recruiting Station (KY) – 502-964-2318

Elizabethtown Company (KY) – 270-765-6840

• Bowling Green Recruiting Station (KY) – 270-782-2769
• Radcliff Recruiting Station (KY) – 270-234-0838
• Owensboro Recruiting Station (KY) – 270-683-5355

Lexington Company (KY) – 859-224-1221

• London Recruiting Station (KY) – 606-878-1807
• Somerset Recruiting Station (KY) – 606-679-8328
• Frankfort Recruiting Station (KY) – 502-223-1147
• Richmond Recruiting Station (KY) – 859-623-1270
• Lexington Recruiting Station (KY) – 859-266-4178
• Winchester Extended Recruiting Station (KY) – 859-744-2203
• Morehead Recruiting Station (KY) – 606-784-7172

Closest Installation(s):

Fort Campbell, KY – Approximately 70 miles West of Battalion

Fort Knox, KY – Approximately 3 hours North of Battalion

Weather:  You will experience all 4 seasons while living in Nashville.  On average, the warmest month is July and the coldest month is January.  The area can see snow during the winter months as well.

Time Difference: http://www.worldtimezone.com/time-usa12.php

Some areas will fall in the Eastern Time Zone and some will fall in the Central Time Zone.  We have provided a Time Zone Map as a resource for you.

BATTALION INFORMATION

Battalion Website:  http://www.usarec.army.mil/3rdbde/5nbn/

Map:  None Found

Government Leased Housing Office: http://www.usarec.army.mil/fhp/

Recommended Hotels:

You may need to stay in a hotel when you first get to your new area, while you look for a home.  We have included some travel site resources for you when looking for a place to stay:

www.lq.com – La Quinta Inns is a big supporter of the Military and can offer some great military deals.
www.orbitz.com
www.trivago.com
www.kayak.com
www.petswelcome.com – If you are traveling with pets you can find pet friendly hotels at this website.
http://www.armywifenetwork.com/pcs/ – You can also find great PCS tips and resources at our Army Wife Network PCS Page.

Schools:  

Districts:  

Nashville Company Stations:
Maury County School District – http://www.mauryk12.org/
Murfreesboro City School District – http://www.cityschools.net/schools
Rutherford County School District – http://www.rcs.k12.tn.us
Sumner County School District – http://www.sumnerschools.org/
Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools – http://www.mnps.org/site234.aspx
Lebanon Special School District – http://www.lssd.org/
Wilson County School District – http://www.wcschools.com
Monroe County School District – http://www.monroe.k12.tn.us/
Franklin County School District – http://fcstn.net/
Williamson County School District – http://www.wcs.edu/

Johnson City Company Stations:
Johnson City School District – http://www.jcschools.org/
Bristol Public Schools – https://www.bristol.k12.ct.us
Kingsport City School District – http://www.k12k.com/
Middlesboro Independent School District – http://www.mboro.k12.ky.us/
Wise County Public Schools – http://www.wise.k12.va.us/
Pike County Public Schools – http://www.pike.kyschools.us/
Greenville City School District – http://www2.gcschools.net/
Hamblen County Schools – http://hamblencounty.schoolinsites.com/
Hazard Independent School District – http://www.hazard.kyschools.us/home
Perry County School District – http://www.perry.kyschools.us/

Knoxville Company Stations:
Knox County School District – http://knoxschools.org/
Putnam County School District – http://www.pcsstn.com
Cumberland County Schools – http://ccschools.k12tn.net/
Blount County School District – http://www.blountk12.org/
Maryville City Schools – http://maryville.schoolwires.net
Oak Ridge School District – http://www.ortn.edu/

Clarksville Company Stations:
Clarksville – Montgomery County School System – http://www.cmcss.net/
Dickson County School District – http://www.dicksoncountyschools.org/
Henderson County School District – http://www.henderson.k12.ky.us/
McCracken County Public Schools – http://www.mccracken.kyschools.us/
Paducah Public Schools – http://www.paducah.kyschools.us/
Henry County School District – http://www.henryk12.net/
Christian County Public Schools – http://www.christian.kyschools.us/

Louisville Company Stations:
Jefferson County Public Schools – http://www.jefferson.k12.ky.us/
Scott County School District 2 – http://www.scsd2.k12.in.us/
Oldham County School District – http://www.oldham.k12.ky.us/
Clarksville Community School Corporation – http://www.ccsc.k12.in.us/

Elizabethtown Company Stations:
Elizabethtown Independent School District – http://www.etown.k12.ky.us/
Hardin County School District – http://www.hardin.k12.ky.us/
Bowling Green Independent School District – http://www.b-g.k12.ky.us/
Warren County Public Schools – http://www.warrencountyschools.org/
Daviess County Public Schools – http://www.daviesskyschools.org/
Owensboro Independent School District – http://www.owensboro.k12.ky.us/

Lexington Company Stations:
Fayette County Public Schools – http://www.fcps.net/
Laurel County School District – http://www.laurel.k12.ky.us/
Pulaski County School District – http://www.pulaski.net/
Somerset Independent School District – http://www.somerset.k12.ky.us/
Frankfort Independent School District – http://www.frankfort.k12.ky.us/
Franklin County Public Schools – http://www.franklin.k12.ky.us/
Madison County School District – http://www.madison.k12.ky.us/
Clark County School District – http://www2.clarkschools.net/
Rowan County Schools – http://www.rowan.k12.ky.us/

Family Support Services: 

http://www.usarec.army.mil/3rdbde/5nbn/family.shtml

Soldier Family Assistance Program Manager – 615-872-7519
Family Advocacy Coordinator – 615-872-7519

USAREC Family Resources:

http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/HRD/SFA/index.shtml

LOCAL AREA INFORMATION

Must Do: You can find tons of great things to do while being stationed with the Nashville Recruiting Battalion.  Here we have provided you with a list of some great must-see sights:

