Remember, each duty station and therefore each house is what you make of it. I heard they would share each other's wives. But do you know enough about all of your options to make the best decision? Clifford Roberts, 325th Contracting Squadron contracting officer, and his family, pose for a photo at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, July 21, 2022. Ensure to pack smartly as storage space is limited. You'll serve your country, but you'll also have time for fun and exploring your new surroundings. When one military member is married to another military member, both must apply to be assigned together. 17 Games To Play If You Like Call Of Duty: Warzone 2. For example, the BAH rates for an E6 with dependents are set to cover a 2- or 3-bedroom apartment or townhome. More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill, https://mymilitarybenefits.com/author/justinfisher/, TRICARE, FEDVIP Dental & Vision Rates 2023, Military Families Guide to Back-to-School, DoD Priority Placement Program for Spouses, Financial Planning For Your Next Deployment, 11 Free Video Conference Services to Stay In Touch, Myths and Tips for the Military Male Spouse, Financial Tips For Enlisted Service Members, Financial Steps to Take Early In Your Military Career, Military Base Guide: Los Angeles AFB, California, Troops Discharged for Refusing Vaccine May Be Allowed to Rejoin, What You Should Know About the VA Loan Funding Fee, Transition Employment Assistance For MIlitary Spouses and Caregivers, Protect Your Benefits: PACT Act Scam Warning, Programs, Certificates, and College Credit for Military Kids, VA Loan Funding Fee Exemptions For Disabled Veterans, COLA to Increase 5.9% for Retirees, Disabled Veterans in 2022, Military & Veterans Save with Military Discount Flights, Lowes Military Discount for Military and Veterans, Military Discounts on Golfing & Golf Gear, Waves of Honor: Discounted Admission for Military & Veterans, Are veterans missing out on VA education benefit money for high-technology career fields? In this article we break down what you need to know about PCS. You may get to influence where you go after that, but if you don't reenlist you may separate after having only one duty station. Get a Map and Drive the Base. DOD Safe Helpline - Sexual Assault Support, Domestic Abuse Victim Advocate Locator - Family Advocacy Program, Wounded, Ill or Injured, & Their Caregivers, Expanded Access at Commissaries, Exchanges and Recreation Facilities, Cliques, Phonies & Other Baloney Childrens Book, Spouse Education and Career Opportunities, Personal Property Customer Service Contacts, explore your base and beyond with MilitaryINSTALLATIONS, Emergency Contacts for Disasters & Evacuations, CONUS: Inside the continental United States. ( ) .. Men in combat. *The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. A permissive reassignmentis one that doesn't cost the government any money. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Mobile RST Agent - Surefox Consulting, LLC - LinkedIn Keep in mind that the ASVAB Test Score we have included here is the minimum aggregate score you need to get if you choose to pursue a career in any of these Navy jobs. PDF Permanent Change of Station (PCS) - United States Army The entitlements the Government will pay for consist of the following: . Possible First Duty Stations / Assignments by MOS : r/army - reddit Show/hide Credit, Loans, and Debt menu items. It is an ancient port city called Ostia Antica. These briefings are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis with your orders at the personal property office. Drum was an incredible adventure that formed me into who I am today. The following document is broken up into two section, your first duty station and station to station move. Whether youre facing your first military move or your last, there is always one burning question, Where should we live? From young, single service members to big, bustling families, the housing situation is one of the first things that needs to be settled. I got out and about. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. In order to be eligible for a swap, one must have the required time-on-station mentioned above. what is your first duty station like You will need a copy of your orders to coordinate your military move. Yet my fellow Soldiers would often be hesitant to explore the wild world the Army had placed us in at a duty station. That whole place was a orgy fest . Compare the rates, fees, and rewards of top credit cards for military servicemembers and veterans, including cards with waived annual fees under the SCRA. Duty Station Locator System - United States Office of Personnel Management They may vary significantly from the family living next door to you. It was a complete shit show. Joint spouse assignments are obviously much easier to accommodate if both spouses are in the same branch of the military. Sometimes lawn care is also included. It was a good year. So, if military service and the heat and humidity of central Louisiana sound appealing, 2022 sounds like a great year to contact a recruiter. The government must then pay again to relocate the dependents from where they are living to the newassignment when the member