No Result
View All Result
Military Families
SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
 Military Families
SUBSCRIBE FREE
Military Families

Family Embraces Base Living From Coast to Coast

Maddie Dolan
by Maddie Dolan
March 29, 2019
| SPONSORED
SwordFamilyTree

Photo credit to Dana Arnold Photography

ShareTweetEmail

With each Permanent Change of Station, a family is uprooted from its network including schools, volunteer opportunities and friends. One military family has found their transitions less painful, though, with the help of military housing.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Duran Sword and his wife of 14 years, Angela, have lived in Lincoln Military Housing neighborhoods at several duty stations — Camp Lejeune, N.C., Twentynine Palms, Calif., and now Hampton Roads, Va. — and would not have it any other way.

“It’s usually convenient,” Duran Sword said. “I usually work on the installation or right near it. Where I work, where the kids go to school, and where we live is all within a three mile radius.”

The Sword family
The Sword family. Photo credit: Dana Arnold Photography.

Angela Sword adds that when they move into a new neighborhood, playgrounds, clubhouses, numerous community events, and private social network groups provide a common meeting ground to connect with people. The Swords do not have the sense of loneliness sometimes associated with military families.

“They have a great community,” Angela Sword said. “We all have the same thing in common when we move into base housing: We have a spouse that is in the military and some of us have children. Whether it’s new people moving in or a changeover, everybody seems to be really friendly.”

The benefits of living in base housing for the Swords start with security — having their two children be able to ride bikes and walk to the school bus stop without worry because of ongoing patrols — but also for the ease of access to activities and events. The couple says that they take advantage of every community event that is offered, whether it be for their children, their whole family or them as a couple.

Who said it doesn’t snow in the desert? Lincoln brought ‘winter’ to residents at Twentynine Palms. Submitted photo

“What’s awesome is that they incorporate everything in the area,” Angela Sword said. “It’s not like they stick to putting up bounce houses and having a little community playtime in the park. They get residents out into the city and show them different things that are in the area.”

With all the events being free to residents, the Sword family has been able to experience things they never otherwise would have including going to American Hockey League and Minor League Baseball games, visiting an aquarium, and having date nights in town.

“At Twentynine Palms, Lincoln would have their events in the middle of the base, and the officer and the enlisted [families] would meet at a designated area for the event. They had an Easter egg hunt for the kids. They brought in snow for the kids in the wintertime. They brought in reindeer and a Santa that gave out gifts,” Angela Sword said.

She adds that the events are catered to everyone, whether they have children or not, or simply want to network with other spouses. Volunteering is also a major aspect of the Swords’ lives, which is another aspect of Lincoln’s events that provide the community with opportunities to connect.

“Lincoln puts on a program every month,” Duran Sword said. “They have an event, or they have something for neighborhood to do. They try to build camaraderie among the neighbors. So we take advantage of those events.”

Plus, the amount of activities to do aside from events keep them busy, like going to the pool during summer months to playing video games at the community center. And then there are the added benefits of included utilities, basic lawn care, and on-staff maintenance crews should anything go awry.

“You don’t have to worry when something breaks. You can call the maintenance line, and the guy is there either that night if it’s an emergency or the next day. If not, they hire a company out in town to fix it,” he said.

Duran Sword remembers one time when the base-wide power went out for an extended period of time, and how responsive Lincoln was to making sure all residents were being taken care of. The company provided them with generators, coolers, ice, charging stations, and round-the-clock meals, at no cost to them.

“Lincoln is always there, whether it’s the events, the house, or whatever,” he added.

SwordFamilySteps
Photo credit to Dana Arnold Photography

The Sword family faces an international move where Lincoln Military Housing is not available, and they are admittedly sad to leave the organization behind. It has brought them close to other families, to the communities they’ve moved to, and to the staff members that become friends to them.

“When you move, it’s hard saying goodbye to them because you formed a relationship with them, you build trust with them, and you know if you have an issue you can go to them,” Angela Sword made sure to add. “They are looking out for your best interests. They grow to love your family; you grow to love them.”

Visit Lincoln Military Housing to learn more about its locations and amenities.

Read comments
Tags: base housingBase LivingLincoln Military Housingmilitary housingmilitary movemilitary PCSprivatized military housing
Share48Tweet30Send
Maddie Dolan

Maddie Dolan

Maddie Dolan has more than a decade of experience in reporting, copy editing, teaching and creative writing. She also has a bachelor’s in English-Writing and a master’s in English-Creative Writing. She has been awarded Best Business News Story and Best Spot News Story by the Nevada Press Association, and received a commendation from the Associated Press for breaking news coverage. Not conclusively, she also received awards for her volunteerism with USO Guam, is a recipient of the ANA Dorothy Flatley Award and is a HillVets Cohort. When Maddie isn’t writing, she prefers to be outside running, biking or hiking.

Related Posts

inconvenience claims
Military Relocation

Filing an inconvenience claim: Tips from TRANSCOM

5 days ago
5 tips for planning a military wedding on a budget
Money

5 tips for planning a military wedding on a budget

2 weeks ago
introducing yourself
Military Spouses

7 tips for confidently introducing yourself at a new duty station

2 weeks ago
duty station bucket list
Military Relocation

Why it’s important to organize your duty station bucket list

2 weeks ago
RAPID FIRE: Q&A with Sally Ann Zoll from United Through Reading
Military Spouses

RAPID FIRE: Q&A with Sally Ann Zoll from United Through Reading

3 weeks ago
New Army policy seeks to ‘normalize parenthood’ for soldiers
Military News

New Army policy seeks to ‘normalize parenthood’ for soldiers

3 weeks ago

Ads

Military News, delivered to your inbox

Get a free copy of MILITARY FAMILIES delivered to your inbox each month

Let's connect!

ABOUT US

  • OUR STORY
  • OUR TEAM
  • OUR WRITERS

MAGAZINE

  • GET PRINT
  • GET DIGITAL

GET RESOURCES

  • MILITARY EDUCATION GUIDE

ADVERTISE

  • GET OUR MEDIA KIT
  • CFC/NONPROFITS
  • PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

SUBMISSIONS

  • PITCH US
  • SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Never miss out on the latest stories.

© 2022 Military Families by AmeriForce. Privacy Policy | Terms | Site by Swiss Commerce

Thank you for your interest in Military Families Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in Military Families Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in Military Families Magazine!

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Military Life
    • Deployment
    • Relocation
    • Military Spouses
    • Military Kids
  • Education
  • Career
    • Transition
    • Entrepreneur
  • Veterans
  • Health
  • Money
    • Military Deals & Discounts
  • Travel
    • Beyond the Base
  • OFF DUTY
    • Food & Recipes
    • Book Reviews & Roundups
    • Entertainment
    • Sports
  • About us
    • Our story
    • Our team
    • Our writers
  • Magazine
    • Get print
    • Get digital
  • Advertise
    • Get our media kit
    • CFC/Nonprofits
    • Publisher’s statement
  • Submissions
    • Pitch us
    • Submit your story
    • Book club
  • Get Resources
    • Military Education Guide

© 2022 Military Families by AmeriForce. Site by SCBW.