Nashville:
Country Music Hall of Fame – http://countrymusichalloffame.org/
Grand Ole Opry – http://www.opry.com/
The Hermitage (Home of Andrew Jackson) – http://www.thehermitage.com/
Nashville Zoo – http://www.nashvillezoo.org/

Johnson City:
Natural History Museum & Gray Fossil Site – http://www.etsu.edu/naturalhistorymuseum/
Sycamore Shoals Historic Area – http://www.sycamoreshoalstn.org/

Knoxville:
Knoxville Zoo – http://www.knoxville-zoo.org/
World’s Fair Park – Sunsphere – http://worldsfairpark.org/worlds-fair-sunsphere.html
Knoxville Museum of Art – http://www.knoxart.org/

Clarksville:
Dunbar Cave State Park – http://tnstateparks.com/parks/about/dunbar-cave
Customs House Museum & Cultural Center – http://customshousemuseum.org/

Louisville, KY:
Churchill Downs – Home of the Kentucky Derby – http://www.churchilldowns.com/
Louisville Slugger Museum – http://www.sluggermuseum.com/
Louisville Zoo – http://www.louisvillezoo.org/

Lexington, KY:
Kentucky Horse Park – http://kyhorsepark.com/
Mary Todd Lincoln House (Wife of Abraham Lincoln) – http://mtlhouse.org/

If you have something to add about USAREC Nashville, TN, please feel free to add your comments below!

Army Wife Network’s
Post with the Most
Camps Red Cloud/Casey, Korea

Each month here at Army Wife Network, we do a segment that highlights an Army installation.  We do this so we can provide you with as much information about a post as possible.  We also call on you, our loyal AWN fans, to help us compile this information and give us a personal look at what life is like at each post.  Look for these spouse’s and service member’s personal comments in army green below.

This month we are taking a look at Camp Casey / Camp Red Cloud, Korea.  Camp Red Cloud and Camp Casey are military enclaves encompassing smaller military camps. Camp Red Cloud is located in and around Uijeongbu (pop: 414,000), a city about 45 minutes north of Seoul, and includes Camp Stanley and Jackson. Camp Casey is also part of the garrison command of Red Cloud, and includes Camps Castle, Castle North, Mobile, and Camp Hovey. The Casey enclave is in and around Dongducheon (pop: 90,000), about 1 hour train ride from Seoul, and situated in the most northern part of South Korea at the bottom of Soyo Mountain.

Here is what you need to know about Camp Red Cloud / Casey, Korea!

GENERAL INFORMATION

Major Units/What Post is “known for” (i.e. basic training, AIT, MP Headquarters etc):

Camp Red Cloud / Casey are home to the following units:
1/38^th Field Artillery 
1/15^th FA
1/72^nd Armor Battalion
1/72^nd HHC
1008^th ROK DSG
106^th Med Det (Food Safety)
106^th Medical Detachment Veterinary Services
14^th Military Police Detachment
15^th KSC Company
168^th Medical Company Detachment
175^th Finance
177^th Finance Battalion
19^th Postal Service
1^st Brigade Special Troop Battalion (BTSB)
1^st Heavy Brigade Combat Team (HBCT)
2/9^th Infantry Battalion
2/9^th INF, HHC
21^st Military Police Detachment (CID)
25^th TRANS Movement Control Agency
2^nd Infantry Division Band
302^nd Brigade Support BN
304^th Signal Battalion
304^th Signal Charlie Company
304^th Signal Headquarters & Headquarters Company
46^th Transportation Company
4^th Chemical Company
4^th Squadron, 7^th Calvary Regiment
524^th Military Intelligence Detachment
552^nd SIG CO
55^th Military Police Company 1^st Platoon
55^th Military Police Company 2^nd Platoon
55^th Military Police Company 2^nd Platoon (Camp Casey)
560^th Ambulance Company
579^th Signal Company
6/37^th Field Artillery Battalion
604^th ASOCS (USAF)
607^th Weather Squadron Detachment
618^th Dental
618^th Medical Company
61^st Maintenance Company
70^th Brigade Support Battalion
A Battery 1/38^th Field Artillery
A / 168^th Medical Company
Bravo Company 304^th Signal
Directorate of Morale Welfare and Recreation
Echo Battery 652 Air Defense Artillery
Fires Brigade
Headquarters, 2^nd Infantry Division
HHC 1^st BDE
HQ 1/15^th FA BN
HQ, NCO Academy
Special Troop Battalion

Name of Surrounding Cities:

Camp Red Cloud: Uijeongbu
Camp Casey: Dongducheon (Tongduchon)

Closest MAJOR City: 

Seoul

Weather:

“Pleasant in the Fall and Spring when it is not too hot or cold. The best time to come and visit or go traveling. Summer’s get into the 80s and 90s. Summer also has monsoon season with heavy rains. So very humid. Mold indoors is a big concern. Winters get very cold and windy in the teens, 20s, and near zero at night. It snows a few inches of accumulation but stays on the ground for days because it’s not warm enough to melt off.” – Milspouse Elizabeth Brender

“Extremely cold winters; hot, extremely humid monsoon summers.” – Service member 1LT Alex

“Weather is similar to the Midwest of the US – has all four seasons during the same months, but add a few week-long “monsoon season” full of hardcore rain in Feb/Mar. The summer is HOT, the winter is COLD, spring and fall are beautiful in the hills.” – Service member 2LT Ryan

Time Zone: KST (+16-17 hours from PST)

POST INFORMATION

Post Website:  http://redcloud.korea.army.mil/

“Camp Casey is the hub of the Area 1 posts, so there are a lot of nice services and they’re working on building it up even more. The commissary is decent for the size of the post, there’s a big MWR and activity center, the library is nice, there’s a brand new single screen movie theater, and there are padded running trails all around post.” – Service member 2LT Ryan

Map:  http://redcloud.korea.army.mil/NewcomersToolbox

At this link you will find installation maps for Camps Red Cloud, Casey, Hovey, & Stanley.

