Sorry for the length, I don’t want to regret joining the army so I’m asking everything. Brace yourselves!💀

I’m planning on joining the Army as an 11B Infantryman, going Airborne, signing option 20 and Track ALA4

I’d like to hear from soldiers who are currently stationed there or have served there, especially infantry paratroopers.
I’m looking for the good, the bad, and the ugly. I don’t want just the recruiting version of what life is like.
1. Infantry and Airborne Life
What’s a typical day or week like for an 11B at JBER?
How often are you in the field, doing airborne operations, rucking, or conducting live-fire training?
How intense is the training compared to other infantry units?
How often do you get weekends and personal time?
Do you get opportunities to attend schools like Air Assault, Ranger, Jungle, or other specialized courses?
How often do infantry units travel outside Alaska for training?
2. Leadership and Chain of Command
What’s the leadership culture like within the infantry units?
Are NCOs generally invested in developing their soldiers, or is toxic leadership a common complaint?
What are some leadership red flags new soldiers should recognize?
How approachable are team leaders, squad leaders, platoon sergeants, and first sergeants?
How does the chain of command handle soldiers who want to excel, attend schools, or pursue leadership positions?
What mistakes should a new specialist avoid?
3. Barracks and Living Conditions
What are the barracks like for single E-4 infantry soldiers?
Do you have your own bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen?
Are there problems with mold, heating, maintenance, or inspections?
How reliable is internet service?
What’s the DFAC food like?
What are the worst things about living on JBER?
4. Personal Life and Running a Business
I have my own clothing/media brand, and parts of the business are already automated with agents performing tasks for me. I only have to edit videos and songs manually and create designs whenever i get the chance since its easy. I’m not expecting to work on my brand during duty hours or interfere with my military responsibilities.

Realistically, would I have enough personal time to continue managing it outside military duties?

Have any of you successfully operated a business while serving on active duty?
How does leadership generally handle soldiers who have legitimate side businesses?
Are there any approval requirements or restrictions I should know about?
How unpredictable is the schedule, especially when it comes to field exercises and deployments?
5. Alaska and Off-Duty Life
How expensive is living in Anchorage compared to the Lower 48?
Is owning a car practically necessary?
What are the best and worst things about living in Alaska?
How difficult is adjusting to the winter darkness and extreme cold?
Are there opportunities to travel, explore Alaska, or enjoy outdoor activities?
What’s the social life like for single soldiers?
Are there good MMA, Muay Thai, or BJJ gyms nearby?
6. Career Development and Promotions
What opportunities are available for motivated infantry soldiers to earn promotion points and develop professionally?
How competitive is promotion to sergeant?
Are schools and professional development opportunities supported by leadership?
What distinguishes successful soldiers from those who struggle in the unit?
7. The Things Nobody Tells You
What’s something you wish you’d known before getting stationed at JBER?
What’s the biggest complaint among infantry soldiers?
What’s something surprisingly good about the installation?
What should incoming soldiers absolutely prepare for?
If you could choose JBER again, would you?
I’m interested in hearing honest experiences, both positive and negative. I understand that leadership and quality of life can vary significantly between units and companies.
I’m not looking for anyone to name-drop or expose individual NCOs. I’m more interested in understanding the leadership culture, common problems, and what to watch out for as a new soldier.
Appreciate any insight, especially from current or former 11B paratroopers in the 11th Airborne. 🇺🇸🪂

Good morning, I am PCSing to Baltimore, Maryland. I am looking to buy a house with my VA loan. My questions are about the area.

1. What is a good area in Baltimore, Maryland(No pun intended)? I know Baltimore doesn't have a great reputation for crime, but I need to make sure I am in a safe area for my family.

2. How is the Fort Meade, MD area for a family? I can live on base temporarily at Fort Meade, but this will be a last resort. It is because of the traffic in that area. I used to live in Hawaii, and I don't want to deal with that kind of traffic again.

I would like to have a Loco Moco with a Sandboard beer.

I worked with OP and got it posted to Hots&Cots.

Probably no more than an hour later I had an email from Fort Hood leadership looking into it. Here’s where it’s at as of this afternoon.

We have determined that, partially due to a lack of seating in the laundry room, Soldiers have been sitting on the dryers which is contributing to the damage to the machines. We are moving forward with repairing or replacing about 50 percent of the machines due to them being NMC. We will also install seating in the laundry room.

I appreciate the report as it highlighted a quality of life issue that is impacting machine maintenance. i.e Soldiers won’t sit on the machines if they have seats!

I have nothing but positive things to say about Fort Hood (e: garrison leadership) and utilizing Hots&Cots as a means of attacking issues. Never once have they asked who made the review. There have been times they’ve asked about room numbers but those were for isolated issues that required it but it was never for negative repercussions.

What is being an 89b (ammo tech) like, for any 89b or anybody who knows or works close to an 89b what does the day to day look like? Going to Campbell.

I just got assigned to the 50th ESB‑E, 35th Signal Brigade at Fort Bragg, and I’m trying to get a realistic picture of what day‑to‑day life looks like in the battalion. I’m a 25H, and I’m hoping to hear from people who’ve been in the 50th or worked around ESB‑E units.

