FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. -- With the start of 2012 comes the tradition of New Year’s resolutions. Soldiers, like civilians, are no different when it comes to this practice. Whether wanting to lose weight, stop smoking or spend more time with their families, many 82nd Sustainment Brigade soldiers want to turn over a “new leaf” with the New Year.

“I want to focus on managing my finances,” said Spc. Sara Chamberlain, an information technology management specialist with the 82nd Special Troops Battalion and Albany, TX native. “My husband and I have been saving so that we have money set aside both for investing and in case of an emergency,” she said.

Money was an item on a lot of soldiers’ New Year’s resolution lists, as was improving health and kicking bad habits. “I want to try to quit smoking and try to drink less,” said Spc. Lindsey M. Ford, IT management specialist with the 82nd Special Troops Battalion and Orangeburg, S.C. native. “I smoke a pack a day right now and really want to try to cut that down to a half a pack a day for starters,” she said. “By cutting back on smoking and drinking less I can save more money to do the things I want,” said Ford.

For some soldiers, the priority for the New Year is to spend more time with their spouse and children. “I want to focus on being a better father for my son,” said Sgt. Tahrone D. Davis, Paralegal NCO for the 264th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion. “I also want to eat better and try not to drink as much in the coming year,” he said.

Davis is using the Dads 101 and 102 programs to help learn more about being an effective father and parent. The programs are offered through Army Community Service at the soldier Support Center. With the coming of the New Year, many soldiers of the 82nd Sustainment Brigade are looking forward to pursuing, implementing, and achieving their 2012 New Year’s resolutions.

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