Fort Bliss is such a big Army post that it straddles both Texas and New Mexico, although the main HQ is in El Paso. It boasts the biggest contiguous air space in the continental U.S., making it perfect for testing missiles and firing the big guns.
Army means that you can only live at the fort if you're in the Armed Forces or part of a soldier family
Fort Bliss is such a big Army post that it straddles both Texas and New Mexico, although the main HQ is in El Paso. It boasts the biggest contiguous air space in the continental U.S., making it perfect for testing missiles and firing the big guns.
Army means that you can only live at the fort if you're in the Armed Forces or part of a soldier family. Singles generally stay at the all bills-paid barracks. For everyone else, there's Balfour Beatty Communities, a professional property management company that handles the whole housing shebang outside of the communal beds. Options here aren't apartment rentals in the traditional sense and you won't even find one-bedroom apartments. All or most of your rent is covered by your Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH).
You can't just show up and expect to find a place to live. You first need to be assigned to the base. You'll then need to submit a housing application, Leave and Earning Statement (LES), DD1172 DEERS Enrollment (for an ID card), and Copy of Orders. Do this as soon as you can because you're most likely going to get on a waiting list.
Your family situation and rank determine when the Resident Specialist says "How do you do?" Respond to this approach ASAP so you can schedule your walk-thru. Otherwise, after five business days, you're kicked off the wait list and have to start all over again.
Almost anywhere else, you're going to need separate insurance to protect your belongings. (The landlord's insurance only covers his stuff, not yours.) At Fort Bliss, you automatically get personal property coverage of $20,000 with a $250 deductible. If your belongings are worth more than that, you're going to need to buy more insurance.
In general, Fort Bliss allows up to two pets per household, although you can bring a zoo full of fish tanks and bird cages because each of these is just considered one type. Sorry, you can't bring your llama, monitor lizard, or other exotic creature. And certain dog breed are no-no's, like the American Pit Bull, Doberman, Akita, and Rottweiler. Service animals for disabled assistance aren't considered pets so restrictions don't apply to them.
There isn't much difference among the more than one dozen neighborhoods other than location, even if they've got different names. All residences typically have central air, fully-equipped kitchens, and washer/dryer hookups. The Army still gets in on the action by defining who can stay where. The following show some examples of rental housing in Fort Bliss:
Aero Vista: Ranks E7 to E9 can live here in single-family homes with views of the Franklin Mountains. Residents are also near Biggs Park and the Centennial Club.
North Main Post: Ranks E1 to E6 can choose from duplexes and single-family houses with two to four bedrooms. The neighborhood is in the thick of the base shopping district, so you're walking distance to the Commissary, PX, restaurants and Kelly Park.
Corregidor: Only officers up to O6 are allowed to choose the single-family homes here with three or four bedrooms. The community is conveniently close to the Officers Club, parade field, and courts for basketball and tennis.
The 108s: Like golf? Then find a home with two to four bedrooms here because you'll overlook the Underwood Golf Complex. You need a rank of E1 to E6 for this 'hood.
No matter where you live in Fort Bliss, you're entitled to use any of the community amenities. But of course, you'll probably want to stick to the ones closest to you because the base can have multiples of the same type. For example, you can choose from four community pools and a water park. But no diving is allowed and you need to bring your ID for entry.
The community centers act as your home away from home albeit with more space and better tech. Each has a kitchen for whipping up some snacks, a projection screen to showing your favorite movies and a game room so you can challenge your buds to air hockey. There's also a flat screen TV for watching the Army-Navy game. Two fitness centers keep you in fighting shape with weight machines and treadmills. For some friendly competition, get on the courts for basketball, volleyball, or tennis.
If you're more into fun among foliage, head for Kelly Park and its trees. There's even an area set aside for your pooch. You can grill some steaks on the barbecue and eat them on picnic tables under covered pavilions. Electrical outlets let you chill your drinks with an electric cooler. You can also grow your own veggies at the community garden.
Even with all these facilities, you don't have to rely on your own devices for diversion. Morale, Welfare and Recreation come up with events to fill your free time. Every Friday in the fall, the Wagon Trails Market gives you produce, edibles, and crafts in a marketplace environment. Shoot your friends in complete safety during Laser Tag night at Biggs Park. Want to win some cash and prizes? How about some high-stakes bingo. Show more than your CO that you're Army strong by participating in the Armed Forces Day Triathlon, which includes a swim a bike route, and a run. The event is open to everyone, even civilians from El Paso.