returns from the remote tour. With the new enlistment option, recruits can choose from Fort Carson, Colorado; Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Washington; Fort Bliss and Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Polk, Louisiana; Fort Riley, Kansas; Fort Stewart, Georgia; Fort Drum, New York; and installations in Alaska. This article covers more about the pros and cons of living off base. Your First Duty Station (What To Expect) - YouTube Availability, cost, and personal finances may also play into your decision as well. This is a VERY SELECTIVE process and the privilege is afforded to outstanding E-4 and below Sailors. No matter where I was, the contrast between the standardized, drab monotony of military buildings and the wildly vibrant world that lived just outside the front gate was amazing. Does it snow in Switzerland all year round? What seemed like a grand adventure to him was merely survival to me. Here's What Happens after Air Force Basic Training Starting the adventure! Make sure to crunch all the numbers for each situation to make sure youre picking an option that is financially feasible for your specific situation. The service announced Friday that it would begin allowing new active-duty recruits the opportunity to select their first duty station after completing basic training. Imagine a Roman city, complete with bathhouses that have tiled mosaic floors from Roman times, that you can explore unhindered and for free. On this social media platform, travel bloggers make their name by finding out-of-the-way attractions, restaurants and cool places that some of the locals arent even aware exist. How many Navy ratings are there? If your new installation doesnt have housing available for you, or you have decided it is not the right option for your family, you can take your BAH and apply it to any other housing option youd like. When I found out that subzero temps and snow drifts were typical most of the year, I thought I was the most unlucky person ever to enlist. Three of us waited for a few hours till someone remembered about us. I arrive after a full day's travel with all my gear and there's no body there to meet me. that base was run by free Masons. When your on duty always do your best. I know, leave it to the chaplain to tell you to go to church, but seriously it is a life hack for young Soldiers. Most permissive reassignments are in the form ofswaps, which is when one military member finds anotherwith the same rank and job, currently assigned (or with orders) to a base they want to go to. If approved, the member must then re-enlist to accept the assignment. PVT/E1. This is simply due to the conditions of the exercise or mission. They may vary significantly from the family living next door to you. I was an E1. No tables, rankings or lists are fully comprehensive and do not include all companies or available products. Knowing how to use the AKO is a useful way to receive commands in the military. I slept all night in every cold weather item I owned. CoD: Warzone 2 is an exciting battle royale game, and players looking for similar titles can check out these recommendations. Typically, your unit will assign a service member of similar rank and family make-up to help you learn the ropes at your new duty station. Editorial Disclosure: Editorial content on The Military Wallet may include opinions. Even today, after 21 years of military service, I still can remember the moment that I walked into my first unit. The Duty Station Locator System is intended to facilitate the Federal civilian personnel community's ability to locate duty station names and codes for use in processing personnel actions and reporting workforce information to OPM. . Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. U.S. Army guarantees new enlistees duty station of choice The content on The Military Wallet is produced by Three Creeks Media, its partners, affiliates and contractors, any opinions or statements on The Military Wallet should not be attributed to the Dept. He drives me back to base without saying a word to me on the way there and drops me off at the barracks. Calculating a Federal Annuity FERS and CSRS, Retirement Eligibility & FERS Minimum Retirement Age (MRA), Higher Special Rate Pay for Some Federal Jobs, LWOP Leave Without Pay in Federal Government, Law Enforcement Retirement Countdown Clock, Webinar: Your Federal Retirement Benefits, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (Sponsored), Report: Federal Employee Benefits & Divorce, Military Service Credit for Federal Retirement, FLTCIP Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program, FEGLI Federal Employees Group Life Insurance, Dual Employment in the Federal Government, Like this article? This article covers more about the pros and cons of living in base housing. While the Army met its active-duty goal of 57,500 new members, recruiting over the past several years has not been without its challenges. . BAH Rate Protection also ensures your monthly BAH payment wont decrease while you are in the same location. Obviously they weren't budging so I thought I was about to hoof it down All American with my MapQuest printouts. Want to know the place that I have never even been close to going to in the Army? Arriving at My First Duty Station. What is it like to have Hawaii as your first duty station? Research the schools if you have school-aged children, and make sure that you look at commute times and routes. But military moves dont have to be exclusively one or the other. Availability, cost, and personal finances may also play into your decision as well. Is paralegal higher than legal assistant? No shit, we had accountability formations six(6!) Show/hide Identity Theft and Online Security menu items. Show/hide Shopping and Donating menu items. Unlike temporary duty assignments, permanent change of station orders are a longer-term assignment, generally two to four years. First person in AIT to get their PCS Rep's number in the system. