Just a few quick questions for anyone wanting to offer advice. I'm finishing up TBS in Quantico, and will have to do IFS here so that more or less puts me down in Pensecola sometime around the start of 2010. I know whatever gouge I get now will be out dated by then, but is it a requirement to live in the BOQ for API? I've read some things about getting "stamps" etc. and was just curious as to the current policies. Also, does it matter if your Marine or Navy, I would assume it's the same for both.
It's not a requirement right now... at least it wasn't a few weeks ago. You just to head on over to the BOQ and they stamp your BAH request form and you turn that in during your PSD check-in brief. Having said that, and I don't want to spread bad gouge, but the latest we heard down here was that anybody going to Whiting for primary is required to live on base if single. I have asked the people in PSD and they have confirmed this, but a buddy of mine has said that the married SNAs don't have to.
Check the high rises on perdido key. You can live like a king out there for not a lot of money.
A few of my buddies live out there and their place is UNREAL. I'm not sure of their rent, but after utilities it's not much. They are on the 7th floor and the place is amazing. But, like others have said it's a drive to get to most things other than the beach.
If you're married heading down here you'll most likely (?) get follow-on orders to Whiting for primary. If that's the case it cuts down on the moving if you get a place in between Pcola and Whiting (Milton). I live in Governors Gate and like the location a lot and the units are nice (at least mine is). It's about 20 min or so to Pcola and 25-30 to Whiting.
Or make sure your renters insurance covers all natural disaster damage... flood, wind, fire, locusts etc etc...
Getting renters insurance was super easy and cheap through USAA. I think you need to have a checking account with them in order to get it, but I'm not 100% on that. The phone call took 15 min and the people at USAA are always awesome to deal with. Make sure to get coverage that includes damage caused by Ensigns... they swarm pretty fierce down here.