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What You Need To Know About Being Stationed At Los Angeles Air Force Base

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What You Need To Know About Being Stationed At Los Angeles Air Force Base

Happy to have this guest post by Amanda on being stationed at Los Angeles Air Force Base in California. Please visit my Duty station guest post page for blog posts on other locations or more information about how you can write a guest post about where you have been stationed.

What You Need To Know About Being Stationed At Los Angeles Air Force Base

Los Angeles Air Force Base is located in El Segundo minutes away from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). It is a small base surrounded by hundreds of contractors ranging from small subcontractors you have never heard of to towering buildings with the large contractors that are known for working with the government.

The Air Force Base is unlike most Air Force Bases since it does not have a runway. The mission is focused on Space. Most people who work on the base work on satellites; everything from typical weather satellites to more exciting satellite missions are here.

The Base

The Base mainly consists of office buildings. If you are a dependent you will also notice there is a small Base Exchange, Commissary, Gas Station and Medical Clinic. The main hub of the base consists of 3 large buildings with a track around it used for running the infamous Physical Fitness Test. Besides that there is a gym and lots of parking lots and a few other smaller buildings but I don’t know what they are used for.

What You Need To Know About Being Stationed At Los Angeles Air Force Base

Weather

Typically, it is 75 and sunny almost every day of the year. September and October are the hottest months, some days it creeps up in the high 80s and when you don’t have A/C it is pretty hot.

Places to Live

Base housing is located in San Pedro on Fort Macarthur (known as Fort Mac by most everyone). It is approximately a 45 minute drive from the base to the housing depending on traffic. And since we are in LA at rush hour the time can increase dramatically. Fort Mac also has a medical clinic so if you end up there you don’t have to drive to El Segundo for medical appointments. The base housing is nice as it overlooks the ocean (sometimes) and if you get lucky you can score a 4 bedroom home. As with most houses in the South Bay of LA there isn’t any air conditioning and most days of the year that isn’t a problem.

If you decide to live off base and in the local community, you have a range of options on where to live. You will have limited square footage and likely only 3 bedrooms, but cutting out some of the commute is sometimes a life saver.

Based on your life stage will probably be the main consideration on where you will end up. In Marina Del Ray there are plenty of apartment buildings with great city life (located North of the Base). You can also opt to live in El Segundo as there is a nice gated community close to the base, but it is pretty expensive. Holly Glen is a favorite spot to live, reasonable home prices, great schools and neighborhood. You also have Manhattan and Hermosa Beach. These are beautiful places to live, but they are also expensive. Redondo Beach and Torrance offer a middle of the road option close to the beach, but often less expensive.

What You Need To Know About Being Stationed At Los Angeles Air Force Base

Things to Do

It is LA. There are tons of things to do. Ranging from Disneyland, Griffith Park, Hollywood, multiple Sport Arenas and more. LA is a vacation destination and you get to live here for at least a few years. And yes there will be crowds in summer, but the off season makes living through the tourist season worth it.

Here is a list of 31 Days of Travel within the LA area.

One of the hidden gems we discovered after moving here was the Hollywood Bowl. An outdoor concert arena that hosts concerts, plays and orchestras performances. The atmosphere is great and outside food and drinks are allowed.

Also you have the beach. It doesn’t matter if you live North or South of the base the beach is there. Parking is often metered, but free parking is sometimes an option if you know where to look.

Overall LA AFB is in a great location. It is expensive, but BAH is still pretty high and as long as you realize you will have a small home and that it might take work to find the right place for you. When people hear LA AFB they might think it is in the middle of Los Angeles, but it is actually located in a great beach community that is a great hidden gem. And if you have ever wanted to live close to the beach it has that too.

What You Need To Know About Being Stationed At Los Angeles Air Force BaseAmanda is a military veteran who served in the Air Force for six years as a Civil Engineer including a deployment to Afghanistan. She traded in her combat boots for a diaper bag to stay home with her two boys and follow her husband’s military career. Which currently has them stationed in Southern California, living the dream and making frequent trips to Disneyland. Her blog Airman to Mom incorporates stories from her past military life and how she views life through her unique life experiences of both a veteran and military spouse. You can check out more about Amanda on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

What You Need To Know About Being Stationed At Fort Benning

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Happy to have this guest post by Jennifer on being stationed at Fort Benning in Georgia. Please visit my Duty station guest post page for blog posts on other locations or more information about how you can write a guest post about where you have been stationed.

What You Need To Know About Being Stationed At Fort Benning

Hello from Fort Benning, GA self-dubbed the “Best Installation in the World.”

