Posted on Mar 31, 2016
Would you prefer to stay at one post your entire career, or bounce around to explore the world?
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I have seen Soldiers stay in units like the 82nd ABN DIV for 20+ years straight. I've also seen Soldiers PCS 3 or 4 times in an enlistment or two. I can't personally imagine wanting to stay somewhere for my entire career with the military having so many opportunities for travel and to work with foreign populations. How does everyone else go about guiding their career in regards to location?
OCONUS
Military Career
PCS
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 17
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When I was young and single I had no problem going from post to post. I have plenty of stories to tell when I'm old! But now that I'm married and have a daughter I would like nothing more than to homestead and give my family some stability.
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SSG Keith Evans Very understandable. My first daughter is due in July. Luckily I will be near retirement by the time she will need a long term stable school environment for jr. high school / high school. I am sure moving gets much hard as the children age. Especially when it comes to going OCONUS. Some children might not handle the change in culture as well as adults.
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Col Joseph Lenertz
SSG Keith Evans Exactly my thoughts. I moved 12 times in 26 years...the first 10 or 15 years was fine, but as your kids get into high school, it gets very tough on them. It's a period where they establish long-lasting friendships and try to set up relationships and credentials for the rest of their life.
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I prefer to bounce around. I retired with a number 9 on the OSR. Korea, Hungary, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Alaska, Afghanistan, Cairo, Alaska. Thank you Army for taking me around the world.
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The Army has only paid me to go to Afghanistan, Qatar, and Iraq so far. They have certainly enabled me to visit Korea, Thailand, Japan, and Panama on my personal time though. Hoping the rest of my career can show me some more of the world. The military provides unlimited opportunities for those who track them all down.
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One of the soundest pieces of advice a Gysgt ever told me was to take the opportunity to go to different units, and experience the Marine Corps in a different way at each one. He was right. I've been to three units thus far; all of them the same overall mission and MOS, but with a different Marine Corps experience. My wife would far prefer that we stayed at one station for the rest of my career, but I don't want her, more importantly my kids, to miss out on the travel opportunities.
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I am the first in my family to serve in the military. However, many of my friends that are military brats have given so much credit and positive praise to the fact that their families were able to move around and see the world as they were growing up. I would hope your children, and all military children, are able to gain the same benefits from experiencing the world as they age.
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