BOQ Question/Discussion

Full Metal Bulldog

5-Year Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2012
Messages
472
After browsing this forum for a long time, I haven't been able to find a very in depth discussion as to life in a BOQ. What is the current consensus of all the active/former military members on SAF of them? I have heard very polar oppinions of them, from "They're awesome!!!!" to "they're small, but clean and well maintained" all the way to the other end of the spectrum: "kid, just get your housing allowance and move off base as soon as you can." So guys, what's your "user reviews"? Thanks for responding!!!
 
I haven't seen a BOQ in a long time. Most places have CBQs. Navy ones are generally crap. Army is slightly better. I've only been in one USMC... and it was a little better and Air Force was best.

I wouldn't describe any of them as "awesome". They aren't horrible, and they are generally cheap.

Nothing to write home about or warrant a thread on SAF.
 
I haven't seen a BOQ in a long time. Most places have CBQs. Navy ones are generally crap. Army is slightly better. I've only been in one USMC... and it was a little better and Air Force was best.

I wouldn't describe any of them as "awesome". They aren't horrible, and they are generally cheap.

Nothing to write home about or warrant a thread on SAF.
As a retiree, I stay in a lot of them. AF is cheapest. Army most expensive. No generalizations can be made about quality or cleanliness. Most have been through a few renovations so what is there is what they have to work with.

Some, like Andrews AFB are brand new and very nice. Some like NAB, Little Creek have been through many renovations and the last one, very recently, makes them very nice. Some make do with the marginal. Just last weekend I stayed at Dobbins. Third floor walkup. Light in the bathroom was burned out, reported, and not fixed the entire weekend. It would have been easier to sleep on the flight line because launching aircraft were quieter than the A/C unit. But very clean despite the cleaning crew not being able to see and very friendly. Dobbins has four buildings and they are all different.

So, it depends, is the best answer.
 
Curiosity, why as a Citadel class of 16 are you wasting time posting about BOQ's? 4 yrs before you are AD.

No offense, not trying to be antagonistic, I just don't get it.

Honestly, you have no option. PCS orders state report here at this date. End of subject. Q's stink, oh well.

PFT should be your only concern now, not the Q's.
 
I'll give you the standard "USAF Weapons School" answer: it depends.

First, let's not confuse BOQ, which is basically dorms for bachelor (and bachelorette) officers, with Transient Quarters, which are basically hotel rooms for those PCSing in or out of a location or visiting that base.

From what I've experienced, and what I have seen, there are basically a few things to consider. 1) cost for each, 2) Convenience, and 3) what is the local off-base housing like? (i.e. how safe and secure are those cheapo apartments the typical 2nd Lt can afford).

I think BOQs are a great thing for a young second Lt is in the middle of a months long training pipeline like Pilot Training or some other school house program. You're on base (with a bunch of others going throught he same program), you don't have far to travel to class, you don't have to worry about getting home safe after the standard Friday-night-push-it-up with the rest of your class at the Club (just walk back to your "Q"), and you don't have to deal with the hassles of getting furniture for a rental when you're justing starting out in your career.

I LOVED my time in the Qs going through the 9 months of Nav school. Convenient, easy, and someone else cleaned up for me, to include taking out the trash! Bottom Line: if you're a young 2nd Lt with no dependents and in the middle of a training program, you can't beat living in the Qs.

After that? Once you're settling into your first operational location? Three words: get an apartment.
 
Thank you all for the information, I enjoyed reading what y'all had to say. Pima, I understand what you mean, and trust me, whether or not BOQ's are nice will probably be the absolute last thing on my priority list once the Academic Year starts. The reason I asked was simple curiosity as to "life after the academy": it was just a question that I thought up as I was wondering about the lifestyle of a JO: "What's it like where you sleep?", for lack of a better phrase. I have several enlisted friends and aquaintences, but I'm the only one that's taking a shot at the officer route, so I was just wondering how the different the daily life was like in comparison to, say, an E-3 or a junior NCO. Thank you for your insight however, it is appreciated.
 
it was just a question that I thought up as I was wondering about the lifestyle of a JO: "What's it like where you sleep?", for lack of a better phrase.

You will not often sleep in a BOQ as a JO. (I still think we're using BOQ as CBQ.... most places I've stayed at combined bachelors quarters now...to save costs...)

I was in a CBQ in Mayport in 2006 for Navy Electronic Key Management System (EKMS) school. EKMS school has got to be the most boring school ever....

I wasn't aware people came in to clean the room for you, so I left things out and get a nasty little note that the room was in disarray and they couldn't clean. I shared that note with my classmates. I give that CBQ a D. My blinds were split down the middle and I'm pretty sure the stain near the sink was blood. It was a two-week school, so I lived.

