Camp San Luis Obispo

I mean you can’t expect the best from a National Guard post so maybe 3 stars is too low but I’ve been in worse. Ahem… Fort Mccoy! So Camp SLO entrance is right off the highway. The gate is manned by a MP, pretty cool guys! I stayed in the barracks close to the gate and its been a while since I was in a open bay! Hopefully you don’t get the guy that scores like a Mac truck… I had to buy ear plugs :(The shoppette opens at like 10 and is only open like 3 days a week. The Dining Facility is ok. Breakfast is good. lunch is hit or miss. My unit came here to help with a pre Air Assault course. The obstacle course is pretty cool. I had a fun time negotiating the obstacles. We also helped run a 12 mile road march. It was a little difficult because there is no road that is just straight forward. There are police all around training and a bunch of JROTC running around. I wouldn’t eat in a Barracks… all kinds of critters running around looking for s*** to eat at night.

First let me say the security at the gate is a joke… The cement barriers are their only thing keeping people out, not the guard. He didn’t even check my car info like on most bases. Also, the ladies at the billiting office could care less about the clients, they are just there to punch in and out. They are even late when people are waiting for the office to open! Third, their Baraks/​wanna be hotel rooms, are poorly numbered so prepare to get lost. Oh yeah, and on my last trip, a cockroach jumped out at me when I went to grab a Kleenex. And when I informed the billeting office she seemed less than surprised, because all I got in reply was «okay thanks, I’ll let someone know». Really that’s it?! How about «I am sorry for having decrepid bug infested buildings from the 1800’s» ??

I have taken a couple of CSTI training classes on base and I found it to be a nice place to attend classes. Some people that attend these classes are clueless about being on a base and how to act. You MUST follow all of the rules, all of the time. No exceptions. Stop at all stop signs, dim your headlights while in line to get on base, obey the posted MPH, have your ID ready for the guard, etc. Do it or get yelled at and possibly booted off base – your choice.
Most of the buildings I’ve been in are quite old but are kept up nicely. No real complaints at Ames Hall which is where the classes are held.
I must say my favorite part of coming to the base is the mess hall. Kind of strange to enjoy eating in a cafeteria, but it’s very clean, the food is pretty good, nice daily hot meal choices, and I just like the «uniform» of it all. Run along the food line, eat, and buss your own tray. I like it!
I have never gotten the hot food but I believe it’s truly my loss. Almost everything that I’ve seen I should have tried because I always end up being bummed that I didn’t try it, especially after hearing from other classmates that what they got was good! I just have always enjoyed getting a salad and a nice sandwich. Only downside: the turkey for the sandwiches is gross – super processed meat :(BUT the ham is good!
Not much else on the base for me to enjoy because I’m in class all day but the grounds coming in are nice – green belt with a display of military plane/​vehicle which is pretty cool. Also, deer like to roam into the area and they are so cute!

Camp San Luis Obispo (aka CSLO) is the original home of the California National Guard and continues to serve the state and the nation by hosting permanent and transient tenants of various military branches as well as other governmental agencies, including the new Headquarters of the California Cadet Corps, a 100+ year old military structured youth leadership development program throughout the State of California, roughly similar to the federal JROTC programs but authorized from elementary through post-​secondary grades.