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Another type of overseas assignment, like most assignments to Korea, is considered remote. Each branch has specific rules for who is required to live in the barracks, and at which rank they are allowed to move out of the barracks and receive BAH. I was fortunate enough to get to know a local family, my ex wife babysat for them . BOOM! information@HFAlliance.com p: 414.350.6638, MyMilitaryBenefits is not affiliated with the Department of Defense or Department of Veterans Affairs, GI Bill is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). I remember changing little old ladies light bulbs, teaching a girl how to drive a stick in my jeep and being invited over for Thanksgiving dinner by a family that would become like my own. Off ro At boot camp, everyone is mostly on an equal playing field. It was at that moment I realized I what a clusterfuck actually looks like. What seemed like a grand adventure to him was merely survival to me. Yet they all had one thing in common. In Europe, stairwell housing is very popular, mostly due to a lack of space. As a 36B you should be going to the STB, and might be going to one of the remaining 2 FINSU detachments which are expected to go away soon Reply Affectionate-One-638 . Of course, one can be involuntarily assigned overseasas well. 6 Steps to Get the Most from Your First Duty Station This could be a ship, a submarine, an aircraft carrier, a shore station, or even a headquarters location. It is . I text him and he says he's on staff duty and can't leave. Show/hide Unwanted Calls, Emails, and Texts menu items. Skype, Facetime or any of the other many video-chatting services have given deployed service members around the world the ability to be in touch with their families and friends at any time of day in some of the most remote areas of the world. It's important not to confuse assignments with deployments, which are of course based on many factors such as geopolitical situations and the need for U.S. military troops around the world. This allows a military member to apply for reassignment to a specific area/base, due to a valid family hardship. I was basically a high school student when I left the swamps of southern Arkansas to my first frigid duty station at Ft. FORT KNOX, Kentucky -. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Contact the author here. Branch-specific guidance varies from year to year, but the rule of thumb is 12-18 months in one command and up to 24 months in two commands. As you increase in rank, you may get a private room and bath, or even live in a shared apartment, with a kitchen and living area. An employee's official duty station is the duty station that is documented on the most recent notification of personnel action (for example, on a Standard Form 50) for his or her position. Best part was, my MOS slot called for a minimum pay grade of E6. What is the process like going from technical school to your first duty Eating rare tuna steaks on the marsh of coastal Georgia, hiking through the towering firs of the Pacific Northwest or seeing the lights of Vegas off in the distance in the middle of Death Valley are things I never thought I would experience. Any opinions are those of the author alone, and not those of an advertiser to the site nor of The Military Wallet. But if you work hard and keep contributing to the unit, your fellow members will come around and then the lifelong friendships will start to form. Search by Duty Station Name - United States Office of Personnel Management New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Press J to jump to the feed. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Part of me was worried it was a trap, but I had no other choice. