Hi everyone!
Here is a post entirely devoted to the workings of Air and Space Basic Course.
So, this is going to be one GINORMUS post. There is so much to cover, even though it's only 6 weeks.
If you are going with your spouse to ASBC, you won't be bored unless you want to be. Yes, it's hot and humid, yes the apartment is kind of small, but you get to see your spouse pretty much every night and weekends instead of spending 6 weeks cuddled next to a pathetic pile of pillows. You know you've done it; I have too. It's woefully inadequate.
First off, you go straight to the hotel and check in. The hotel is at 450 Lemay Plaza. Take the Day street exit off I-65, follow the sign to Maxwell AFB, take a right at the light (Maxwell Blvd), go through the gate, stay on that street (Mitchell Ave) til you hit Ash, go left, then immediate right onto LeMay Plaza, pass the hangars, and the University Inn is on your right. You may or may not have to go to an entirely different building, but most of the housing is just a little farther up LeMay and on your right.
The housing is not bad. It's basically a hotel room - complete with daily housekeeping. There are two different versions, both about the same size. The newer versions don't have a couch (they have a chair though) and they don't have an oven (but there is a stovetop with two burners). Both versions have a queen bed, small TV with cable and DVD player, walk-in closet, bathroom with shower/bath combo, stove, microwave, fridge/freezer and toaster. And a coffeemaker. And a dehumidifier. There are also some pots and a pan, a round baking sheet (like to put a pizza on; no 9x13 casserole pans) some bowls with lids that double as tupperware and sets of bowls, plates, cups, and cutlery. You can't use any kitchen appliances that aren't already provided. Dumb, but they stick to that.
Housekeeping may come before 7:30 in the morning. Be prepared for that. If you lock your door, they come back about an hour later. If you put your "Do Not Disturb" sign out, they usually don't come back. The trashcans are so small, you'll need trash emptied daily. Internet is an ethernet hookup. No wireless. Streaming movies is very tedious and I've never had the patience to wait through a TV episode. My husband watched the Season finale of Lost but it took almost three hours to get through the less-than-two-hour episode. Ugh. Facebook, Gmail, flashgames and blogspot work pretty good though.
You'll usually have a spouse welcome night within the first few days. Definitely a great place to meet your husband's chain of command and meet other spouses. You also get some great contacts for useful places on base: Family Support Center, numbers for childcare (you have a couple hours free childcare a month), as well as local numbers for food and fun. You have a chance to put your email on a contact list which is awesome. Access to an activities calender, emailed updates about excursions into Montgomery and spouse get-togethers are pretty well advertised.
The first week for your spouse is spent "in the field." They are 5 minutes away on base at Blue Thunder, but they are away 24/7 from Monday to Friday. After that, they come back for the "classroom" part of ASBC. They'll usually leave about 7 am for class and then come back for an hour lunchbreak sometime between 10 and 12. Then it's back to class til 3 or 4. Sometimes, they get longer breaks if they do physical activities because they need to shower. And boy do they need it! ;)
Icarus is a really cool game; if you get a chance to go cheer your spouse, then go. They play for a half hour in the morning so it's not too unbearable and it's a pretty interesting mix of dodgeball and military strategy. As a side note, tell your spouse to go into the Ritchey Center to the Athletic Supply and check out some awnings. They're free and it will make your spectating much more comfortable.
The last week is a little tricky. They spend three days and two nights 45 minutes away at Vigilant Warrior: another mock deployment. Then they come back and graduate. WOOHOO!!
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask your cadre wives, your spouses and sweethearts president, or you can probably find me on Facebook under Kadi Bazemore Heath.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
PCS-ing: Moving
Here are some basics about moving with Air Force contracted movers:
Paperwork
Your spouse will be give some paperwork to fill out stating what assets the movers will be moving. Don't list your car unless the movers are moving it. We listed our big items like our TV, computer... that kind of stuff.
After you fill it out, you go up to Hill to meet with the TMO office. Don't forget to bring a copy of your orders. I don't remember the building number but it's located right across the street from the BX. You'll have to turn that in and then sign up for a moving brief if this is your first time moving with the Air Force. You can't have the brief the same day (which is retarded, I know) but you can come back as soon as 24 hours. Hope you like the drive.
As a side note, bring another copy of your orders when you head up to meet with TMO and head over to Finance to set up some sweet advance pay for moving. It's about 2,000, just for traveling. Nice. If you do a partial DITY, you get extra money to move up to 600 lbs of your own stuff (like luggage, pack N play, stroller, jewelry, etc). If you're doing TDY en-route, that's a great idea to get a little extra cash because you get paid to go to your TDY and then paid again to go on to your base. $$$!
