Orders have been cut, and they say: “Fort Campbell, Kentucky” Say what? Is this where you wanted to go? You aren’t sure. You don’t know anything about Fort Campbell.
The truth is, getting stationed at Fort Campbell can be a great experience. It really can. The area isn’t perfect, and there is some room for improvement, but here are 9 reasons you might want to get stationed here at Fort Campbell.
We have four seasons
Yes, we have four seasons here at Fort Campbell. Sometimes all in the same day. But really, just when you get tired of a season and can’t take much more, things change. We have falling leaves, it can snow, but not too much, humid summers, and refreshing springs. Hmm…the summers might be a bit much but you will miss them when you leave. Maybe. Okay, probably won’t miss the summers.
We are centrally located
We are pretty centrally located. Want to head to the midwest? You can be there in a few hours. Want to head down south? Go for it. Many families are closer to extended family when they get stationed here. If you are however from the west coast like we are…that isn’t going to be true at all and the airport is a pain to get to but it is what it is.
Many families like to vacation at the beach, Walt Disney World, Gatlinburg, or St. Louis. There are many different options whether you want to fly or drive.
Choice of where to live
One of the great things about being stationed at Fort Campbell is you have quite a few choices where you can live. You can live on post, live in Kentucky, or live in Tennessee. And with each state, you can choose to be closer to the post or further away. You can stay within the city or live out in the country. The choice is totally up to you, and well your family size and BAH of course.
Nashville is an hour away
Nashville is only an hour away! Nashville has almost everything you might need. However, Nashville is also an hour away, which isn’t always easy to deal with, especially if you don’t like to drive.
Nashville has the Nashville Zoo, the Adventure Science Center, Broadway, McKay’s bookstore, Opryland and Opry Mills, and much more. We live to go about once a month and always have a good time when we do.
Lots of Army
Fort Campbell is of course an Army post and there is so much Army everywhere. From active duty to retired military. Many people come here as their last duty station and stay, and others grew up in an Army family, married a soldier, and have stayed. Many people in the community have connections to Fort Campbell and the Army in one way or another. If you do want a break from the Army, I go back to choosing where to live. Some places in this area are more civilian than others.
Nature
From the Greenway to parks! We have nature here! Which can be a great way to spend your time. You can tube down the river, or go for a long walk on a Sunday afternoon. Of course, nature isn’t always fun and if you try to be outside in the month of July you will probably regret that. Unless it is a pool, and even then…you might just want to stay inside. Sorry July, you are not my favorite.
We have things to do
Fort Campbell is not in the middle of nowhere. Even if it CAN seem that way if you compare it to other bigger places. We do have things.
We have your chain restaurants, Olive Garden, Outback, Applebees, etc. And we have many local restaurants as well. New ones seem to be opening all the time. Yum!
We have entertainment for kids such as Defy, the City Forum which is our favorite and so much better than Dave and Busters, and plenty of parks in the city. We have soccer teams and little leagues and plenty of actives for kids on post as well.
There is the Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel, movie theaters, and Clarksville has a mall that is pretty okay. If you want the nice big malls, you will have to go to Nashville.
We are lacking libraries and bookstores IMO. This is the only city I have ever lived in with only one library. But that’s a rant for another day.
Plenty of events
There is a lot going on in the Clarksville and Fort Campbell area. Clarksville has many events from a Christmas parade to a farmer’s market every summer. If you do get stationed here, follow some of the local pages to learn about what is going on. Clarksville Parks and Recreation, Fort Campbell MWR, and Fort Campbell & Clarksville Tennessee Fun and Events.
Military supportive city
Clarksville, Oak Grove, and Hopkinsville are all very military friendly. There is a lot of love for Fort Campbell and the soldiers and families that get stationed here. That can be comforting for a lot of people. During normal times, we have concerts at Fort Campbell, and those can be a ton of fun getting together with the community.
Overall I think Ft. Campbell is a great place to get stationed. A lot of people agree with me. There are also plenty of people that do not and that is just fine. We all have different experiences. In the end, duty stations are what you make of them. Good or bad. Popular or not.
If you are getting stationed at Fort Campbell, welcome, and I hope your experience is a good one!
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