Base Profile: Fort Bliss, TX

Information provided by: Lauren Kowalick

Website: Kaylee's Kloset

Base size: Currently 90,000 soldiers and family members

On and off-base housing:  Most of the housing was torn down and rebuilt since 2008 - and it is BEAUTIFUL! There are some older housing communities, but they are still very nice and have only heard good things about them. We live off post, since the wait list for a house large enough for us was 18m at the time - we live off Montana near "Biggs AirField" - and we are very happy with the area we live in. 

Neighborhoods to avoid/seek out: Haven't really heard of areas to avoid. You don't want to get a house on the other side of the Pass (mountain range) while on paper it only takes 30 minutes to get on post - the traffic is horrendous and it can take up to 2 hours to get around the pass. 

Exchange and commissary: They are brand new! Absolutely beautiful and so many great stores at our exchange. Great restaurants, playgrounds, and a fountain the kids can play in during the summer. They are constantly adding new fashion clothing stores to their "outlet mall" section! The exchange mall is called Freedom Crossing: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Freedom-Crossing-at-Fort-Bliss/107207162712?ref=ts&fref=ts

Attractions/things to do: There is a small zoo that is very nice, there is a water park for 10 and under on post that is fantastic - we have little kids so we don't do much more than those types of things! 

Pros and cons: The people here are so nice. Everyone is always so friendly and welcoming. The bases we had been at before here, you would strike up a conversation with a stranger and they would curse you out and tell you its none of your business - here, you are best friends in minutes! But I guess some people don't like that, I have overheard a few people complain about how people around here are "nosy" and always trying to talk to them even though they don't know them... I call that being friendly, no nosy - but to each their own! It is very hot and dry here, but there is no humidity. 

Important numbers: There are several different housing communities, so no main number for that - and there is a different FRG for each unit, and my husband is in a special troups battalion so there isnt even an FRG for it. But the garrison commander has his own website that is so easy to use to contact him! I never even knew the name of the garrison commanders on other posts, but here i have actually talked to him! https://www.facebook.com/TellittoColD?ref=ts&fref=ts

Additional info: You may hear horrible things about the hospital here, William Beaumont Army Medical Hospital - but the services my husband (who has a tbi and ptsd) and I (pregnancy and delivery) have received so far were FANTASTIC. He never got the he help he needed at other army hospitals - here they have been overwhelming with support. The labor and delivery was amazing, the nurses and doctors were so caring and helpful - they helped watch my son since we didn't have anyone to keep him (he is 4 years old), they let it go as naturally as possible (she was even born with her water sac fully intact!), and the food - WOW it was so good! I didn't want to go home because my cooking didn't even compare! And I am a good cook! The lactation specialist there was fantastic and so helpful, I even got a massage from one of the night nurses because I was having trouble with my back and my husband couldn't stay because of our son needing to be at school in the morning. I have a feeling all the horrible things we heard about where from people who were just awful patients - not that the doctors were awful.