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Fortunately, BAH rates are public and rental agencies near installations know what those rates are and tend to price things accordingly. First duty station selection is made (in either basic training or technical school/AIT/A-School), based upon your preferences, and the needs of the service. Technically that's correct. There is some exceptions so let me explain how this new program that wa. Federal Employee Official Duty Station - FEDweek A Government Accounting Office (GAO) report indicates that may be true; worse yet there have been a large number of rejected applications for non-GI Bill VA education benefits with no clear indication as to why those applications, Military news is more than just breaking stories about forward-deployed troops, combat operations, and military operations. All Rights Reserved. What to expect when reporting at first duty station After the first duty assignment, subsequentassignments are done a little differently. As a young private in my first duty station, my commander at the time gave a great speech to the company. Lest anyone think this is their chance to spend the next three years in Hawaii or Italy, the needs of the Army, as always come first. Heres the kicker though you cant keep the extra OHA. The first place you will probably live as a service member is in the barracks. You do have to be fitter than your average contemporaries. Photo credits: Barracks (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman Anthony Jennings), Military Housing (U.S. Air Force file photo/Released), Overseas Military Housing (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Chad Warren). At unit level, Service Members can talk to their family members while they are at work, however some units may dictate that a Service Member can only talk during breaks or lunches. Justin Fisher is a currently serving with the Arkansas Army National Guard. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. As I make my way towards the CQ desk, I'm met by some EMTs pushing a stretcher with a body covered by a sheet. The military will try to assign spouses together, but there are no guarantees. Whether this is your first PCS or youre a seasoned professional, let Military OneSource help you master your move so you can get on with your mission. Youll serve your country, but youll also have time for fun and exploring your new surroundings. Duty Stations In The United States Navy - ussjpkennedyjr.org Military OneSource is available 24/7 anywhere in the world with expert moving consultants and online tools and resources to help you get organized and settled. Reporting to Your First Duty Station Tips | Military OneSource The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. According to JAMRS, 50 percent of young people thought that joining the military meant it would be harder to stay in touch. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Military housing options are about as diverse as those who serve in the military, but it all comes down to availability and desirability. The Army now offers new active duty recruits the ability to select their first duty station, giving many the option to go as far away from or stay as close to home as they want. What is the best duty station in the Navy? You will also be provided a standup locker that is about 8" wide by 36" tall by 24 . Military members often have several housing options from which to choose. For each of the housing options, there are several things to keep in mind. Click here. When you get married or when you reach a rank where you are allowed to live outside of the barracks youll have other housing options. In retrospect, my time at Ft. Max Hauptman has been covering breaking news at Task & Purpose since December 2021. There is a lot less flexibility living overseas, and sometimes thats a good thing. However, I have been to places you have never had to figure out how to pronounceever heard of Kyrgyzstan? This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Your First Duty Station (What To Expect) | Joining The Army (2022) Ben Allen 492K subscribers Subscribe 60K views 4 years ago So you're headed to your first Duty Station! Three Creeks Media, LLC 2023. This can be a painful pill to swallow for some families, who are used to this day in age where the social media footprint tells them everything that their loved one is doing. The following weeks were a complete nightmare. Duty Station Name: Country: State: County: To download all Duty Station Locations leave all filters blank, click the search button and then click on the export to Excel spreadsheet link that appears after the search is complete. When I enlisted, I hadnt either. You must be willing to sacrifice many things, and most importantly it could be your life. They call it Pinterest. . Your unit is comprised of people from various walks of life and those differences in culture and attitude does not mean that it will necessarily mesh with your personality or yours with theirs. For example, most of Europe and Japan are considered standardoverseas tours. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The Army understands that having the option to stay closer to home and loved ones is a big deal, and its taking steps to make the decision easier on applicants, said Brig. At one point in American social life, even nonbelievers went to church to simply connect with others in their community. While the barracks will range in sophistication and structure, you can compare them to the sleeping arrangements you may have had at summer camp or in college. The fuck? Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. Naval Station Norfolk The same can go for a mortgage payment. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Why is my current station not listed as sea duty? My unit was in the field, someone help me put my stuff together and 8 hours later I was clearing buildings with my new team.