Leaving for COT then what?

Re: Leaving for COT then what?

• booyey member

  

  August 2012

  jaxters:

  Hi.

  I just got a call from my recruiter yesterday that I got in, finally, after almost 1 year of waiting. He did not tell me what the next step is going to be, except to prepare for the COTS in Maxwell AFB in October. And before he hung up, he said, "oh by the way, you're going to Robins AFB in Georgia." And did not offer any more information.

  I am totally new to the military, don't know anybody in the military. So pardon these questions:

  1) Should I be looking for a place now in Georgia (hire a realtor) or should I wait for my TMO's call? -- I am planning to live off base

  NO WAY. Orders change even after people get them. In fact, many people don't look for a place until they arrive at their new duty station, then they move into base temporary lodging while they look for a place to rent. The earliest I would look and sign a lease would be maybe go to COT a few days early and stop in GA. If you are going to buy, I'd still wait until I got there, because if your orders are cancelled, you can't cancel your purchase contract, plus it helps to rent or live in TLF (temp lodging on base) while you get to know the area before buying.  Since you will be an officer in the AF, keep in mind we typically don't stay in one place for more than 2-3 years, so buying is usually not a smart move.  

  Also, is is possible your tech school is in GA, and not your final duty station? After I did COT, I went to my permanent base for a couple months, then went to my tech school base.  And BTW, it is COT (Commissioned Officer Training), not COTS.  

   

  2)  Will the TMO arrange for my moving to Georgia BEFORE I leave for COTS?

  They could, if you already leased/bought a place. You will want to get more info on if GA is your permanent place for sure, and the timeline of moving, etc before you start arranging with TMO.  Normally once your HHG (household goods) are picked up, the mover will just keep them until you call to schedule delivery and they can deliver fairly quickly (within a week or two). 

  3) Will the TMO look for an apartment for me? If so, is it before or after COTS?

   No, you find your own housing. TMO is just the travel management office...they arrange HHG shipments based on dates you give them.  

  4) After the COTS, am I given "time off" (say 5 or 10 days) before I report to Georgia? Or should I be starting to work immediately after COTS? 

  You will get travel time, it is 300 miles per day, although if on the last day you have 350 miles or less to travel, it is up to 350. So if your base in GA is 351 miles or more, you will get 2 travel days. If it's 350 or less, you get 1 travel day. Then you need to report into your unit. If you haven't found housing yet, they will give you 10 days to househunt, ending earlier if you sign a lease or contract before the 10th day. If you already have a house, you would technically need to start working right away, although once your HHGs are delivered you get a day off for that, and honestly, most units I've been in will give you 1-2 free days to get settled once your stuff is delivered. But if they don't offer, I wouldn't ask because it's not a right. If you want 5-10 days off to get settled, you'd need to take leave. 

   

  Let me know if you have any questions. Are you going to be a JAG or medical or what? 

  Thank you so much in advance for the information!

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• jaxters

  August 2012

  Thanks, booyey, for this information!

   1) Should I be looking for a place now in Georgia (hire a realtor) or should I wait for my TMO's call? -- I am planning to live off base

  NO WAY. Orders change even after people get them. In fact, many people don't look for a place until they arrive at their new duty station, then they move into base temporary lodging while they look for a place to rent. The earliest I would look and sign a lease would be maybe go to COT a few days early and stop in GA. If you are going to buy, I'd still wait until I got there, because if your orders are cancelled, you can't cancel your purchase contract, plus it helps to rent or live in TLF (temp lodging on base) while you get to know the area before buying.  Since you will be an officer in the AF, keep in mind we typically don't stay in one place for more than 2-3 years, so buying is usually not a smart move.  ----NOT planning to buy a house. I only plan to rent all throughout. I already have a house in my home state. If I live in TLF, will I still be getting the BAH? That's the reason why I wanted to live off base, is to get the BAH. So is it possible to live in TLF for a couple of weeks/months before I find a place to rent?  

  Also, is is possible your tech school is in GA, and not your final duty station? After I did COT, I went to my permanent base for a couple months, then went to my tech school base.  And BTW, it is COT (Commissioned Officer Training), not COTS.   

  -- COT it is, sorry, I don't know. As I said I'm new and my recruiter is not very helpful I'm sorry, I don't understand what "tech school" means since I already am a doctor. I was only told to go to GA after COT. 

  2)  Will the TMO arrange for my moving to Georgia BEFORE I leave for COTS?

  They could, if you already leased/bought a place. You will want to get more info on if GA is your permanent place for sure, and the timeline of moving, etc before you start arranging with TMO.  Normally once your HHG (household goods) are picked up, the mover will just keep them until you call to schedule delivery and they can deliver fairly quickly (within a week or two). 