Housing:  http://redcloud.korea.army.mil/Housing-Division

“There is no on post housing for families. I have heard of one exception for a higher ranking officer in command where they were able to stay in his housing. Because officers do not share rooms there might be the possibility of staying temporarily in the officer barracks while finding housing. My son and I did this. To rent a place to live, you use a realtor company to help you find an apartment or a house. With the language barrier this is very helpful. Our experience is that rent is paid in cash and in the local currency, won. We also paid our utilities and internet to our realtor and they coordinated paying the Korean companies. Most people do get an apartment but at Casey there are some houses. You may need to look at places with more than one realtor to find what you are looking for.” – Milspouse Elizabeth Brender

“On-post housing is being renovated on a lot of parts, but the barracks are generally mid to low quality. There are lots of older buildings being brought up to acceptable levels.” – Service member 2LT Ryan

“It is maybe 200 sq ft. barracks rooms, I didn’t have a kitchen, or any storage areas.  It came with an excess of furniture, so there was limited space for my stuff.” – Service member 1LT Alex

Adult Education:  http://redcloud.korea.army.mil/Education-Center

Schools:  http://www.dodea.edu/Pacific/Korea/USAGCasey/CaseyES/index.cfm

Children of command sponsored families in Area I, grades K-8 are required to attend school at Camp Casey. Grades 9-12 will be bused to Seoul American High School on Youngsan (free bus).

School Liaison Officer:  http://redcloud.korea.army.mil/cleos

Districts:  

Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDs) – http://www.dodea.edu/

Elementary 

Casey Elementary School (Pre-K – 8th) – http://www.casey-es.pac.dodea.edu/

Middle School 

Casey Elementary School (Pre-K – 8th)  – http://www.casey-es.pac.dodea.edu/

High School 

Seoul American High School – http://www.seoul-hs.pac.dodea.edu/

Youth Services: http://redcloud.korea.army.mil/cyss

Army Community Service (ACS):  http://redcloud.korea.army.mil/ACS

PX:  

Camp Red Cloud – http://www.shopmyexchange.com/ExchangeLocations/CampRedCloudStore.htm
Camp Casey – http://www.shopmyexchange.com/ExchangeLocations/CampCaseyStore.htm
Camp Hovey – http://www.shopmyexchange.com/ExchangeLocations/CampHoveyStore.htm
Camp Jackson – http://www.shopmyexchange.com/ExchangeLocations/CampJacksonStore.htm
Camp Stanley – http://www.shopmyexchange.com/ExchangeLocations/CampStanleyStore.htm

Commissary: 

Camp Red Cloud Commissary – http://www.commissaries.com/stores/html/store.cfm?dodaac=HQCWJC
Camp Casey Commissary – http://www.commissaries.com/stores/html/store.cfm?dodaac=HQCWGY
Camp Stanley Commissary – http://www.commissaries.com/stores/html/store.cfm?dodaac=HQCWG6

“The commissary is small and offers the basics.  AAFES is also pretty small. For any major shopping, it is worth either the 2 hour trip to Osan or the 1.5 hour drive to Yongsan to meet needs.” – Service member 1LT Alex

On-Post Library:  http://redcloud.korea.army.mil/Library

“I was very happy with the library services. It is a small library but they offered plenty of books and movies. And you can request items from other locations on the peninsula. They have a summer reading program for the kids, we always looked forward to kick off and closing parties.” – Milspouse Elizabeth Brender

MWR Website: http://redcloud.korea.army.mil/FMWR

Hospital:  http://redcloud.korea.army.mil/Medical

Uijongbu St. Mary’s Hospital: http://www.cmcujb.or.kr/eng/main/index.jsp

Spouses Clubs:  

American Forces’ Spouses’ Club of Korea – http://www.afscyongsan.org/
Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/AFSCKorea

Chaplain & Religious Services/Organizations:  http://redcloud.korea.army.mil/Religious-Services

“There is an active PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel). The group that meets Wednesday mornings offers child care and there is a Tuesday evening group. Besides being a women’s bible study, PWOC was a great place to meet new people and friends and I highly recommend giving it a visit.” – Milspouse Elizabeth Brender

Restaurants:

Warrior’s Club
Indianhead Golf Course
Iron Triangle
Gateway Club

“I usually stayed on post and went to the golf club for burgers, the Warriors Club for lunch buffets, and the Gateway Club and Triangle Club for wing night and beer specials.” – Service member 2LT Ryan

 

OFF-POST INFORMATION

Restaurants:

Soo Pizza
Dinomeat
Pho Bien
Chong’s
Vatos (Seoul)
All Korean BBQ

“Chongs Breakfast in the ville had massive plates of good food for a good price.” – Service member 2LT Ryan

Shopping:

“Downtown Dongducheon in Jiehaeng. Around Uijeongbu (Uijeongbu train station, the Undergound Market, Shinsigae Mall).” – Milspouse Elizabeth Brender

“Definitely anywhere in Seoul. If you can’t make it down to Area II (Seoul), the Ville has all sorts of pawn shops, jersey stores, knock off purses, souvenirs, etc for your to check out. If you want the kind of place to just walk around from shop to shop or go to a real mall, Uijongbu is where to go. Uijongbu is like a super-mini Seoul.” – Service member 2LT Ryan

Must-Dos:

“Travel as much as you can. Hike Soyosan Mountain. Attend the PreHistory Festival in neighboring Yeongcheon in April. Jeju Island. Volunteer at local orphanages. The local museums in Dongducheon and Seoul. Attend a non-verbal performance in Seoul (theater productions).” – Milspouse Elizabeth Brender

“Experience the Korean Culture, go to Iteawon and drink/shop, travel to Busan and Jeju in the summer to experience the beaches.  If you go to Jeju, stay along the southern coast near Jeognam-Ri and if you can afford it, stay at the Lotte World Hotel for a unique five star experience.” – Service member 1LT Alex