Packing
The movers need one day for every 3,000 pounds of stuff you have. They base this on a walk-through that a guy from the moving facility does as well as your best guess. 2ND LTs have a 12K limit, so no worries about guessing. We weighed in at around 6K and we had a super stuffed one-and-a-half bedroom and one baby with accumulated baby stuff. As long as you're under that, you're fine. We weighed in at around 5K and we had a super stuffed one-and-a-half bedroom and one baby with accumulated baby stuff.
Anyway, based on the amout of weight you move, they'll come a few days before you're scheduled to leave to pack you up. If you aren't planning on staying somewhere for those last few days, they'll leave out essentials, but remember that it takes time to pack them, too, just in case you were thinking about leaving the same day the movers do. The movers will pack your boxes and label them with your last name, what room it came from and basically what's in it (ie, clothing, electronics, pots, etc). They can't pack flammables, liquids (like shampoo, bathsoap, lotion, perfume, body spray) or spray cans, but they'll pack perishable food items, so make sure you're very clear what you want them to pack. They packed our pretzel jar with the pretzels still in it.
Don't hover but do interact. If you can, pack your car with your luggage and things to move before the movers get there. Lock any valuables in your car. If you can't make a pile of things you're taking with you, put it on your bed and tell the movers not to touch. They listen pretty well. Make a folder designated only for this move. Take your identification cards, social security cards, marriage license, birth certificate and any health or immunization records. Put copies of your spouse's orders and a copy of the weight ticket you get if you're doing a partial DITY.
If you realize the movers packed something you need, wait til they come back to load or continue packing to open boxes. They seal and sign the boxes to show they were mover packed. If the seal is broken, they have to repack the box or they won't move it. Most of the time, they have a vague idea of what's in each box, so they'll help you find it quicker anyway.
The Big Day!
Feed the movers. It's not a bad idea to check every day the movers come: did you eat? If they hem and haw, just get them a couple pizzas. Little Caesar's down on 9th East does 99 cent breadsticks for students. Keep water bottles, Gatorade or soda in your fridge for them. Tell them where their food and fluids are. And don't be afraid to talk to them. We found out our driver was born a few streets over in the same city my grandfather was born in and his daughter was in school for my same major. Cool stuff. He made sure we were taken care of just because we talked and interacted with him.
The big furniture items will be saved til the actually loading day, so you don't have to worry about them. The driver will come in and document any nicks or scratches and then you sign the same paper. Make sure it isn't blank! Have him explain the system to you and make sure you agree on how many and how severe dents and scratches are.
Storage
If you're putting you stuff into storage (usually because you're doing a TDY en-route) You'll have a moving coordinator assigned to you. They call you and you put their number into your phone because you'll stay in touch. This is the person to call when you get your address and it gets closer to your move-in date at the new base. It can take up to two weeks to get your stuff out of storage (not sure why) so make sure your moving coordinator is the first person you call when you get your address. You may not get your address til you get to your base, and that's fine. The Family Support Center on base has tons of stuff that you can use til you get your own things out.
Your first 90 days of storage are paid for by the Air Force. If you need more than that, call your moving coordinator and they can get you an extension. Your extension is also paid for by the Air Force if you notify the moving coordinator before day 60 of the 90 days. You may want to double check with the coordinator.
Door-to-Door
This is the best way to move. It's also a little difficult. The Air Force will give your spouse up to 8 days (not out of your regular accumulated leave) to find a house around your new base. Once you do, tell the driver you want to do a door-to-door move. Tell him you'll give him $50 (or so) to ensure a door-to-door. This is legal. :) If he does it, your stuff will leave your house and go straight to your new house. No storage. If you're lined up for TDY en-route, have your spouse talk to the NCOs about sending you ahead to the new base. Might not be possible, but worth a shot.
Questions?
If you have any questions not answered by this blog, please feel free to talk to the cadre wives or even go straight to the NCOs yourself. They don't bite. :) Please also notify the Spouses and Sweethearts president to add that information to the blog.
Paperwork
Your spouse will be give some paperwork to fill out stating what assets the movers will be moving. Don't list your car unless the movers are moving it. We listed our big items like our TV, computer... that kind of stuff.
After you fill it out, you go up to Hill to meet with the TMO office. Don't forget to bring a copy of your orders. I don't remember the building number but it's located right across the street from the BX. You'll have to turn that in and then sign up for a moving brief if this is your first time moving with the Air Force. You can't have the brief the same day (which is retarded, I know) but you can come back as soon as 24 hours. Hope you like the drive.
