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Life Lately: Promotion & PCS

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I thought I’d do a post just updating ya’ll on our life lately. We’ve had a couple big things happening here in our military life.

Check out what's been going on in our life lately. From a promotion to an upcoming PCS.

First of all, my husband was recently promoted. I was so proud standing up there with him during the ceremony. He works hard and definitely deserves this promotion.

It’s a little strange that Travis is now a captain. I remember when we first got married and I would meet a captain or his wife. Travis’ boss was a captain. I needed to call him sir and his wife ma’am. And now I’m the ma’am. And that’s weird. I still feel like a total newbie, to be honest.

Promotion

In other news…

We’re PCSing!

For you civilian readers, that means we’re moving. PCS stands for Permanent Change of Station. It’s been a great almost-four months here at Fort Leonard Wood. I honestly have loved it. I love our house. I love how Travis usually gets home early. I love the views and the sunshine. I love the friends I’ve made. I love all the activities I’ve found here. Fort Leonard Wood has been good to us, and I kind of wish we could stay.

But alas, the Army calls. In July, we will be hitting the road. Travis got orders to Fort Drum, New York. Let me start by saying we are not moving to New York City. Anyone we have told this news to automatically thinks NYC. Fort Drum is not near the city. It is north, very north. Like Canada north. In fact, New York City is more than five hours away. So I just wanted to clarify that before I get a bunch of comments about the Big Apple.

To be honest with you, I was really upset when we were given Fort Drum. I felt like the Army betrayed us. Here my husband had just spent a year in Korea, away from his wife and family, serving his country. Everyone, and I do mean everyone, had told us that we would get one of our top choices for our next duty station due to his time in Korea. They gave us 26 options to choose from. We were allowed to make a list, order them from one to 26. Then we were told we would get something in our top five. We were even more sure we’d get something in our top five because our choices weren’t the normal ones everyone wants. We didn’t want Hawaii or Germany or any of the “cool places.” We just wanted something close to family.

Fort Drum was number 19 our list. So when I found out, I was mad. There were a lot of tears. And that’s Army life for you. You can’t plan. You can’t have expectations. You don’t get what you want. Actually, I guess that’s just life for you. Not necessarily Army life, just life in general.

Now, I’ve had a few months to accept our new duty station. I’ve had time to come to terms with it. Yes, I hate cold. Yes, I hate snow. Yes, I wish we were closer to family. But there are positives, and I’m choosing to focus on those.

We hear it’s beautiful there. I’m definitely up for seeing more of God’s creation. We want to plan a road trip through the northeastern states that I’ve never been to, which is basically all of them. I will get to visit Canada — it’s like 20 minutes away! Maybe I’ll do my grocery shopping there! 🙂 And it’s not as far from family as some other places like, say, Japan. So I’ll take it.

So New York, here we come.

Have you read my other posts about military life? I even have some Pinterest boards about military life, PCS tips, and more — go check it out!

Comments

  1. Ma’am, I love your dress! Congratulations Captain Stroud. Well deserved.
    Adventures await. Hope I get to visit you.
    Best wishes to you as you move to New York and may it be a wonderful new “hometown” for you both.

  3. Congratulations, ma’am! 🙂 You both should be very proud! Upstate New York has some truly gorgeous scenery. I haven’t been as far north as you are going, but I have driven a couple hours north of NYC, and it’s a different world. It’s spectacular. Do keep us updated on your adventures over the border. I’ve never been to Montreal but would love to go someday.

    • Oh, you know I will Kathryn! I’m sure we will find all kinds of adventures up there. I can’t wait to see it since so many people have told us how beautiful it is!

    • Yeah, we really wanted Knox or Campbell or to stay here in FLW. 🙁 Oh well, make the best of it! I figure there must be some reason God wants us in NY!

  5. Congrats on all the exciting changes!! You’re the second blows I’ve seen who’s gotten orders to Fort Drum. I hope you love it. My grandparents all live in upstate New York and everyone growing up thought I was going to the city every time I said we were visiting haha definitely visit while you’re there!

    xo, Keating
    keatingandco.com
    Keating recently posted…Graduation Weekend RecapMy Profile

    • Thanks Keating! I think we are going to love the beauty and outdoors of it all. I’ve been to NYC twice, and I’m not a city-girl, so we may or may not visit. I’d rather spend time going to new places like Maine!

    • Thanks Elizabeth! Sorry you didn’t get what you wanted either. I hope we both enjoy it there. Who knows, maybe it will be our favorite duty station!

  7. How exciting! It may not seem ideal, but you always make the best of things! Y’all are able to find adventure and fun things to do everywhere. Let me know when you’re settled and I’ll come visit! I’ll help you mark off some of the surrounding states too! (Connecticut = Gilmore Girls! Just saying!)

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