New LT in desperate need of enlightenment - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

LtDan · 11-20-2007, 08:03 AM

I commissioned AF in Aug. but I don't go active duty until 6 Feb. My ROTC pretty much left me out to dry, and when I ask for help I get nothing of value. I am supposed to report to the 319th CE Squadron in Grand Forks, ND. Sweet assignment, I know, but regardless I am still really ready to go. First, should I be contacting my unit before I show up? There is no contact info on the base website at all, only the commander's name. So I should call family assistance or a base operator? Also, I don't know about calling up just anyone in the chain of command for fear of pissing someone off. What are your guy's opinions about living on base or off? I understand that I can stay in the base hotel for up to 30 days from when I arrive while I look for a place to stay, should I choose to live off base. Do people normally do this or do they have it all lined up before they even get there?

I really appreciate any help or opinion anyone has on any of these matters.

MarineFlyboy · 11-20-2007, 01:53 PM

Not sure how the AF works but what I've expirenced is that there is usually no room in the BOQ so the only option is off base. I've lived on base in Quantico and now live off base at my new duty station with my wife. I prefer off base but that is just me.

As for finding a place off base. I did a lot of research online and found the top three places we wanted to live and checked the availability. That way when I got down to my new station we only checked those places out and then decided.

You could also try to take leave to house/apartment hunt.

Congrats on getting commissioned! Another Lt to defend us "butter bars"!

The Knight Of Light · 11-20-2007, 02:06 PM

Yes contact your receiving orderly room.

If you need their number just dial the base operator. You should also know you get about a week of PTDY time for house hunting, but be proactive and search online for a house or apartment. Do you have a sponsor? You should. If not you need to call them and find out. O's might be a bit different but I am pretty sure they aren't going to just expect you to know where to go. If you have an Air Force Portal account you can log on and find out more information.

When you do call the Base operator ask for the Commander's Support Staff.

**vetsvette** · 11-20-2007, 02:57 PM

Contact your Squadron orderly room. Ask if they've assigned you a sponsor yet. It will usually be someone of similar rank or position. Every change of station I made in 22 years I always had a sponsor assigned soon after being notified of PCS orders. You should be receiving a sponsor package with info about the base, housing availability, and other things of interest.

MSgt., USAF (retired)

**oklawall** · 11-20-2007, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Knight Of Light

Yes contact your receiving orderly room.

If you need their number just dial the base operator. You should also know you get about a week of PTDY time for house hunting, but be proactive and search online for a house or apartment. Do you have a sponsor? You should. If not you need to call them and find out. O's might be a bit different but I am pretty sure they aren't going to just expect you to know where to go. If you have an Air Force Portal account you can log on and find out more information.

When you do call the Base operator ask for the Commander's Support Staff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by vetsvette

Contact your Squadron orderly room. Ask if they've assigned you a sponsor yet. It will usually be someone of similar rank or position. Every change of station I made in 22 years I always had a sponsor assigned soon after being notified of PCS orders. You should be receiving a sponsor package with info about the base, housing availability, and other things of interest.

MSgt., USAF (retired)

These guys have hit it on the head. The officer do have sponsers, If you are near a base you can go to the family support center and sign out a welcome back for your base(all AF base should have a welcome package for all the other bases that can be signed out and then returned)

Another retired MSgt USAF

gsh341 · 11-20-2007, 04:49 PM

You'll like Grand Forks. Not a really big city, and the winters are kinda cold, but the area is really nice in the summer. I'm not sure if you're from someplace where you get snow, but if you aren't can have a few new winter activities like snowmobiling and ice fishing to try out.

Also, if you love hockey the UND Fighting Sioux are right there in Grand Forks. If you've never been to a hockey game, get a few people together and go. You'll have a blast.

SeabeeDiver · 11-20-2007, 10:39 PM

If you can't get anywhere with other resources, go ahead and contact the Family Service Center (or whatever the AF calls it) to get an initial POC. Contact the command and request a sponsor. From there, the sponsor SHOULD square away most things for you and give you guidance on installation specific questions, such as housing.

Something additional to do is to write a letter (type it actually, but send it via snail mail) to your new CO, introducing yourself. It doesn't have to be very long (less than 1 page), but just enough that he knows where you're coming from, education background (where, when and major), family status (married/kids, etc) and anything else pertinent. Don't include discussions of your pet hamsters (that will come later)...ensure that it's kept 100% professional (I actually have a copy of a letter that a new O-1 sent that is off the wall lacking in professionalism that is still passed around, 6 years later as a perfect example of what NOT to write). Good luck, civil engineers/combat engineers is a great place to be in this day and age.

-SeabeeDiver (Navy O-4)

101radioman · 11-21-2007, 07:37 PM

Just a bit North of me. hehe about 90 miles. Is a might chilly but then that what parkas are for.

(from Fargo area here)

Mrs. CAR-10 · 11-22-2007, 11:59 AM

My husband sent you an IM with some info that should help. If you have any more questions or problems, you can feel free to email or IM me through the forum.

As far as living on base after you get there, I don't know if you mentioned whether you're married or not. If you're not married, most bases (none that I've been to) have had BOQ (permanent bachelor officers quarters). So you would pretty much have to live off base. I don't know about Grand Forks for sure, though.

Be prepared for your sponsor to be completely unhelpful. In fact, be prepared for most people (especially finance and tmo) to be unhelpful.

Good luck!

a6fan · 11-22-2007, 10:07 PM

Christ, you're in the Air Force - don't sweat it...buy a set of golf clubs and enjoy the ride.

