Conflicting info about housing - what to do?

[piper84]

We'd like to live on base when we move to TX in December. I've been looking at the housing website and there is a part on the application that states you must attach a copy of H's orders when submitting the application. I've also been told by others that I need the orders before I apply for house.

H has received his assignment, but not the official orders yet. Meanwhile, several prior-enlisted guys in his OTS class are telling him he doesn't need to wait for the orders, and that the housing office won't be checking the orders until we show up in December. They told him we should get on the waiting list ASAP.

I don't really know what to do. I feel like if I submit the application without the orders I'm going to get in trouble Being new to this military scene, I don't want to cause any problems. I'm afraid if I don't follow the instructions on the form that there will be problems like the housing people will get pissed and then I will pay for it later. What do you think?

[piper84]

I guess I could call the housing office tomorrow and just ask the person on the phone if I need the orders to submit the application. That would probably be best

[booyah]

You won't get in trouble or piss anyone off....worst case is that they don't put you on the list. If you are AF, I've found that you can't do a thing until you have orders in hand....just having an assignment means nothing.

[Deleted]

Yep, for Air Force you can't get on the waiting list without orders.

Assignments can change a lot. For this assignment I found out I was coming to the UK, then before orders were cut the assignment was rescinded, then I was told I was going to Nevada, then before orders were cut it changed BACK to the UK (then I finally got orders). I'm not suggesting this is likely to happen with your H -- in the training system it's pretty predictable! But for this reason, housing won't let you get on the list until you actually have orders in hand.

However, you can call and talk with them anyway. They can give you an idea of how many units are available and if they think there will be a wait or not.

Also, I know you've posted about this before...I'll reiterate my recommendation that you look around in the local area before committing to a house on base. Often officer housing (especially junior officer housing) is the last to be updated, so you might be put into a 1960's-vintage tract house...whereas for the amount of your BAH you could get a nice modern home off-base. It's not always the case, but it's worth looking just to make sure:-)

[mangomama]

Oct 30, 2012 0:42:29 GMT -5 @villainv said:

Also, I know you've posted about this before...I'll reiterate my recommendation that you look around in the local area before committing to a house on base. Often officer housing (especially junior officer housing) is the last to be updated, so you might be put into a 1960's-vintage tract house...whereas for the amount of your BAH you could get a nice modern home off-base. It's not always the case, but it's worth looking just to make sure:-)

I think your best bet is to call housing and explain the situation. You certainly aren't the first one to go through this, so they'll have answers for you.

As for what Villian said, I would most definitely agree with this statement for any other base, but housing there is just about all the same. They've all been recently "updated", with a new paint color, newer appliances, etc. They're still the old bones of a 1960's home, but I still think given the situation (fresh to the military community, husband in pilot training 13hrs/day 5 days a wk), it might be more helpful to be surrounded by a military community, and it's only for a year. JMHO though

[meltoine]

I know I've said it before, but for this assignment definitely live on base. The local area around that be is far from the base (30 mins driving) and the on base housing is fine. Your main social connections will be your H's classmates and their families, who will all live on base. We lived off base there and we were the only ones. I met no one in training who lived off base, our class or any other. Some permanent party people do, but even they mostly live on base.

[amaristella]

#1 thing to do is always just call the housing office. They will (hopefully) always have better information than anyone else. Don't be afraid of bothering them. It's their job to provide information to prospective tenants.