“Check out Seoul. It’s an awesome city with TONS of culture to see. Just try not to be the stereotypical “American tourist” with a loud mouth and disrespect for the local culture. You’ll hear that a lot when you inprocess though. If you’re on Camp Casey, check out Soyosan Mountain – it’s a nice day hike and has a Buddhist Temple tucked away in the mountain side. Koreans come from all over to check it out, so you know it’s legit. Plus then you can tell your friends you visited a Buddhist Temple in the mountains of Korea. You’ve also got to go check out the DMZ – you’re less than an hour from the border anyway!” – Service member 2LT Ryan

HELPFUL OVERSEAS PCS TIPS:

“Be prepared for some culture shock in the beginning but be open to new experiences. Try the food even though some may look different than what you’ve encountered. I came to really like Korean food, even kimchi. Learn basic phrases and if you can take a Korean course. Get out and explore. You may have to do this on your own depending on the soldiers work schedule. Or make new friends and go out with them. My biggest regret is that I didn’t do this in the beginning and there is a lot I felt I missed out on seeing being we left. 

Follow the official unit pages on social media to keep in the loop on what is happening on post. Join the unofficial pages but take them with a grain of salt. We are a diverse group. If you disagree with someone it is best to just let it go and not respond. We are a smaller community of spouses partly isolated by living in a different country with a different language. At times it can be a tight knit group and you’ll meet some of your best friends here. That being said a small community can lead to unnecessary drama and gossiping.

Get involved in your FRG or volunteer to lead one. FRG was another great way to meet people. But the FRGs varied based on participation and the willingness of people to get involved. The FRG will be what you make it. Introduce yourself to the leader if you don’t hear from the directly. Often times your information is not given to us automatically.” – Milspouse Elizabeth Brender

“The apartments are very nice there, but utilities are expensive.  If you have high school aged students, they will be in Yongsan where there is on-post family housing. Korea is a hardship tour, specifically up North.  Families will need to understand that their family time will be limited and it will be hard on them as well.” – Service member 1LT Alex

“If you’re going solo don’t bring much besides a few changes of clothes and your books/computer/tv/video games to keep yourself entertained. There’s a lot to do on and off post, and you’ll make friends very quickly. The people there always seem to have some sort of event or celebration for you to go to.” – Service member 2LT Ryan

For more information on what to do when you arrive, what to eat, do, learn, where to live, and travel while in Korea, check out Korea Ye.

THANK YOU

Army Wife Network would like to thank the following spouses and service members for their help in creating this Post with the Most segment:

Milspouse Elizabeth Brender    Service member 1LT Alex    Service member 2LT Ryan

If you have something to add about Camp Casey / Red Cloud, Korea, please feel free to add your comments below!

Army Wife Network’s
Post with the Most
Red River Army Depot, TX

Each month here at Army Wife Network, we do a segment that highlights an Army installation.  We do this so we can provide you with as much information about a post as possible.

This month we are taking a look at Red River Army Depot, TX.  Red River Army Depot is located in an area known as the “Four States Area”, and its primary mission is the maintenance of tactical wheeled vehicles as well as the Army’s light tracked combat vehicles. Here is everything you need to know about Red River Army Depot!

GENERAL INFORMATION

Major Units/What Post is “known for” (i.e. basic training, AIT, MP Headquarters etc):

Red River Army Depot is home to the following organizations:

Emergency Services 
Maintenance Logistics
MWR
Quality Control
Staff Offices
Information Management
Maintenance Production
Public Works
Resource Management
Base Transition
Community Support
Legal
Equal Opportunity
Public Affairs
Systems Integration
Business Management
Continuous Improvement
IRAC / ACT IG
Protocol
Safety
LEAD Office

Name of Surrounding Cities:

Texarkana, TX
Old Boston, TX
New Boston, TX

Closest MAJOR City:

Shreveport, LA – Approx. 1 hour, 30 min.
Little Rock, AR – Approx. 2hrs, 18 min.
Dallas, TX – Approx. 2hrs, 45 min.

Names of Area Colleges:

Texarkana College
Texas A&M University – Texarkana Site

Time Difference:  Red River Army Depot is located in the Central Time Zone

POST INFORMATION

Post Website:  https://www.redriver.army.mil/

Map:  https://redriver.army.mil/rrpages/diff-loc.HTM

Historical Facts/Landmarks on post:  https://www.redriver.army.mil/rrpages/pg2.htm

Housing:  There is no on-post housing available at Red River Army Depot.  The ACS office on the post can assist you with local housing as well as a list of reputable realtors in the area.

Schools: 

Districts: 

There are four school districts located in the Texarkana TX/AR area which is where Red River Army Depot is. New Boston, TX AND Hooks, TX also have their own school districts.

Texarkana Independent School District (TX) – http://www.txkisd.net/
Texarkana Arkansas School District – http://www.tasd7.net/
Liberty-Eylau Independent School District (TX) – http://www.leisd.net/
Pleasant Grove Independent School District (TX) – http://www.pgisd.net

Youth Services:  There are no youth services offered on Red River Army Depot

Army Community Service (ACS):

TARR-Y
Building #469
Red River Army Depot, TX 75507-0000

Tel: (903) 334-4137
Tel: (903) 334-3504
Fax: (903) 334-4411

PX:  There are no PX services for Red River Army Depot but you can use services located at Barksdale AFB, LA.

Commissary: There are no commissary services on Red River Army Depot but you can use the commissary located on Barksdale AFB, LA.

On-Post Library: None

MWR Website: http://www.redrivermwr.com/

Hospital:  Military Families stationed at Red River Army Depot will find themselves on Tricare Prime Remote and will have access to local facilities that are a part of the Tricare Network of providers. Please contact Tricare South (Humana) for more information on this area – 1-800-444-5445, www.tricare.mil

Spouses Clubs:  None Found

Chaplain & Religious Services/Organizations:  There are no on post services but you would of course have access to local churches and religious organizations. 

