I've searched around here, and on the net for answers but havent come up with anything yet...

I'm on orders to report to Irwin in late '08 or early '09, depending on when I get back from this deployment...My question is about housing. I've heard there's NCO barracks for single NCO's, but I havent heard anything about them. I'm used to single soldier housing at HAAF, where you've got your own bedroom, but share a kitchen and bathroom...I would hope an NCO wouldnt have to share such things, but hey...

Furthermore, I know it would probably be unit specific, but do they allow single NCO's to live off post and collect BAH if they desire? I lived off post for a brief period of time before I deployed, and I definatley prefer it...even if it included a 40 minute commute each way.

another loose question I had was...I'm into 4 wheeling, and I know that area is pretty mountainous. Is there anywhere around post, or near post with some good trails or anything like that?

Any answers or info would be appreciated!

I'm moving to Ft. Irwin also. I report in April 08. Whats your MOS?

I have a friend there now and he is an E-5 and lives in Barstow. He said its ok but paying for gas sucks.

I like four-wheeling too. I haven't found much about four-wheeling online so I'll have to let you kow when I get there.

I'm 88M...

And i'm quite sure paying for the gas is harsh...I was pretty stoked when I was checking out gas prices around the states, only to find that Washington State (home) and California have the highest averages :-/

I had read in another post about irwin, fella said he and some other folks were carpooling from barstow, which is obviously the way to go...as long as everyone's schedule is the same!

Well, I pcs'd from Irwin last year to hawaii and yes the NCO rooms are single you dont share anything with anyone. Depending on rank they wont allow BAH for single NCO's the drive one way from Barstow is about 36 miles so its really not worth it. you'd be looking at close to 100 miles round trip per day as opposed to living in the NCO barracks and walking across a basketball court to work. As for 4-wheeling there are a few ohv areas around there you have Calico and the victorville area to go to, or even right off Fort Irwin road.

Hey whats up...Ive been stationed at fort irwin since feb. of 06' and i was there for about a year but im serving out a 15 month deployment right now until this summer..I was married so I lived in barstow cause i had no choice, my wife lived in san diego and i didnt want to have a house on post all to myself but as for living conditons the NCO barracks are pretty nice, your own kitchen area, walk in closet, no one bothers you but the barracks are contracted by civillians so they are a pain in the ass to clear when you leave...I have a couple buddies that go 4 wheeling in a nearby city called victorville, theres 4 whjeeling everywhere, your in the middle of the mojave desert!and you will see alot of trucks on post all mudded up with quads and bikes in the back...Barstow is a super trashy town, i think its meth capital of the united states and by far the worst ive seen but they have a couple cool little bars of you drink and some services that they dont offer on post if needed....There is one road in and out of post, 1..Ft Irwin rd and its 45 minutes each way, the more you drive it, you get used to it but theres not much in the surrounding areas, I would drive to san diego which is about 2 hour and 15 minutes south and vegas is about and hour and half north on the 15...enjoy man and make the most of it, the post itsel isnt bad, they just redid the PX while were gone and I hears its massive...They got a bowling alley, schools, all the facilities you'd need...just everything is brown and plain...good luck

I'm stationed at Irwin right now and most of the info that's been given out in this thread is pretty accurate. Single E-6's and above are authorized to live off post. I decided to live off post for a couple reasons. The NCO Barracks are contracted out to civillians, which means you'll get BAH, but they'll also take it all out. That was reason #1 for living off post. If I'm going to lose that cash, I might as well spend it on some place I like. The commute Barstow and Irwin averages out to 40-45 minutes depending on the time you head in and what time period. There are A LOT of line haul trucks moving in and out on Ft Irwin road. Gas in this area is through the roof right now, I think the cheapest is at $3.61 a gallon.
It's really going to depend on the unit you'll be assigned to, whether 11th ACR, Operations Group or Support Brigade, since each has a different schedule. If you end up becoming an OC or Opfor, you won't be seeing home much once rotations start. You do get a 4 day after each rotation, so pretty much monthly. I have seen A LOT of of Off Highway Vehicle roads all around Barstow and Victorville. You can see dust trails for miles from I-15, the main road. Fort Irwin is almost exactly in the middle from Las Vegas and Los Angeles. It all depends on which way on I-15 you want to go.
It's true about Barstow, not really an "All American" town, but that's ok, Victorville is a half hour away. I personally head down to L.A. and Hollywood in my down time since I'm from that area originally. Pretty much piggying back on what SGTM said, it's all what you make of it.

Well I'd like to say I appreciate the answers. Yall summed up what I had wondered pretty nicely! Fort Irwin will be just fine for me...I chose it on a re-enlistment as part of my quest to get back up to Washington State...Lewis wasnt open to me, but Irwin was. Seeing is I've got alot of extended family and some friends in the LA area (was born there) it'll be great. Come the weekends, i'm gone!

The NCO barracks sounds pretty straight...I'm a very private person and am quite tired of having roomates...especially now during deployment, but...it is what it is...

thanks again!