FAQ - POST COMISSIONING : Helpful things to know after commissioning.
Health Care: You are covered by Tri-Care between
Commissioning and Extended Active Duty Back to Top
- There is a Health group at the Reserve Base
· Call 612-713-1642
· Ask for SMSgt Hansen or SMSgt Goetz
· Go to the base for anything that deals with
“life, limb, or vision”
Sponsors: Valuable to answer questions in ALL AREAS Back to Top
- See NCOs to get unit and phone #
- Call unit and see if there is anyone to talk to
Uniforms: Many bases have CHEAP thrift shops full of
uniforms b/c of a down-sizing AF Back to Top
- Officers are required to have a Mess Dress Uniform for
all formal events
- Good idea to get ABUs before you go to your base
NOTE: Remember to get braids
sewed on your sleeves before Commissioning
Travel: Bring all of your stuff on the first trip if
possible Back to Top
- You can call the Transportation Management Office (TMO)
at any time
· Sometimes they will only help you if you have
orders
· You can’t actually do anything (only ask
questions) until you have orders
- All LTs will fill out a 29B (safety form) itinerary,
stops, miles, etc
· No mileage limit; responsible to create a SAFE
plan
· 29B can be modified en route
· 29B mandatory as long as under 26 yrs old
· CC has to sign
· Fill out a travel voucher for reimbursement once
at base
- Do-it-Yourself (Dity) moves are reimbursed by the pound
· There is a worksheet to put all information on
· If you own a trailer, you get paid for its
weight
· If you rent a trailer, you don’t get paid for
its weight
- You can go back for things you forgot or didn’t bring
· There is a finite period during which you can do
this
· You have to pay for the trip, but you will get
reimbursed for weight and mileage
Housing: AF is privatizing the housing process, using
all civilian contractors to handle Back to Top
- You will get 8 days of permissive TDY after you arrive
to look for a house
· Once you sign a lease/agreement/whatever, your
permissive TDY ends
- LTs will get time off to unpack stuff and set up their
houses
- Off-base housing
· Need to work with Housing Office (look up number
or call base switchboard)
· Housing Office has a list of renters that have
“screwed” military personnel
· Most wait until they get to their base to look
for housing
· You will get up to 30 days in the base Temporary
Living Facility (TLF)
- On-base housing
· Usually broken up by rank
· You get a 2-bedroom house if your married (also
dependent on dependents)
· No BAH if living on-base
In-Processing: Talk to your sponsor about specifics Back to Top
- All LTs will receive a packet after Commissioning
(1056, 4-1, med forms, etc)
· Make sure you have your immunization records
- Some LTs may go through mass in-processing
- Many in-process through Military Personnel Element
(MPE)
- Ask in the orderly room for any important policies,
memos, etc
- Be prepared for everything on the first day of work
· Airmen often want to talk – be cordial
· HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE
· Use LT status to LEARN
Reporting: All LTs will have a meeting with their SQ/CC Back to Top
- Meetings occur when convenient for SQ/CC (sometimes
takes 2-3 months)
- Uniform, procedures, timing, etc all depends entirely
on the SQ and/or CC
- Talk to your specific sponsor
· Ask what uniform to wear
· CC will explain mission, expectations, etc
· Don’t ask menial questions when meeting with CC
- Talk to the CC’s secretary, make friends, get phone #;
he/she is VERY IMPORTANT
Pay: Every base has a financial counselor
Back to Top
- Your pay should start getting deposited within about
1.5 months
- You can elect to be paid once (1st of month)
or twice per month
- USAF has a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) that is explained
on Air Force Portal
- Most don’t use TSP
On an Active Duty
Base: Pretty much like a mini
city Back to Top
- You are allowed to drive any vehicle that is legally
registered for the road (no ATVs)
- You can have as many cars on base as you want, but have
to move if they’re on the street
- You can store stuff at the base auto/hobby shop, but
cost is usually $10-20/day
- ATV, Motocross, etc must take AF safety course to use
base tracks (WG Safety Office)
- Some bases have fee-based storage facilities
- Bases will store your stuff for up to 180 days while
you are at ASBC
- NO PRIVATE GUNS ON BASE (most bases have private gun
clubs near them)
- There is a decent amount of stuff to do
· Inter-mural sports
· Hobby shop
· Golf courses
· Workout facilities, etc
- Visitors
· You have to call the visitor office and then
meet the person/people
· You are responsible for ANYTHING your visitors
do on base
· There is a limit on how long they can stay
· Visitors usually cannot stay in pilot dorms
Working Outside of
the USAF: Always let your
supervisor know what you’re doing Back to Top
- Must fill out a form that is approved by the CC and the
JAG with job details
- Very few officers hold a second job
- Good idea to ask CC about volunteer opportunities
Spouses: There is a Family Support
Center and a Civilian
Personnel Office on every base Back to Top
- Can’t get an EAD extension for weddings unless they are
YOUR OWN
- Most SQs have a Spouses Organization
- Grants and loans for spouses depend on the base/unit
(some have scholarships/donations)
- You can’t share the GI Bill with your spouse (though
that may change in the near future)
- Spouses can only travel on Space Available (SpaceA)
flight with their husband/wife
- Joint spouses are almost always stationed either
together or near each other
Aerospace Basic
Course (ASBC): Google it
Back to Top
- You will receive a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA)
- There is a VERY VALUABLE ASBC webpage
Leave and Passes
Back to Top
- The overarching Leave regulation does not include
distances, they are unit-specific
- CCs can give up to 72-hour pass, but they cannot be
exercised in conjunction with leave
- If you are on leave and you get stuck somewhere, call
and beg for extension
- If you are not on leave and you get stuck somewhere, call
and beg for backdated leave
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