Later that year I attended the Coast Guard Public Affairs Course (CGPAC) at the Defense Information School (DINFOS) at Fort George G. Meade. Because there wasn't room in Fort Meade berthing for an influx of Coast Guard officers and senior enlisted, we stayed in a hotel. Very nice. We had to wake up earlier to get back to the base, but it was comfy. That school was only a week.

In 2009 I attended the 2.5 month Public Affairs Qualification Course (PAQC) at DINFOS. This time I had a room, like my other 59 classmates, in a CBQ (think dorm). We had some serious issues with losing heat (middle of winter) and the overall condition of the building. Cool classmates and a generally decent base made up for it.

But that's not what it's like to a JO. As a cadet, the BOQ was a "hook up" joint. I have no idea if it's even an option anymore.

What was in like where I slept? When I was in port I slept in my bed, in a house I rented with a fellow JO (and classmate) from my cutter and a JO (and classmate) from our sister ship.

A majority of the time we were at sea. What was it like there? It was a 210' ship in rough seas... we were constantly in motion. When I sat at my desk in my stateroom I had to strap in or my chair would flip. The racks weren't comfortable, but after a double 4-8 watch with migrants on deck.... you can sleep on anything. If you were in the Coast Guard, on a cutter, MOTION is the word I would use to describe my sleep.
 
Full Metal Bulldog said:
but I'm the only one that's taking a shot at the officer route, so I was just wondering how the different the daily life was like in comparison to, say, an E-3 or a junior NCO.


As stated by Bullet BOQ's are not permanent housing (yrs). They exist for members training. Complete training, you move off base for a PCS. Enlisted bachelors can live in dorms for their entire tour.

Officer and enlisted can not, nor should be placed on an even keel.
 
Last edited:
Thanks again for the information, its not only interesting but also very eye-opening and in a way humbling. I did not know that officers aren't permitted to live off base at their actual permanent assignment. I realize that officer and enlisted are two comletley different balls of wax, I was just informing y'all that the enlisted lifestyle is the only one that I would even try to say that I'm somewhat educated about.
 
Thanks again for the information, its not only interesting but also very eye-opening and in a way humbling. I did not know that officers aren't permitted to live off base at their actual permanent assignment. I realize that officer and enlisted are two comletley different balls of wax, I was just informing y'all that the enlisted lifestyle is the only one that I would even try to say that I'm somewhat educated about.

In the Army, if you are assigned to a division or below, you will most likely live off post when you are a Junior Officer unless you have a big family (Those were generally prior service officers). Most SA/SMC/ROTC grads were single or had no children and lived 20-40 minutes from post. (From my experiences with Fort Hood, Fort Benning, Fort Stewart)

Army Lodging (soon to be privatized) provides transient housing for Active, Reserve and Retired members who are only at the installation for a short time (as said previously). There are exceptions, but this is general for Army JOs.
 
As stated above, for the most part, BOQs are used for transit housing. I've stayed in them for a night or two when PCSing. I've stayed for a couple of days to a couple of weeks for training or visiting a base for official reasons. I've stayed for 6 months on deployment.

Most BOQs are equivalent to an average hotel (think Hampton Inn, Comfort Inn) -- without the amenities. :smile: IOW, a room with a (usually) twin bed, lounge chair and TV. Size can be very small to quite large. Senior officers USUALLY (but not always) get nicer quarters than JOs. No amenities means no restaurant, pool, gym in the BOQ -- almost always, these facilities are available elsewhere on base. There is usually a washing machine/dryer in the building and there MAY be vending machines. You may share a bath with another officer of the same gender.

I would agree that, historically, USAF quarters were the nicest. In fact, when we were stationed in Rota, transiting USAF oficers wouldn't stay in the BOQ where we lived for 6 months b/c it was below their standards. They went to a hotel in town.:rolleyes: Of course, that was many years ago . . .
 
Just the wife talking, but from the yrs in the AF, I always saw it as 3 cats., interesting to see what I thought would be a Q, is what others classified as a BOQ.

1. Q's
Basically the hotel on base, bedroom and bathroom. If you are single or married with no dependents and PCSing in or out, you get X amt of days guaranteed, it is short term. You can also do Space A.

2. TLF's
AF this is akin to a small condo, or TH. Same as above, but members with children, take priority.

3. BOQ's
Bullet lived in the BOQ's for 9 months at Mather in 88, and 4 months in 05 at SJAFB. This is housing set aside for members that are long term TDY. They are furnished. Kitchen fully stocked with utensils, pots and pans. Housekeeping comes in daily, just like the TLF and the Q's.

The BOQ is only for students going through a course.

A UPT student in the AF would be offered the Q's first, and than move into the BOQs. I believe Stealth's DS could not get into the BOQ's at LAFB, hence some of his classmates moved off base.

If you are short term TDY it is unlikely you would be placed into the BOQ's or TLF's, unless there was no room at the Q's.

Go off base when there is availability and you are on orders, the AF has the right not to pay for the hotel.

