Why Small Town Duty Stations Are the Best

To each their own, but my family and I have always preferred the small town atmosphere as opposed to the busy, chaotic city life when it comes to duty stations.

Every small town you get assigned to, you will find those people. The ones that make you question every desire you had to PCS to this quaint little town you heard so much about.

Although not every small town is exactly like an episode of Hart of Dixie, the phrase holds just as much truth in these less populated towns than anywhere else: Every assignment is what you make it.

If you walk into town thinking it truly is a black hole or the armpit of the military, then that is exactly what it will be. Those who have the best experiences are the ones who remain optimistic and make the best of their time there, however long or short it may be.

Larger duty stations may undoubtedly have their benefits, but small town America certainly has its perks as well.

Here’s why small town duty stations are the best:

1. Installation organizations make more of an effort for family events.

When preparing to head to our first duty station—Fort Polk, Louisiana—we were told it was the worst place to be stationed. However, my family and I absolutely loved our time there. Every other month (or so, it seemed.) the MWR put on some sort of carnival or festival to attend. Cajunfest, Freedomfest, holiday parades… the list goes on and on. Being an hour from the nearest large city certainly had its disadvantages, but we rarely even noticed.

2. People typically tend to be more willing to lend a hand.

Although you may find some inconsiderate people anywhere, I’ve found that to be a rarity in small towns. People seem to be more willing to reach out and ask if you need any help in these smaller communities. I’ve typically been a pretty prideful person, so I don’t like to ask for help, but in these close-knit communities, I’ve found more and more people who offer to help out just to help out. No return favor needed.

3. The local cuisine is to die for.

Each duty station has a hole-in-the-wall place you just have to try before you leave. But, there’s something about the small town quality of food and service that goes a long way. If you end up loving it, they may actually end up feeling like your very own Cheers, where everybody knows your name.

4. It doesn’t take long to master your way around town.

I absolutely loathe driving in new places. Even with all the technology and navigation devices we have at our disposal now, I still get anxiety driving somewhere I’m unfamiliar with. However, most of these small towns have 3-5 main roads, which makes it so simple to learn the streets and your way around town.

5. Your neighbors become one huge family.

At each of the small town installations we’ve had the pleasure of being stationed at, we’ve never had a hard time finding our people. The ones that we’d see after months of hectic schedules and it’s as if nothing ever changed. They are the support system through every separation, every holiday away from family, every time we just need to borrow a cup of sugar. We become a part of their family and vice versa.

 

Nothing lasts forever, especially in this crazy life. So, if you find yourself at a small town duty station and you don’t cherish it the same way my family has, try to explore outside of your comfort zone and make lasting memories.

There will undoubtedly be something you will cherish about your time there, and it’ll be behind you before you know it.

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Retired Blogger

Retired Blogger

Army Wife Network is blessed with many military spouses who share their journey through writing in our Experience blog category. As we PCS in our military journey, bloggers too sometimes move on. Their content and contributions are still valued and resourceful. Those posts are reassigned under "Retired Bloggers" in order to allow them to remain available as content for our AWN fans.

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