How is Fort Carson as duty station for 12N? How’s the area around post (things to do, family life, etc.)?

I recommend skiing or snowboarding. Taking lessons if its new to you (skiing is maybe less "cool" but is faster to learn). And, per me, it's 100% ok if you wear your TA-50 jacket the first few times. The MWR probably has trips and decent deals on equipment rentals. Hike. Lot's of nearby good trails. If you, like many soldiers, are inherently opposed to hiking because you think 'rucking' it's very much different when you pick the location, pace, packing list, etc. Try to go to a concert at Red Rocks just west of Denver. It's a concert venue in a nature rock amphitheater that a wide variety of bands play at. If you only drive up to the Denver area once Red Rocks is probably the thing you should most try to do. I don't think that there is anything even close anywhere. Go white water rafting which the MWR also likely has group trips. If you like sports go to Denver for some games. Rockies tickets can be quite reasonable. The amusement park in Denver is decent. There is lots of good food in Colorado especially green chili.

Oh and if COVID doesn't run them out of business go to the world famous Casa Bonita in Lakewood (west Denver). Look it up. The food is not the reason people travel to this place. I can't possibly do it justice without writing a novel here. I will say cliff divers and gorillas.

As far as work goes, it depends largely on what kind of unit you land in.

For example, I was in a Stryker Brigade, and assigned to a Brigade Engineer Battalion (BEB). Being that it was a light unit, I didn't get to play with a lot of the toys we had in AIT. I was in a lot of field exercises, and the main focus was to support the Infantry units by digging fighting positions and obstacles for them. Compared to the heavy unit I'm in now, we hardly ever go to the field deviate the many toys present in our motorpool.

As for living amenities and such, Colorado is the perfect place to be; it's no wonder most veterans want to retire there. Excluding the high elevation and occasional hailstorms, Colorado as a state is -- quote on quote -- the bomb dot com. It's 45 minutes from Denver, has plenty of hiking opportunities, and even snowboarding/skiing opportunities.

(Fun fact: Trees won't move for you.)


That aside, 9/10 recommend. Looking back, Carson really set the standard for my career, and I'm glad it was my first duty station.

It's a nice area, it just depends on your prefer on where you live. Fountain is ok, but there better places up north. But the drive is about 40 minutes back to post, so you will probably fall in love with it. Make sure you check out the hot springs in Glenwood Springs and the hiking path out that way very beautiful.