OFF-POST INFORMATION

Housing:

DoD Off Post Housing: The off post housing on the DoD network has homes for rent and houses for sale within the Texarkana, Wake Village, Nash, New Boston area and are within commuting distance of Red River Army Depot.

http://www.dodhousingnetwork.com/army/red-river-army-depot/off-base-housing.php

Restaurants:

Within 5 miles:

Dairy Queen: http://www.yelp.com/biz/dairy-queen-hooks
Scooter’s Pizzeria: http://www.yelp.com/biz/scooters-pizzeria-hooks
S&W Drive Inn: http://www.yelp.com/biz/s-and-w-drive-inn-hooks

Other:

Ironwood Grill: http://www.yelp.com/biz/ironwood-grill-texarkana
On the Boarder: http://www.yelp.com/biz/on-the-border-mexican-grill-and-cantina-texarkana-3
The Dixie Diner: http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-dixie-diner-texarkana
Twisted Fork Grill & Lounge: http://www.yelp.com/biz/twisted-fork-grill-and-lounge-texarkana
Longhorn Steak House: http://www.yelp.com/biz/longhorn-steakhouse-texarkana
Fuji, Kim’s Sushi and Grill http://www.yelp.com/biz/fuji-kims-sushi-and-grill-texarkana

Shopping/malls:

Central Mall (Texarkana): http://www.centralmalltexarkana.com/
Old Navy http://www.yelp.com/biz/old-navy-texarkana
TJ Maxx  http://www.yelp.com/biz/t-j-maxx-texarkana
Dillards http://www.yelp.com/biz/dillards-central-mall-texarkana
JC Penny http://www.yelp.com/biz/jcpenney-texarkana
Walmart http://www.yelp.com/biz/walmart-texarkana-2

THANK YOU

If you have something to add about Red River Army Depot, please feel free to add your comments below!

Army Wife Network’s
Post with the Most
USAG Benelux-Schinnen, Netherlands

Each month here at Army Wife Network, we do a segment that highlights an Army installation. We do this so we can provide you with as much information about a post as possible.  This month we are taking a look at USAG Benelux-Schinnen, Netherlands. Here is what you need to know about USAG Benelux-Schinnen, Netherlands!

USAG Benelux-Schinnen is located in Schinnen, Netherlands, tucked away in the southeastern providence of Limburg. As the most widely dispersed USAG in USAREUR, it provides logistical support over 139,000 square kilometers for personnel spread across 17 different locations. It serves over 5,000 service members, DoD civilians and their family members throughout the Tri-Boarder area.

USAG Benelux-Schinnen’s mission is to provide Base Operations to joint military, civilians and their families, to include interagency community members with a quality go life equal to their quality of service.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Major Units/What Post is “known for” (i.e. basic training, AIT, MP Headquarters etc):

A co, AFNORTH BN – JFC Brunssum 
BENELUX Finance Office – Brunssum
Netherlands Law Center (21st TSC)
Network Enterprise Center Schinnen (39th Signal BN)
US Army Garrison Benelux-Schinnen

Name of Surrounding Cities: USAG Benelux-Schinnen is a 20 minute drive from Belgium and Germany

Time Zone: Centreal European Time Zone

POST INFORMATION

Post Website:  http://www.usagbenelux.eur.army.mil/

Map

Housing:

There is no government housing in the Netherlands – the home you live in will be located among the host nation neighbors. A housing manual can be found here. Service members are required to report within 3 days after arrival to register for permanent housing, and to make appointments for the Housing/TLA newcomers brief. The Housing Office (located at Directorate of Public Works, Building 18) on post maintains several hundred quarters in local communities, including apartments, 1,2,3 and 4 bedroom homes for military personnel. Available housing might be smaller than American houses, and may have restricted access for king/queen sized beds – large appliances are also impractical.

Read more about housing here.

Adult Education: 

Education Center:
The Benelux-Schinnen Education Center primarily services USAG Benelux-Schinnen and JFC Brunssum, but also is responsible for remote sites such as Rotterdam and Spangdahlem. Counseling is available to aid decision making (i.e., what degree to pursue) and answer financial aid questions (Pell, AER, GI Bill®). DANTES, Praxis, ECE, CLEP, GED, GRE Subject , and SAT/ACT tests, college proctoring, as well as tests offered through PearsonVUE are available.

The Education Center offers a wide variety of academic programs designed to help service members and their families complete undergraduate and graduate degrees. Field representatives are available from three schools: Central Texas College, University of Maryland, and University of Oklahoma. On- and off-site classes, distance learning, and seminars are also offered from four major universities and colleges on site at Benelux-Schinnen.

The second Education Center available to you is located on Geilenkirchen NATO AB, Germany. Both Education Centers have a great deal of information on Distance Learning Education, Independent Study, and External Degrees. Classes are held continuously, except during the Christmas holiday. Registration for classes occurs five times per year.

Both Education Centers are a short fifteen minute drive from the Headquarters building at JFC Brunssum. Learn more here.

Schools: 

Students moving to the Tri-Border area will most likely attend AFNORTH International School. AFNORTH is not a Department of Defense Dependent School (DODDs); AFNORTH is an International School using a combined US, Canadian, and British curriculum.

The school’s philosophy is based on the belief that all students are entitled to an education that stresses the dignity and worth of the child and that teaches children at their own intellectual, physical and emotional levels. All students are encouraged to develop the attitudes of tolerance and cooperation towards others. The AFNORTH community provides a unique opportunity for intercultural learning and international goodwill. The school is dedicated to enriching the educational environment for each child through opportunities provided by our multi-national community.

