Base Name:

Ft. Campbell
 

Base Location:

Ft. Campbell, KY/Clarksville, TN
 

How long have you been here? (give years please, ex. 2003-present):

2006-present
 

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've always lived off post, so have no idea of what housing is like on post.  Housing off-post is getting expensive (IMO), and the electric rates are have jumped up a couple times.

There are different places to live, if you are willing to drive: Hopkinsville, Cadiz, Clarksville, Sango (VERY expensive--getting to be So-Cal priced), etc.  Honestly, I want to know where all the good paying jobs are that are allowing people to buy at these prices because I sure can't find one, and I have a BS.  I wish everyone would undercut the prices and drive them back down to affordable.

Downtown is not pretty.  New Providence area is quite ugly; has that dirty city feel.  It's not a big area, but not one I would want to live in.  Rent, from what I've seen, and depending on what you are getting, can be anywhere around $300-1500/mo
 

Oak Grove is one of the cheaper areas, but it's also one of the more "iffy" areas.
 

Rate the PX & Commissary.

Pricey.  Well, most of it, anyway.  The commissary is good for things like milk, eggs, and salad, but the other stuff is iffy.  Occasionally you see other deals that are fantastic, but most of the stuff is pricier.  Shop the Oak Grove Wal Mart instead:  it has no tax on groceries.  Since the commissary has a 5% surcharge (basically it's own tax), you save on the 5%, but it is still good to go there for the basics.
 

Activities on base?

There are plenty of activities, but I will have to say that I am rather irritated at the pricing.  Supposedly these things are here for the benefits of the soldiers, but the way they are run or especially at how much they cost for what you get is ridiculous.  I guess that's because it's government...held accountable for everything and yet nothing.

STABLES
 

I have the most personal experience with the stables here, since I have a couple of horses.  They over-vaccinate the animals.  Not only is this not good for the animals, it's not good for your pocket-book as well.  They finally revamped a part of the outdoor riding arena, but not sure if they fixed that water spigot by it (which is nice, since the days can be hot).
 

Stalls:
 

The rate for a stall here is currently $125-$140/mo.  This includes 2 1/2 bales of hay per week (that you have to throw) and water (that they fill--as long as it's not a holiday).  It is up to YOU to clean the stalls and feed the animal(s).  This is rather irksome, because supposedly this is supposed to be a service for those enlisted, yet it's not a deal.  What if someone deploys?  They'd have to hire someone to take care of the animal and clean the stalls every day, and that can get quite expensive.  This particularly irks me because I often see the stable employees sitting around doing nothing, when there is obviously plenty that needs to be done around there.  And if it's a holiday...well, you need to fill the water buckets yourself, too. 
 

The barns are old, and a few of them very hot in summer.  If they truly wanted this to be a service, they should provide feedings and stall cleanings as well.  People usually don't get paid to sit around; they might as well be doing something and provide an actual service to military members.
 

They have turnouts that are overgrazed.  They assign you where you go.
 

Pasture:

It's $74/mo for pasture.  They only feed hay in winter, and they are rather clueless about making sure they have enough for all the horses out there.  They are also clueless as to pasture management.  In this area, for as much land as they have, it's grazed down, and nothing but dirt and weeds.  In summer time, they don't even think to provide hay, even though the pasture is overgrazed.  Pasture is horrible, and can be a pain to catch a horse in because it's so big, but if you are getting deployed or going to be gone, that's the best option. 
 

Trail rides...I heard, from someone that use to work there, that a lot of the horses they have for the trail rides, were bought at auction and their temperament, rideability, and soundness is not guaranteed. 
 

Active Spouses Club?

I know they exist, but I don't take part in them

Things to do in area?

 Plenty to do if you want, especially outdoor activities.  There's the mall, if you like shopping.  Lots of restaurants.  A couple movie theaters.  Mammoth Cave is a couple hours away, and so are the Smoky Mountains.  Nashville is an hour south.  Land Between the Lakes (LBL) is about 30-40 minutes to the west where you can hike, boat, swim, and horseback ride.  Wranglers Camp (Linton, KY): horse camping.  There's a car track around here somewhere...I've heard them.
 

School System?

 Have no idea, since I don't have kids.  I heard the Sango area schools are very good, but that's also the upper crust area.

Any colleges in area?

 Austin Peay.  Murray State University, about an hour west of Ft. Campbell and has an extension in Hopkinsville.  Hopkinsville Community College.  Vanderbilt in Nashville.  There are few around here, but whether they are of any value or not, I don't know.
 

Jobs? (on post and off)

 On post jobs...hard to get into, and don't pay very much.  The degreed jobs are even harder to get onto, and harder to find off post.  I've not been able to get a job here since I've been here.  It's rather depressing.

Favorite aspect of this base/surrounding city?
The outdoor activities.  Most people are very friendly here, as well.
 

Least favorite aspect?

 The job prospects around here are HORRIBLE, unless you are in some sort of medical field or don't mind making minimum wage.