Soldier's Wife, Crazy Life

duty station

Bloom Where You Are Stationed During a Pandemic

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Bloom Where You Are Stationed During a Pandemic

Even though some people’s orders have been delayed because of the pandemic, others are still moving or pcsing.

While it is a good thing military families can move on to the next step, it can be difficult when you are doing so during this time.

While you normally could be looking forward to getting to know your new community and for your kids to start at a new school to make friends, you feel like all of that might be on hold.

You want to get out and explore but how much can you really do right now? How can you figure out how to bloom where you are stationed if you can’t do what you normally do to get to know a new place?

Even if you aren’t new to your current duty station you may be feeling a bit restricted.

Your friend circle could have moved earlier this year and while you assumed you would get right back out there to make some new friends, COVID hit.

You may be awaiting orders to move somewhere new but they are delayed and you want to figure out how to enjoy the next six months at a place you are not too excited about.

Blooming where you are stationed doesn’t always come easy. Some places will be easier to love than others. But there is probably something good about anywhere you have to live, even if you have to hunt for it.

What can you do?

So what can you do? What is open and where do you feel comfortable exploring? This is going to differ for everyone and will depend on where you live.

Still…see what you can do. Use safety measures and make sure to follow the local regulations.

Accept the temporary setup

Okay I know it is hard but you might need to just accept things are not going to be the way you were hoping they would be. I know this is so hard because in some ways it feels like this is going to last forever.

Your kids might not be able to get out there and make new friends right away, but could they have a weekly Zoom call with friends they already know?

You won’t be able to introduce yourself to the moms in line at school pick up but can you say hi to a neighbor or talk over the fence on a regular basis?

You might not be able to attend all the fun events that normally go on in your community but you might be able to attend a social distancing event of some kind. Our local community still has a farmer’s market going on and there are other options to get out and explore part of the community.

Explore online

There is so much going on online these days. From virtual events to Bible Studies. From book clubs, to even concerts.

Check and see what your local communities might be doing and join an online event. This might feel different and weird but it could be a good way to learn about what is happening in your new community and you might even find ways to connect with others.

2020 is the worst but don’t let this year stop you from figuring out how to bloom where you are currently stationed. It might take some work but in the end, it will make life a little easier right now. And hopefully, 2021 will be an amazing year to see everything and explore the way you really want to.

The 10 Worst Duty Stations

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Duty stations are such a popular topic. People always want to know everything about where they are going to PCS or the differences in duty stations. They want to know all about the best duty stations and the worst duty stations.

I have thought about making a list of the 10 worst duty stations for a while. I know there are certain places where people just dread going, and maybe for good reason. These places aren’t the ideal, especially when you could get stationed at some amazing places.

However, I also strongly believe that you can “bloom where you are stationed” anywhere you might end up. That doesn’t mean you have to love your duty station, but that you don’t have to spend every day hating it, and that there are things to love about every place you might go.

So…what makes something the “worst” duty station? How can you get past that feeling? Well…here you go:

The 10 Worst Duty Stations
  • The duty station where your best friend just moved away from

Finding your military spouse BFF is the best, but when that happens, something else will too, your best friend will probably have to move away at some point. And if they don’t, you do. And that sucks.

What can you do to help? Stay connected with them, even over the miles. Work to meet new people. And remember all those precious mememorues you have had togetger.

  • The duty station far from your family

Being away from family can be difficult for some people, especially if this is your first duty station. But there is something special about being out on your own, and making somewhere new your home. Try not to dwell on feeling homesick so much and work to find a place in your new location.

  • The duty station you can’t find a job

You have worked hard, went to college, and as soon as it was time for you to find a job, your service member spouse gets orders overseas. Now there is no way to find a job in your field. This can be so frustrating.

You can stay behind, but that isn’t an option for most families. You can look and see what volunteer jobs you can get at your new duty station that you can add to your resume. You can think outside the box and try something different, or even work hard to find that ideal job, despite the difficulties of finding one where you are currently living.

  • The duty station that deploys your spouse too much

One question that comes up a lot is “how often is my spouse going to deploy if we PCS to this duty station” but that question is hard to answer. The number of times they deploy, how long they are gone, and anything to do with deployments depends on a lot of factors.