Districts: 

Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDs) – http://www.dodea.edu/

Youth Services:

The Youth Center has a snack bar, lounge, table games, pool table, foosball table, stereo, Programs offered include clubs, leadership activities, sports, teen and preteen dances, holiday activities, arts and crafts, tournaments and much more.

The center offers the following programs and activities:

• Clubs and Councils
• Open Recreation
• Special Spring and Summer Camps
• Recreation Park Trips
• Educational Trips
• Bowling
• Field Trips
• Special events such as lock-ins and paint-balling

Army Community Service (ACS) –

Army Community Service supports the readiness of all U.S. Service Members and Civilians assigned to the SHAPE/Chievres community and their families through the following core programs and services:

• Family Action Plan
• Family Team Building
• Military Family Life Consultants
• Volunteer Corps
• Exceptional Family Member Program
• Family Advocacy
• Financial Readiness
• Information, Referral and Follow-up
• Mobilization and Deployment Support
• Relocation Readiness
• Sexual Assault Prevention and Response
• Employment Readiness
• Survivor Outreach Services
• New Parent Support
• Victim Advocacy

Learn more here.

Post Services:

• Family & MWR Facilities: Bowling, golf, gym, outdoor recreation, recreation center, tennis, auto hobby center, library, swimming and theater
• Commissaries: 1 on post
• Exchange System: 1 on post
• Financial Institutions on post: Andrews Federal Credit Union, Community Bank

MWR Website:

http://usagbeneluxfmwr.com/

Hospital: 

The 470th Medical Flight is not a 24-hour facility. The Clinic is closed on all NATO E-3A Component Holidays and open on most American holidays. The Clinic provides Outpatient Care in the areas of Family Practice, OB/GYN, Allergy/Immunizations, Behavioral Health and Dental care.

Emergency/Specialty Care — No Emergency Room or specialty care is available at Benelux-Schinnen. Personnel must use the Dutch EMS system. TRICARE Prime covers l00 percent in Europe. Family members are frequently referred for specialty care in the local civilian communities to English speaking providers.

Chaplain & Religious Services/Organizations:

USAG Benelux SHAPE International Chapel Centre and Caserne Daumerie Chapel
Brussels American Chapel
USAG Benelux-Schinnen
Learn more here.

OFF-POST INFORMATION

Off-post Bucket List:

1. Atlantic Wall:

The Atlantic wall is one of the leading attractions at the Belgian coast and one of the three museums in the Provincial Domain of Walraversijde. The over 60 bunkers, observation posts and artillery positions and the 2 km of open or subterranean corridors constitute one of the best preserved parts of the infamous German Atlantikwall. This defence line was built by the Germans during the second World War from the French-Spanish border to Norway.

2. Momignies museum & Hitler’s Bunk:

Museum ‘Duty of memory’ Lieutenant Cook:

September 2nd, 1944, the Lieutenant B. CooK (U.S. ARMY) pushed the door of the small cowshed with some soldiers to cook eggs offered by a farmer. Suddenly, he heard an explosion near the cowshed. He rushed to the window and was shot in the head at random by a German soldier. Lieutenant Cook would be the first liberator, the first ally, fallen to the field of honor for the liberation of Belgium. You can also discover the battlefield with its 12 symbolic graves, its monument, the Patton tank, and admire France and Fagne from this exceptional point of view. Click here for more information.

Hitler’s Bunker:

Brûly-de-Pesche is a hamlet near Couvin, in southern Belgium‘s Namur province, situated in the Walloon region. For varying reasons, this place is both sinister and pleasantly stimulating at the same time. Sinister, because Adolf Hitler maintained his military headquarters and bunker here in 1940, at the time of the Fall of France. His headquarters was known as the Wolf’s Lair (French: Ravin des Loups). But it is also interesting that the woods at Brûly-de-Pesche, concealed Belgian partisans, assisted by the Allied armies, in their struggle against the invaders of Belgium. The bunker now accomodates the Museum of the Resistance. Click here for more information.

3. Open air museums

Walraversijde Archaeological Museum:

The lost fishing settlement of Walraversijde is one of the most important archaeological sites in Flanders and one of the best-studied medieval fishing communities in Europe. The four reconstructed fishermen’s dwellings were reconstructed with original medieval bricks excavated from the site. The archaeological site takes you to a fascinating interactive museum where very diverse and excellently preserved medieval objects give a clear picture of life in the village and the archaeological survey. Click here for more information.

Herba Sana:

Navigate a superb route of 9 km in a kayak on the waters of the Amblève and discover the Belgian Ardennes from a new angle. Then, return to your departure point either by mountain bike or by bus. There also many others activities. Click here for more information.

Malgré-tout Museum, Prehistory park:Go back in time.

Enter the life-size reconstructions of the dwellings of the prehistoric hunters. Discover the area in the footsteps of our ancestors, from the Neanderthals to the Gallo-Romans. Don’t miss the temporary exhibitions. Click here for more information.

4. The lakes of Eau d’Heure

The site with the largest lake area in Belgium and is located in the South-Western part of Belgium, close to the French border. It consists of five water planes separated by dams and containing almost stagnating water, which leads to a particularly fragile ecological balance. This is a perfect family destination, offering a variety of activities such as swimming, windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, rowing, rafting and deep-sea diving. In the heart of the “Lakes of L’eau d’Heure”, you can find an unique realization named The Golden Lakes Village. This village is based on a new life-style, concept of living with every comfort, enjoying yourself and to recharge your batteries in complete harmony with nature. Click here for more information.

5. Belgian castles

Castle of Beloeil:

Named “The Belgian Versailles”. Since the XIVth century the domain of Beloeil has been the residence of princes de Ligne. The park is 25 ha large and forms with the castle one of the most beautiful curiosities of Belgium. In each room, ancient furniture and unique pieces testify of the glorious history. This splendid framework lends itself for organizing festivals and prestigious events. Click here for more information.

