What are your most vivid memories upon arriving at your first duty station (after training)?

I got off the bus at HQ Fort Hunter Liggett CA. The middle of absolute No Where. The PSGs driver picked me up in an M151 jeep. The guy had long hair and a walrus mustache asked me if I was cool (I was an Eagle Scout, had no idea of the drug connotation to the question) I said yes and he whipped out a joint and started smoking. I nearly had a heart attack, told him thanks but I didn't want my Greens to smell of smoke so not today. Got to the unit, open bays, one platoon per bay and the platoon bay central hallway was like glass and lined with beer bottles, They called it the landing strip and under no circumstances was anyone to walk down the center of it Monday to Friday. Then he took me to the Demo range, still in my greens to meet the platoon. The PSG SFC Eaton through a block of unprimed C4 at me hitting me in the chest as I got out of the jeep (thought sure I was going to be blown to smithereens). Long story short my first day was nothing less than traumatic.

Not understanding how much traffic could pile up at 0400 (Norfolk, VA). That was a huge wake-up call for me.

Showed up to Scott AFB in Illinois with a jam packed car and made my way to the BX parking lot (only place I could find that I could relay to my sponsor so he could meet me). Once we met up he brought me to the dorms and showed me where my room was, then took me on a drive around the base to show me where the important places were to include my squadron building. Being in weather I expected a building to ourselves with an observation point on the roof like we had at tech school but it turned out to be just a plain Jane brick building with a few windows that you couldn't see much out of. Then he took me back to the dorms and left while I unpacked and brought all of my crap to my room and laid down to rest after driving for so long.

I also remember my first day actually going in to my squadron building to in process. I went to the room where our CSS person was and out walks the commander (a LtCol). I was expecting people to go to attention and no-one did. He just walked up to me, shook my hand and made some small talk before going else where to do commander stuff. I was not used to how relaxed everyone was around rank after Tech School.

Florida's industrial strength bugs. And the snow-white sands of the Florida panhandle.

Leaving Ft Eustis,a small place, and driving the road to the Ft Benning guard shack, I couldn't help but think, this place is to big for me.

Believe it or not, after my med training at Sheppard AFB, I got to pick Andrews AFB as an ER medic at Malcolm Grow Med Center. It allowed me closer proximity to my very favorite girl friend who I subsequently married. Paula and I gave birth to our daughter there for only $5 bucks! Turned out to be a great fit and I am very grateful for this experience.
Rich

"Holy crap look at all these combat patches. They are gonna think I'm a know-nothing little turd."

Best feeling ever at Beale AFB, 2005: Seeing the my first Dragon Lady (U-2) on takeoff. Never saw an aircraft climb so quickly. Realized immediately that this was the right career decision for me.

I remember my 1st duty station where I arrived on a Thursday. I was picked up by my new unit and placed in a barracks room and was told that someone will come get me Tuesday morning after a 4 day. My room had a bed and that was it. I had to find where the PX was and get a pillow and sheets