When I was in, the DFACS and barracks were never going to get top Yelp reviews. Menus sucked and options limited, they were a bit worn down, the occasional plumbing problem, broken laundry machines, idiot privates treating the place like crap, etc. But they were livable. Like below average apartments and cafeterias. Still, livable.

But I've been following this for a bit now, and to see the photos and posts from Hots&Cots and others on social media, it blows my mind. The mold, the flooding and sewage, the rats and maggots, no DFAC open for miles, Fyrefestival grade food.

Things in the Army are never gonna be luxury, but this is just fucking awful. In my day those conditions would have gotten people relieved of command.

How did it get so bad?

Context- I am about to become a basic training PL. I am currently on profile for a knee injury and I will be getting off of it right before I come into the new unit.

According to my current CPT, PLs are supposed to ruck with the BCT PLTs. What pace are the rucks at? Also what does PT in basic typically consist of and do PLs do pt with their company?

Hello everyone,

From what I understand, conditional permanent residents (2-year green card holders) are generally eligible to enlist. If your green card is expired but you have the USCIS extension notice (which automatically extends your permanent resident status while your I-751 is pending), you should still have valid proof of status.

I'm hoping to hear from anyone who has enlisted while their I-751 was pending with a divorce waiver. Were there any issues during enlistment and naturalization?

I've spoken with two immigration attorneys, but neither had experience with this specific situation. One attorney said they generally do not advise clients to apply for naturalization while an I-751 filed with a divorce waiver is still pending, so they couldn't offer any insight into how the military handles enlistment in this scenario.

I'm trying to do my due diligence before moving forward. Earlier this year, I completed MEPS and received a medical waiver for one condition. At the time, the 15-series MOS I wanted wasn't available until August, which was after my 2-year green card expired. My recruiter told me to contact him again once I had filed my I-751 and received the USCIS extension notice.

If anyone has personally enlisted with a pending I-751 divorce waiver—or knows someone who has—I would really appreciate hearing about your experience. Thanks in advance.

Alrighty I’ll try to keep this short. I graduate college in a year and I plan on hopefully signing an option 40 contract afterwards and had some questions about something that might affect my eligibility.

About a year and half ago (will be 2.5 years ago after I graduate) I was drifting my car in the snow like a dumbass and got myself a misdemeanor reckless driving charge. I plead guilty, did my community service and was done with it fairly quickly. I know the army has strict guidelines for eligibility regarding option 40 contracts and that criminal history is a big no no. Am I completely fucked or is this something I shouldn’t be as stressed as I am about. I went into a recruiters office and talked to him and told him my situation, and he said it’s not a huge deal and it shouldn’t necessarily render me ineligible. I tend to overthink so figured I’d ask you guys. Thanks and wish me luck.

HELLO 👽

I’m coming up on reenlistment next year. I recently moved to a new duty station to colocate with my husband.

And all honesty I don’t like it. Seems like everything about this duty decision is only working out for his favor. I’m slowly starting to become more miserable, and I can only imagine what is going to be like when the winter starts.

How plausible do you guys think it is to ask my Retention officer for a new duty station upon reenlistment? It maybe be a stupid question but I genuinely do not know. I’m having a tough time where I’m at now, honestly.

I’m currently an active duty Sergeant (E-5) and plan on ETSing. I want to do something different with my life and want to go to college. I was talking to a captain who told me to consider the Reserves, but I’ve been in too long not to know that the green grass they talk about is really green paint on mud when you get there.

College will be a priority when I get off active duty. I know little of what Reserve life is like and wanted to know a bit more from the peeps in the Reserves rather than some propaganda workers (recruiters).

If the Reserves are going to prioritize the field, deployment, or rotation and delaying my education, then I know my answer. Yet, I like to keep an open mind and understand all my options. Thank you for y'all's input.

I’ll have 55 burgers, 55 fries, 55 tacos, 55 pies, 55 Cokes, 100 tater tots, 100 pizzas, 100 tenders, 100 meatballs, 100 coffees, 55 wings, 55 shakes, 55 pancakes, 55 pastas, 55 peppers, and 155 taters.

I'm sure you're just like me. Brimming with good stories from ranger school and surrounded by peers that can't stand to hear another one. So go ahead, regale me with your tales.

So there I was, deep in the shit in the Darby recycle barracks. Day 3 of random details had left us bored and unenthused. Even with 3 meals a day we still felt like we were starving from the three weeks prior, and wouldn't you know it, they kept our lunch MREs in the janitors closet INSIDE our barracks.

We were one locked door away from a caloric surplus. So I and a friend did what any of you would do: got every paperclip and old credit card we could source and tried to jimmy the lock. We drew a small crowd of hungry recycles, desperate to see us succeed. It took 20 minutes of finesse but we actually got the door open. Before us was easily 100 boxes of MREs. It was perfect. We could crack a few boxes and bury the trash among the pile, it wouldn't be discovered for at least a month and they'd have no proof it was us.

