question about sailors with vehicles on/off base. HELP!!!

[kiley91]

I am wondering if it is a must that sailors have their own vehicles. My husband and I do have one vehicle, we sold our other before he went to bootcamp because we didn't want to pay for it while he is deployed etc. I am obviously planning on moving to where he is stationed once he gets his orders, but we have a baby due right at that time, so I am not sure how fast I will be able to go with him. He might have to fly there without me for a while, so in the time I'm not there what are his options for getting back and forth to his job? anything besides a taxi? Do most sailors have their own vehicles? Just seems a little silly to me. any advice helps!! 

[abuon18]

If you are not living with him he will be assigned a rack on the ship so getting to & from work won't be an issue. It will be getting around town if he wants to get off base that he'll have to find transportation for. He can live off base if he chooses but he'll only get BAH to cover housing in one location, it won't be enough to cover your expenses & his.

Also, be careful with the planning on not moving right away thing....unless you're under doctor's orders not to travel or depending on what his deployment schedule may be, his command may require you to move within a certain time.

But Sailors are certainly not "required" to have their own transportation.... Also the Navy does not provide transportation so it is up to each Sailor to figure it out. Many car pool if they live off base.

[kiley91]

Well I only say I don't think I will be able
To go right away because I am having a c section, and not sure how fast
I can get all 4 of us moved afer that. Would he be able to go to his duty station before us to find a place to live? Also, do you know what I should do, or who to call once I find out where he will be stationed for on base housing? I plan on going as soon as possible!

[meagan5220]

Its all going to depend on his situations really. Like for example my husband got to his duty station a few weeks before I did due to me having to finish up two classes. He didn't have a car, they came and picked him up at the airport (He will need to get the number for the quarterdeck and they will send a duty driver to get him if they have one. or if he has a sponsor which he has to request usually then that guy might be able to pick him up. might even give him a lift places). My husband was immediately assigned a rack on the ship which all sailors are even if they are living with their family elsewhere so they have it for deployments and underways. Many sailors do have their own vehicles, if he is staying on the ship honestly it wont matter much he can just live there til you arrive, if you want him to find a place before you get there then he might have to take a cab to look or try to get one of the other guys to do it. Typically my husband just offers a homecooked meal or two from me in exchange for help. the single guys usually jump all over it lol. They rarely have transportation set up to help in situations like this. My husband's ship does but they are in dry dock its a little bit different situation than most. Also, if he is in a squadron that might be where you run into some trouble, because they are not going to assign him a barracks room for a few weeks probably, he could ask since its medical situation but they don't usually give out a barracks room and give BAH unless they are approved for Geo bachelor. Which depends on the command, some are strict and some aren't. I would say start saving money for bus/taxi fare, or even temp lodging jic. But hope that you can work something out otherwise. If he can get assigned a sponsor he might have more help that way. My husbands sponsor wasn't helpful at all but some are.

To get base housing started you have to have the hard copy of orders, but once you have that, call the housing office for wherever you are going and ask for the steps to get put on the waiting list.

[kiley91]

Does the a Navy pay for his flight to get to his duty station if I can't go with him right away?

[Anti M]

Yes.  When he gets his orders, he lets the travel office know where he is taking leave.  They pay for the flight to his duty station, and arrange his en route travel to where he's taking leave.  He then pays for the leg home.  It usually is quite reasonable.  Never book a flight for him, let the travel office (SATO) handle it if it is in conjunction with PCS travel.

[kiley91]

What do you mean they arrange his en route travel to where he's taking leave? So right now he's in Great Lakes. We live 4 hours away from there currently. After his school he is supposed to get leave, so will I be able to just pick him up from the base. And then they arrange his flight to his duty station? Is that correct?

[Anti M]

Okay, didn't realize he was not flying home on leave.... that would have been the en route travel.  Yes, they will arrange and pay for the flight to the new duty station.  He must be certain to let the travel office know he is leaving from Great Lakes AFTER he takes leave.