No really, the welcome sign has two exclamation points after that. But since this is Fort Benning’s centennial year, we can give it that little victory.

I’m Jennifer and I blog at jjheartblog (http://jjheartblog.com).  I started it back when I was living at Fort Bragg, when Fort Benning was nothing more to me than “the place my husband went to Basic.”  But life throttled forward as it always does in the Army and one day I found myself walking around Fort Benning, not as a newlywed visitor, but as a pregnant-with-my-second-baby resident.  On my blog, you’ll find posts about my favorite hobby (love), my greatest career (motherhood), and my biggest adventure (the Army).

What You Need To Know About Being Stationed At Fort Benning

Fort Benning’s Unique Vibe

The minute you move to Fort Benning, you’ll realize it is unlike any other military installation you’ve been to.  And not just because it’s the greatest one in the world. You’ll realize that the gates are more like a fancy NYC hotel revolving door than a gated community.  Except it’s not fancy and it’s not New York. People are always leaving. People are always coming. It’s a revolving community.

The dynamic here is unlike any other post, because it is such an enormous hub of training spots.  It’s true– there are a few units like the new SFAB or Ranger Battalion. But for the most part, Fort Benning is the home of every Army school under the sun.  There’s the NCOA, Airborne School, Air Assault School, Pathfinder School, OCS, IBOLC, ABOLC, Ranger School, MCCC, SLC, and of course countless and countless classes of Basic Training OSUT.

Basically there are two situations here: either you see a new person every single time you go to the commissary because life here is just so transient.  Or you see the same person every day for months on end because they are stuck in the TRADOC vortex and are never leaving. Literally.

This dynamic makes for an interesting neighborhood experience if you live on-post. You’ll have more new neighbors than usual.  The “feel” of your street will constantly be changing. We take our yard sale game pretty seriously at Fort Benning. The “for sale” Facebook page at Fort Benning is more cultivated than craigslist after Christmas!

As most Army families have come to discover, transience can either make everyone around you really friendly and accepting, or it can make the entire situation very cold and uninvolved.  Why waste time making friends or beautifying your yard when you’re leaving in a few months? Luckily for me, I have found the former to be the case at Fort Benning! Everyone is quick to make friends because they know they will only have you for a few months.  It’s nice to be needed. 🙂

It’s also nice to not have to explain what your husband is doing.  At most posts, you begin with their MOS/branch and then delve into the unit.  Or vice versa. Here, you just say “he’s at school” and everyone nods. Which school?  It doesn’t matter. They all take months and they all seem to have follow-on training.

What You Need To Know About Being Stationed At Fort Benning

Fort Benning’s Housing Situation

When people ask about someone’s experience at a post, they usually want to know two things.  The first thing is—should I live on post? Unlike many bases (but like many), the surrounding town is not a great place to live.  And I’m not just saying that because I’m bitter that my laptop was stolen in town. Which it was. And I’m bitter. But that’s not why I say that.

The Columbus area (the town outside post) is weirdly split into two parts.  The “good” part is north and about a cool 25 minutes away from Fort Benning.  The “bad” part is south and is a cool 30 seconds away from Fort Benning. So living close to post is not possible if you value your life.  (I’m only kind of kidding.) And living far away from post is not possible if you value your sanity. (Unless you love driving and hate being home.)  Normally, commuting isn’t the end of the world. But if your soldier is here for training, it kind of is.

Anyone who has lived in the TRADOC vortex of training schedules knows that they are numerous and unpredictable formations that are non-negotiable.  You can’t “be late” for a day of training. You can’t miss the bus ride out to the field. Basically, you have to be “on call” for random, last minute formations.  The people that live off post have to go in way earlier (since home is at least 25 minutes away) and then they are stranded for multiple hours a week while the training companies take hour-long breaks throughout the day.  Those that live on post simply kill time by popping home for snack or a nap or both. Usually both.

What You Need To Know About Being Stationed At Fort Benning

Fort Benning’s Local Attractions

The other thing everyone wants to know, if they are PCSing to a new post, is “what is there to do?”  If someone asked me if there are “things to do” here, after introducing them to mustard BBQ sauce and taking them on a tour of the National Infantry Museum, I would show them the picture of a zebra opening our truck’s door.  There are things to do. It’s wild here.

