I*<3*Capt*Jack
06-02-2008, 01:49 PM
Here is what I got for you!
Lets start with the atlanta airport!
First of all it is very big! Second of all there are these underground trains that take you to all of you destinations after you get off of your plane. So, what you want to do it follow the baggage claim signs. You will eventually find a set of escalators that will go down. Get on those. Then get on the train. They come over 30 seconds or so. The last stop is baggage claim (I believe there is signage to tell you this) and also where you pick up rental cars. After you get off the train there will be escalators going up. I think there is a sign that says once you go up you cant get back down to the train. (you would have to go around and go through security again) after that you either go to baggage claim (signs are easy to follow...) or to the ground transportation. I had to go outside and get on a avis bus to go the avis car rental. It was all pretty easy at that point. Okay, hope that helps!
Second: My hotel. I stayed at the howard Johnson in columbus. Now, while it was not the best hotel I felt mostly safe and really the whole area is pretty much the same. The basic rule of thumb I noticed was that the further away from fort benning the nicest it is. I did not want to have to drive far. Dont stay anywhere on victory drive. THe most redeming quality to where I stayed was that it was pretty much a straight shot to fort benning. My dh says that anything between exits 7 and 11 are the best places to stay.
Third: Fort Benning. It is pretty easy to navigate. First of all.......THis was never mentioned in my grad packet but you need to have the letter that has your intinerary/grad info on it. It is the first page. They wanted to see it every time I entered ft. benning. I just happened to throw it in my purse as I was leaving for the first time to drive to benning. I would have had to turn around! okay.....so the rec center is the first place you go. After the check point they kinda tell you where to go (at least the told me........)There are also signs with the companys numbers on it and what the event is. You go into the rec center (there is lots of parking) and there you can buy all kinds of stuff, Pics of your soldier, clothes, grad and turning blue video....all that kind of stuff. If you should get there early there are lots of places to sit, Magazines, snacks, bathrooms, tv, pool tables, video games, etc......The family briefing room is through the double doors on the left once you walk in. You are in there for about an hour. We watched a few videos and were told about all the stuff our SO's had been doing.
Then we all walked down to kanell feild. It was a nice walk. We all sat in the stands and waited for our soldiers. Soon they all came marching out. THere was some short speaches and such and then we had to go find our soldiers. I walked right past my dh! They all look so similiar and they can turn or say anything to let you know where they are. They have their blue cords in their pockets. Its pretty easy to put on but I was shaking so it took me a few seconds longer than it should have. IT was sooooo great to see DH that day! After that he was mine. We both walked down to the rec center and dh got an energy drink. Then we drove to the hotel which I will not be going into detail about :teehee
There is a spouse briefing at two o'clock. The spouse does not have to attend but the engaged or married soldier does! A few guys did not go and so they took the names down and smoked them later......It only takes about 30 minutes. After that he was mine until eight pm. Have your SO back on time!!!!!!!!!! SO many guys were late and that did not make anyone happy. Leave early cause there will be drop off traffic. You drop them off at their barracks. Luckily they will know the way there, :lol
Graduation: It is at kanell field. I suggest parking at the rec center and walking if you do not want to have to wait an hour or so to get out of the parking lot! I lucked and was on the edge so I just drove out but some of the cars were four and five rows deep and there was no getting out until the other people decided to get there cars out. There was a really cool demonstration with guns and smoke....it was loud (so baby T might need some blankets over his ears or something?) and really fun! Then the soldiers come out.....They have all these things they do with walking and parade rest, attention, presesnt arms type stuff. There is a band....the soldier sing there songs and recite there creeds. It is all really fun. After it is all done you get to go get your man. Who (since it will be middle of summer in Georgia) will be all hot and sweaty. So will you for that matter. I chucked my dress idea and went with jeans. I could not stand the thought of my legs touching in that humid hot enviroment. Lord, it is muggy there!!!!! Oh, and you will also have an oppurtunity to get pics and vids at the grad if you did not get to it the day before. If you get the grad video the turning blue is included.
After grad I was able to take dh home with me (national guard) so unless anyone reading this has a NG SO I am no help at this point. I am sure I forgot some stuff so pm with any other questions!