The best thing to do if your spouse is going to deploy a lot is find a good friend circle, fill up your calendars as much as you can, and know you are not alone in this.

  • The duty station with awful housing

Sometimes there is nothing you can do about bad housing at your duty station. You just have to deal with it, and try to make it your own. On the other hand, you might be able to move, either somewhere else on-post or off-post. Check out your options and go from there.

  • The duty station where you just can’t find your people

You assume that once you move to your new duty station, you will eventually find a fun friend group like you had before. But after a couple of months, it seems like you aren’t going to find your people. This is something we military spouses can struggle with.

If you find yourself in this position, make sure you are getting out there on a regular basis and trying to meet new people. Sign up for things you are interested in, take the kids to playgroups, and be friendly with those you meet when you are out and about.

  • The duty station that seems too expensive

There are a few places you could get stationed that will cost more than other places. This can be frustrating. Housing off-post might seem like too much or you might feel like your family can’t go out and do anything because of the costs.

Make sure you are doing your budget every month, find ways to save, and look for fun free events going on in your community.

  • The duty station you didn’t think you would end up

Maybe you just assumed you would always stay in the south, but now here you are on an airplane headed to Hawaii. And you are terrified.

Anything out of your comfort zone can be scary, but think of your new duty station as an adventure. Read up on the fun you can have where you are going, or the experiences of people who have lived there. And trust yourself to make the most out of your stay.

  • The duty station no one has ever heard of

Sometimes your spouse will get orders to a place no one has ever heard of. These can be smaller duty stations, or more specialty based and because of that, you can’t find much information on them. If you need to know about Fort Hood or Fort Campbell there is a ton of information out there but not so much on a duty station most people have never heard of.

See if you can connect with the FRG (if they have one) or other spouses in your service member’s new unit. If you do have to go in without knowing too much, see what your post or base has available to you to get to know the area. They might have a newcomers class you can join.

  • The duty station you have been before and didn’t want to return

Maybe you were stationed somewhere for a few years and hated it. Then you left. Now five years have gone by and guess what? Your spouse just received orders to go back. You are filled with dread.

But remember, the duty station you left in 2014 is going to be different than the one you PCS to today. Duty stations change, people move in and then move away, you could have a completely different experience in the same place. Do not assume that your first time there will be exactly like you second.

What makes or breaks a duty station for you?

What To Do When You Are Feeling Homesick At Your Duty Station

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As a military spouse, you might be far from home and that isn’t always easy. Being the family member that misses everything is hard. Being the one that can’t go to the baby shower or misses birthdays on a regular basis is difficult to deal with. Being the one without having family nearby can be frustrating.

What To Do When You Are Feeling Homesick At Your Duty Station

As a military family you could end up in so many amazing places, Hawaii, Germany, Japan…✈️

You might end up on the East Coast when you have never been east of Utah before.

You might end up in South Korea when you never even thought about getting a passport before.

You might end up in Alaska, going through your first snowy winter after growing up in Florida.

Wherever you are stationed, wherever you are currently living, take advantage of the experience. I know that is hard to do sometimes, some places are easier to live than others but blooming where you are stationed is a must. Doing so will make the whole experience a lot easier for you and your entire family. 💐

However…whether you are happy where you are currently living or not, homesickness can set in.

There are days when you wish you could hop on a plane, and spend some time with your mom.

When you wish you could meet up with your best friend for lunch.

Or stop by and spend an afternoon with your grandparents.

If you have just moved to a new duty station, you might still feel lost, like you will never find your way or will never make a circle of friends like you had before. You might start to think that if you can only go back home, everything will be okay again.

But as a military spouse, you usually can’t go back home. Maybe your spouse can never be stationed nearby where you grew up. Maybe they can but it just hasn’t happened yet and you are not sure it ever well. Maybe your family has moved away and you know if you did go home, things would never be the same.

As a military spouse, you know that you will be living in different places, and at your core you know that the best thing to do is learn to love where you live, but that isn’t always easy.

Here are a few things you can do if you are feeling homesick at your duty station:

Connect to your duty station

Are you spending all of your time at home? Get out and explore and check out your new neighborhood. What are you interested in? Look for a group based on that. Find a new playgroup. Or, explore your base or post for fun events. The more time you spend getting to know your new home, the better.