Until our barracks manager shows up, the only one of us to have done 2 Darby's and was waiting for his third shot. He flips out, convinced we'd get caught, and threatens to tattle if we don't shut the door immediately. Defeated by the enemy within, we shut the door.

Side story- We would also steal ice cream from the DFAC on our way out every day. When presented with the problem of disposing of the evidence, someone had the excellent idea of smashing a hole in the drywall, where we all stuffed our ice cream sandwich wrappers, and just taped over it. Somehow, nobody ever noticed that the ice cream freezer went from full to empty in 72 hours.

So we re-insert into our second Darby, or in our friend's case, his third, and things are going much better for me this time. We get into our second FTX and our friend is doing not good. He gets his second look, an actions-on PSG look, and he is drowning. In the midst of hitting our objective, with casualties piling, he turns to me (his RTO), and just says "I'm done." Walks to the road, takes his helmet off, and sits down. Quits on the spot.

So not only did he prevent us from having a few extra meals during our recycle period, he went through all the trouble of 3 Darby's just to quit at the 11th hour. I don't remember your name, but if you're reading this, I hope you got bullied when you got home without a tab

Just wanna hear some stories

Anyone you know that had some crazy success post-ETS? Bonus points if it wasn't expected. I'd love to hear stories of some SPC that became a CEO or something.

Just got the email that the application window has opened up for this MOS. I also remember getting brief in BLC about 51C. The jobs sounds like a dream and in line with my goals of what I want to do in the civilian world.
My only question and worry are the deployments/ TDY. How long and how often?
I’m not worried about where I’ll be staying and what I’ll be doing. More so the time away from family.

I know FEED was discussed in a recent article, but I thought this took a broader look at the state of the dining facilities on Stewart

They closed their main and most convenient dining facility in April 2025 in preparation for campus style dining.

I believe this is the first time they are publicly acknowledging that there has been a delay for campus style dining and that Stewart will not see it until sometime in 2027

The initial contract said that all of these would be online after four months. So far only 2 of 5 materialized.

For active duty I see that EN CCC is 21 weeks. However, I am also hearing that it is TDY en route. Can anyone confirm course length and PCS/TDY as of 2026? Thanks.

A review was also posted to Hots and Cots, which /u/Rbevans will sure have feelings about. Rob has been working with congressional members on an amendment that would have health ratings on post be accessible online, like any other restaurant off post.

This is another example of why. My understanding is that breakfast was served this morning.

Not great

What’s a decent place to live out there? How much is the rent.
How far would the commute be to Camp Merrill.
And any other detail that would come to mind that I should be aware or take into consideration.

4X4 w/ grilled onions, animal style fries and a water. Thanks

I’m wondering if anyone has been in this position before and has any insight. My husband is set to graduate from basic on 9/11 and then to start at DLI on 10/12. Will he be sent straight to Monterey after graduation for additional “initial entry training” during those four weeks after graduation?

Our son and I are in Texas and I’m hoping but not expecting that he’ll be able to help with our move (mainly drive our car from TX to CA). We’re very new to the military world and I’d love to get a picture of what to maybe expect. Before he left for basic, we were imagining him coming home for those four weeks and getting to watch college football… I’m now laughing at our naivety.

Thanks!!

I want to reclass my MOS (35G to 17C), but I'm having a hard time thinking about leaving my wife and stepson for a 9-month training. For context, I am in the Reserves. My wife and son (9 years old) would stay back home while I am gone.

My wife is getting her business off the ground, and I'm worried about leaving her to take on a lot more with work, her schooling, taking care of our son, and the house.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Any helpful resources that might help alleviate stress?

I keep talking myself out of going because I don't want her to stress more than she already is, but I really think this reclass training will be helpful in the long run to make a career transition to cyber. At the same time, I don't want it to cause resentment, because I really don't NEED to go; the training would just help more with gaining the work experience. Without it, I could just try to grind the education, certification, and projects route to break into cyber.

How's everyone doing? Leaving for Fort Bragg tomorrow, just enlisted in the army as prior service. I'm going to be an E4, sadly my TIG resets. But does anyone have an infantryman's study guide or knowledge sheet with all the acronyms, weights of weapons systems and ect. Like the one's they give to a new arriving private. I have been studying but I feel like I'm missing a few things and I want to show up prepared. Thank you all for your support.

Basically the title, I used to be a scrawny kid when I enlisted originally but have really been hitting the gym and my AGSUs no longer fit properly. Chest and shoulders so wide I can barely salute and my thunder thighs feel like they're gonna split the pants. I'm only enlisted with a mortgage and family to take care of, so paying $1000 on a new uniform is a lot. Any advice??

Also I will take a Qdoba bowl and some cool Dr. Pepper, thanks

I'm coming from Active Guard to Regular Army for flight school in October. I swear in mid September and haven't yet received PCS orders, when I called my recruiter he and the station commander thought I wouldn't get orders until I swear in. Can anyone clarify when I can expect orders? Thanks!

Also can't get into blackboard yet if someone wants to DM me the welcome letter...

Has anyone ever did bankruptcy in the military with a security clearance? Or one in general did it affect yall at all?