Wilton,

I did not have the opportunity to choose my first duty station. I was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division and had no idea what a Regiment or Brigade was. After BOLC and Ranger School I donned my maroon beret and every day there was something new to learn. My first Army experience was awesome and the culture of the Division and my Regiment still resides with me today. It is safe to say that my first imprint/molding came at the hands of outstanding NCOs and officers.

After my time at Bragg I went to command in Germany and had a amazing time, but I missed the rigor and standards of my paratrooping days.

When it was time to leave graduate school, I went back to my old Regiment and battalion in the 82nd as a field grade officer. I was reenergized.

When you step outside of the nostalgia of a post, you have to take into consideration what you are going to do on your off time. I found fun in the Outer Banks, Fayetteville, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Durham, and Charlotte. You could do the same at Campbell with Nashville not too far away… and there is Fort Stewart and Fort Lewis.

Peel back the layers of where you want to go and look at “what do I want to do when I’m not in uniform.”

Good luck.