Don’t dwell on the differences

Are you dwelling too much on how different your current home is from where you just came from? Make a list of positives about your current duty station look online if you need ideas. If you spend all of your time thinking about what you don’t have, that will make enjoying what you do have harder to find.

Focus on you

As military spouses, we can get stuck in the day to day duties of living this life. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to focus on yourself. What are your goals? Do you want to go back to school? Find a new job? Have another baby?

Spend some time thinking about how you are spending your days and how you can move forward with your goals. If you are spending time working on yourself, you won’t have as much time feeling sad about where you are living and what you are missing about home. You will be busier and find over time, that you really are loving your new experiences.

You might never get to a place where you never feel homesick again, but you can get to a place where your time at your duty station isn’t going to be the worst thing in the world. It might take time, but it is possible.

Where are you stationed? How have you been able to kick your homesickness and enjoy your current home?

Being Content When The Military Moves You Far From Home

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Being Content When The Military Moves You Far From Home

I moved out of my parents home and away from my hometown when I was 18.5 years old. I couldn’t wait to explore and live somewhere else. I couldn’t wait for that independence. I was so ready and left when I had the chance to go.

When I did that, I didn’t know how far that independence would take me. When I was 26, we moved from Northern California to Kentucky, even further away. When my husband joined the Army, we moved to Germany, an ocean away. We came back to Tennessee and have been here ever since, and where we live now is exactly 1,985.9 miles away from “home.”

There is a part of me that yearns to be back. To be able to live where I used to live, to be able to do the things I used to do on a regular basis (like go to Disneyland once a week,) and to live the life I used to have.

Being Content When The Military Moves You Far From Home

But here is the thing…

Time has moved on, not just for me, but for my hometown. Maybe this isn’t true for everyone, but where I grew up is so different in 2018 than when I left in 1997. There is a lot more traffic, less rain, and Disneyland is way more expensive.

I once had a pastor tell me something that still sticks with me to this day. I was telling him about our church back in California and how special that place was. How I wanted to find something like that again.

He told me that while that was amazing, that if we left right then and returned, the church would be a different place. That it is easy to assume everyone from our past is frozen in time, but that isn’t true. People have changed, places have changed, and going back wouldn’t be like stepping right back in right after we left.

So if I were to pack up my family and head back to Southern California, things would be different. And maybe part of that is that I have changed. I am used to life in other places, not so much the life of someone in Southern California. This hit me hard on my last visit there this past summer.

And it isn’t like I couldn’t adjust to life there again, I am sure I could. I am sure that over time, things would be okay. But remembering that I can never go back to 1997 and how things were back then is a comfort to me in a place so far from home.

Being Content When The Military Moves You Far From Home

As military spouses, many of you don’t live near where you grew up.

Some of you might just be a few hours away, others, across the ocean. You could be the type of person who couldn’t wait to leave, or maybe you never thought you would until you married your soldier and you had to go. Living away from home can be difficult, even for those of us who couldn’t wait to move away.

You miss things. You miss birthdays, and weddings, and other events that make you sad to think about. You become the people that other people used to know. You become a part of their history and are no longer apart of their present. And that can be hard to take.

Homesickness can be real. You can feel like you gave up everything and for what? You might wonder if the time away is worth it? If spreading your wings a bit was worth it?

How can you be content when the military moves you far from home?

Being Content When The Military Moves You Far From Home

Here are some ideas:

Embrace your independence

When you leave home, you become more independent just by doing so. There is now a lot more distance between you and your family, between you and what you are used to, between you and your comfort zone. You have to do things you didn’t think you would have to do, and you will grow stronger for it.

Embrace this independence that comes from being far from home. Take a look back at what you have done on your own. Look ahead to the future on what you can accomplish based on these skills you have learned.

Explore your new home

Get out there and see what your current area has to offer. It might be totally different than what you are used to, but that’s okay. This will force you out of your comfort zone, but that can be a good thing.

Look up bucket lists for your new duty station, talk to your neighbors, look for what other people do in their free time. Getting involved in your new community will help you find contentment there, and will lessen the effects of homesickness.

Visit

Yes, you moved away. But that doesn’t mean you can’t ever visit. Now, how often you visit is going to depend on many different factors. You might not be able to afford to do so too often, or maybe you can go home for every holiday. Find a good balance and what will work for you and your family.

