Author Topic: Looking for info on El Paso and Ft. Bliss, TX (Read 807 times)

Tarmac · « **on:** July 31, 2007, 08:04:12 PM »

Hey all. I haven't been on the BB much lately as I've been pretty busy with my new career in the USAF. I'm wrapping up tech school in a few weeks, and after SERE school I've got orders to Ft Bliss, TX.

Anybody ever been stationed there? Lived in El Paso? I'm just looking for general opinions of the place so I know what to expect. I have a buddy with orders to Ft Campbell, KY, and I might be able to trade orders with him but I want to make an intelligent decision here.

So what's El Paso/Ft Bliss like?

RAIDER14 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 31, 2007, 08:27:01 PM »

Fort Bliss information
not sure if this is what your looking for but here is some info

DiabloTX · « **Reply #2 on:** July 31, 2007, 08:51:52 PM »

A whole lotta nothing out there. El Paso is the world's biggest truck stop. I have an aunt and uncle out there who have a son that just went throuhg USAF bootcamp. If ya need somewhere to go, if you go to El Paso, I'll hook you up with them. Nicest people you'll meet and they'll treat you like family...like Texans are suppsed to!

texasmom · « **Reply #3 on:** July 31, 2007, 08:52:51 PM »

lots of information about Terry Allen there at one of their local colleges. That alone would be worth a tour there.

Maverick · « **Reply #4 on:** July 31, 2007, 09:18:09 PM »

It's windy, it's hot, it's dry, it's windy, it's dirty, it's dusty, it's windy, it's smelly, It's hot, it's cold, it's windy, it's crowded and it's right across the river from Mexico. Did I mention that it's windy there?

tedrbr · « **Reply #5 on:** July 31, 2007, 09:37:12 PM »

It's hot.
It's dry.
It sux.
Two words: Yucca plant.
Say the heck out of Ciudad Juarez. Really!
Think I actually preferred Iraq and getting shot at.... at least the pay was better.

rpm · « **Reply #6 on:** July 31, 2007, 11:54:51 PM »

Hey, you have'nt lived until you've made a drunken trip to Juarez.

Lot's of GREAT mexican food, and not many cats for some odd reason.

VWE · « **Reply #7 on:** July 31, 2007, 11:55:12 PM »

Fort Bliss or Fort Campbell, and you can't decide which one? You deserve Fort Bliss... no, really.

texasmom · « **Reply #8 on:** July 31, 2007, 11:57:28 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by rpm
Lot's of GREAT mexican food, and not many cats for some odd reason.

barf!

texasmom · « **Reply #9 on:** July 31, 2007, 11:58:38 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by VWE
Fort Bliss or Fort Campbell, and you can't decide which one? You deserve Fort Bliss... no, really.

But if his buddy is willing to trade Campbell for Bliss... wouldn't his buddy be equally deserving?

tedrbr · « **Reply #10 on:** August 01, 2007, 12:52:22 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by rpm
Hey, you have'nt lived until you've made a drunken trip to Juarez.

Lot's of GREAT mexican food, and not many cats for some odd reason.

SURVIVING and RETURNING from a drunken trip to Juarez is the real trick though.

tedrbr · « **Reply #11 on:** August 01, 2007, 01:06:00 AM »

quote:Originally posted by VWE
Fort Bliss or Fort Campbell, and you can't decide which one? You deserve Fort Bliss... no, really.

Quote

Originally posted by texasmom
But if his buddy is willing to trade Campbell for Bliss... wouldn't his buddy be equally deserving?

Definitely a point.

Fort Cambell: Nashville, Memphis, bluegrass, green...as in trees and growing things. Rain. Country girls. Horse farms. Rolling hills. Land between the lakes.
In the wintertime when there is ice, Abrams MBTs and Bradley IFVs become the biggest toboggans you've ever seen... usually slide/roll one into a lake or pond every year.... makes for a fun recovery operation.

Fort Bliss: sand and yucca and sand and yucca and White Sands and fallout zones. Dust. Dust storms. El Paso, Juarez, and....that's about it for 200 miles in any direction.

Both have their problems with crime and lowlifes. Typical for perimeter of any Army base, although it's probably a bit closer and more pronounced at Bliss.

Modas · « **Reply #12 on:** August 01, 2007, 09:59:08 AM »

I can tell you a couple of things...

There is a GREAT steak house east of El Paso (maybe 20-30 miles) called the Cattleman's (a working ranch I believe). Best place I've EVER eaten at. I would go to El Paso just to eat there. I think the movie Courage Under Fire (the desert scenes) were filmed at at this ranch as well.

My last job (automotive) we had a plant in Juarez. There was a local sports club that we used to freqent after work with the local engineer called Cananna's (not sure I'm spelling that right) Its right on the main drag just a few miles from the boarder. Nice place. I don't know if its still there or not. I used to go down there about every six weeks or so back in '94 thru '97. There are areas in that city you do NOT want to find yourself in. We were told to stay within 3 blocks (east & west) of the main drag. Any farther than that and there would be a chance you wouldn't come back. I don't know if that is still the case or not.

FiLtH · « **Reply #13 on:** August 01, 2007, 10:06:23 AM »

Its a dry heat.

Maverick · « **Reply #14 on:** August 01, 2007, 10:51:48 AM »

As one who has lived in the desert for 50 years, take Ft. Campbell unless you really really like heat and really really can't stand cold. Not that it doesn't get cold in El Paso, it does.

I've been to El Paso and I've been to the Ft. Campbell area. I would go to Ft. Campbell if that were my choice to make.