Soldiers choosing to make the Army their career are eventually going to get the opportunity to pick their next location, but what are their motivators for picking their next duty station?

If it's career growth, location, education or employment opportunities for family members, consider making Third Army your first choice.

Third Army, or U.S. Army Central, is in the city of Sumter, located in the Midlands of South Carolina.

"What is most important to military families are quality healthcare, education and employment opportunities," said Brig. Gen. David P. Glaser, chief of staff, U.S. Army Central.

If your motivator is career growth, Third Army provides outstanding opportunities for mid-level officers and noncommissioned officers to gain key developmental, broadening, and in many instances, joint experience under quality senior mentors in the only Army Service Component Command currently involved in combat operations.

Third Army is currently responsible for synchronizing the U.S. and international military contribution to the Combined Joint Task Force's overall coalition strategy, primarily through Operation Inherent Resolve.

The operation is led by Lt. Gen. James Terry, commander, USARCENT and CJTF-OIR, and is focused on enabling the Government of Iraq to degrade and destroy the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, restore domestic security and stability, secure Iraq's borders, and regenerate/restructure security forces to accomplish these missions.

"It is a pleasure to be at an engaged and in a centrally focused organization with a real-world mission every day," said Sgt. Maj. Patrick Hickok, Third Army command career counselor.

Third Army's location is prime real estate for a multitude of activities to help you unwind. The beach, shopping, college and professional sports can be reached in a few miles.

Columbia and Myrtle Beach are examples of places you can easily visit within South Carolina, but you are not far from cities such as Charlotte to the north and Atlanta to the west.

Sumter County has 16 elementary schools and seven middle schools. Sumter High School is one of three public high schools in the district, which offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, a program which all colleges and universities in South Carolina recognize. To find out a particular college or university's policies regarding the IBDP, please use the IBDP website www.ibo.org.

The Sumter and Columbia communities offer economic advantages that allow servicemembers and their families to get the most out of their income in terms of education, housing, recreation activities, and numerous economic incentives at the county and state levels for soldiers and family members.

"My time here has been very fun and interesting with plenty of activities for myself and my children," said Barbara Badger, the family readiness group leader for Third Army. "The base and local area have many functions that get family members out of the house and involved in the local community."

Third Army presents career soldiers with quality opportunities to grow professionally and personally. Regardless of what your interests are, there are a multitude of reasons why you should be one of "Patton's Own" and make Third your First.