  -- WHEN will the TMO pick up my HHG? Before I leave for COT? While I'm in COT? Ideally, I would like for them to pick up the HHG and deliver the same day to my place. Since COT graduation is on a Friday, at least I have the weekend to get settled, and have 1 day off (since I live less than 300 miles from the base). 

  From what I gather from your answers, I will wait a couple of days/weeks and live first in TLF then find a place to rent, right? During the TLF living, does the TMO temporary keep my HHG?

  I am in the medical field.

  Thank you for your time! 

   

   

   

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• booyey member

  

  August 2012

  jaxters:

  Thanks, booyey, for this information!

   1) ----NOT planning to buy a house. I only plan to rent all throughout. I already have a house in my home state. If I live in TLF, will I still be getting the BAH? That's the reason why I wanted to live off base, is to get the BAH. So is it possible to live in TLF for a couple of weeks/months before I find a place to rent? 

  Yes, if you live in TLF, you get BAH and you can use that to pay for TLF. Most people go to TLF at least for awhile, you'll want to call and make reservations now though, to make sure you have a room. And yes, TLF is only for a few weeks, I think it is like a 30 day max, although it might be longer. Just long enough to find someplace permanent to rent.  

  
  

  -- COT it is, sorry, I don't know. As I said I'm new and my recruiter is not very helpful I'm sorry, I don't understand what "tech school" means since I already am a doctor. I was only told to go to GA after COT. 

  Hmm....I'm not sure if doctors have a short school they go to (tech school)....probably not. I am a lawyer and had been practicing for 2 years before joining the AF, but had to go to a 9 week tech school to learn the military justice system. But medicine is medicine, so you probably don't. I'd call him back and find out if you have orders he can send you. And if he doesn't have orders for you, ask if GA is your permanent duty station. If it is, that is where you'll be for the next few years.  

  2. WHEN will the TMO pick up my HHG? Before I leave for COT? While I'm in COT? Ideally, I would like for them to pick up the HHG and deliver the same day to my place. Since COT graduation is on a Friday, at least I have the weekend to get settled, and have 1 day off (since I live less than 300 miles from the base). 

  Yes, they will normally pick the stuff up before you leave for COT, then store it during COT for you and deliver it to the address you provide them on the date (or close to the date) that you specify.   There is almost no chance of them picking it up your stuff and delivering it the same day, because they usually put 3-4 households on the same truck (doing 3-4 pick ups) then 3-4 drop offs. You might luck out and get a "door to door" meaning your stuff is picked up and then around a week later it comes to your new house without ever going into storage, but in order to get that you'll need to have your new address at the time they pick up your HHGs.  

  
  

   

   

   

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• booyey member

  

  August 2012

  jaxters:

  Thanks, booyey, for this information!

   1) ----NOT planning to buy a house. I only plan to rent all throughout. I already have a house in my home state. If I live in TLF, will I still be getting the BAH? That's the reason why I wanted to live off base, is to get the BAH. So is it possible to live in TLF for a couple of weeks/months before I find a place to rent? 

  Yes, if you live in TLF, you get BAH and you can use that to pay for TLF. Most people go to TLF at least for awhile, you'll want to call and make reservations now though, to make sure you have a room. And yes, TLF is only for a few weeks, I think it is like a 30 day max, although it might be longer. Just long enough to find someplace permanent to rent.  

  
  

  -- COT it is, sorry, I don't know. As I said I'm new and my recruiter is not very helpful I'm sorry, I don't understand what "tech school" means since I already am a doctor. I was only told to go to GA after COT. 

  Hmm....I'm not sure if doctors have a short school they go to (tech school)....probably not. I am a lawyer and had been practicing for 2 years before joining the AF, but had to go to a 9 week tech school to learn the military justice system. But medicine is medicine, so you probably don't. I'd call him back and find out if you have orders he can send you. And if he doesn't have orders for you, ask if GA is your permanent duty station. If it is, that is where you'll be for the next few years.  

  2. WHEN will the TMO pick up my HHG? Before I leave for COT? While I'm in COT? Ideally, I would like for them to pick up the HHG and deliver the same day to my place. Since COT graduation is on a Friday, at least I have the weekend to get settled, and have 1 day off (since I live less than 300 miles from the base). 

  Yes, they will normally pick the stuff up before you leave for COT, then store it during COT for you and deliver it to the address you provide them on the date (or close to the date) that you specify.   There is almost no chance of them picking it up your stuff and delivering it the same day, because they usually put 3-4 households on the same truck (doing 3-4 pick ups) then 3-4 drop offs. You might luck out and get a "door to door" meaning your stuff is picked up and then around a week later it comes to your new house without ever going into storage, but in order to get that you'll need to have your new address at the time they pick up your HHGs.  

  
  

   

   

   

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