11-20-2007, 08:03 AM	#1
LtDan XDTalk Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 50	New LT in desperate need of enlightenment I commissioned AF in Aug. but I don't go active duty until 6 Feb. My ROTC pretty much left me out to dry, and when I ask for help I get nothing of value. I am supposed to report to the 319th CE Squadron in Grand Forks, ND. Sweet assignment, I know, but regardless I am still really ready to go. First, should I be contacting my unit before I show up? There is no contact info on the base website at all, only the commander's name. So I should call family assistance or a base operator? Also, I don't know about calling up just anyone in the chain of command for fear of pissing someone off. What are your guy's opinions about living on base or off? I understand that I can stay in the base hotel for up to 30 days from when I arrive while I look for a place to stay, should I choose to live off base. Do people normally do this or do they have it all lined up before they even get there? I really appreciate any help or opinion anyone has on any of these matters.

11-20-2007, 01:53 PM	#2
MarineFlyboy XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 339	Not sure how the AF works but what I've expirenced is that there is usually no room in the BOQ so the only option is off base. I've lived on base in Quantico and now live off base at my new duty station with my wife. I prefer off base but that is just me. As for finding a place off base. I did a lot of research online and found the top three places we wanted to live and checked the availability. That way when I got down to my new station we only checked those places out and then decided. You could also try to take leave to house/apartment hunt. Congrats on getting commissioned! Another Lt to defend us "butter bars"! __________________ The Basic School - F Co 31 Aug 06 - 15 March 07 Primary Flight Training NAS Whiting Field Sept 10 - Apr 16 Advance Jet Training NAS Kingsville 28 May - ? Last edited by MarineFlyboy : 11-20-2007 at 01:56 PM.

11-20-2007, 02:06 PM	#3
The Knight Of Light XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Posts: 8,308 Blog Entries: 12	Yes contact your receiving orderly room. If you need their number just dial the base operator. You should also know you get about a week of PTDY time for house hunting, but be proactive and search online for a house or apartment. Do you have a sponsor? You should. If not you need to call them and find out. O's might be a bit different but I am pretty sure they aren't going to just expect you to know where to go. If you have an Air Force Portal account you can log on and find out more information. When you do call the Base operator ask for the Commander's Support Staff. __________________ No Matter Where You Go, There You Are. USPSA #A56661 What a great number!!! http://theknightoflight.blogspot.com/ Creator of TOP 'O' THE PAGE!!! Moose Fight

11-20-2007, 02:57 PM	#4
vetsvette XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: south central VA Posts: 212	Contact your Squadron orderly room. Ask if they've assigned you a sponsor yet. It will usually be someone of similar rank or position. Every change of station I made in 22 years I always had a sponsor assigned soon after being notified of PCS orders. You should be receiving a sponsor package with info about the base, housing availability, and other things of interest. MSgt., USAF (retired) Last edited by vetsvette : 11-20-2007 at 02:59 PM.

11-20-2007, 04:49 PM	#6
gsh341 XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 1,754	You'll like Grand Forks. Not a really big city, and the winters are kinda cold, but the area is really nice in the summer. I'm not sure if you're from someplace where you get snow, but if you aren't can have a few new winter activities like snowmobiling and ice fishing to try out. Also, if you love hockey the UND Fighting Sioux are right there in Grand Forks. If you've never been to a hockey game, get a few people together and go. You'll have a blast. __________________ "For those of us who exercised our privilege to serve our country, I can honestly say we did it proudly and shared a common bond of patriotism that those who were unwilling to answer our country's call will never understand or appreciate." - Dennis Foell

11-20-2007, 10:39 PM	#7
SeabeeDiver XDTalk Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 190 FSW Posts: 36	If you can't get anywhere with other resources, go ahead and contact the Family Service Center (or whatever the AF calls it) to get an initial POC. Contact the command and request a sponsor. From there, the sponsor SHOULD square away most things for you and give you guidance on installation specific questions, such as housing. Something additional to do is to write a letter (type it actually, but send it via snail mail) to your new CO, introducing yourself. It doesn't have to be very long (less than 1 page), but just enough that he knows where you're coming from, education background (where, when and major), family status (married/kids, etc) and anything else pertinent. Don't include discussions of your pet hamsters (that will come later)...ensure that it's kept 100% professional (I actually have a copy of a letter that a new O-1 sent that is off the wall lacking in professionalism that is still passed around, 6 years later as a perfect example of what NOT to write). Good luck, civil engineers/combat engineers is a great place to be in this day and age. -SeabeeDiver (Navy O-4)

11-21-2007, 07:37 PM	#8
101radioman XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Moorhead, MN Posts: 181	Just a bit North of me. hehe about 90 miles. Is a might chilly but then that what parkas are for. (from Fargo area here)

11-22-2007, 11:59 AM	#9
Mrs. CAR-10 XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 354	My husband sent you an IM with some info that should help. If you have any more questions or problems, you can feel free to email or IM me through the forum. As far as living on base after you get there, I don't know if you mentioned whether you're married or not. If you're not married, most bases (none that I've been to) have had BOQ (permanent bachelor officers quarters). So you would pretty much have to live off base. I don't know about Grand Forks for sure, though. Be prepared for your sponsor to be completely unhelpful. In fact, be prepared for most people (especially finance and tmo) to be unhelpful. Good luck! __________________ XD-45 XD-9SC *** Don't go stupid places. Don't hang out with stupid people. Don't do stupid things. -- John Farnham Men are taught to apologize for their weaknesses, women for their strengths. -- Lois Wyse

11-22-2007, 10:07 PM	#10
a6fan XDTalk Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Outside Detroit Posts: 35	Air Force Christ, you're in the Air Force - don't sweat it...buy a set of golf clubs and enjoy the ride. __________________ Hard times don't last...Hard men do

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