If you live close enough, it might be possible to go home every weekend. This might not be the best idea if you want to dive into your new community. Give yourself some time to be where you now live, and not just escape to home whenever you get the chance. If you can figure out a new home that is just a few hours from where you are from, those skills will help you when you move farther away.

Invite

Invite your family and maybe even friends to visit your new home. Show them around, show them your new life. Let them see what you are experiencing. Your friends and family want to know you are in a good place and showing them that place first hand can be a wonderful thing.

When the military moves you far away from home, it can be so hard to figure out how to be content. There is a lot to miss about home, and for many, it can feel like your new duty station will never feel that way. Give yourself some time, get out of your comfort zone, and look for the good in your new place.

Where was the first place you lived after moving away from home?

How To Go About House Hunting From Afar

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Excited to have this guest post from Millie! Please visit my Duty Station Guest Posts page for more information on guest posting 🙂

How To Go About House Hunting From Afar

How To Go About House Hunting From Afar

“We have orders to WHERE???”

By Kellie Artis, gomillie.com

Once the orders drop, there are a few decisions that need to be made: will we live on base or off? And if we decide to live off base, will we rent or will we buy? Each of these decision points come with several considerations, but let’s just say that you decide to rent or buy a home in the community. Great! Now, where do you start?

Sometimes the stars align so that you can actually take a trip out to “recon” an area before your move. Often, this is a luxury considering all of the things that must fall into place to allow for such a trip: childcare, time off work for the spouse, leave for the service member, and non-reimbursable travel expenses. More often than not, you’ll be house hunting from afar.

Research

The absolute first place online you should visit is www.gomillie.com. MILLIE is a one-stop-shop for researching your next duty station, understanding the surrounding areas, and getting the inside scoop from a military family perspective. All of the information comes directly from hundreds of military spouses stationed at each of the 70+ installations featured on the site. Just go to the Find a Base page and search for your upcoming duty station! You’ll get the dish on area schools, the local housing market, attractions, pros and cons, even unit-specific maps and commute charts.

Grab a coffee and settle in to learn some of the most pertinent information about your new home and where to start on your virtual house hunt! From here you should have a pretty decent idea of where you’re going to want to start your home search. You will be a dream client for any real estate agent, and you’ll save tons of time by doing your research up front.

House Hunting

Finding an Agent

If you are considering buying a home, you’ll want to find an agent that understands your unique situation as a military family, and won’t be afraid of geographic restrictions (ie. potentially not being able to physically tour a home!). They also need to understand that military families buy with the future in mind. Unless this is your last stop, this purchase won’t be a forever home, but likely be a rental property after a couple of years. You’ll also want an agent that is knowledgeable of the VA loan benefit. We’ve heard over and over again of agents that have tried to talk military buyers out of using their benefit, likely because they have bought into some of the myths surrounding it, or aren’t familiar enough with it. A great agent will also be willing to do virtual tours (sometimes with really snazzy VR tech), and work around crazy time constraints.

Recommendations from friends is a good place to start when choosing who you’ll trust with this massive transaction. But if you don’t have a network where you’re headed, you can be expertly paired with a real estate agent who meets all of the above criteria, AND has also actually personally experienced a PCS. MILLIE’s AgentHero Network is made up exclusively of military spouse and veteran real estate agents who have served – just like you! They’re top agents who are also uniquely attuned to the needs of military clients because they’ve been in your shoes. You can connect with one of over 600 AgentHeroes within an hour directly from the MILLIE site.

House Hunting

Finding a Rental

Sometimes buying a home doesn’t make sense, so you’re on the hunt for a rental. By now you’ve done your research and have an idea of what area to focus on in your search. Next head over to MilitaryByOwner.com to start compiling actual listings to consider.

With each listing, remember that you can’t smell photos (cat pee or cigarette odor, anyone?) and they may have failed to mention the neighboring cellular tower in the listing. Sometimes homeowners or management companies will offer to give you a virtual tour, but keep in mind that there is an incentive for them to gloss over or completely omit the quirks and/or defaults of a home. Asking local friends to help out with “recon” is always an option, but if you don’t have a network where you’re headed or don’t want to lean on your friends in that way, you can turn to a MILLIE Scout. Scouts are military spouses who can be your boots-on-the ground when you can’t be there. You can hire a Scout to conduct a Facetime tour with you, provide neighborhood reviews, and more! This way you have an objective fact-finder that you can trust from afar to help provide decision support, and feel better about the dreaded “sight-unseen” situation we’re often faced with.  

