BOQ Question/Discussion

Good Rule of Thumb to use if your going somewhere (without dependents):

- 30 days or less: stay on base in the TLF (if they will give you one, big "If" if you're alone), or in the base temporary lodging facility (i.e. the base hotel). Most places will only let you stay 30 days anyway.

- More than 30 days, but less than a year: stay on base in the BOQs

- More than a year (i.e. a "Permanent Change of Station"), either base housing (if they'll give you one, again a big "if" when you're single), or stay off base.
 
LineInTheSand said:
No BAH if you're on base.
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Not necessarily. In the privatized housing, the service member receives BAH from the government. Their rent to the private housing company is then equal to their BAH, so it is pretty much the same as no BAH.

However, that isn't the case when there are multiple service members sharing a privatized house. In our son's case there are four 2Lts in the house, and each receives the $813/mo BAH (O-1 no dependents). When there are multiple unmarried service members sharing a house, the privatized housing company can only charge the maximum BAH rate (with dependents) for that category of housing. In son's case the max rate on that house is $1430/mo. So, the four of them split the $1430 ($357.50 each).

That is why the privatized housing at Laughlin is the last choice for the AF to house the UPT students. First choice is the Student Officer Dorms. If those are more than 90% full, then they are able to live in one of the government owned duplexes on Carlson or Ciarfeo (no BAH because it's government owned). If those are more than 90% full, then they are offered housing in the privatized area. In late July when all of the USAFA grads show up for UPT is gets to be very crowded and the wait is long for housing.

Stealth_81
 
Full Metal,

I think you missed how the system works.
Single and permanent station it is highly unlikely that they will offer you housing on post as an officer for 3-4 yrs.

Stealth, Raimius and Bullet's posts about on base was more for UPT students. UPT students are not considered permanent members even though they are there for 12+ months. Once they wing, and if they are stationed there (i.e. FAIP), they are permanent members, as single officers, housing can force them off base since they are no longer students. Living on base was for UPT purposes only, not 4 yr assignments.

We own a home at an FTU AF base, we have had renters that lived in the BOQ's, graduated from FTU and were kicked out of the Q's upon graduation because now they were permanent party members.

You are going Army, Jcleppe's advice is more appropriate, but again his DS is rated, and yet not assigned operationally to Rucker.

Stealth and Raimius will tell you at Laughlin, this is brand new due to overcrowding. 4 yrs from now when you commission, this might not be an option offered.

I wouldn't worry about Q's, and I personally would not waste 20 seconds on it either. Too much will change in 4 yrs. What happens now does not equate into what the situation for Q's will be like in 4 yrs.; especially if you ask what is the Q situation at one post over another. They are constantly upgrading housing, in 4 yrs from now the crap Q at X post can now be the best Q in the branch since it is brand new.
 
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Pima said:
You are going Army, Jcleppe's advice is more appropriate, but again his DS is rated, and yet not assigned operationally to Rucker.
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Full Metal Bulldog said:
Nice Bullet!!!! :shake: So, as an Army O-1 at my first permanent duty station with my first official unit, would everyone agree that the simplest and easiest way to live would be in whatever on-base housing the Army would offer me?
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Ok, let's get down to brass tacks since you're talking about the Army. BTW, Jcleppe's son is not rated. He is also assigned to Fort Rucker already.

Most FORSCOM posts have little or no on-post housing for single officers. Period. Fort Drum just built a few apartment blocks, but they're not popular. Fort Campbell has NO permanent on-post housing for single officers. The Army learned years ago that it wasn't economical to maintain them for the most part.

When you are TDY to any OBC (BOLC) course EXCEPT flight school, you can expect to stay in a BOQ at a TRADOC facility. A good example would be Fort Benning or Fort Sill. At Fort Rucker, you occasionally could find a BOQ, but they're largely crummy compared to the newest nicest stuff on the economy and the reality is that nearly everyone lives in Enterprise, some live in Daleville, and a few live in Ozark. Rucker is really the only chance to acquire permanent housing during OBC either on or off post (on is subject to availability, and unless you beat the masses there, good luck), unless you run into a rare overcrowding situation at another OBC. OBC/BOLC for all but aviation is a TDY-Enroute course on your way to your first unit, so permanent housing isn't an option, hence the BOQs.

So from a practicality standpoint, you generally won't have the option to live in a BOQ except for your time at OBC.