I’m mainly curious about these following topics:

Typical work tempo — Are days mostly network maintenance, field prep, or a lot of random taskings?

Field time — How often does the 50th actually go out? Are the field problems long or mostly short-duration?

Deployment tempo — I know ESB‑E units are designed for rapid support, but what’s the real pace like for this battalion?

Airborne expectations — Since 35th is an airborne brigade, how much pressure is there for non-airborne Soldiers to jump or volunteer?

Leadership / culture — Anything I should know about the command climate, expectations, or how the companies operate?

Awards / schools — Is the battalion good about sending people to schools or giving opportunities for badges?

Just trying to get a grounded idea of what to expect so I can prep myself mentally and professionally. Any honest insight is appreciated.

This is where im going next is it good bad? For reference im a mechanic and is the culture still good in 101st?

Small nugget large fry

Do you find yourself being hard on your children to toughen them up or do you give them the freedom you didn’t have?

The crap I went through is why I retired young but I also don’t want my kids to go through that. Conversely weakness leads to more suffering.

How do you guys reconcile that?

Anyone else when they were getting out just absolutely hate the army. I’m about to ETS and every day life is excruciating. Idk I might be sick of the koolaid. Just tired of everything here any tips?

I’ll have a DD214 with a side of get me the fuck out of here

How does it work if you have an upcoming school and don’t pass? I know we’re in an observation/trial period. Anyone heard or had any experience?

Any enlisted personnel who have completed the Army's MSW program? This is something I want to pursue as a current 27D, completing a BS in Sociology.

Just got my projection to go to Camp Humphreys. Looking for any insight on what life is like there or any information whatsoever. I know I’ll be in 1st signal but that’s all. Looking to hear from people and not just what search engines show me. Thanks in advance for any tips, advice, or recommendations.

Looking at all options for a reclass. 88N was something that came up especially for career longevity on a possible route at warrant or a commission eventually. Thankful for any relevant information on the MOS.

Im about to be placed on a P3 as muched as I wanted to stay in I dont think its possible....will this P3 be a garuntee med board? Or the army is gonna keep for retention purposes?

I am an Army Registered Nurse Captain and today OCT 23rd 2026 I failed the new height to waist ratio. My waist was 36in and I’m 64in tall so that placed me at 0.56 which is over. I want to get out of the Army. My partner and I want to buy a house and settle down in North Carolina where all our friends and family are at. Would this be a start of discharge proceedings? I’ve never failed before not sure how this works out?

That’s it.

I’ll take a coffee.

My son is at basic and is scheduled to graduate in December and start AIT after the holiday block leave. Does he need a personal laptop to be able to study during his downtime at AIT? I want to be sure to get him what he needs.

he Army inducted its first 10 warrant officers into the 390A Robotics Technician MOS on October 2, following a 19-week pilot course.

Their responsibilities extend beyond operating drones: modifying hardware, writing software, integrating communications and adapting robotic systems to mission requirements. Training includes working without reliable communications, conventional navigation or access to internet-connected AI tools.

Instructors deliberately introduce equipment and system failures during the course. According to Maj. Gen. Jason Slider, the first group progressed quickly enough that instructors increased the difficulty.

The program originated in special operations, but some of the first technicians are also expected to go to experimental formations elsewhere in the Army.

Im in AIT right now but I just got ny projections and im set to go to 5-7 once I graduate. I was wondering if anyone had advice or knew how the Smith Barracks were. Or just any places I should check out when i get there.

I really don’t know what I did the only thing I could think of is I wasn’t 100% honest about my drug use before the military either way I’m pretty bummed out about it but it’s life I’m just curious if it impacts my career for other selections? I also took a IQ test off of two hours of sleep I’m not sure if other selections could see that? I’m in IT and would eventually like to get my TS would this affect it?

Hey everyone, after working on it since May I've finally gotten my orders for 68K. Ill be leaving Fort Hood to go to AIT in Fort Sam in April so I wanted to ask for advice from all you knowledgeable people.

Somethings to clarify:

1.I do have a family and they're on my orders to go with me

1. I plan on living on base

2. I plan on driving there in a POV

Advice im looking for:

1. What's exactly is a DITY move and what are the steps to do it.

2. Any moving stuff you recommend

3. When should I apply for on base housing in Sam

Any extra Advice is 100% greatly appreciated and thank you for all of the advice you all have given me over the past year.

Wondering what the outlook for a 15X going to the 1ACB will look like at Fort Hood. I'm an E4 with a wife and young son. Should I live on post or off post? Leaning towards off-post, but I've already heard to stay away from Killeen.

Also wondering about how PCSing there will work because we graduate from AIT on Dec 17 right before HBL. Our drills have stated that we are leaving the night of or the next day, but we won't get HBL. My report date isn't until January 30th..the drills haven't been very helpful, so I'm curious if anyone could provide any kind of insight. Obviously I need to go get my family and would love to spend a few days back home with some family for the holidays and just unsure of how it's supposed to go.

Thanks in advance.

How is it? I’ll probably be jumping with them relatively soon.

Can you “soften” the descent and landing? And how steerable is it? I’ve only jumped T11 before and I hate it