Need ANY info about Fort Drum, NY please!!

Question

My husband just found out that we will be going to Fort Drum, NY. He doesn't have his exact report date yet, but we do know it will be in the next month or so. I need any info that anyone has. Including colleges, the fitness center, PX, Commisary, housing, activities - on and off post.

My husband's MOS is 21E. We would like information on what the engineers do there, and any other information on Engineers there that anyone has.

Any answers will be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

welcome to drum..well almost! my husband is 21B. I don't really know much about the different jobs of the engineer's, just my husbands and he is deployed right now so i can't ask him. i am not sure where you are coming from but it is cold up here and be prepared for a lot of snow this winter. they have a community college about 10-15 minutes away from the base called JCC. I went there and it is pretty good. there is also a 4 year state school about an hour away. i have never lived on base. there is offf post housing within a mile of the main gate. sometimes i have heard it can take a while to get on post housing but i am not sure how long the list is. there is not that much to do in the area especially if you are used to a bigger city. we do have a small mall and there is a good mall about 45 min. away. they do have two fitness centers on base. i have actually never been to the px or commissary because i do all of my shopping off base. i know..im not that big of a help...im a new army wife and just getting used to all of this..but i am from the area originally and my best advise to you is to be ready for the snow and cold! if you have anything specific you can email me and i will try and answer it for you!

Answer 2

Yea just check out their website here.

Answer 3

I actually grew up in that area.  Look at their site to get details about housing, etc. but yes, there is a community college (JCC) in Watertown.  It is a pretty rural area and gets very cold in the winter but there is plenty to do and beautiful things to see if you have the right attitude (not that you don't but some people focus on the negative).  Canada is about 1 hour away; The 1000 island region is maybe 1/2 hour; some quaint historic towns around (ie Sackets Harbor); Syracuse is about 1 hr. 20 minutes south; The Adirondack Mountains/Lake Placid is a couple hours away.  When I was home visiting I noticed the PX and Commissary are getting a big face lift.  I never lived on Ft. Drum - my husband wasn't living on base when we met.  But, I visited friends who lived on post - some housing is newer and nicer than others.  There is a medical center right on post.  Also, in Watertown there is the Thompson Park Zoo with indigenous animals - be kind of careful of the big playground in Thompson Park, though.  I recommend if you have young children that you don't just chit chat w/ friends and send them off to play.  In the past there have been some weirdos hanging around the park and on occasion lurking near the playground.  I don't think you have to avoid it, just keep an eye on the kids. I recommend taking a boat tour from Alexandria Bay through the 1000 Islands - and stop at Boldt Castle; Sackets Harbor is a pretty little town and I highly recommend Tin Pan Galley restaurant.  Make reservations on weekends.  Great breakfast, lunch and dinner.  I am just typing as things pop into my head so it's probably all over the place.  If you live on post and either you or a child wants to go to a 4 yr. college SUNY Potsdam is (I think) about 1 1/2 hrs. away.  If you live further south it's more of a commute, but I know some people who do it.  Anyway, hope some of this rambling helps and that you enjoy your time in NNY.  Good luck!

Answer 4

Fort Drum is about an hour south of where i live. It's located just outside the city of Watertown. It's not a big city, its more like a really big village. There's a pretty decent size mall there. The local college is Jefferson Community College. The housing is actually pretty decent, according my uncle whos an electrician there. Many good restaurants around the city.