Military Monday- Megan: Ft Benning, GA

The Military Monday duty station feature on this blog is designed for us military families to meet our fellow military spouses and also to learn about duty stations across the world.  We all get to (or have to depending on your outlook and particular set of circumstances), move every couple years to different duty stations that are scattered throughout the country and the world.  This feature will allow us the opportunity to explore these different areas of the world before we get there.  

If you are interested in being highlighted for this feature, please send me an email.  

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Name and blog site: Megan Wadsworth, Growing Up is Actually Kind of Fun @ http://meganwadsworth.blogspot.com

Branch of service: Army

Where currently stationed: Fort Benning, GA

How long have you been there?: 8 months

Favorite restaurant in the area: The Cannon BrewPub, Downstairs at the Loft, the Black Cow, Hunter’s Pub, Wood Stone, Buckhead Bar & Grill

Previous duty stations: Fort Campbell, KY

3 favorite things to do in your current city: Walk/Run on the Riverwalk (it runs from post all the way downtown, and has several connector trails all over Columbus); Trivia nights on Tuesdays at Hooters or Mellow Mushroom; Try all the different restaurants Columbus has to offer

Favorite duty station so far: Fort Benning (though we’re about to PCS to Fort Carson, so I’m sure it will change soon!)

Who is your hero? I’m going to have to go semi-cheesy on this one and say my mother-in-law when it comes to this kind of scenario. She has been an Army spouse for 30 years (15 moves! Crazy!) and has been my saving grace. Congratulations to her because my father-in-law will officially be retired from the Army on June 1 of this year.

What is one negative rumor you heard about the duty station when you arrived?  Have you found it to be true? The “School of the Americas” protests… wow! Definitely true and a sight to see, but not as crazy as they used to be. There is a group that believes the Army should shut down their school that trains foreign officers, and they come protest in the late fall. They have to shut down one of the gates that comes into post and fence off the surrounding apartments/shops. The protesters come and do their thing for the weekend and then go home, no harm done, a lot quieter than the old days of climbing fences and trying to get arrested to get on the news!

What is the biggest draw back to where your current duty station? The only thing I find myself not liking about Fort Benning is how big it is and how almost everyone is in transition all the time. There is not only basic training here for both Armor and Infantry, but there is A and I BOLC, Ranger School, Airborne School, Sniper School, Maneuver Captain’s Career Course and others. It makes it hard to make and keep friends, and the basic trainees have a graduation EVERY FRIDAY, which means poor lost parents all over post and crowded restaurants on Friday nights. On the upside, you get to (and should!) attend some of the graduations, the ceremonies are awesome!

How strong/ or not is the sense of community in the area?

The Columbus community loves Fort Benning and vice versa. There are always events going on around post that involve the public and the community, usually a HOTEx or some other post-wide event that has static displays of all the tanks and vehicles. Even Halloween was huge here because the community comes out to Trick-or-Treat on post. The current CG here on post is very well known and active in the community, and he tries to create strong bonds between Columbus and Fort Benning.

Are there any local festivals you have been to or are planning to attend? There are quite a few events that go on in the Columbus area. Every Saturday there is a market down off of exit 8. There is a “Toast of the Town” that is a wine and food festival that happens in the spring. There are also always great shows playing at the Springer Opera House and the River Mill Center. http://www.columbusgacalendar.com/ has a great list of all of the things going on in Columbus, I check it often, because there are new events added all the time. Also, check out the events going on in Savannah, especially Oktoberfest and St. Patrick’s day! It’s a little far, but totally worth seeing while in Georgia.

Have you joined any groups on base? I am currently a member of the Community Spouse’s Club, which is a group of wives that meets monthly for luncheons. The luncheons fund a scholarship that is available to the children of soldiers on post, and each luncheon sponsors a gift basket for a different charity. It is a great way to meet other wives of all experience levels, and they have door prizes so you can win some really neat stuff. I also attend the group exercise classes at Smith Gym (the large, family-style gym on post) and am in my third month of a boot-camp style class that meets three times per week. The boot camp class has been my saving grace for my sanity while being here and not working. It is small enough that you get individual attention (no more than 12 people), but large enough that you meet some great people and make friends while getting an awesome workout.

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If you are a military spouse and want be featured for this post, please send me an email at HandlingWithGrace {at} gmail.com

Previous Posts
Joslin - Aviano, Italy
Kathryn - Robins AFB, GA
Jane - Schofield Barracks, HI
Amanda - Heidelberg, Germany
Janna - Ft Carson, CO
Alia - Ft. Hood, TX
Victoria - Ft. Stewart, GA

Samantha - Norfolk, VA

April - San Diego, CA

Nina - Anchorage, AK

Bri - Kaneohe Bay, HI

Jenn - Ft. Campbell, KY

Kate- Monterey, CA

Nicole- Jacksonville, NC

Whitney- San Antonio, TX

Sarah- Ft. Drum, NY

Mrs K- Ft Polk, LA

Lauren- Pearl Harbor, HI 
Jamie- Pensacola, FL