House hunting from far away can be stressful, but with the right tools you can make decisions efficiently and from an informed point of view.  

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MILLIE is an online community and digital marketplace that connects members of the military and their families with specialized knowledge and trusted resource providers to remove the stress and anxiety of PCS’ing. Check out MILLIE’s Installation and Neighborhood Guides, our network of Veteran and military spouse Realtors, and Scout, our on-demand task service composed of military spouses.

www.gomillie.com | MILLIE Journal | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest| Twitter

 

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 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:

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30 Reasons Why You Should Live On Post At Your Next Duty Station

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30 Reasons Why You Should Live On Post At Your Next Duty Station

30 Reasons Why You Should Live On Post At Your Next Duty Station

There is always an ongoing debate about whether you should live on post (or base) once you PCS somewhere new. Some say that living on post is the only way. Others like off post living and don’t think twice about it. And others decide based on the duty station and what is available to them.

Here are 30 reasons why you should live on post, but don’t worry if you don’t agree, there are also 30 reasons why you shouldn’t live on post too.

1. It’s super convenient

Let’s face it, living on post is convenient.

2. Everything you need is right there

You don’t have to drive as far to get to all the places you need to go on a regular basis. Not that you never want to leave the post, but if you didn’t want to, you wouldn’t have to.

Why you should live on post

3. Your spouse can come home after PT for breakfast

This is the best. For them and for you. They can save money by doing so too.

4. Your spouse can come home for lunch

More family time when they can come home from lunch every day. They might have to deploy sometimes but when they are home, you can see them a lot more when you live on post.

5. Very little commute time

Instead of having to drive for a while to get to work, they might be able to get there in just five minutes and in some cases, ride a bike or walk.

6. Playgrounds, everywhere

If you have kids you know how exciting it is to live near a playground. If you are on post you will not be short on those.

7. Someone to call when something breaks

If something breaks, call maintenance.

8. You will feel safer, most likely

A lot of people feel safer on post.

9. More sense of a military community

If you are looking for military community, living on post will be the way to find it. You will be surrounded.

10. All your neighbors get the military life

Because everyone is in the military, your neighbors will totally get this life.

11. Lawn care

Living on post means you won’t have to do as much lawn care as you would otherwise.

Why you should live on post

12. Kids go to school with other military kids

Your kids will probably go to school on post and all of their classmates will have a parent in the military too.

13. Easier to be involved in the military community

If you want to get involved in the military community, it is easier to do so when you are right there in the middle of it.

14. Don’t need a 2nd car, usually

Because a lot of what you need on the post is relatively close, you might not need a 2nd car. You can walk where you need to go.

15. Cheaper

In the end, you are most likely going to save money by living on post. If you are on a tight budget, that is really going to help you.

16. Can get more house

Depending on your family size and where you are stationed, living on post can get you a bigger house.

17. More kids for your kids to play with

If you need kids for your own children to play with, living on post will make that happen.

18. There is some nice military housing out there

Have you seen some of the new housing out there? Some of it is pretty awesome.

19. You have dogs

Sometimes people don’t want to rent homes to people with dogs. Going on post can help with that.

20. Easier to find a place to live

It can be easier to find a place to live when you decide to live on post. Not as many hoops to jump through.

21. The pools

Not every off post neighborhood is near a pool. If your post has a pool, they will be a lot easier to get to.

22. Commissary is doable on a regular basis

One of the hardest parts of getting to the Commissary for those living off post is the distance. If you are on, no problem. You might even be able to walk.

23. Can run to the PX really quick

Need something from the PX really fast? Go ahead, it’s just right there.

Living On Base

24. CDC is close

I love hourly care and when the CDC was right in our neighborhood, that made dropping my kids off there so much easier.

25. Retreat and Reveille

This military tradition is a good one. Hearing it from your own house will make you proud.

26. You learn more about the military

Living on post will teach you a lot about the military, about what life is like there and how things go.

