Housing Post OCS

[JD81]

Couldn't seem to find exact answers through a search, so maybe recent OCS grads can shed some light. After graduation, where will you live? I would assume you don't have time to go apartment shopping while you are a candio. Do you BOQ'it for a while 'til you find a place? I am going to try to OHARP back here in seattle, but want to have a plan B laid out that is semi, ok, somewhat stable and a bit guaranteed (if thats possible). Any tips? All input is appreciated.

r/
Josh

 

[IRfly]

You should have plenty of time to go apartment hunting as a candi-o. Whether you've got the wheels is a different story...

 

[MasterBates]

My advice, if you have a car. BRING IT!

 

[ben]

Yeah, you'll have time as a Candi-O. There will probably be other SNAs in your class who will be looking for roommates. You'll likely all class up for API around the same time so you'll have an instant study group. When I went through most guys were either living in Governor's Gate or Marcus Pointe. My wife and I lived in Marcus Pointe and neither of us liked the management or the crappy construction. I'd check out the aforementioned Governor's Gate or King's Mill. If you're SNFO then try to find a house for rent near NASP. Otherwise, living about halfway between NASP and Whiting is a smart plan. The drive time from Milton (where Whiting Field is) to NAS Pensacola is about 55 minutes, just for perspective.

 

[purduenavy]

On that note, if you are an SNA and you have to do IFS before API do you IFS in Pensacola, Newport (when OCS moves) or at your home of record?

 

[JD81]

You should have plenty of time to go apartment hunting as a candi-o. Whether you've got the wheels is a different story...

Well that is my other dilemma. I really want to OHARP so I can have a chance to move my stuff to p'cola, but if I'm gonna do that I want to leave my car here, rather than drive to p'cola and back twice. I would forgo OHARP, but my other big concern is getting all my sh!t from seattle to p'cola. Will you have a chance in A-pool to get some time to move stuff? I know you can't get a PCS to API, but can you get a few days to go back home and ship your stuff out?

 

[IRfly]

Well that is my other dilemma. I really want to OHARP so I can have a chance to move my stuff to p'cola, but if I'm gonna do that I want to leave my car here, rather than drive to p'cola and back twice. I would forgo OHARP, but my other big concern is getting all my sh!t from seattle to p'cola. Will you have a chance in A-pool to get some time to move stuff? I know you can't get a PCS to API, but can you get a few days to go back home and ship your stuff out?

You're an NFO select? Calm it on down...You'll have TONS of time.

1) You will PCS to API. Why did you think otherwise?
2) If you are coming from BDCP, you'll get a chance to do OPDS--Old Permanent Duty Station--which means that they'll give you around 18 days (Seattle is a long way from Pensacola) to drive to Seattle and back. These days will not be charged leave and you'll get per diem (about $100/day) for that time. This is before checking in at API. If you check in before at least these 18 days are up, you're dumb.
3) Tacked on to those 18 days you can take as much leave as you want, up to another 30 days if you have it. Again, this is before checking in to API.
4) I'm not exactly sure where OHARP fits into all of this--you'll talk to the PSD guys when the time comes.

Look, if your main concern is that your car can't handle it, then you'll have to make that call. If you're worried that it might not be "worth it" to make that long drive three times, trust me, it'll be worth it. You want your car with you at OCS. Let me repeat: you want your car with you at OCS.

 

[IRfly]

hows this going to work with my OCS being in Newport? Is API remaining in pensacola or is that moving too? I am really pissed that instead of taking the 10 straight across the country I now will have to drive all the way up it too...and then no doubt drive back down to pensacola for API anyway (unless as I asked above, it is moved as well)

Do you have orders to OCS in Newport? Until you actually see someone going to Newport for OCS, I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[JD81]

You're an NFO select? Calm it on down...You'll have TONS of time.

1) You will PCS to API. Why did you think otherwise?
2) If you are coming from BDCP, you'll get a chance to do OPDS--Old Permanent Duty Station--which means that they'll give you around 18 days (Seattle is a long way from Pensacola) to drive to Seattle and back. These days will not be charged leave and you'll get per diem (about $100/day) for that time. This is before checking in at API. If you check in before at least these 18 days are up, you're dumb.
3) Tacked on to those 18 days you can take as much leave as you want, up to another 30 days if you have it. Again, this is before checking in to API.
4) I'm not exactly sure where OHARP fits into all of this--you'll talk to the PSD guys when the time comes.

Look, if your main concern is that your car can't handle it, then you'll have to make that call. If you're worried that it might not be "worth it" to make that long drive three times, trust me, it'll be worth it. You want your car with you at OCS. Let me repeat: you want your car with you at OCS.

1) Just read in another thread that API is not a PCS move,

http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16820&page=2&highlight=ocs+move

See PDX's post on page 2.

2) I'm a Dep'r

3) Car can handle it, I'm just trying to figure out the most feasible option.

vr/
Josh

 

[Brett327]

1) Just read in another thread that API is not a PCS move,

http://www.airwarriors.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16820&page=2&highlight=ocs+move

See PDX's post on page 2.

2) I'm a Dep'r

3) Car can handle it, I'm just trying to figure out the most feasible option.

vr/
Josh

WRT PDX's post, probably (understandably) different policies for SNA vs. SNFO. Check w/ the NASP PPO for the real deal.

Brett

 

[pdx]

WRT PDX's post, probably (understandably) different policies for SNA vs. SNFO. Check w/ the NASP PPO for the real deal.

Brett

API doesn't rate a PCS move, but most SNFOs have follow-on orders to primary in pensacola, so they can move on those orders.

Like Brett says, the NASP PPO are the people to talk to, NOT your current station or (even worse) your recruiter.

 

[Brett327]

API doesn't rate a PCS move, but most SNFOs have follow-on orders to primary in pensacola, so they can move on those orders.

Like Brett says, the NASP PPO are the people to talk to, NOT your current station or (even worse) your recruiter.

I don't claim to have a grip on what NASP's PCS policy is, but it would seem strange, given the 8+ month waits some folks are having for API, to not authorize PCS moves, especially for the FOs. Just my thought process, not the Navy's.

Brett

 

[purduenavy]

Where is IFS usually done then?

 

[IRfly]

Forgive me for not being clear...API doesn't rate the PCS. API+Primary for the SNFOs does. Keep in mind, though, that the PCS move is only for priors and BDCP folks. If you're coming in off the street then you're expected to get there on your own.

 

[IRfly]

Where is IFS usually done then?

Academy kids do it there. Most OCS/ROTC types do it down here (Pensacola). A few ROTC kids will do it locally before coming down, but that's just a few. If you want more specifics, you'll go to either Pensacola regional, Eglin AFB, or a little airstrip out in Milton for IFS.