Besides the animal safari where you can drive your POV through a 3-mile trail and hand-feed giraffes (see above), there’s a big river sandwiched between Alabama and Georgia called the Chattahoochee.  Fort Benning’s nature trail runs all the way from it’s forests along the river to the brick-covered coffee shops of the quaint part of town. (The best coffee in town is at Iron Bank Coffee Co. or My Boulange).  So much nature here, so little time.

If you’ve lived in Italy, you might cringe reading this: but Columbus is kind of artsy.  Well, Columbus tries really hard to be artsy and I genuinely appreciate that. The random modern art sprinkled around town is a little disturbing.  But the historic Springer Opera House (c. 1871) is about as artistic as you can get in the southern performing world. There’s also the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts for evening dates or Sunday matinees for the whole family.

But if watching a performance of Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella doesn’t do it for you, head an hour and a half to Atlanta where you can catch Medieval Times and pretty much anything else you’d ever want to do in the city.  The Atlanta Zoo is also a huge attraction, as is the Georgia Aquarium of course. (Oddly enough, I didn’t enjoy it too much. I must be a safari-kind-of-girl). Basically, you have Atlanta kind of at your fingertips (for a weekend trip anyways) so there is no way you’ll ever feel stranded here.

Well, I take that back.  Maybe you’ll begin to feel stranded if your husband’s class date gets pushed back yet again. And you get your third installment of next-door-neighbors. Suddenly, what at first felt like it would be your “most transient” home soon becomes an extremely settled one.  And then you realize that those big Benning “revolving” doors must have broke because you don’t seem to be leaving any time soon.

Welcome to the Vortex.  It’s the best one in the world, apparently.

Jennifer married her secret-high-school-crush three weeks before he left for Basic Training.  She now lives out her childhood dream of being a world-famous author by writing reviews on all her favorite amazon purchases and feverishly checking to see if they were rated helpful or unhelpful.  When she isn’t reminiscing on her days as a cellist, she can be found in the backyard sandbox playing with her two little babies or drinking coffee or both. Visit her at jjheartblog (http://jjheartblog.com) and if you happen to see one of her Amazon reviews, give it a thumbs up!

The Pros and Cons of Living On Post at Fort Campbell

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The Pros and Cons of Living on Post at Fort Campbell

Did you just find out you are going to be stationed at Fort Campbell? If so, the decision to live on post at Fort Campbell can be a difficult one to make. We went back and forth on living there ourselves when my husband was still active duty. In the end, we decided to buy a house in Clarksville and have been there ever since.

The Pros and Cons of Living On Post at Fort Campbell

I have had many friends who have lived on post at Fort Campbell and have loved it, I have had other friends who moved off because they didn’t. I decided to ask my Facebook group what they thought about living on post at Fort Campbell to come up with this list of pros and cons.

Stationed at Fort Campbell

Pros of living on post at Fort Campbell

  • Schools– Schools on post can be good and are easy to take your children too. While there are a lot of good schools off post in the area, there are some not so good ones too. Most housing areas at Fort Campbell have a school close by and easy to get to.
  • Community– If you are looking for community, you will definitely find that on post at Fort Campbell. There is always something going on and activities and events to get involved in. From kids sports to MOPS to playdates for your kids.
  • Starbucks– Fort Campbell is home to two Starbucks that just happen to be at parks with a splash pad. This is fantastic for the summer. Bring your kids to play and relax with your favorite drink. While you are welcome to these places even if you live off post, living on gives you better access and might just be a short walk from your doorstep.
  • Save on electricity– Living on post at Fort Campbell should save you money on electricity. Living off post can cost you $200-300 a month. While this isn’t always the case, it is something people complain about on local pages and something you can avoid by living on post.
  • Everything is close– The nice thing about Fort Campbell is that all you need is relatively close together. Most of the neighborhoods are not too far from the hospital, the Commissary, the PX, the Chapels, and being on post means you are close to your spouse’s workplace. You can get to any of those places without having to wait in line to get on post or through the traffic of Clarksville and Oak Grove which can be terrible at times.
  • Playgrounds– If you have small children, on post at Fort Campbell can be the ideal place to live. There are playgrounds everywhere. No matter where you have your home on post, you should be able to walk to at least one, if not two playgrounds or more. There are also two splash parks that are open during the summer.
  • Pre-K– Getting into free Pre-K off post can be a challenge. Doing it on post is a lot easier if that is important to you.
  • Fenced yards– There are a lot of fenced yards on post. Off, it really just depends. If you have a dog or children, a fenced yard is probably going to be important to you.