Franchimont Castle:

Built in the 11th century on a spur blocking the valley of the Hoëgne, Franchimont Castle has imposing ruins which are worth a visit. Built around a rectangular courtyard, the original fort is still quite visible. If you visit this site, make sure it’s on the 17th and 18th Augustus. Indeed, the castle dives back for the weekend into the medieval atmosphere. Costumes, texts, dances, music, decorations are returned as in this time. Furthermore, everything’s exchanged in currency of medieval period. Click here for more information.

Buillon Castle:

Bouillon is a small town (pop 5,500) at the Belgian-French border famous for its enormous medieval castle, once owned by the notorious Duke Godfrey of Bouillon, leader of the first crusade. The present fortifications were built between 1050 and 1067 by Duke Godfey III. Louis XIV of France took the Castle after a 20-day siege and parts of the fortifications were altered by Louis XIV’s famous architect Vauban. Click here for more information.

Gaasbeek Castle:

Located just outside Brussels amidst the gently rolling hills of the Pajottenland. The medieval castle had an eventful past and evolved from a strategic stronghold into a spacious country house. One if its most famous owners was the Count of Egmond. The current building was redesigned in Romantic style at the end of the 19th century thanks to the eccentric Marquise Arconati Visconti. A visit to the castle will stimulate all your senses. Concerts and events are also organized, so there is always something to do here. Click here for more information.

Modave Castle:

Built beginning in 1658, the Castle of Modave is an extraordinary residence, whose design incorporates medieval-style towers, as well as features that were completely new at the time. Inside the castle, where about twenty richly decorated and furnished rooms are open to the public, one may admire remarkable ceilings, beautiful sculptures, paintings, Brussels tapestries and furniture dating from the 18th century. Click here for more information.
6. Ascenseurs Strepy Thieux

In 1963, when modernisation works were taking place on the Canal du Centre opening out the Meuse and Scheldt river basins, a vertical lift with stood out as the best solution to overcome a difference in level of more than 70 metres, between La Louvière and Thieu. Click here for more information

7. Brewery Orval

Orval is the name of a famous Belgian beer. The first monks to settle in Orval arrived from the south of Italy in 1070 and the construction of the monastery was immediately begun of the church and conventual buildings. The visit includes an audiovisual presentation of the history of the monastery and of the present-day life of the Community, access to the ruins of the medieval abbey, the Museum housed in the foundations of the 18th century buildings, the pharmaceutical Museum and the medicinal herb-garden. Click here for more information.

8. The Grand-Hornu

Grand-Hornu is a historic industrial site in Borinage in the southwest of the Province of Hainaut. The site is an important example of the inheritance of the industrial revolution and the first example of functional town planning at the beginning of the 19th century, in the neo-classic style. In 2010 the site is recognized as a world inheritance by the UNESCO. Click here for more information.

THANK YOU

If you have something to add about USAG Benelux-Schinnen, Netherlands, please feel free to add your comments below!

Army Wife Network’s
Post with the Most
Fort Sill, OK

Each month here at Army Wife Network, we do a segment that highlights an Army installation. We do this so we can provide you with as much information about a post as possible. We also call on you, our loyal AWN fans, to help us compile this information and give us a personal look at what life is like at each post. Look for these spouse’s personal comments in red below.

This month we are taking a look at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Fort Sill is the only active Army installation built during the Indian Wars and is designated as a National Historic Landmark. Here is what you need to know about Fort Sill!

GENERAL INFORMATION

Fort Sill is home to the following units:

31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade
75th Fires Brigade
214th Fires Brigade
United States Army Field Artillery School
428th Field Artillery Brigade
United States Army Air Defense Artillery School
95th Training Division (Army Reserve)

Name of Surrounding Cities:

Fort Sill is located in the town of Lawton, Oklahoma. Cache, Oklahoma, and Elgin, Oklahoma, are about 20 minutes from Fort Sill and within commuting distance of the post.

Closest MAJOR City:

Wichita Falls, Texas, is approximately 1 hour from Fort Sill
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is approximately 1 ½ hours from Fort Sill
Dallas, Texas, is approximately 3 hours from Fort Sill

Names of Area Colleges:

Colleges offering classes on-post at the education center:

Wayland Baptist University
Cameron University
Central Texas College
Columbia College
University of Oklahoma
Upper Iowa University
Webster University

Off-post colleges close to Fort Sill:

Cameron University is located 5 miles from post in Lawton, Oklahoma
Great Plains Technology Center is located 7 miles from post in Lawton, Oklahoma
Comanche National College is located 7 miles from post in Lawton, Oklahoma

Weather:

“Can change every 5 minutes! 5^th season is Tornado season, mostly dry and sunny. Hot Hot Hot in the summer!” -Stefanie, Military Spouse

“Summers are HOT, HOT, HOT. It is not unusual to have weeks of constant temps above 100 degrees. The wind is also a major issue all year round. There is not much in the way of tornadoes (compared to the rest of OK), but straight line winds can do plenty of damage and make driving very difficult. Winters are also very cold (although not nearly as cold as Ft. Drum). Snow isn’t so much the issue as ice is. Also it being the south, everything will shut down for any amount of snow. Spring and fall are really nice.” -Eleanor, Military Spouse

Time Difference: Fort Sill is located in the Central Time Zone

POST INFORMATION

Post Website: http://sill-www.army.mil/

Map: http://sill-www.army.mil/INDEX/maps/_images/Visitor_Map.pdf

Historical Facts/Landmarks on post:

US Army Artillery Museum: http://sill-www.army.mil/FAMuseum/
Air Defense Artillery Museum: http://sill-www.army.mil/adamuseum/
Fort Sill National Historic Landmark and Museum: http://sill-www.army.mil/Museum/FSNHLM/

More about the history of Fort Sill can be found at: http://sill-www.army.mil/History/

Housing:

