API housing for married folks

[bubba716]

I'll be finishing up TBS here in a couple months and was wondering what most of the married SNA's do for housing when moving to P-cola. We were thinking of renting a house, but with API being so short wasn't sure if that's a good idea. Any clue when I'll get a tentative report date for API? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Semper Fi.

 

[PropAddict]

The wife and I rented a house near Perdido. Made for an easy drive to API and was close to the beach.

We were stretching it to break our lease to make the 30 mile move to Milton, but that's what we did.

On the plus side, I had a short commute to API and then to Whiting. On the other hand, I had to move all my stuff myself when we went to Milton (cost about $200 and a weekend).

Most people seem to like to split the difference and live in Governor's Gate and have a 1/2 hr commute both ways.

 

[NozeMan]

I tried to split the difference as well. I figured I would live between NASP and Whiting so I didn't have to move twice....

I lived at Northwoods at 9th & Olive (a bit North of the Airport). It was a 25 minute commute to API and about 30 minutes to Whiting. If you only want to move once, then live in Milton or Pace. Suck it up for the long commute during API and make life convenient for Primary and advanced is you go helos. The long commute sucked for Primary, and we ended up moving to base housing for Advanced. It's nice to have a 15 minute commute when things get tougher.

If you can break a lease so you can live close to NASP for API, them move up near Milton, that would be money.

 

[Pilot123]

If you can break a lease so you can live close to NASP for API, them move up near Milton, that would be money.

You can. Your orders for follow on training at Primary get cut while in API. The SCRA Act of 2003 allows military members to end a residential lease after receiving PCS orders. There is no mileage requirement like in Florida law.

If your landlord or manager paid attention in 8th grade governement they will remember that federal law trumps state law. If you live at Governors Gate you may have to help remind them.

If anyone has questions about it then PM me. Can give more details.

 

[NozeMan]

You can. Your orders for follow on training at Primary get cut while in API. The SCRA Act of 2003 allows military members to end a residential lease after receiving PCS orders. There is no mileage requirement like in Florida law.

If your landlord or manager paid attention in 8th grade governement they will remember that federal law trumps state law. If you live at Governors Gate you may have to help remind them.

If anyone has questions about it then PM me. Can give more details.

When I signed my lease at Northwoods, they said that my next set of PCS orders had to move me at least 30 miles. Therefore, going from NASP to Whiting would not count and I couldn't break the lease. It didn't bother me at the time because I planned to live in Pensacola for API and Primary. I changed my mind before advanced, and my lease was up anyways.

If you want to move twice, live by NASP, then move to Milton for Primary and Advanced. Governor's is OK....but it is a hike to get to everything.

 

[abracadabra11]

I did Primary at Corpus and Advanced at Whiting. I lived in Governors gate and found the commute to be okay. It's almost always 35 minutes to get to base. I found I-10 to be a faster return route.

 

[Pilot123]

Yeah they'll try to get you on it with the Florida law. Governors Gate even went so far with me as to call the NASP housing office to get an "official" copy of the Florida military clause.
I then directed them to FindLaw to view the Federal law. Never heard from them again and my credit is clean.
A buddy of mine acually had the JAG on NASP to call the office to get them off his case.

 

[NozeMan]

Yeah they'll try to get you on it with the Florida law. Governors Gate even went so far with me as to call the NASP housing office to get an "official" copy of the Florida military clause.
I then directed them to FindLaw to view the Federal law. Never heard from them again and my credit is clean.
A buddy of mine acually had the JAG on NASP to call the office to get them off his case.

That sounds just like the big apartment complexes. They'll try and screw you at every turn...just do the leg work on the law so you protect yourself.

 

[PropAddict]

Yeah, when I broke my lease from API, I had to show them that Whiting was >30 mi from the house. A quick Google Earth printout took care of it (30.22 miles driving distance), and it was "Oh, okay sir, make sure to tell all your military buddies how nice we are."

Sometimes you have to watch the lease you sign: fed law may trump the local state law, but do to the wording of the lease, you may be waiving those rights granted under the more permissive law.

 

[bubba716]

Thanks for the info fellas. Any idea what the wait for API is these days.

 

[FLY_USMC]

When my wife and I moved to Pensacola for API, if I remember right, I knew for sure where I was going to Primary, I just didn't know when I would be classing up. In my case I was going to Vance. We actually just got base housing at NAS Pensacola. None of the housing people could understand why I wanted on-base housing....and refused to believe that I "knew" where I was going for Primary....as I guess Navy guys don't. It was awesome, I was like 1 minute from API. I don't have any kids and we actually got to go and check out the housing available and pick which one we wanted. We got a 3BR 2BA with a little fenced in yard....it was outstanding. If you know where you're going, and it's not Whiting, I highly recommend this option. Now the 3 Hurricanes that hit P-Cola while we were there....that's a different story.

 

[Uncle Fester]

Any way you can leave the camp followers at present position until after API? I don't know what the rules are for geo-baching Marine students these days, but it'll save you some moving pain if you can keep them in place and live in the Q. Or, find someone who needs a roomie and crash there.

 

[dimlight85]

Is finding a place down there pretty easy? I've been stressing a bit about finding a place for my wife and I after leaving OCS. We'll be having everything moved from storage in TN to P'cola and I'm not really clear on how all of that works.

 

[PropAddict]

Lots of place to live in P'cola. The rental community thrives on SNA's, and everything seems to have a revolving door.

I did everything online before I went down, so I moved into my house on day one. In retrospect, bad idea. You want to probably see the place or have someone you know down there go check it out for you before you commit to anything. Or hang out in the Q for a few days while you find a place.

 

[Walker82]

Can anybody give me a straight answer to whether or not the Navy will pay for the move from OCS to Pensacola for IFS and API? We're trying to figure out if we should get a jump on the move (if it's not PCS) or wait until the last minute when the orders come in.