housing while at Vance AFB

[Viperguy]

I will be PCSing out to Vance to begin JSUPT in April and wanted to know what the housing is like there for married people. On-base and off-base info would be appreciated. Are there plently of off-base choices that would be close to the base? I don't want to have to drive 20-30 minutes to work for those 0500 shows. I would appreciate any info. Thanks!!

 

[Huggyu2]

I don't know about Vance, but I went to Laughlin years back. If you've got no kids, housing is fine, and quite convenient. Plus, the social aspects will be much better for your wife. It probably ain't much to look at, but I'd lean toward base housing. It's only for a year (unless they FAIP you)!

 

[rcsimpson]

ViperGuy: There should be plenty of rental houses over by Atwoods/Walmart area. My brother lives over there and he has a few pilots that are neighbors. If you haven't been to Enid, OK then you probably don't know that 25 minutes will pretty much put you from one side of town to the other. I wouldn't worry about the commute too much. Don't blink or you might miss the scenery.

 

[TonyC]

I will be PCSing out to Vance to begin JSUPT in April and wanted to know what the housing is like there for married people. On-base and off-base info would be appreciated. Are there plently of off-base choices that would be close to the base? I don't want to have to drive 20-30 minutes to work for those 0500 shows. I would appreciate any info. Thanks!!

Even the far side of Enid is not too far a drive, but I found On-Base to be quite comfortable. I lived on Hurst for 4 years. It's convenient, there are fewer distractions from your studies, and I rode a bicycle to work. (It was a bit tricky when the roads were covered with ice!) If you're on base, the drives into town are more meaningful, more relaxing and more refreshing. I think you'll be less inclined to blast to OKC or ICT.

Just don't plant the flowers too close to the foundation of the house or let the grass grow too long or cut it too short or... well, there are disadvantages, too. The landlord is a pain in the neck, but you won't have to worry about any lease.

 

[AD SUPT Hopeful]

I'm not exactly sure when they'll be complete, but construction has already started on new houses here at Vance.

 

[Viperguy]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

 

[Vinman]

I can give you another shot as well. I got here at the beginning of November. Housing on base was "full" for us married guys so had to look for others. BAH currently for 0-2 yrs O-1 is $591 I think. Not much to work with there. Most of the stuff around town is either expensive or small if it is descent. I found a place just across the highway from base called Sunridge Estates. It has its advantages and disadvantages (like the landlord smokes and drinks heavily), but to me, seems a very good price for what you get. (I'm paying $500 for a 2Br, 2Bath, 2CarGarage) I've had a few breakage issues so far, but have had it taken care of promptly.

Added note on base housing. I've heard that normally you get told that it is full at first, but with classes graduating all the time, if you bug the housing folks for about a week, you can usually get in after that week or so (you just have to live out of a suitcase for that week). This is just something I heard.

PM me if you have any other questions.

 

[TonyC]

Added note on base housing. I've heard that normally you get told that it is full at first, but with classes graduating all the time, if you bug the housing folks for about a week, you can usually get in after that week or so (you just have to live out of a suitcase for that week). This is just something I heard.

I have no idea how it works now, but this might be worth checking into. When I was Enid-bound, the housing office would put your name on the housing waiting list if you could supply a copy of PCS orders. I sent a copy as soon as I had them, and by the time I actually arrived I had a house waiting for me.

 

[Vinman]

This is of course the way that it is supposed to work at all bases, I believe, but this also means that most other people are doing the same thing and creates the same log jam of sorts. I was added to the list as of, theoretically, one month prior to arrival. This just means that your "seniority" for an open house is that one month early date. As TonyC said though, the earlier you can actually get orders and send to to the housing office ahead of time, the more time your name will actually be on the list to get a place.

PS...Someone talked about new houses going in. As of this morning, they actually have wood frames up, so those won't be a factor anytime soon. I do feel a little sorry for most of the housing residents, though, as some traintracks pass about 20 feet outside of housing area. Trains do pass frequently!!!

 

[TonyC]

... the earlier you can actually get orders and send to to the housing office ahead of time, the more time your name will actually be on the list to get a place.