As a side note, bring another copy of your orders when you head up to meet with TMO and head over to Finance to set up some sweet advance pay for moving. It's about 2,000, just for traveling. Nice. If you do a partial DITY, you get extra money to move up to 600 lbs of your own stuff (like luggage, pack N play, stroller, jewelry, etc). If you're doing TDY en-route, that's a great idea to get a little extra cash because you get paid to go to your TDY and then paid again to go on to your base. $$$!
Packing
The movers need one day for every 3,000 pounds of stuff you have. They base this on a walk-through that a guy from the moving facility does as well as your best guess. 2ND LTs have a 12K limit, so no worries about guessing. We weighed in at around 6K and we had a super stuffed one-and-a-half bedroom and one baby with accumulated baby stuff. As long as you're under that, you're fine. We weighed in at around 5K and we had a super stuffed one-and-a-half bedroom and one baby with accumulated baby stuff.
Anyway, based on the amout of weight you move, they'll come a few days before you're scheduled to leave to pack you up. If you aren't planning on staying somewhere for those last few days, they'll leave out essentials, but remember that it takes time to pack them, too, just in case you were thinking about leaving the same day the movers do. The movers will pack your boxes and label them with your last name, what room it came from and basically what's in it (ie, clothing, electronics, pots, etc). They can't pack flammables, liquids (like shampoo, bathsoap, lotion, perfume, body spray) or spray cans, but they'll pack perishable food items, so make sure you're very clear what you want them to pack. They packed our pretzel jar with the pretzels still in it.
Don't hover but do interact. If you can, pack your car with your luggage and things to move before the movers get there. Lock any valuables in your car. If you can't make a pile of things you're taking with you, put it on your bed and tell the movers not to touch. They listen pretty well. Make a folder designated only for this move. Take your identification cards, social security cards, marriage license, birth certificate and any health or immunization records. Put copies of your spouse's orders and a copy of the weight ticket you get if you're doing a partial DITY.
If you realize the movers packed something you need, wait til they come back to load or continue packing to open boxes. They seal and sign the boxes to show they were mover packed. If the seal is broken, they have to repack the box or they won't move it. Most of the time, they have a vague idea of what's in each box, so they'll help you find it quicker anyway.
The Big Day!
Feed the movers. It's not a bad idea to check every day the movers come: did you eat? If they hem and haw, just get them a couple pizzas. Little Caesar's down on 9th East does 99 cent breadsticks for students. Keep water bottles, Gatorade or soda in your fridge for them. Tell them where their food and fluids are. And don't be afraid to talk to them. We found out our driver was born a few streets over in the same city my grandfather was born in and his daughter was in school for my same major. Cool stuff. He made sure we were taken care of just because we talked and interacted with him.
The big furniture items will be saved til the actually loading day, so you don't have to worry about them. The driver will come in and document any nicks or scratches and then you sign the same paper. Make sure it isn't blank! Have him explain the system to you and make sure you agree on how many and how severe dents and scratches are.
Storage
If you're putting you stuff into storage (usually because you're doing a TDY en-route) You'll have a moving coordinator assigned to you. They call you and you put their number into your phone because you'll stay in touch. This is the person to call when you get your address and it gets closer to your move-in date at the new base. It can take up to two weeks to get your stuff out of storage (not sure why) so make sure your moving coordinator is the first person you call when you get your address. You may not get your address til you get to your base, and that's fine. The Family Support Center on base has tons of stuff that you can use til you get your own things out.
Your first 90 days of storage are paid for by the Air Force. If you need more than that, call your moving coordinator and they can get you an extension. Your extension is also paid for by the Air Force if you notify the moving coordinator before day 60 of the 90 days. You may want to double check with the coordinator.
Door-to-Door
This is the best way to move. It's also a little difficult. The Air Force will give your spouse up to 8 days (not out of your regular accumulated leave) to find a house around your new base. Once you do, tell the driver you want to do a door-to-door move. Tell him you'll give him $50 (or so) to ensure a door-to-door. This is legal. :) If he does it, your stuff will leave your house and go straight to your new house. No storage. If you're lined up for TDY en-route, have your spouse talk to the NCOs about sending you ahead to the new base. Might not be possible, but worth a shot.
Questions?
If you have any questions not answered by this blog, please feel free to talk to the cadre wives or even go straight to the NCOs yourself. They don't bite. :) Please also notify the Spouses and Sweethearts president to add that information to the blog.
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