For many of the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (TACOM LCMC) associates who were required to relocate from the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois to the Detroit Arsenal in Michigan as a result of the latest Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), the transition was very difficult. This was due in large part to the fact that they had to leave family and friends behind. However, one TACOM LCMC associate brought her entire family with her, including not only her husband and baby, but also her parents.
Jessica Fields, an item manager in the TACOM LCMC Integrated Logistics Support Center (ILSC) was hired as an intern at TACOM-Rock Island in December, 2009, under the condition that she would ultimately have to move to the Detroit Arsenal. Her parents, John and Vivien Fields, have both worked for the government for nearly 30 years and could have remained at Rock Island had they chosen to do so. But they chose instead to join their daughter, son-in-law, and grandson in the move to Michigan. They both transferred to positions at the Detroit Arsenal where they plan to finish out their government careers. Her husband, Jason, had to leave his job as a manager at a Barnes and Noble book store in Davenport, Iowa and is currently working part-time at one of their stores in the Detroit Area.
Reflecting back on her experiences since moving here approximately one year ago, Fields appears to be mostly upbeat but said, "It wouldn't be the same without my family being here with me." She said she knows a number of people who had to leave family and friends behind and feels that it would have been much more difficult for her had she not been able to bring her family with her. She stated that her co-workers have been very friendly and the fact that there are a number of familiar faces from Rock Island has been a source of comfort for her.
She said the biggest adjustment she has had to make is dealing with all the traffic that she encounters on her commute to and from work. Also, she noted that when she and Jason bought their house in the Detroit suburb of St. Clair Shores one thing their real estate agent forgot to tell them about was the fish flies.
Outside of work, Fields spends most of her time with family and has also found a church where she has made a number of friends. She and her family hope to travel up to Northern Michigan and visit some of the sites, such as Mackinac Island and the sand dunes along Lake Michigan when everyone's work schedule permits.
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