on post at Fort Campbell

Cons of living on post at Fort Campbell

  • Break-ins/Vandalism– Sadly, break-ins and vandalism happen on post just like they happen off. Some spouses do not want to live on post for this reason. They feel that they are more likely to have something stolen if they live there. Just being on post doesn’t mean you are completely safe from these things.
  • There are nice and safe housing options off post-In the Fort Campbell area, you have a lot of options for where to live. There are plenty of off post options to find a nice home in a safe neighborhood. A lot of these neighborhoods are closer to restaurants, stories and places you will probably want to go quite often. If you are worried about not being able to find a home in the area, spend some time looking to see what is in your price range.
  • Farther commute for spouses that work in Clarksville and Nashville– For military spouses that work in Clarksville or Nashville, living off post might be a better option. There are quite a few off post neighborhoods that are closer to the Interstate making it much easier for the spouse to get to work.
  • Can’t leave work behind– A lot of military families like to live off post so they can leave work behind when they are not at work. Clarksville makes this easy to do since things are more spaced out. You can live 15-20 minutes from post or even further and have a more off post experience. Living on post you will be right in the middle of everything, and some people do not want that.
  • Pocket BAH off post– Some families can pocket BAH by living off post. If you receive $1000 a month for BAH and your rent is only $650, that is some extra money in your pocket every month. This doesn’t work for everyone as families who are looking for a bigger home will have to pay more, and that could end up being over the BAH amount.
  • Housing can be difficult to deal with– Quite a few spouses mentioned that dealing with on-post housing was a big headache. That the people they talked with were rude and they had trouble getting things done. While you can still encounter this with a rental agency, dealing with housing can be a big con for some people.

On post at Fort Campbell

As you can see, there is a lot to think about when you are trying to decide to live on post at Fort Campbell. What works for one family might not work for another. There are definitely pros and cons to either choice.

If you are trying to decide what you want to do, take some time to check out the local area. If you can’t visit ahead of time, try to find photos and listings online. You can always start on post and move off or the other way around if things change.

What about you? Have you ever lived at Fort Campbell? Where did you live when you did?

What You Need to Know About Being Stationed at Fort Leonard Wood

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What You Need to Know About Being Stationed at Fort Leonard Wood

Happy to have this guest post by Sierra on being stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Please visit my Duty station guest post page for blog posts on other locations or more information about how you can write a guest post about where you have been stationed.

What You Need to Know About Being Stationed at Fort Leonard Wood

I’ve seen it time and time again, spouses who received orders to Fort Leonard Wood FREAK OUT in the spouse forums. Then, the negative comments roll in. I mean, they really paint Fort Leonard Wood A.K.A Fort Lost in The Woods as the worst duty station ever!

“There is NOTHING to do there”

“You’re land locked in Middle America, it’s HORRIBLE”

“The Post Is So Small, You’ll HATE it”

So, in true Positive Patty Fashion, I am here to offer the unpopular opinion about Fort Leonard Wood and I am hoping to let the “New Spouse in Town” know that it’s not all bad after all. We lived in Fort Leonard Wood for 3 years and they were quite honestly the BEST 3 years of our lives!

Pros:

Fort Leonard Wood is one of the MOST family friendly duty stations.

One of the things that I loved so much about Fort Leonard Wood is how family oriented it was. Everyone knew each other from the top to the bottom of the COC. Organizational days were often and they always made sure to include family members in the fun day festivities. Most holidays you can count on a family oriented celebration (My Favorite is the 4th of July Concert and Firework show) but even on a regular basis, MWR did an amazing job with having events planned.  ACS was also amazing. When I was pregnant, they offered free parenting classes for 6 weeks that ended in an Army baby shower.

The post is small which means it is easy to find your way as a newbie. I have heard horror stories about the bigger bases like Fort Hood, Riley and Bragg but in less than a week, you’ll be able to navigate your way through post like a champ. It’s pretty simple North (Main) gate exits to St. Robert and West Gate exits to Waynesville. South and East gate are basically never used unless you live outside of them which is RARE.

Speaking of living arrangements, I never lived on post but I absolutely loved living in Waynesville. People who choose to live off post choose between 2 cities which are St. Robert and Waynesville. They should really be one city if you ask me but that’s beside the point. While St. Robert houses Walmart, chain restaurants like Ruby Tuesdays, Cracker Barrel and Starbucks; Waynesville is where all the charm is. In downtown Waynesville, you find more small town shops and eateries. Please be sure to take advantage of those!

