El Centro

[dza1284]

So I am finishing up OCS and I have not gotten orders but we got our first duty station. I ended up with public works at El Centro. All I have heard are bad things. I have done all research possible and it seems like it is not quite at bad as people describe but still not great. It seems to me that is has been improving over the past few years.

This is my pro and con list:

pro
-near san diego
-blue angels
-small base so I will hopefully get experience doing a variety of things

cons
-hot
-middle of the desert
-small base
-poverty
-a lot of the population is mixed race (maybe not a con, but different)

Anyway I just wanted to get people's opinions. So please feel free to post any horrible opinions and hopefully not so bad.

 

[Bevo16]

El Sweat-o is in the middle of nowhere. With that said, the base is pretty nice and for it's size there is a decent amount of things to do there. The gym is good, there is also a nice basketball course. You will see a lot of squadrons come through on Det, so the number of active duty people on base can damn near double when a squadron is in town. There are some good Mexican food restaurants around, and at least one good steakhouse. If you are not into dirt bikes or dune buggies, you will be by the time you leave.

It is about 2 hours to the beach, so that's not bad.

It's also a dry heat. So you have that going for you.

I always enjoyed my time out there, but it was never more than 2 weeks at a time. Good luck.

 

[JTS11]

Wednesday is Ladies Night at the O'Club. I heard it's pretty happening.

 

[Brett327]

So I am finishing up OCS and I have not gotten orders but we got our first duty station. I ended up with public works at El Centro. All I have heard are bad things. I have done all research possible and it seems like it is not quite at bad as people describe but still not great. It seems to me that is has been improving over the past few years.

This is my pro and con list:

pro
-near san diego
-blue angels
-small base so I will hopefully get experience doing a variety of things

cons
-hot
-middle of the desert
-small base
-poverty
-a lot of the population is mixed race (maybe not a con, but different)

Anyway I just wanted to get people's opinions. So please feel free to post any horrible opinions and hopefully not so bad.

Seriously? You think this is even an issue worth mentioning? The white trash desert rats will make even the most horrific of your racist East Coast hispanic stereotypes seem like the Maitre d'Hotel at the Four Seasons. Open your mind a bit and enjoy the change because YOU will be the minority in many places. Oh, and don't forget the Seeley dip.

Brett

 

[MrF]

I would go ahead and add "water slides" to your pro list.

 

[JD81]

I've only been there a few times, but Imperial, about 10 miles east, isn't too bad. It's got all the shopping you would need. +1 on being close to SD, and there are a few indian casinos between the two places to lose your per diem at while on det. Oh, and about 2 miles outside the gate, La Pasadita, awesome mexican food.

 

[Short]

Wow. A lot of the population is mixed race on the con list? I was wondering how someone got assigned to El Sweato, and now I have a decent idea. Nice work Archie Bunker.

 

[blackbart22]

And it's below sea level.

 

[Semper Jump Jet]

El Sweat-o is in the middle of nowhere. With that said, the base is pretty nice and for it's size there is a decent amount of things to do there. The gym is good, there is also a nice basketball course. You will see a lot of squadrons...

Hey Gretzky, the hockey court is nice too...

:icon_tong

 

[nittany03]

I'm sure your sailors will love to hear how a mixed ethnicity is a "con" when you check on board, seeing as how they are every color and gender combination known to man. I'm sure Petty Officer Rodriguez and Seaman Chang will be especially thrilled to know what their new boss thinks of their heritage.

-1. F. You fail.

 

[Jynx]

-a lot of the population is mixed race (maybe not a con, but different)

Maggie Q, Jessica Alba, Halle Berry, Thandie Newton, Rosario Dawson and several others would all like a word with you....
You really need to reconsider those sentiments like YESTERDAY

 

[Thisguy]

Never been to El Sweato, but this is how I look at it:

This is your first duty station. Deal with it. First orders in the CEC really is luck of the draw.

The big upside is that by going to PW first, you're pretty much guaranteed NMCB/ACB next, and you're much closer to Port Hueneme and San Diego than Gulfport and Little Creek. The Navy is always trying to save on PCS costs, but I wouldn't put it past the detail shop to "hook you up" with Gulfport...

 

[a2b2c3]

I would go ahead and add "water slides" to your pro list.

What he said. The waterslide is totally awesome.

 

[Godspeed]

cons
-a lot of the population is mixed race (maybe not a con, but different)

-1. If you feel this strongly about race, you have no business being an officer.

 

[Thisguy]

-1. If you feel this strongly about race, you have no business being an officer.

...or a civilized member of society.