Where is the Lynch family going???

...we won't get an RFO, or request for orders, for another three weeks! Ugh!

We met with the Branch manager today and lucky for us we know him from Hawaii. I'm not saying he would risk his career to get us what we want but it's always nice to see a familiar face and it's even nicer to get straight answers/advice from a friend.

After Chris and I talked and went over and over our list, we made some revisions:

1. Fort Hood, Texas
2. Fort Hood, Texas
3. Fort Richardson, Alaska
4. Fort Bragg, North Carolina
5. Fort Lewis, Washington

Fort Hood would be our best bet because there are three brigades, which gives him more oppertunity to take command, AND two of them are deploying (Feb and May). Although this sucks for me, he NEEDS to deploy for his career progression and deployments are inevitable in this line of work. As of now the average wait time to get a command here is 15-18 months. Hawaii and Fort Lewis have the lonest weight time, so Lewis is also out for us.

Although Alaska would be an adventure and we would make more money (we would get COLA again since this is considered an OCONUS location), it's SUPER cold and they are not deploying so this wouldn't help him in the long run either.

Fort Bragg is also out because Chris has never deployed (he volunteered several times) and hasn't gotten an oppertunity, despite asking serval times, to go to a school (Sapper, Ranger or Airborne). Showing up here would be a death sentenace for him. Other people would judge him and wouldn't give him a fair shake because he wasn't "tabbed" or "patched up." This really erks me because you don't get to decide when you deploy or if you deploy or if you get to go to said schools.

I've heard more great things than I have heard negative things about Hood. It's hot and dusty but we like hot and not having to deal with snow is a big perk for us. The base is HUGE and I wouldn't have a super hard time finding a job. Fort Hood is located 45 minutes from Austin, two hours from San Antonio and about an hour and change from Dallas. Plus we would be close to family in Chandler, AZ and in San Jose, CA AND we could vacation in the Gulf of Mexio, drive to Vegas and maybe even do Napa =)

Fingers crossed!