On post housing is managed by Corvias: http://sill.corviasmilitaryliving.com/

“The on-post housing varies greatly from charming historic cottages to new larger du/triplexes. Sidewalks and walking trails are abundant within the housing communities. There are also plenty of playgrounds.” -Afton, Military Spouse

“The amenities are great – community center with gym access, zero entry pool, splash pad and shade covered parks for the little ones.” -Cheryl, Military Spouse

Major realty/rental companies in the area:

Parks Jones Realty in Lawton, Oklahoma: http://www.parksjonesrealty.com/
Elgin Realty in Elgin, Oklahoma: http://www.elgin-realty.com/
P&B Rentals in Lawton, Oklahoma: http://pandbrentals.com/

“P&B Rentals are the best ones to deal with. Avoid Sundance Property Management and Coldwell Bankers AT ALL COSTS.” -Eleanor, Military Spouse

Schools:

School Liaison Officer: http://www.sillmwr.com/child-youth-school-services/school-support-services/

“While the majority of military families, both on and off post, are served by Lawton Public Schools, our area also encompasses a few independent school districts including Bishop, Cache, and Flower Mound School Districts. This diversity may cause some confusion when you attempt to register, as the physical proximity of your home to a school is not always an indication of attendance eligibility. It is recommended you check with a reliable source such as LPS Student Services (357-6900) or School Liaison Services (442-4190) to confirm the district in which you live.” – School Liaison Office, Fort Sill

Districts:

Lawton Public Schools: http://www.lawtonps.org/

Off-Post Districts:

Lawton Public Schools: http://www.lawtonps.org/

Elementary

Fort Sill is home to two on-post elementary schools, Sheridan Road Elementary (http://www.lawtonps.org/schools/sheridanroad/) and Geronimo Road Elementary (http://www.lawtonps.org/schools/sheridanroad/). A new elementary school is being built which will be operational starting the 2015-2016 school year and will serve all of Fort Sill.

Middle

Central Middle School in Lawton, Oklahoma: http://www.lawtonps.org/schools/cms/

High School

Lawton High School in Lawton, Oklahoma: http://www.lhswolverines.org/

ON-POST SERVICES

Youth Services: Fort Sill Youth Center: http://www.sillmwr.com/child-youth-school-services/youth-services/

Army Community Service (ACS): Links to ACS services can be found on the Fort Sill MWR page: http://www.sillmwr.com/

PX: https://www.shopmyexchange.com/exchange-stores/United%20States/OK/Ft%20Sill/Ft-Sill–1011901

Commissary: http://www.commissaries.com/stores/html/store.cfm?dodaac=hqcmcq

On-Post Library: http://www.sillmwr.com/recreation-leisure/nye-library/

“The local post library has an active toddler story time which is well attended. Following the story, there is a craft.” -Afton, Military Spouse

“The library has a fantastic and huge DVD and Blu-ray collection for check out. They also have a lot of video games for Wii, Playstation, Xbox to choose from, however families are limited to borrowing 1 video game per family at a time.” -Cheryl, Military Spouse

MWR Website: http://www.sillmwr.com/

Hospital: Reynolds Army Community Hospital: http://www.rach.sill.amedd.army.mil/

Spouses Clubs: Fort Sill Patriot Spouses’ Club: http://www.fortsillpsc.org/

Chaplain & Religious Services/Organizations: http://sill-www.army.mil/chapel/

OFF-POST INFORMATION

Restaurants:

El Greco: http://www.cookingwithelgreko.com/
Bella Roma: http://www.bellaromaitalianoristorante.com/
Thai Bistro
Samurai Sushi and Hibachi
McAlister’s Deli
Firo: http://firopizza.com/
Bakery Emporium
Meers: http://www.meersstore.com/
Santa Fe Cafe
Los Tres Amigos: http://www.lostresamigosok.com/
Luigi’s Express: http://www.luigisexpress.us/
Kobe Hibachi
Back Porch: http://bpdrafthouse.com/
Billy Sim’s BBQ: http://www.billysimsbbq.com/
Wayne’s Drive Inn: http://waynesdriveinn.com/
Kimono

Best place to get your hair/nails done:

Fringe Salon
Beauty Brands
Ulta
Signature Salon
Pink Zebra

Shopping/malls:

Lawton Mall
Target shopping center
Penn Square Mall in Oklahoma City

Must Do:

Mt Scott and the Wichita Mountains
Medicine Park
Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center
Museum of the Great Plains
Geronimo’s gravesite (on post)
Attend the reenactment of the Buffalo Soldiers at the Old Cav Post Guard House (second Saturday of each month, weather permitting)
Lake Elmer Thomas Recreation Area: http://www.sillmwr.com/recreation-leisure/letra/
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
Chickisha Festival of Lights (Christmas time)
Elmer Thomas Park
Lawton Rangers Rodeo
Annual Fort Sill Polo Match held on Mother’s Day weekend
Lake Lawtonka
Oklahoma City Zoo
National Cowboy Museum
Oklahoma City Bombing site
Shopping in Oklahoma City

Additional Spouse Comments:

“In addition to the post sponsored Facebook page, ‘Go Play Lawton’ is a great page to ‘like’ to stay informed on fun or educational things going on in the area.” -Afton, Military Spouse

“If you love spending time outdoors, this is a great place to live. If you’re a homebody or like to shop, then maybe not so much. Of course, every post is what you make of it.” -Cheryl, Military Spouse

“This post really is what you make of it. Yes, there is a lot to complain about (ugh, that heat), but you can find things to do. My advice would be to get out of your comfort zone and try new things. Also take day trips to OKC and/or Dallas. Those are two major Midwestern cities. Every post has its ups and downs, but you choose your attitude about it!” -Eleanor, Military Spouse

THANK YOU

Army Wife Network would like to thank the following spouses for their help in creating this Post with the Most segment:

Eleanor Harowicz         Afton Kern          Cheryl Edenfield            Stefanie Adams

If you have something to add about Fort Sill, please feel free to add your comments below! ☺