By the way, the small- town restaurants and thrift shops absolutely make Fort Leonard Wood as enjoyable as it is. Indulge in them and you will not be disappointed. Some of my favorite restaurants in the area are: Mamma Mia (Greek Cuisine), Purn’s Thai Kitchen and Ichiban Japanese and Small cakes Cupcakery. If these options don’t cut it for you, Rolla is a short 20 min drive and they have tons of more familiar places to eat and shop.

One of the things I could not conclude the Pros without mentioning is how easy it is to advance your education as soldiers and as spouses. The Fort Leonard Wood area is saturated with college and certificate programs that are yellow ribbon or military friendly schools. I am twice a graduate from Drury University and I absolutely loved my experience. All the schools understand the military lifestyle and they are very accommodating when it comes to our everyday needs and schedules.

What You Need to Know About Being Stationed at Fort Leonard Wood

Cons:

I am a bit bias because Fort Leonard Wood was my favorite duty station thus far but like every duty station, it has its share of cons

The summer can be extremely hot while the winter can be an uncomfortable cold. While originally from the south I was expecting Missouri to be bone chilling cold, I was pleasantly surprised that it was not. The cold is just uncomfortable and you would prefer to stay indoors. The weather can also be tricky. It can be 36 degrees on Sunday and 77 by Wednesday, you just never know. Also, it tends to rain a lot in the winter and that makes the rain ridiculously icy.

Next is the wildlife. If you’re driving late at night or early in the morning you’ll come across a herd of deer. They are everywhere, both on and off post and unfortunately, they got my husband right before we PCSd. With no one to blame the damage on, we were stuck with the $500 deductible…YIKES! Also, in the summer the bugs can be kind of crazy. We have seen freakishly large spiders and I don’t do bugs well so you can imagine how that turned out!

The last con would be it’s distance from the city. Being a city girl I loved the change of pace but for some this is a real issue. Springfield is 1 ½ hours away, St Louis is 2 hours away, Branson is 2 hours away, Lake of the Ozarks is 1 hour away and Kansas City is 3+ Hours away. If you want to do some real city vacationing you’re going to have to travel for it but for us, it really made our experience in Missouri fun. Most of our fun stories are based on the day trips we took.

I know you’re tired of reading at this point but I really wanted to defend Fort Leonard Wood and give it credit where credit is due. Like any post, there will be good and bad but Military Life is absolutely what you make it. If you’re heading to Fort Leonard Wood and have any additional questions, please feel free to email me at SierraRedmond95@gmail.com.

Introduction:

Sierra RedmondSierra Redmond is the creator of The Daily Impressions Lifestyle Blog. On the blog they offer tips, tricks, stories and advice on the topics of Family life, Parenting, Travel and life in the Military. Sierra is a 22-year-old Army Wife and stay at home Blogger/Mompreneur. Catch her on her blog and social media:

https://www.thedailyimpressions.com/

Instagram : http://www.instagram.com/IamSierraRed

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheDailyImpressions

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/TheDailyImpressions

 

8 Things that Make Life at Fort Bragg Phenomenal

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8 Things that Make Life at Fort Bragg Phenomenal

8 Things that Make Life at Fort Bragg Phenomenal

Happy to have this guest post by Wendi on Ft. Bragg in North Carolina. Please visit my Duty station guest post page for posts on other locations or more information about how you can write a guest post about where you have been stationed. 

Fort Bragg is not at all what I expected.  I am a North Carolina native and have heard many things about the Fayetteville area on the news, some of which, not so great.  I moved to Fort Bragg with an open but cautious mind, due to the mixed things people say about it here.

I was pleasantly surprised about several things relating to Fort Bragg and the surrounding area.  With the latest upgrades to the infrastructure and the connection of highway 295 & All American Highway, it’s easier to navigate around the area. Below are some of my favorite things about being stationed at Fort Bragg.

1-Support & Resources across Post

Due to Fort Bragg being one of the Army’s largest installations, there are a ton of resources and support groups located in this area.  Most nonprofit organizations that support military families always put Fort Bragg, North Carolina as a location to one of their events.  There are 14 gyms to choose from on post, Heart on a Mission Wellness Team that welcomes bringing your children and family to workouts around post, 2 commissaries, and Army Community Services (ACS) offers many classes and training programs to military families on all types of topics such as; marriage, career, parenting and more. Lastly, the U.S. Army Morale, Welfare, & Recreation (MWR) arrange some amazing family fun, entertainment, and activities throughout the year.

8 Things that Make Life at Fort Bragg Phenomenal2-Agriculture

Even if you don’t have a green thumb, but like fresh crops, they’re easy to find in the rural areas surrounding Fort Bragg.  In the summer, you can pick strawberries or blueberries in several locations.  If picking is not your forte, there are many vendors around the area that sell their crops too.

