Base Name: Ft. Bliss

Base Location: El Paso, Tx

How long have you been here? (give years please, ex. 2003-present) April 20th 2007

What is housing like? On-post? (waiting list, conditions, etc.) Off-post? Any areas to stay away from? Average price to rent or buy? I live on post. If you are lower enlisted you will most likely move into Van Horne. I have heard both good and bad, the houses are alright. Most 3 bedrooms have two full baths. Main Post and the older homes are getting renovated, along with the redbrick houses. If you are E-5 + into officer then you have a great chance of getting a nice new home. They are building a ton. I think that home is what you make of them, and I dont consider any of these homes on post as trashy.

Rate the PX & Commissary. The Commisary is typical, nothing special. The PX is pretty nice. They have a huge food court, not as big as Campbells, but its good. There is a salon, barber, fedex, and other stores in the front of the PX.

Activities on base? If your spouse is deployed they have waiting families which provides free dinners once a month and free bowling once a month as well. There is a museum, 3 or so swimming pools, paintball course and many many parks with shades for summers.

Active Spouses Club? They have a NCO wives club, Officers Wives club, PWOC which is Protestant Women of the Chapel...wonderful to go to ! Its on Sheridan and starts at 9:30 Every Wednesday.

Things to do in area? White Sands National Park, Wyler Arial Tramway, Ice Skating, Transmountain hiking and views/scenic drive , McKellegon Canyon, Grand Canyon not too far, Carlsbad Caverns. Las Cruces NM is only 45 minutes north of EL Paso and has a lot of events.

School System? Unsure, kids are two young.

Any colleges in area? UTEP, EPCC

Jobs? (on post and off) Most of the jobs require you to be bilingual.

Favorite aspect of this base/surrounding city? The views and the mountains. And yes, there is grass. It's not a true desert. We have had more snow and rain than Dallas this year. And yes it gets hot, but there is no humidity, so if Dallas is at 80 and its 102 here it feels better here than in Dallas.

Least favorite aspect? Language barrier

Local websites? (base, chamber, newspaper, schools, etc.) blissmwr.com , The Moniter is the post newspaper that is distributed on Thursdays.