27. Closer to the base hospital

If you need the hospital, you are right there. Especially important if you are going to have a baby.

28. Can volunteer easier

Let’s face it, it is a lot easier to be an FRG leader when you live on post.

29. Kid’s sports

There are usually a lot of sports for kids to play on post. Living close by will make that easier for you.

30. Because doing so will allow you to find out if living on base is for you.

If you don’t like it, don’t do it again but now you know.

Do you like living on post?

Here are some other PCS posts to read:

The 15 Stages of a Military PCS

How PCSing Overseas Will Change You Forever

When You Get PCS Orders to a Place You Don’t Want to Go

 

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?

The Perfect Duty Station Wish List

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The Perfect Duty Station Wish List

We got lucky. Maybe because he was going back into the Army at a time when they really needed more people to join, maybe it was just luck, but when my husband re-joined the military in 2005, he was given his choice of where he wanted to be stationed. The choices were Europe, Hawaii, Ft. Campbell and South Korea. I don’t think we could have gone with him on that last one. Before he left for MEPS we talked about our desire to be stationed in Europe. So while he didn’t get a chance to talk to me about his decision, he wanted Europe and he knew I did too.

When I picked him up from MEPS, I thought he would tell me about how he would have to re-do basic. Instead, he told me we were going to Europe and he would be leaving in 2 weeks!

The Perfect Duty Station Wish List

 

Fast forward a few years later and it was time to re-enlist. My husband was given another choice. We debated between Ft. Campbell and Ft. Irwin. Ft. Irwin would have been just 3 hours from home, yet the post was in the middle of nowhere. We had just come from Germany where we had lived about 30 minutes from post. We wanted to be in a place where we could have access to an American city with all the things we had been missing while we were overseas. We wanted our children to be able to go to off-post schools and to be able to have somewhat of a life beyond the military post. He put in for Ft. Campbell and that is where we ended up.

I know a lot of people don’t get a say in where they get to go. A lot of times the needs of the military take over. And the higher in rank, the fewer positions there are. Still, some people do get to choose and that choice is a big one. You have to decide where you want to live for the next 3-5 years. How do you even know where would be best? There are so many different factors to think about.

Here is what you should think about when creating your perfect duty station wish list:

  • Close to the family- How close to family do you want to be? Does your family live in a military town? Maybe you don’t get along and want to be as far away from them as possible. I always think about what life would have been like if we had been stationed just 3 hours from home. Our lives would have been very different.
  • Beach/Mountains- Some people want to be right by the beach. Others love the mountains and what they have to offer. You might think about which duty stations are by your ideal location and see if you can go there.
  • Duty station location- Maybe you have always wanted to live in the Pacific North West. Maybe you have dreamed about living in the south one day. The military is a great opportunity to experience living in different places in the US and even the world.
  • Adventure- In for an adventure? Try to go overseas or in a place you never ever thought you would be able to live. Some military duty stations are more exciting than others. Picking a place out of your comfort zone might be the best idea. A lot of people worry about being overseas. Being overseas is different from what you are used to but going overseas or even Alaska or Hawaii can be a great opportunity for you and your family. Fun Fact: According to the Military, Alaska and Hawaii are overseas locations 🙂
  • Spouse’s career goals- Sometimes you will have to go somewhere based on your spouse’s career. They need to be stationed at certain places or they need to go certain places to attend a certain school. This can be hard when where they need to go isn’t a place you would want to pick. Don’t lose hope, sometimes you can have the best experiences in a location you never thought you would like.
  • Weather- When my husband was 19 years old he joined the Army for the first time. He was sent to Ft. Drum, NY. A California boy, in upstate NY. Talk about a weather change. Weather can be a factor. If you love your four seasons, putting in for California might not be ideal. If you can’t stand the snow, stay away from the northern locations. I am not sure how I would have handled a place like NY or Alaska. I feel like Tennessee is too cold for me 🙂

At the end of the day, you will go where the military wants your spouse to go. Sometimes you get a say, sometimes you don’t. Sometimes they ask and ignore what you have said and other times they will honor that. If you are given a choice, think about what you want and the type of place you want to be. If you don’t get your first few choices, remember, you can still bloom where you are stationed and can make the best of any duty station you might end up at.

Did your spouse get to choose your current duty station? What went into that decision?