3-Beaches, Mountains, & City Escapes

Fort Bragg is located less than two hours from the Atlantic Ocean if you desire some coastal therapy. It is almost a four hour drive to the mountains or western part of NC for visiting the Biltmore House, the Blue Ridge Parkway, or Grandfather Mountain. If you drive a few more hours west, you can gamble at the Cherokee Casino. Lastly, Raleigh is only fifty minutes to an hour away. If you need the hustle and bustle of city life, check out Lafayette Village or North Hills.

8 Things that Make Life at Fort Bragg Phenomenal

4-Restaurants

There are some amazing restaurants around Fort Bragg. Downtown Fayetteville has an array of restaurants to please anyone’s taste buds. My favorites are Blue Moon Café, Sherefe’, Huske Hardware, TapHouse at Huske, and Rude Awakening Café for dessert and coffee.  If Italian is your favorite Sammio’s in Hope Mills is the best around the area.

5-Holistic Health

Fayetteville has a huge market for health and wellness. There are many gyms off post, yoga centers, running groups, spas, massage therapy, and a newly opened Wellness Center that includes flotation therapy to ease the mind, body, and spirit.

8 Things that Make Life at Fort Bragg Phenomenal

6-The Great Outdoors

Whether you walk around downtown Fayetteville and check out the unique shops and restaurants, or jog across the bridge on the Cape Fear Trail, there are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy.  Raven Rock is popular for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, and provides a beautiful backdrop for camping, or picnics. If stopping and smelling the flowers is more your cup of tea, you may want to check out the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens. Aloha Safari Zoo is sure to please your entire family with hundreds of animals to visit. Lastly, for the adrenaline seekers, try zip lining at ZipQuest Waterfall and Treetop Adventure.

7-Indoor Recreation and Activities

During the colder months, you may want to try some indoor recreational activities around Fayetteville. Defy Fayetteville, Paraclete XP Indoor Skydiving, and Triangle Rock Club, are some of the most popular recreational activities located indoors. You can also check out the schedule of events for the Crowne Complex, which hosts concerts, shopping events, and many other family fun entertainment acts. If you like history, you will surely love the Airborne and Special Operations Museum.

8-Patriotism

Fort Bragg and the surrounding areas are extremely patriotic. No one is afraid to fly the American flag around here. I have watched this entire community come together and line the streets for soldiers killed in action, who are returning home. Although it is a very sad and somber sight, the patriotism and support during times of tragedy lifts the spirits of all military families. Each year, in March, the All American Marathon takes over the town and is one of the most patriotic races of all time. In May, All American Week showcases the talents of the entire 82nd Airborne Division. Veterans from near and far travel back to show their support and reminisce about their time in service.

Fort Bragg has something for everyone. Every duty station is what you make of it. If you get out and explore your surroundings, try to meet new people, and test out the activities in your area, you can find something that you enjoy and make new memories in the process.  My best advice to anyone coming to Fort Bragg soon is to give it a chance and form your own opinion about it here. You will be pleasantly surprised.

8 Things that Make Life at Fort Bragg PhenomenalWendi has spent the last nine years as an adult educator. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and will graduate this May with her Master of Arts in Instructional Technology. She is an Army wife, blogger, workshop presenter, and advisor to military spouses seeking career and education assistance. Wendi is extremely passionate about helping others by sharing her experiences, insight, resources, and inspirational stories on her blog Strength4Spouses.

Why Colorado Springs is a Fantastic Place to Live

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Stationed in COlorado

Why Colorado Springs is a Fantastic Place to Live

This is a sponsored post by Susanna Haynie of Your Colorado Springs House.
A wonderful resource for those who are moving to the Colorado Springs area. 

Colorado is a fantastic place to live, and there are those who yearn for the opportunity to go there. From the perfect climate and fresh mountain air, Colorado Springs is a treasure and delightful place to make a home.

Fit and Active

With nearly 300 days of sun, you can’t help but get active when you live here. After all, you are living in a place where other people come to visit and wish they could live here too.

PCSing to Fort Carson

You think we are all about snow?

Be prepared for some funky weather: 70 mph winds when the weather changes, thundersnow, snow in north Colorado Springs, the sun at Fort Carson. Hail as big as golf balls, wildfires, and floods. Most of it hits quickly and briefly. We’ve had days where you could observe four seasons in one day.

