Buffalodaddy where are you? Alamogordo is HORRIBLE! (Reserve: homes, buy)

[lisdol]

Originally Posted by catman

nm09: You make some rather good points, but your initial post was so negative concerning Alamogordo that you could hardly expect to be welcomed with open arms. Many people actually like Alamo...possibly you don't because you weren't given a choice as to where to live. I can understand that feeling of being dropped into a backwater, but you might give it more of a chance.

Agree.

I am a military spouse. The first place we lived after my husband finished his pipeline was a crummy little city in the deep south. I tried to bite my tongue but the complaints did sneak out, til one day I was in line at Toys R Us behind someone in the military who complained loudly to the cashier how he was stuck in this armpit of a town and how much he disliked it. I saw how ugly the complaining looked, and have not forgotten it. I still hated that assignment, but bade my time til we could go. I saw more of the complaining when we lived in Keflavik (Iceland) - a town that is windier than Eastern NM, with a lot more snow, and about 6000 residents. You just gotta suck it up and find something that you can do there. Even that crappy little city in GA was better for me the second time around (yes, we got orders right back to it after we went OCONUS) when I decided to try to take advantage of what little it had to offer.

Anywhere you live, whether you like it or not, is someone's hometown, and they like it. While there may be reasons why ONE does not like it and will be happy to move on, ONE must remember that there are others who call it home permanently.

There is a forum member whose husband considered volunteering for MTI duty at Lackland to get out of Clovis (Cannon). There is MTI and recruiter duty, and perhaps other special duty assignments related to your AFSC, that could get you out of Holloman. If it is that bad, look at those options.

[lisdol]

Originally Posted by highdesertmutz

You could have gotten an even worse assignment.

So true. The AF and Army seem to have cornered the market on crummy base locations in the Southern US. Kirtland AFB is one of the nicer locations.

[highdesertmutz]

Originally Posted by lisdol

So true. The AF and Army seem to have cornered the market on crummy base locations in the Southern US. Kirtland AFB is one of the nicer locations.

I was in the AF for 8 years. At the recruiter's office during enlistment, I was asked if I had any problem with being assigned anywhere in the world, my answer was no.

People looking to the military because they need a job (unemployed) or seeking education benefits really need to weigh their decisions and what they choose. The military life IS NOT for everyone. It does take a special type of person to accept their terms and agreements.

[lisdol]

Originally Posted by highdesertmutz

I was in the AF for 8 years. At the recruiter's office during enlistment, I was asked if I had any problem with being assigned anywhere in the world, my answer was no.

People looking to the military because they need a job (unemployed) or seeking education benefits really need to weigh their decisions and what they choose. The military life IS NOT for everyone. It does take a special type of person to accept their terms and agreements.

I am happy my husband's AFSC has only about 7 bases worldwide to which he can be assigned regular orders (everything else - including here at Kirtland - is a spec duty assignment). I have spent time learning about the various locales surrounding the possible bases so when we do get a RIP, I don't have to go through the WTH reaction that some people get.

[gberry]

NewMommy... Let me the first to say THANK YOU for being an American Soldier. Thank you for defending my rights, because I know all too well that freedom isn't free. I know that when you enlisted you weren't promised a bed of roses but that you chose to do it anyway. Freedom isn't free, and I am glad that you've had the courage to do what I could not. As the saying goes "If you cannot stand behind our soldiers feel free to stand in front of them"... No matter what your assignment is, no matter how small your assignment might seam to others, no matter your sex, race, or creed what you are doing is HUGE in my eyes and I am honestly greatful! And I apologize for the bad times you are experiencing in Almagordo. NM truley is a beautiful place but sometimes the people make it unbearable, I understand first hand. If you have any questions about other areas throughout NM TX CO or OK let me know and if I don't know the answers, I can definately help you get them...

