So after speaking with my Branch manager, it looks like either next summer or fall that I will be moving from Ft. Rucker, AL to Ft. Bragg, NC. This would be my last move before I retire from the Army and it keeps me on the east coast if I take the move. I do have the option to do a third year here at Rucker but no guarantees on where I would go at that point so I've basically told him that I would take the assignment next year and get back to the Air Cav! Rucker has been a nice break from the hectic deployment/training schedules and gave me time to spend with my parents (Dad had quadruple bypass surgery last year and doing fine now) but I think it's time to get back to the nitty gritty. Plus, I hear NC has some good hunting! Anyone familiar with the area have any input?
My retention NCO a looooong time ago came to me at re-enlistment time and told me he had found and locked me into a sweet slot. I asked him (as a intel troop specializing in Korea) what the slot was to which he replied 81st Airborne! I proceeded to inform him that I and most of the intel world were chairborne NOT airborne. Having bailed out of aircraft on two different occasions before, I went on to tell him that I had an adversity to jumping out of perfectly good aircraft. His response was "you have too many years active duty to get out now, so you'll have to take the assignment." To make a long story a lot shorter, 3 months later I was no longer in the Army but was wearing an Air Force uniform. If Airborne is what you like, go for it. I don't know about the caliber of deer in NC, but they seem to be plentiful. This site should give you more insight: Fort Bragg
The whole Airborne thing doesn't bother me, was Airborne in my Infantry days. Unfortunately, I guess pilot's aren't allowed to jump now to prevent injuries, I wouldn't mind getting back in the harness!
Now as long as the Army doesn't stick their fingers into this before now and next August, I should be at Bragg this time next year! Hopefully the deal doesn't change on me.