Wildlife

Every state has their own wildlife, but living with the wildlife and “meeting” it is different. We have bears, mountain lions, deer, elk, coyotes, and rattlers. Don’t be scared just be careful!

Living High

Cannabis

Yup, It’s Legal: While Colorado has legalized marijuana, it is not a free-for-all pot party out here, and it doesn’t mean all of Colorado is in a state of being “high,” and certainly not all the time!

Altitude

Altitude sickness: At an elevation of 6271 ft. in Colorado Springs proper, the real high that you need to watch out for is the altitude. Altitude Sickness is real and can be debilitating while your body adjusts. Take it easy for the first few weeks to acclimate.

US air force

Colorado Springs loves their military

The city is surrounded on three sides by Fort Carson, NORAD, the Air Force Academy, Schriever AFB, and Peterson Air Force Base. Combined, the military is the largest employer in Colorado Springs, accounting for 20% of the jobs. You will find that our citizens have a deep love and appreciation for the men and women in uniform. This expresses itself in many events benefitting military organizations aiding veterans, military members, and families.

EFMPs

If you are a special needs family moving to Colorado Springs, you will have support. Start your research BEFORE you arrive to ensure a smooth transition. If you need a starting point, contact Susanna, a knowledgeable Colorado realtor.

Schools

Our state ranks 11th in the nation in reading and writing performance, and Colorado Springs “owns” three of the top 10 Colorado school districts. Impressive, you say? I agree.

Colorado can be a great place to call home, even if it is just for the two to four years the military sends you there.

Colorado Springs

About the author

Susanna Haynie, settled in Colorado Springs after immigrating to the US from Germany and has been an active duty spouse for 21 years. There is a special place in her heart for all our EFMP families as she has experienced the PCSing with a special needs child herself and all the challenges it may bring.

Susanna is readily equipped to start you off with her own Colorado Springs guides and email series, she‘ll take you from “Where do I start?” to “I got this!” To get signed up with her guides, connect with her via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ColoradoSpringsLife, email her: susanna@co-regroup.com or visit her blog at www.yourcoloradospringshouse.com.

The Very Best Places You Could Get Stationed As a Military Family

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The Very Best Places You Could Get Stationed As a Military Family

The Very Best Places You Could Get Stationed As a Military Family

If you ask people what their favorite duty station has been you are going to get a lot of different responses. There are certain duty stations that people love and certain duty stations that people hate. Although it is true that you can bloom where you are stationed no matter where you are, some areas will be easier to have a good experience at than others.

So where are these locations? Should your spouse try to get stationed there too? Are there any cons of these coveted duty stations?

Where are the very best places you can get stationed as a military family?

Germany

What could be better than being stationed in Europe? Germany is one of the best! From the festivals to the mountains to the little villages, there is so much to love. If you want a duty station where you will grow you as a person and that will let you experience cultures and history you would never have otherwise, Germany can be your ideal duty station. We spent 4 years there and made so many memories during that time.

The hardest part of Germany is being away from your family and living so far from home. Visiting home on a regular basis is really not going to be an option for you and traveling everywhere when you have young children can be a challenge. That being said, if you get the opportunity to go to Germany, go. Being stationed there is an experience like no other and the military community is strong when you are stationed overseas.

Hawaii

Hawaii had to make this list. What could be better than living on an island? One that you would normally have to spend a lot of money for to come visit? One where you could go to the beach every day (maybe,) give your kids surfing lessons and take day trips to some of the most beautiful places in the US.  Hawaii can be a wonderful experience for your family. I have only been there as a tourist but I know there is a lot to do and a lot of great things to see.

I have heard that island fever is real and can hit quite hard. The schools are not rated very high and everything is very expensive. The good thing is that you do get COLA when you are stationed there and there is a great military community to be a part of.  I think Hawaii is probably what you make of it.

San Diego

Warm weather, lots to do, Disneyland an hour away? Oh, how I wish we could have been stationed in San Diego. Almost everyone I know who has been stationed there has loved it. You are right by the beach but still on the mainland. You can visit home a little easier than if you were in Hawaii and there really is a ton to do just a short car ride away.

San Diego is in California which can be a different experience for those who are not from the West Coast. Southern California has its own culture for sure but you never have to worry about the city shutting down for snow and they have In-and-Out.

Colorado

If you are a fan of the outdoors you are going to love Colorado. From hiking to skiing to exploring, Colorado has everything you might want in a duty station if you love being outdoors. And the mountains! I love seeing all the photos I see posted from friends who are stationed there. Their views are breathtaking. A lot of people want to be stationed in Colorado so if orders come up, take advantage of them and enjoy your time there. You might not be the biggest fan if you don’t like cold weather but I have heard that the snow there is beautiful, even if it starts in September.