That's a good thing. You'd be happy you lived in a Q at a permanent duty station for about 5 days. Then you'd realize that all the officers in your unit, and all the other units as well, live off post. They go out to go drinking and eat and have fun. No one goes on post for fun. Period. The days of drinking like fish at the O Club are long gone. As are the O Clubs.

So not only will you likely not have the chance to live in a BOQ, you honestly wouldn't want to do so. Rent an apartment. Find a buddy from BOLC who's headed to the same post as you, become roommates, and enjoy life as a young officer.
 
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Also, not to put too fine a point on things, you as a young man might someday want to take a female companion home for an evening of conversation and what-not. Believe me when I say that telling her she should come to your little hovel on post with a kitchenette and a maid isn't going to score you any points.

There are many, many reasons that almost all officers live off post. Living on post has few advantages for the single officer.
 
Since I'm still in the limbo of TAD, I don't have much personal experience with this for the fleet. Off the top of my head, none of my SWO/flight and nuke school friends are living on base, the consensus being the best plan is:

1: Make friends.
2: Live with them off base.
3: Profit. Literally. I'm currently banking over half of my BAH and many of my friends are doing the same in Charleston, Pensacola, San Diego, etc. Aside from the social benefits of being around other people (and usually in a place more conducive to fun than the base), an extra $500+ a month in the pocket to help you enjoy life doesn't hurt either.
 
Scout,

Out of curiosity what is your term for rated, in other words when is Jcleppe's DS considered rated to you?

Winged or at UPT? His DS is probably at Dunking or SERES right now, UPT class for him is Sept.

Back on topic.
 
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Pima said:
Scout,

Out of curiosity what is your term for rated, in other words when is Jcleppe's DS considered rated to you?

Winged or at UPT? His DS is probably at Dunking or SERES right now, UPT class for him is Sept.

Back on topic.
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In the Army, you are considered rated when you achieve a rating, which occurs at the completion of flight school. Until then you are a non-rated student pilot (NRSP).

Perhaps you didn't intend to come off as condescending, but I'm aware of how training at Fort Rucker works. His DS will start Dunker (not Dunking, though it's actually called HOST now) shortly and will do SERE thereafter. Both courses occur at Fort Rucker and are the first steps in IERW. SERE was once at the end of training, but is now at the beginning to weed out those who won't make it, as SERE graduation is a requirement to begin flight training. Though really, if anyone is going to discuss his DS's schedule, it should be Jcleppe.

Regardless, he reported long ago to Rucker and Jcleppe's information was quite good.

There is no such thing as UPT in the Army.
 
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I never meant in any way, shape or form to be condescending.

I asked a question desiring an answer regarding how the Army determines rated.

You answered. AF is different and let's leave it at that. Right, wrong or indifferent compared to the Army.
 
O-clubs still exist. They aren't all "fun", but there are a few lying around a few bases.
 
LineInTheSand said:
O-clubs still exist. They aren't all "fun", but there are a few lying around a few bases.
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True. I was referring to the Army for the OP's perspective. At any large post, they've been replaced by the "all classes club" more commonly known as a Commons. They're generally avoided at all cost. Perhaps places like Meyer or Andrews still have them, as they're so officer-heavy and populated by the aging.

The real issue isn't so much the death of the O-Club itself, but the seismic shift in how the services, especially the Army, view drinking. It used to be well known in aviation that the warrant officers made it to the O-Club by 3 and were crawling out by 9, later on Fridays. A DUI used to mean you were headed to Korea for a year to let the dust settle and then you'd be back (mind you, I have not lived in such an Army). Now, alcohol incidents are the fastest ticket to a dead end.

So yeah, there's still booze to be had on post. But almost no one touches it. Joes don't go there because an MP can and will arrest them for even walking back to the barracks drunk. Officers and NCOs won't go there because the last thing we want to do is have a few and then drive on post, especially through a gate.

That's something else for potential BOQ dwellers to consider. Even if you aren't the driver, going through a gate drunk can be a significant emotional event. You don't want to negotiate a gate every time you want to get home.
 
Yeah, every AF base I've been at hammers alcohol related events like you just punched the pope on international TV. At Laughlin, the commander said something to the effect of, "If you do something dumb, I'll try to help you out. If you get a DUI, etc, I will crush you."
 
DS, a new Ensign at P'cola has a 3 bdrm in a highrise condo( next to the bay) shared with 2 of his classmates....it's a 4 min drive out the backgate:thumb: Another classmate has a smallish camper parked at the base campground.....personally, I think the off-base housing with room-mates makes lots of sense for saving $$ and socializing/studying among friends .
 
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