"Wish list" for locations!

[piper84]

Aaaaghhhh it's getting so real. As you probably know by now, H is at OTS in Alabama. Yesterday they were all given a "wish list" form to fill out to communicate their preferences for the next location (assuming they graduate).

His options for UPT are Laughlin AFB, Columbus AFB, and Vance AFB. I can't believe we may be moving soon. Crazy!!! He'll hear where we're headed in the next 2-3 weeks!

[meltoine]

That is exciting! We are moving out of Laughlin this week. It's a nice base for UPT. The community is really good.

[piper84]

Sept 22, 2012 11:24:25 GMT -5 meltoine said:

That is exciting! We are moving out of Laughlin this week. It's a nice base for UPT. The community is really good.

Meltoine, were you guys there for UPT as well? Did you live on base? Did you feel like it was a safe area?

[meltoine]

Yes, we are here for UPT. We did not live on base, but if I had it to do over I would. Everyone else in H's class lived on base. Snce your class is mostly who you end up socializing with it was hard for us because we always had to leave parties early to put DS to bed, when if we were on base one of us could have walked him home and the other stayed, KWIM?

The base is very safe. It's really in the middle of nowhere. There's nothing around it for miles and miles. Town is about 7 miles from the base. South of the railroad tracks is a little dicey at night because it's so close to the border, but north of the tracks is a really nice, friendly area. That's where our house is. Our neighbors are all either border patrol agents, retired military, higher ranking officers (majors and lt. Colonels) or senior NCOs.

I be happy to tell you anything you want to know, especially if you get stationed here! I have a great hairstylist who I'm very sad to leave LOL!

[Deleted]

My cousin is just starting UPT at Laughlin:-) I haven't been to Vance, but I've visited Columbus...they're all okay.

[basilosaurus]

Is Moody no longer an option?

Columbus is small but at least is a college town. It is really isolated, though. Then again, I think they all are. No one wants a flight school near them

Does he know what he wants to fly if he has a choice? Once they get to a specific airframe, I don't believe they have a choice in location. So, if you want to limit your chances of moving again, try to choose the location based on that.

Of course, this all could have changed in the last decade since H went through it. Damn, I feel old now.

[crimewatcher]

Piper, my H was at Vance for UPT. Its a small town in Oklahoma but you're <2 hrs from OKC. I decided to stay in MN while H was there but visited him several times. There is a mall but 90% of the stores are vacant, there is a tiny movie theater, Walmart and a handful of restaurants. Be warned though the town becomes a ghost town every Sunday. There were rebuilding housing when H left and since I wasn't with him he was in the dorms so I can't speak to housing. The new part looked amazing though. H really liked everyone in his program.

[brandienee]

Crimewatcher, when was your H at Vance? We left a couple of years ago. And it is everything you said. Actually we didn't live on base and got to know the town a little, it wasn't terrible but summer there sucks. Sunday is a eat at home day, for sure.

I've only heard horror stories about Laughlin. Columbus wasn't too bad the day we were there.

If H had to choose a choice to be an IP at either of these bases, we would probably try to go for Columbus. But that's because we could take long weekend trips to Florida.

Which reminds me... there is also the option of training during phase one with the Navy at NAS Whiting Field in Florida then to Vance for the rest. H did that. We made some life lasting friendships down there.

[basilosaurus]

Sorry, Columbus isn't a college town, but it's close to Starkville which is (Miss State). So at least there's likely to be something going on during the school year.

[meltoine]

How much choice you get in post-UPT assignments depends on your base. At Laughlin, you make a wishlist with eveery aircraft and location possible, then your instructors compare that with what assignments are available and try to get you something near the top of your list.

The other two bases tell you what assignments are available and have you rank the actual prospective assignments.

Either way you have to move unless you FAIP.

[crimewatcher]

Sept 22, 2012 17:53:50 GMT -5 brandienee said:

Crimewatcher, when was your H at Vance? We left a couple of years ago. And it is everything you said. Actually we didn't live on base and got to know the town a little, it wasn't terrible but summer there sucks. Sunday is a eat at home day, for sure.

I've only heard horror stories about Laughlin. Columbus wasn't too bad the day we were there.

If H had to choose a choice to be an IP at either of these bases, we would probably try to go for Columbus. But that's because we could take long weekend trips to Florida.

Which reminds me... there is also the option of training during phase one with the Navy at NAS Whiting Field in Florida then to Vance for the rest. H did that. We made some life lasting friendships down there.

H was there until Last August.

Edit to Clarify-- August 2011.

[Deleted]

Sept 22, 2012 18:03:17 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

Sorry, Columbus isn't a college town, but it's close to Starkville which is (Miss State). So at least there's likely to be something going on during the school year.

Columbus is somewhat of a college town. We have Mississippi University for Women. Starkville is an actual college town that's about 40 minutes from base. Then tupelo and Tuscaloosa are about both an hour away. NOLA is 5 Hours away. Alanta is four hours away. Any major airport is 2-4 hours away but we have a small local airport that my company flies us out of. It's a small town and base for sure. We have mild winter and hot as hell summers. Base housing for Officers are really nice. If you have any more questions, just ask.

[piper84]

Thanks for all the info! You all are so helpful. I'm starting to get really excited to find out where we'll be moving! I'll let you know when I hear. Apparently, H will be receiving his orders within the next 2-3 weeks!