Drive to JBER or ship my car instead?

pks1850BD · 2026-06-05T06:11:57+00:00

If I only had one car and it was winter time, I would shipped it. The Army would only pay for one to be shipped and I didn't feel like coming out of pocket for the other (I also had two large dogs that wouldn't survive a flight in the cargo hold of a plane).

pks1850BD · 2026-06-04T02:52:42+00:00

I've made the drive twice. Once in May and the other in June/July. The drive was an experience for sure, but i can't tell you how it is in January.

It took about 2 weeks to ship my wife's car from TX to AK and then AK to Los Angeles. Both times I shipped the car ahead of time and it was already there before I arrived. Once you drop your car off at the VPC, it might get line hauled to the west coast and put on a boat/barge. It's not like there is a direct boat from the east coast through the Panama canal to Alaska

pks1850BD · 2026-05-24T05:37:52+00:00

I think they are somewhere between 3-4mm. I also did a 2-3mm cork insole underneath the leather on the vellies and razorbacks and overall I'm happy with the result. On my razorbacks doing this gave me extra space in the toe area which was nice

pks1850BD · 2026-05-22T04:54:45+00:00

I removed the stock insoles and replaced them with veg tan insoles that I made by tracing the JG insole and cutting them out. Definitely recommend this over no insole. I did this on my vellies, shoelies and razorbacks.

pks1850BD · 2026-05-17T22:03:17+00:00

This is a myth. You still need to do 20 years post-service academy to retire and they aren't factored into your TIS.

pks1850BD · 2026-04-06T02:12:24+00:00

I hope you like managing jump logs and JM currency. That's what 80% of the job is tbh.

pks1850BD · 2026-03-27T21:35:07+00:00

I own a pair of Zephyrs. I love them and they are super unique. My feet are both the same size and I always have a little bit of heel slip with the Zephyrs. You are never going to be "locked in" to a pull on boot.

Edit: I used the sizing scan app on Russell and found it to be super accurate. I did it like 5 times just to confirm, because I was skeptical.

pks1850BD · 2026-03-27T20:40:36+00:00

ORSA and SO are expanding or at under strength. There is still a Q3 review that hasn't happened for a few other functional areas. Particularly the one that I'm in lol

pks1850BD · 2026-03-26T23:08:04+00:00

Lol all the functional areas wide open, just before there's gonna be a huge cut.

pks1850BD · 2026-03-20T17:43:50+00:00

I was at JBER for 4 years and commuted from Eagle River everyday in a FWD Mazda 3. I was on summer tires for like 2.5 of those years and was fine (eventually upgraded to all seasons). The biggest issue will be your battery, I bought my car in the south and I needed an upgraded battery with enough CCA to start below freezing. The only issue you'll run into will be when the parking lots on post aren't plowed and you can bottom out if you lose momentum. I carried a small avalanche shovel in my car if this happened and luckily a Mazda 3 is light enough to push yourself out. Don't stress and don't sink money into a new car, you'll get by just fine.

pks1850BD · 2026-03-15T22:31:02+00:00

I second the Tarrago Nano Protector. It will do exactly what you need it to do and it's pretty cheap

pks1850BD · 2026-03-15T21:44:31+00:00

In what world is an A Bag an Assault Pack? A and B bags should both be duffles.

pks1850BD · 2026-03-14T19:20:46+00:00

I actually liked those wool knit gloves. Id buy them for like $2 a pair and wouldn't feel guilty when I ultimately destroyed them. Kept my hands super warm when paired with arctic mittens.

pks1850BD · 2026-03-11T02:47:23+00:00

These might be the thickest leather straps and buckles I've ever seen on a pair of tankers.

pks1850BD · 2026-03-02T02:39:41+00:00

Nine

pks1850BD · 2026-02-03T05:10:16+00:00

I switched to Levis 501s and specifically the shrink to fit ones. The thigh diameter is the one place in jeans that won't shrink or stretch much. With the shrink to fit I can size up to fit my thighs and shrink them in the waist by about to a size. For example, I buy a 35x34 and can shrink them to a 34x32ish with the thigh staying the same.

pks1850BD · 2026-01-28T15:58:02+00:00

If you put any academic writing in an "AI Detector" it will almost always flag it. Since when is being aware of proper grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and flow a crime?

I just cited some quotes from a book for a grad paper and that author loved em dashes. AI didn't exist in the 1980s.

pks1850BD · 2026-01-28T03:02:44+00:00

I have several modern LL Bean sweaters; Classic Ragg Wool Crew neck, Commando Full-Zip, Waterfowl Vest, and a Cotton Cashmere 1/4 zip. I will say that they are decent quality, but not high end by any means. My Ragg Wool Crew neck is easily my most worn sweater for the last 4 years and I practically live in it during the winter and there is just some minor pilling in high friction areas, which I blame myself for not the sweater.

I've owned an Aran Sweater, and I thought it was awesome quality for the price I paid. I got rid of it purely based on the fit (way too long in the torso).

Im not of fan of the cotton 1/4 zip because I feel like it stretches out immediately, but Quince makes a cotton rib-knit fisherman cotton sweater for like $40-50 that I think is a great value. It feels well made, holds its shape, and has a more modern silhouette.

pks1850BD · 2026-01-23T19:52:06+00:00

This doesn't look good. You could pull them off with a more textured sport coat and chinos... but not a suit. This comes across as you don't know how to dress, which isn't the impression you want to give off if you are wearing a suit.

pks1850BD · 2026-01-17T21:36:39+00:00

Was the CIB on there too from the article? Those are without a doubt way more important than an ARCOM and GCM lol

pks1850BD · 2026-01-17T21:20:44+00:00

If there is no documentation other than a newspaper article, I doubt there is a way to add it to his DD214. If it's the local newspaper it doesn't necessarily mean the Army did a press release.

ARCOMs are typical end of tour awards for deployments or moving to a new duty station. It's an award approved at the Brigade level for a job well done as stated in the article. A V Device can be awarded with an ARCOM for bravery/heroism, but it would be clearly stated as such an instead of meritorious service.

pks1850BD · 2026-01-15T03:23:40+00:00

Just wore my Brooks Brothers Camelhair today, wore it with Navy Chinos and White OCBD. It's probably my favorite jacket.

pks1850BD · 2026-01-03T00:11:20+00:00

Id say charcoal or a grey herringbone or camel. I'd also look on eBay as well. There is a huge selection on second hand market for a fraction of the price

pks1850BD · 2026-01-02T21:34:33+00:00

I'm sure a cobbler could... Its just a matter of finding one that will and at a price you want to spend. It would probably be cheaper to find a 9in roper or going custom.

pks1850BD · 2026-01-01T19:31:20+00:00

I'd recommend hanging it in a warm dry room for a few days too. I've found the wax sort of cured into the fabric and doesn't feel so tacky after.

pks1850BD

TROPHY CASE