I have to say I agree with other posters, AF is known to be great. They renovate their facilities frequently, @ every 3-4 yrs. Many of their TLFS are now also "pet friendly", in other words, if you show your pet is up to date with vacs., they can stay in the TLF with you, as long as you have a personal kennel.

Again, just a wife, who PCS'd 11 times in 20 yrs, and knows Bullet lived in the Q's twice for months at a time. It could be different now.
 
Just the wife talking, but from the yrs in the AF, I always saw it as 3 cats., interesting to see what I thought would be a Q, is what others classified as a BOQ.
I think in the common venacular, "Q" is just a shortened acronym for "BOQ" and they are one in the same. Also, in many if not most locations, they also double as TLFs, so no matter what you call it, it is the same room in the same building. And now in many locations they are consolidated so the "E" and "O" is gone.
 
Last edited:
Thanks, and those posts are interesting.

This is why I asked. Q to me means temporary Quarters. TLF = Temporary Lodging Facilities. BOQ = Bachelor Officer Quarters = long term TDY or student course.

Going back to when Bullet and I married, (1988), there was no enlisted or officer Q in the parameters your posts have stated. Q's are a couple of days lodging, like a hotel, rank has no impact unless you are O6 are above. There was no enlisted hotel and officer hotel. It was one hotel.

Every base we were ever at, there were separate buildings, and rank didn't play into the room assignment equation for the Q's or the TLFs.

For example:

There was a building that was just like a Holiday Inn. That is the Q's, I think about when you say Q's. Bedroom with a bath.

There was a separate building that was TLFs, sometimes next door, and sometimes you had to drive to get to it. They were all apts or TH style. Bedroom, kitchen, living and dining area. In AK, they were 2 story TH, in Pope they were ranch style duplexes. UK they were condos. Not one of these TLFs were located next to the Q's.

BOQ's at Mt Home, SJAFB, Mather:)eek:) were 1 bdrm condo types. They too were in a building on their own, not in the base hotel.

I also think of VOQ's the same way. Every base has VOQs, but like the TLF's and the BOQ's you must meet their criteria to stay in it. If we all could choose the room, nobody would stay in a Q or a TLF, we'd all stay in a VOQ. I have been in them as a guest at multiple bases, and trust me, a Q on base that you would place on Sheraton level, is Ritz on the VOQ level. My 1st home was not as nice! At SJAFB, I would guess those Qs are @1000 sqft, 1 bdrm, comes with a fully stocked wine fridge, lite snacks, and newspapers delivered to your door in the morning. Not just the base paper, and local townie paper, but the regional paper too.

Finally, I know with UPT at LAFB, they are running out of BOQ's for UPT students, and now are using base housing for BOQs. UPT students can live in these until they are assigned permanently to the base. Become a FAIP, you will move off base. This another reason why I asked for clarification.
 
Last edited:
A UPT student in the AF would be offered the Q's first, and than move into the BOQs. I believe Stealth's DS could not get into the BOQ's at LAFB, hence some of his classmates moved off base.

Just to keep this accurate, I don't know of any of the UPT students at Laughlin who live off base. Many of the IPs do, but the students are required to live on base except in very rare circumstances.
My son was on the waiting list for the Student Officer Dorms, which are much like the BOQs that have been described. (Small efficiency apartment with an 'en suite' kitchen and private bath.) They are actually fairly nice and new, but small. After two months of living in the Laughlin Manor hotel rooms waiting, he took the next housing option offered, which was a 4-bedroom 2-bath house in the base privatized housing. He shares the house with 3 other 2Lts who are in UPT. It has worked out really great for them and the extra room, the yard, and the comeraderie have made for an outstanding experience. (Not to mention a 150 inch high def projection TV in the living room for NFL Sundays with the whole UPT class.) They are also a 4 minute walk from the squadron room, and a three minute walk from the O Club. Perfect!

Stealth_81
 
Interesting to hear about the different housing situations as they vary from base and branch of the service.

My son is currently at Ft. Rucker. The new Lt's attending flight school have the option of on base or off housing. My son chose a 2 bedroom house on base, didn't have a roommate and liked being on post and close to everything. Many of the new Lt's chose off base housing, a lot of WP grads had connections with other grads that were going to Rucker so it was easier for them to connect with roommates. My son was lucky and got one of the newly renovated homes, he loves it, others were not as lucky, but still not that bad.
 
I split an on-base house with an old roommate, at Laughlin. Then, I rented an apartment off-base at Rucker. Base housing is certainly convenient, especially for UPT! Off-base was nice too, since I could find a decent place within BAH. The drive was about 3 times as long though!
 
They are also a 4 minute walk from the squadron room, and a three minute walk there and a 10 minute crawl back from the O Club. Perfect! Stealth_81

Fixed it for you, at least to the way I remember those days! :thumb:
 
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?
 
Back
Top