What is a better assignment, Landstuhl or Tripler? My reenlistment window is coming up soon.

Let me say up front that you have two great choices. Both have pros and cons. I have been TDY in Germany and in Hawaii and knew many people who have been stationed in both places. IMO, take Germany.

Germany offers great opportunities for you and your family to see Europe. You mentioned you have dependents. The kids may get an opportunity to see parts of history that they will otherwise only read about in text books. Also, it gives everybody a chance to learn at least one foreign language. I don't know the status of DoD schools in Germany now, but they were at one time very good. The grade school and middle school kids went to school on or near the installation. Unfortunately, high school kids sometimes went to government-run boarding schools. Depending on the age of your kids, look into the school thing. The cost of living will be high. You'll get overseas allowances for living and housing, but it may not cover the costs. Your spouse may have a hard time finding employment if she wants to work, so that's a consideration. On post housing can range from modern high rise apartments to converted WWII barracks, so check into that also. Your job in Civil Affairs may allow you to interact with the German and other European populations giving you an opportunity to gain perspectives that most Americans don't have. You are a long plane ride from home in the USA. You may feel some isolation due to the distance from home and language barrier. My brother-in-law and his family were stationed in Germany a lifetime ago. They loved it. They lived on the economy and really liked their German neighbors and the European life style. Another friend went to Germany as a Captain with his wife and two kids. He worked a variety of assignments to stay in Europe for about 15 years. His kids went to German schools, learned multiple languages, and had to come back to the USA to gain an understanding of their home country.

My friends who lived in Hawaii explained many of its drawbacks and advantages to me. It's an island. You can only go so many places on an island and then you start feeling isolated. Mainland USA is a long plane ride away. However, HI is also a US State. The official language is English. There are problems with the school system and non-native kids may be bullied in some instances. On the other hand, the weather is great. It may rain a little many days, but sunshine abounds and the beaches are spectacular. The cost of living is definitely higher than the CONUS, but you'll get living and housing allowance increases. As an E-4, it's likely you will have difficulty finding affordable housing off post. My friends had difficulty finding a descent house an O-4. On-base housing I saw looked nice, but I'm unsure of the availability for your pay grade. Your spouse may find more employment opportunities than she would in Germany.

There are many variables I can't address in your decision process. The health and welfare of your parents and in-laws may be a consideration. Your own career advancement may be effected by your decision if you move into a unit with limited opportunities for you to get leadership positions (if that's what you want). When I had a similar decision to make, move to Alaska or Germany, I took Alaska. I went there for the mission and the schools for my kids. I had one kid in high school and one in middle school. I didn't want them to go to boarding schools. The C-130 mission in Alaska was providing real-world airlift supporting all of the services. In Germany it was mostly training missions.

Good luck in making a wise selection. Wherever you go take advantage of all the opportunities there and you'll be happy you went.

Currenty at Tripler now and Hawaii is absolutely beautiful. Two temperatures good and GREAT! Buttt I must say Germany you can go so many other places cheap and easy, so I'd go with Germany.

Your choice is going to be what you make of it. I was in Germany for two years and it was a lot of fun. I wouldn't mind going back one bit. I've never been to Hawaii but it's a hopeful location. What I can say though is that I was stationed in Vilseck, and even being stationed there (it's in the middle of nowhere), it's a great experience. I've heard only great things about Landstuhl, it's in a great location. You can even hop up to Belgium for some beer and chocolate...

Something people mistake in their choice of duty station is that the duty station itself will make their experience, that is simply not true. You have to get out and enjoy. I was at Fort Campbell and it was great, I'm at Fort Drum now and all you ever hear is bad things about Fort Drum...personally, I like it better than Fort Campbell.

Do yourself a favor before you choose, research both places and things you want to do/can do while you're there. ALSO look at the cost, Germany and Hawaii aren't always the cheapest places to enjoy. Look at things you can do with your spouse while there as well. Also think about the climate of the world in that area...Hawaii is pretty isolated, Germany is in the middle of Europe and currently has a massive Syrian refugee crisis with known ISIS militants in the areas...