Posted on Oct 15, 2019
SPC Dakota Irvine
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Does anyone know of an Army installation I could reenlist for that is close to Massachusetts? I'm coming close to my reenlistment window and Id love to get closer to home.
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SFC Retention Operations Nco
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There are a few laboratories and things like that, but as an non ASI 68W1 the only option that will be open to you is Fort Drum
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
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Natick Labs doesn't have any junior soldiers. There are some acquisition folks, but they get support on the economy and from Hansxom AFB. They rotate groups of soldiers (test subjects) for testing ever 30-60 days. They are usually post AIT and TDY enroute to their first duty station.

NH has a testing center for winter clothing, can't say I remember ANY green suiters.
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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There is FT Devens that is IN Massachusetts, but i's more of a USAR place now. There may be slots available for Active Duty medic.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
SFC Michael Hasbun
>1 y
AC/RC slots are generally senior NCO's and Officers..
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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SFC Michael Hasbun - Well, that sucks then
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
>1 y
Ft Devens is ONLY RC. Even the GC is a reservist
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SGT Evacuation Nco
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6 y
Devens contracts out its medical.
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LTC Jason Mackay
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Edited >1 y ago
SPC Dakota Irvine
- Aberdeen Proving Ground still has an MTF. I know an NCO there. 8-9 hours driving to he South Shore.
-Ft Meade unclear what slots you could fill. 10+ hrs from the South Shore.
- Ft Hamilton NY is recruiting and US Army Corps Of Engineers Atlantic Division HQ, otherwise Reserve Component. 5 hours away from the South Shore. It's a self licking ice cream cone and have no idea why it still exists. There is a large VA treatment facility there, don't know if they do any military treatment there.
- Picatinny Arsenal NJ is a non-option unless you spontaneously become an EOD NCO, Acquistion, are a chaplain's assistant, or do Food/Commissary Inspections (1 slot, but you travel everyday). 6 hours from the South Shore. There are only 110 military there. The only 68W we had was my CSM and she was slotted as a 00Z
-West Point, NY.
- FT Drum NY, close only in the cosmic sense. You're closer to Canada than Massachusetts, especially the coast. Google says 6 hrs Drum to Logan International, but that route may be seasonal

- Don't know if MEPS have any 68W slots. Most MEPS people are 42 or 79.

I am from Quincy, I feel your pain. The only times I was even close was at my Basic Course at Aberdeen Provng Ground; during command at Picatinny Arsenal; and an hour away when I went to ILE at the Naval War College, Newport RI.

I would put a pin in this and try to go somewhere fun. You're only really going to get an assignment where there's is a slot and a vacancy.

recommend you wait and try and work an assignment as a more senior NCO your options will open up:
- AC/RC duty
- Recruiting, don't know if they still do this, but they used to put you near your HOR
- ROTC
- Regional Defense Coordination Office (they work with state JHQ and FEMA)
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SPC Dakota Irvine
SPC Dakota Irvine
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LTC Mackay, thank you for such a detailed response! It's definitely an odd request but I thought I'd keep my hopes up! Thanks again
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
>1 y
SPC Dakota Irvine - https://militarybases.com/massachusetts/
Close is relative. If your trying to get metro Boston or the coast, nothing close. If you are from Western Mass then Drum is an option. Just wouldn't waste a reenlistment incentive on somewhere that people avoid...the Army may just send you there at anytime.
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What Army installation are close to Massachusetts?
CW2 Electronic Warfare Technician
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There's the Chicopee MEPS, Natick, USCG Academy, West Point, King's Point, Plum Island, Ft Devens.
Now what's open for a 68W1.....who knows. Try the position search tool on the Army Career Tracker.
Close-ish, being the northeast you've got Carlisle Barracks, Drum, Meade, Aberdeen, Dover, Hamilton (it's literally in Brooklyn), and more MEPS stations. Search ACT and the Rallypoint pages for all of the suggestions coming here. Keep in mind sometimes there's positions at non-Army installations.
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SPC Dakota Irvine
SPC Dakota Irvine
>1 y
This was incredibly helpful SFC Carroll. Thank you so much
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CW2 Electronic Warfare Technician
CW2 (Join to see)
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SPC Dakota Irvine - I'm from CT man, I did the same search many years ago, luckily you probably have the MOS with the best chance (besides 79R) of getting that area. That's always an option too once you make SGT, go Recruiter and recruit in MA/CT/RI.
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SFC Platoon Sergeant
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Fort Meade, MD could be another option for you. Good luck!
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SGT Evacuation Nco
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Are you NG/reserve or active? If you’re active there isn’t much for you in MA since almost all the posts there are reserve component. If you are reserve/NG then you have your pick of everything there - Devens, Camp Edwards, Curtis Guild all have units nearby. I came from the 399th CSH which is in Taunton now.

Ft Drum and Ft Dix are you two closest large installations with active duty components.
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CPT(P) Miccc Student
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Fort Drum is likely your only option.
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SSG Dave Johnston
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Edited >1 y ago
Why close to home??? You have the opportunity to travel with Uncle Sam footing the bill, there's the MFO, Egypt; Europe; Korea; Alaska; Hawaii. You could have retention scratch their heads and ask for Guam, American Samoa, US Virgin Islands, virtually anywhere there's an American presence. Reenlisting to be close to home; bleh... when I first joined, I had no desire to return close to home until I earned the "Gray" ID card, and now that my parents are in a "Sunshine" state,,, I just swing by and visit the parents and call it good.

All those friends I grew up with, went to school with; well some moved away and very few understand what we in uniform endure,,, even the 'boys in blue' have no clue unless; and those are few who've served; besides; there's always social media and they can come to you.
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SGT N/A
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Your best bet is probably Fort Drum NY
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SGT N/A
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I hear a lot of good things about Drum. That’s where I’m trying to go right now. I’m originally from PA so also close to home for me
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
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Drum is only close in the cosmic sense.
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SSG Respiratory Specialist
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I don’t think Ft Devens has any military medical facilities. Maybe Ft Dix ? Walter Reed ?
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SSG Respiratory Specialist
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Ft Hamilton, West Point also come to mind. And there’s always Ft Drum.
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