Question for Air Force guys

[Mainsail]

Ok let me preface this by saying my opinion is based solely on my experiences.

Personally I would not recommend taking any firearms with you unless you are living off base, which, as an E-1-E-4, you would only be allowed to do if you are married.

This wasn't true when I retired in '03. As an airman you may live off base at your expense if you elect to do that. I lived downtown even though I had a room in the dorms.

Also, there's a magic percentage (of dorm occupancy) that once reached, allows you to move off base and collect BAQ. Some bases have so little dorm space anymore they don't bother; they just tell you to go find an apartment.

 

[zdc1775]

This wasn't true when I retired in '03. As an airman you may live off base at your expense if you elect to do that. I lived downtown even though I had a room in the dorms.

Also, there's a magic percentage (of dorm occupancy) that once reached, allows you to move off base and collect BAQ. Some bases have so little dorm space anymore they don't bother; they just tell you to go find an apartment.

Not saying that isn't the case on air bases but on Marine bases that wasn't the case while I was in. I have actually seen Marines NJP'ed because they got an apartment off base.

 

[USAF_Vet]

Off base living for single junior enlisted is at the discretion of the squadron commander, usually under a directive from the Wing or Base commander. Larger bases with plenty of dorms available, this is generally not gonna happen without some special circumstances*.

Smaller bases, with limited space, off base living is granted on a seniority basis. Very rarely will an E-1 through E-3 ever get permission.

*I was stationed at Travis AFB in California for a few years, and served with someone whose hometown was Fairfield, one of the supporting communities. She was able to live at home with her parents under squadron commanders discretion. Pretty sure she got no BAS/BAH, and all living expenses were on her own dime.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

shoot chief, ive only been to 1 AF base with a decent one (theyre a nice place to run, i havent hit a golf ball since high school) MCAS Cherry point had a decent on that my dad used to play on.

maybe ive just been to allot of crummy bases or ones near the coast so the soil is just sand. keesler (brown with big bare spots), lackland(brown/dead), Hurlburt(it could be worse, atleast its not dead). fairchild didnt have one that i saw (only spent a month there for SERE)

I would play golf myself, but nobody likes the way I play. It seems that shooting the golf ball with a rifle isn't the way it's supposed to be done! When they explained it to me, I had to tell them there was no way I was going to swing a rifle like that. That's bugger-all unsafe, not to mention all the damage the rifle stock would suffer!

 

[paintballdude902]

This wasn't true when I retired in '03. As an airman you may live off base at your expense if you elect to do that. I lived downtown even though I had a room in the dorms.

Also, there's a magic percentage (of dorm occupancy) that once reached, allows you to move off base and collect BAQ. Some bases have so little dorm space anymore they don't bother; they just tell you to go find an apartment.

90% or special circumstances like you inherited a house in the local area. (i knew a guy that inherited his parents beach house as an e3 and they allowed him to move off base)

for him they did a hardship waiver signed by the wing commander. pretty much said he would be forced to sell the house in order to cover the fees, taxes and maint on the property unless he was allowed to receive housing allowance.


Chief, maybe thats why im not allowed back at the golf course.... seemed like a good place to shoot clays LOL

 

[MRH]

Good choice of a job! Hope you make it through Tech School OK.

+ 1 on most of the above, Except #9. Every Air Force base I was assigned to, in the States, allowed married couples living in base housing to keep their firearms in their quarters.

I highly recommend that before taking your guns anywhere to make absolutely sure that the State and County you are going to allows each specific firearm. You may not be able to take everything there, if any at all.

Hope you don't get stationed in CA, or any other anti-gun place.

Mike
CMSgt, Ret

 

[larry_minn]

Never in AF, wife was in 20 yrs. I met her there. I was on base number of times a yr for many yrs. It really depended on who was base commander. When/where/ what mood he was in when asked. EVERY base was different.

I would agree with first posters. Leave guns at home, at least until you have duty station, find out policy there. Do keep in mind some bases sell firearms. They (at least used to) not only match best price you can find, but no tax.....

Good luck. Thanks.