 

Honorable Mentions

I also know these places can be great as well!

Okinawa, Japan
Virginia/DC area
South Korea
Ft. Lewis
Ft. Campbell
Monterey
Ft. Bragg
Ft. Hood

No matter where you might end up, you should be able to find a few positives and enjoy your time there. In some cases, that can be really hard and it might not even have to do with where you are. You could be very close to your family and even the beaches of Hawaii can’t take away your homesickness. You could have had the best experience at a post in Texas and after moving to Germany just can’t find your footing, at least not for a while. Your Grandma could be sick and you were really hoping for a post in Missouri, an hour from home but the Navy sent you to San Diego instead.

At the end of the day, finding that perfect duty station might not be possible but that doesn’t mean you can’t make the best of where you are. Get out and explore, get to know the local culture and remember, orders will come, you will move somewhere else and you will miss the time you spent during the years you were there. Wherever that might be.

If you are curious about a particular duty station, check out my list of posts I have covered on my blog!

Where would you love to be stationed next? What would you add to this list?

Living in Jacksonville, Florida and Naval Station Mayport

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Happy to have this guest post by Erin on Living in Jacksonville, Florida and Naval Station Mayport. Please visit my Duty station guest post page for posts on other locations or more information about how you can write a guest post about where you have been stationed.

Living in Jacksonville, Florida and Naval Station Mayport

Living in Jacksonville, Florida and Naval Station Mayport

Welcome to Jacksonville, the largest city in Florida and home to multiple military bases and facilities. With bases like Mayport Naval Station, Naval Air Station Jacksonville, and Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay right over the Florida Georgia border, Jacksonville is the third largest military presence in the country.

The first thing most people notice when moving to Jacksonville is how big the city is. As both the largest city in population and area, Jacksonville is the 12th most populous city in the United States. From the Beaches to Riverside to Orange Park to Southside, each side of town caters to a different lifestyle depending on your preferences. The cost of living in some parts of town are higher than others and if you’re planning to live off base, it’s best to research each part of town to decide which one best fits your style of living. Some military families choose to live close to base while others sacrifice a longer commute to live in a part of town that appeals to their lifestyle.

Jacksonville, FL

If you’re interested in being surrounded by nature or into outdoor sports, you’ll find plenty of options in Jacksonville. Fishing is a popular pastime in Jacksonville, seeing as though the city is surrounded by so much water. Local parks offer hiking and biking trails, camping, and geocaching. The beaches are popular for both lounging and watersports like surfing, paddleboarding, and kayaking. And both Mayport and NAS Jax offer swimming pools and waterparks for military families.

Naval Station Mayport

Both Mayport and NAS Jax offer Navy exchanges and commissaries with Jax’s NEX being larger of the two, though Jacksonville is in no short supply of grocery stores and shopping malls throughout the city. The largest grocery chains in town are Publix and Winn Dixie. There are four main shopping malls, with the St. Johns Town Center or the Orange Park Mall being the most popular choices.

Naval Station Mayport

In my opinion, the best feature of Jacksonville is the dining options. Jacksonville is home to some really great independently owned restaurants as well as your typical dining chains. I would urge you to branch out and try some of the local places. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how good the food and drink options are. I could create a whole post about my favorite restaurants but here are a few of my recommendations – Poe’s Tavern in Atlantic Beach for burgers and the best tuna tacos; V Pizza in San Marco or Jax Beach for pizza and chicken wings (yes, wings!); and Maple Street Biscuit Company with numerous locations around town for a melt-in-your-mouth chicken biscuit.

Naval Station Mayport

Jacksonville is also adjacent to historic cities like Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine which make great day-trip destinations. Amelia Island and Fernandina offer beautiful beaches and State Parks with various amenities like hiking, fishing, and wildlife observation. As the oldest city in America, St. Augustine is full of historical monuments and attractions, museums, shopping, and dining options.

As a Jacksonville native, I’ve come to really love and appreciate my hometown for it’s diverse population, rich history, and unique amenities. And I strongly feel that Jacksonville has something to offer everyone.

Naval Station Mayport Erin is the author of erinwiggle.com, a comprehensive guide to the First Coast and neighboring cities. She’s a Sailor’s wife, outdoor enthusiast, furbaby mama, and foodie. Follow her on Instagram at @erinwiggle or send her an email at lifeaswiggle@gmail.com.