Oh, and sorry for spelling errors! I am not going to proof read. :D
Lets start with the atlanta airport!
First of all it is very big! Second of all there are these underground trains that take you to all of you destinations after you get off of your plane. So, what you want to do it follow the baggage claim signs. You will eventually find a set of escalators that will go down. Get on those. Then get on the train. They come over 30 seconds or so. The last stop is baggage claim (I believe there is signage to tell you this) and also where you pick up rental cars. After you get off the train there will be escalators going up. I think there is a sign that says once you go up you cant get back down to the train. (you would have to go around and go through security again) after that you either go to baggage claim (signs are easy to follow...) or to the ground transportation. I had to go outside and get on a avis bus to go the avis car rental. It was all pretty easy at that point. Okay, hope that helps!
Second: My hotel. I stayed at the howard Johnson in columbus. Now, while it was not the best hotel I felt mostly safe and really the whole area is pretty much the same. The basic rule of thumb I noticed was that the further away from fort benning the nicest it is. I did not want to have to drive far. Dont stay anywhere on victory drive. THe most redeming quality to where I stayed was that it was pretty much a straight shot to fort benning. My dh says that anything between exits 7 and 11 are the best places to stay.
Third: Fort Benning. It is pretty easy to navigate. First of all.......THis was never mentioned in my grad packet but you need to have the letter that has your intinerary/grad info on it. It is the first page. They wanted to see it every time I entered ft. benning. I just happened to throw it in my purse as I was leaving for the first time to drive to benning. I would have had to turn around! okay.....so the rec center is the first place you go. After the check point they kinda tell you where to go (at least the told me........)There are also signs with the companys numbers on it and what the event is. You go into the rec center (there is lots of parking) and there you can buy all kinds of stuff, Pics of your soldier, clothes, grad and turning blue video....all that kind of stuff. If you should get there early there are lots of places to sit, Magazines, snacks, bathrooms, tv, pool tables, video games, etc......The family briefing room is through the double doors on the left once you walk in. You are in there for about an hour. We watched a few videos and were told about all the stuff our SO's had been doing.
Then we all walked down to kanell feild. It was a nice walk. We all sat in the stands and waited for our soldiers. Soon they all came marching out. THere was some short speaches and such and then we had to go find our soldiers. I walked right past my dh! They all look so similiar and they can turn or say anything to let you know where they are. They have their blue cords in their pockets. Its pretty easy to put on but I was shaking so it took me a few seconds longer than it should have. IT was sooooo great to see DH that day! After that he was mine. We both walked down to the rec center and dh got an energy drink. Then we drove to the hotel which I will not be going into detail about :teehee
There is a spouse briefing at two o'clock. The spouse does not have to attend but the engaged or married soldier does! A few guys did not go and so they took the names down and smoked them later......It only takes about 30 minutes. After that he was mine until eight pm. Have your SO back on time!!!!!!!!!! SO many guys were late and that did not make anyone happy. Leave early cause there will be drop off traffic. You drop them off at their barracks. Luckily they will know the way there, :lol
Graduation: It is at kanell field. I suggest parking at the rec center and walking if you do not want to have to wait an hour or so to get out of the parking lot! I lucked and was on the edge so I just drove out but some of the cars were four and five rows deep and there was no getting out until the other people decided to get there cars out. There was a really cool demonstration with guns and smoke....it was loud (so baby T might need some blankets over his ears or something?) and really fun! Then the soldiers come out.....They have all these things they do with walking and parade rest, attention, presesnt arms type stuff. There is a band....the soldier sing there songs and recite there creeds. It is all really fun. After it is all done you get to go get your man. Who (since it will be middle of summer in Georgia) will be all hot and sweaty. So will you for that matter. I chucked my dress idea and went with jeans. I could not stand the thought of my legs touching in that humid hot enviroment. Lord, it is muggy there!!!!! Oh, and you will also have an oppurtunity to get pics and vids at the grad if you did not get to it the day before. If you get the grad video the turning blue is included.
After grad I was able to take dh home with me (national guard) so unless anyone reading this has a NG SO I am no help at this point. I am sure I forgot some stuff so pm with any other questions!
Oh, and sorry for spelling errors! I am not going to proof read. :D