[songinthewind7]

quoteTo those persons oh so rude comments that proved my previous statements about Alamogordo to be more than true, thank you for showing your true colors.
I just used my given right to post my opinion.quote
Are you saying that your comments were not rude? Are you saying it's okay for you to come on here as a first time poster and spew Alamogordo?
It's okay for you to give your opinion as a 'soldier' (and I use the word soldier lightly) but not okay for the rest of us to give ours?
Most of us love NM and that's why we're here.
For you to come on and call a town Alamoghetto is not going to get you any points.
I can understand you don't like Alamogordo and you were stating your opinion about it but it could have been done in a nicer way.
Did you expect us to come out with open arms and agree with you?

quoteFor those who labeled my child crying in Wal-Mart as bad mothering... you must not have kids and thank God for that. Many good and even great parents can tell you that there is not an off switch underneath the baby’s clothes to just make them be quiet. There are not happy ALL the time.quote
For the record, I or we did not label you as a bad mother for your baby crying; we labeled you a bad mother for putting the blame on others because your baby was crying.
My opinion is that if you're really a soldier, own it and stand up to it. Soldiers are not whiney.

[highdesertmutz]

Originally Posted by songinthewind7

quoteTo those persons oh so rude comments that proved my previous statements about Alamogordo to be more than true, thank you for showing your true colors.
I just used my given right to post my opinion.quote
Are you saying that your comments were not rude? Are you saying it's okay for you to come on here as a first time poster and spew Alamogordo?
It's okay for you to give your opinion as a 'soldier' (and I use the word soldier lightly) but not okay for the rest of us to give ours?
Most of us love NM and that's why we're here.
For you to come on and call a town Alamoghetto is not going to get you any points.
I can understand you don't like Alamogordo and you were stating your opinion about it but it could have been done in a nicer way.
Did you expect us to come out with open arms and agree with you?

quoteFor those who labeled my child crying in Wal-Mart as bad mothering... you must not have kids and thank God for that. Many good and even great parents can tell you that there is not an off switch underneath the baby’s clothes to just make them be quiet. There are not happy ALL the time.quote
For the record, I or we did not label you as a bad mother for your baby crying; we labeled you a bad mother for putting the blame on others because your baby was crying.
My opinion is that if you're really a soldier, own it and stand up to it.

Originally Posted by songinthewind7

Soldiers are not whiney.

No, we're not. We usually buck up, and take our medicine, no matter how bitter a pill it is to swallow.

Great Post song!

[songinthewind7]

My cousin just retired from the military.
She was stationed in San Diego. During her last five years in, they sent her and her family to San Antonio, Tx. We're talking about a woman here with a husband and 2 teens she had to load up and go to a totally different place (husband and kids rebelled because they didn't want to leave California) but once they got to Texas, they adjusted. After she retired, she moved back to San Diego.
My late husband and my significant other are retired military.
I cannot imagine any of the above I just mentioned, whining. They did what they had to do and they did it well. They had bad days just like everybody else does but blaming others for it is unnecessary. If you really are a soldier (and not making it up for sympathy) be the best you can be while you're here and then go back to wherever you came from and be happy.

[caydriver]

Well, let me relate a little story. I wnt to NMSU to pick up my grandson today. He had ROTC today and he was in full BDU's. Army. He took my breath away.. This young man that I had taken to Space Camp for 8 years and to the base pool at HAFB. He always wanted to know why those young guys saluted me. Told him because I was old. He bought it. Today we stopped by HAFB to pick up some items he needed and everyone was wonderful. We stopped for gas and everyone was respectful and said "thnak-you" to him. We then went on to Ruidoso to the grocery store where people would stop him in the aisles and say "thank-you". People are truly very grateful to the young military members. Wow, what an emotional day. His grandfather would be so proud. All I can say, is that if you don't like the military, then get out. No one demands that you stay.

[chilegal]

Originally Posted by caydriver

Well, let me relate a little story. I wnt to NMSU to pick up my grandson today. He had ROTC today and he was in full BDU's. Army. He took my breath away.. This young man that I had taken to Space Camp for 8 years and to the base pool at HAFB. He always wanted to know why those young guys saluted me. Told him because I was old. He bought it. Today we stopped by HAFB to pick up some items he needed and everyone was wonderful. We stopped for gas and everyone was respectful and said "thnak-you" to him. We then went on to Ruidoso to the grocery store where people would stop him in the aisles and say "thank-you". People are truly very grateful to the young military members. Wow, what an emotional day. His grandfather would be so proud. All I can say, is that if you don't like the military, then get out. No one demands that you stay.

You can be so proud of him and yourself. I have a daughter and son-in-law in the National guard, one full time and the other works all over. They have children, and have served over in Iraq and still take care of home life. DD has just signed up again - she has 20+ years in. Plus a full time job. Guard may not be "full time" but they are still taken away from family when the need comes.