And that's the key - - get those orders cut. If the guys/gals at (OK, I'm fixin' ta show my age - - I don't know what they're called now, they used to be...) CBPO are in no hurry to cut the orders, be as nice as you can and try to persuade them to expedite the orders.

PS...Someone talked about new houses going in. As of this morning, they actually have wood frames up, so those won't be a factor anytime soon. I do feel a little sorry for most of the housing residents, though, as some traintracks pass about 20 feet outside of housing area. Trains do pass frequently!!!

I know there were tracks passing North/South on the east side of the base, and I was only a couple of blocks away, but for the life of me I can't remember ever being disturbed by trains. I DO recall hearing a lot of T-37's overhead, though.

 

[Tweetdrvr]

Tony

Just to update you it is now called MPF for military personnel flight and they don't do much for you. The new AF is trying to be all digital thanks to Gates and Co, they have spent more money on computers and IT in the last 10 years than on weapon systems. So now a person is expected to maintain their own records via AFPC's web site, cut their own travel orders and file their voucher via Defense Travel System, and several other things.

 

[TonyC]

So now a person is expected to ... cut their own travel orders ...

Gimme a password!

 

[Spur]

Whats the number for the computer help desk?

Gimme a password!

No, you give them a password. It must be at least 10 characters long, contain at least 1 uppercase vowel and one uppercase constanant, one special character and one number. Each character may only be used twice. No words or significant parts of words found in the dictionary may be used. No numbers or sequence of numbers appearing in your SSAN, DOB, address, or phone number may be used. You must change the password every 15 days, and passwords or significant sequences of the password may not be repeated until 179 days have elapsed. The password must be memorized, and may not be recorded in either paper or electronic form. Violations are punishable under UCMJ.

Failure to maintain a valid password will result in loss of all travel entitlements, BAH, access to VMPF, and reallocation of your HOR (for tax purposes) to Massachussets.

Welcome to the 21st century.

 

[TonyC]

No, you give them a password. It must be at least 10 characters long, contain at least 1 uppercase vowel and one uppercase constanant, one special character and one number. Each character may only be used twice. No words or significant parts of words found in the dictionary may be used. No numbers or sequence of numbers appearing in your SSAN, DOB, address, or phone number may be used. You must change the password every 15 days, and passwords or significant sequences of the password may not be repeated until 179 days have elapsed. The password must be memorized, and may not be recorded in either paper or electronic form. Violations are punishable under UCMJ.

Failure to maintain a valid password will result in loss of all travel entitlements, BAH, access to VMPF, and reallocation of your HOR (for tax purposes) to Massachussets.

Welcome to the 21st century.

Ahhhhh, yesssssss. I'm beginning to remember now why it felt sooooooo good to get out.


Thank you sir, may I have another ?!







.

 

[Juvat]

Ahhhhh, yesssssss. I'm beginning to remember now why it felt sooooooo good to get out.

I'll second that!!

 

[Juvat]

And by the way...

...what's with this guy calling himself Viper Guy before even getting to pilot training? He's risking getting a name like "Kelvin."

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

...what's with this guy calling himself Viper Guy before even getting to pilot training? He's risking getting a name like "Kelvin."

Or getting helos.

 

[crudzilla]

ViperGuy?

Or .....getting a desk! Which is probably better since the AF is now run by paper pushers, for paper pushers!

 

[buffdriver]

Was just back at Vance a couple weeks ago for a little reunion. A bud of mine who is a T-1 FAIP says there are plenty of rental homes north of the base, probably north of Owen K. Garriott I'd guess. Don't waste your time with the housing office, there must be like a realtor or something to help you find a house to rent while you're there. As a single dude, I lived in the dorms and hated every minute of it. You'd come home to find a report card on your sink: "Dishes in sink, bed unmade, blah, blah, blah". I think if you got three bad report cards, they send you to see the OSS/CC or casual monitor. Yuk.

 

[Mooseflyer]

You'd come home to find a report card on your sink: "Dishes in sink, bed unmade, blah, blah, blah". I think if you got three bad report cards, they send you to see the OSS/CC or casual monitor. Yuk.

I used to leave my room messy on purpose, just to piss 'em off! He who collected the most report cards won.....