new air force nurse

ginger58, ASN, RN · Mar 31, 2007

When I went in the AFNC in 1976, I went to Wichita Falls, TX, for officer orientation. I was originally given 3 bases to select from! So when I was done with the officer training I went to my base. I was single so I can't help you with the other parts of your questions. I packed things up before I left MI for TX. I was stationed at Bergstrom in Austin. When I first got to the base I stayed in Quarters on base then found an apartment.

smarttyone · Mar 31, 2007

Thanks for the reply, hopefully someone will have some advice as for the rest of the family. I am sure if I was single it wouldn't be any problem. My COT training will be at Maxwell AFB in Alabama.

allnurses Guide · Mar 31, 2007

Hello everyone. I was just notified that I was selected for air force, I am only waiting on my base assignment now. I am married and have a child. My question is what is the best way to move my family to the new station. I understand that the air force will take care of the "move", however I don't know when the household items should be packed up and when the rest of the family should go to the new assignment location, and where they would stay. I also would have to figure out where we will be living when we get there if there is no on base housing. I am a pretty organized individual so not knowing these things bothers me a bit. Any help or advice for me would be very much appreciated. I will let you know what base I will be at as soon as I know.

In general your orders will give you most of the information you need. The movers will pack all your stuff for you. You will be attending COT in Alabama for about a month, then you will go home, and then leave for your duty station. Here is the link to COT http://www.afoats.af.mil/OTS/COT-RCOT/index.asp Your recruiter should tell you where your closest Traffic Management Office (TMO). You will usually go to the closest military base for TMO and TMO will set up your pack and move dates and give you all the specific details you need to know for shipping your household goods. After you get your orders have your recruiter or someone else sponsor you on to the closet base that can make AF IDs to get you and your family's IDs made. Once you get your IDs it will be a lot easier to get things done. Besides your family will need their IDs to get medical treatment on base while your gone.

Also, once you get your ID made go to a base near you, preferably AF, and go to the Family Support Office and ask for the sites information on your base that you will be going to. Your recruiter can also get the information for you. The sites information will give you all the information you need to know about the base, medical facilities, and housing etc. Also, when you find out where you are going contact that base's housing office and ask them to send you their housing list. The housing list will give the local rental properties/houses for sale and should list all the military rental partnership program rentals available.

Do you have to attend NTP?

Good Luck! Feel free to PM me if you need any more questions answered. More than likely your new duty station and sponsor should be contacting you shortly after you get your orders to help you with the transition.

Capt E, USAF, NC

Trauma Columnist · Mar 31, 2007

I'm a military wife and have moved my kids and stuff many, many times over a 23 year period and in four countries. Its not hard. The air force will contact you (and you only as your wife will be a "dependent" (a word I absolutely hate)). You will also be given a sponsor at your next base who will contact you regarding housing, jobs for your spouse, schooling for the kids.

Things I've learned over the years:

1. Always be present when the movers are there. Remove everything from the walls and ensure that you have stuff you do not want packed in a separate, closed off room with a "do not enter" sign on it. (If in a foreign country - ensure this is in the native language).

2. Always, always give your spouse a power of attorney for the move - this will help tremendously. The military only cares about the active duty member regardless of the lies they will tell. (Don't mean to sound harsh, but I have plenty of horrid experiences with the military that span years).

3. Make sure you hand-carry all records including passports, SS cards, education records for your children, resumes for your spouse, any medications you and/or your family members require, etc. Include any pet records if you have a pet.

4. If you ship a vehicle ensure it is prepared per instructions. In 1988, while I went to Taegu, Korea to drop our SUV off for shipment home, I watched as another vehicle was accidentally dropped off the pier!

5. Being in the military isn't all bad. However, it is definitely a family affair. (I was actually on active duty myself when dh and I met and married and had our oldest son). Good luck and thanks for your service.

smarttyone · Mar 31, 2007

Thank you both ( wtbcrna, and traumarus) this is helping me a lot. My recruiter wasn't as clear as to when the movers should pack the belongings for the first move. So I suppose I should go to Alabama for COT and then come back home (New Mexico) and be here for the packing of our belongings and then head out to our assigned base. Does that sound right? I am hoping to find out what base we are at on Monday. I am the wife, my husband will be the "dependent" spouse, but I am sure am glad to hear the tips on those situations. Where do I get the power of attorney for him for the move situations? Keep any advice you all have coming for me. And for the earlier question I do not have to attend NTP.

Oh, any advice on the spouses obtaining jobs at the new places?

allnurses Guide · Mar 31, 2007

Thank you both ( wtbcrna, and traumarus) this is helping me a lot. My recruiter wasn't as clear as to when the movers should pack the belongings for the first move. So I suppose I should go to Alabama for COT and then come back home (New Mexico) and be here for the packing of our belongings and then head out to our assigned base. Does that sound right? I am hoping to find out what base we are at on Monday. I am the wife, my husband will be the "dependent" spouse, but I am sure am glad to hear the tips on those situations. Where do I get the power of attorney for him for the move situations? Keep any advice you all have coming for me. And for the earlier question I do not have to attend NTP.
Oh, any advice on the spouses obtaining jobs at the new places?

When you go to get your ID stop by the legal office and get your power of attorney for your husband.

What does your husband do? The Family Support Center is always a good place to start for local information on base services, local jobs etc.

deftonez188 · Apr 1, 2007

Scout the area your headed to, depending on the time of your assignment to that unit, you may want to consider purchasing a home.

They allow permissive TDY's for house hunting, it's what I did when I was stationed in Louisiana.

Good luck! Enjoy the mover's, it's so nice to have someone pack for you

smarttyone · Apr 1, 2007

My husband has his associates in business and is currently working in an accounts payable department at a hospital.

I haven't decided what to do in regards to buying or renting a home, it would be my first time buying so I am a bit scared.

allnurses Guide · Apr 1, 2007

Here is a few links that may be of use to you and your husband.

http://www.jagcnet.army.mil/JAGCNETInternet/Homepages/AC/Legal%20Assistance%20Home%20Page.nsf/0/0806a532899687ce852568a800531506?OpenDocument This one will help is you have any intrest bearing accounts over 6%.

VA home loans. http://www.homeloans.va.gov/elig2.htm You need atleast 6months active duty though.

http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ Federal jobs that your husband might be eligible for.

DOD lodging/ Temporar Living Facilities. You should be eligible up to 10 days of TLF/reimbursable. http://www-p.afsv.af.mil/DoDLodging/

http://www.af.mil/ Type in your base into the search engine and you will get the official public website for your homepage.

Moving/PCS checklist to help you out. http://www.military.com/Resources/ResourceFileView?file=Relocation_Checklist.htm

That is all I can think of right now. Are you coming in with an identifier/speciality?

smarttyone · Apr 3, 2007

thank you again to everyone whom is helping me. I found out today that I will be going to Travis AFB in July after my COT.

allnurses Guide · Apr 3, 2007

thank you again to everyone whom is helping me. I found out today that I will be going to Travis AFB in July after my COT.

Sounds like a good assignment!

By the way try to do your oath ASAP. It will show up as Date of Rank and can shave a couple months off of your promotion timeline if you do it early enough.

Here is the email address to the Family Support Center at Travis. They should be able to help with most relocation questions. [email protected]