Newcomers arrive at Keesler AFB in a variety of different statuses. This section will discuss the various reporting procedures and in processing at Keesler.
Before you move take care of the following issues:
- Attend Smooth Move Seminar or receive relocation counseling
-Sponsorship (Permanent Party)- contact your unit to obtain a sponsor. You sponsor will send you a package with information pertaining to Keesler and your transition here.
-Non-Prior Service Students contact the Airman & Family Readiness Center Annex Levitow for assistance. Report to your unit as directed in your orders.
-Finances - It's recommended to complete a budget prior to your arrival at Keesler. Basic Housing Allowance has improved this year. Wages for spouse employment are at the lower end of the scale. Members in PCS status not residing in dorms, should request a Dislocation Allowance (DLA) through the finance office. Other members may need to wait until they check in to receive DLA.
-Household good shipments are arranged through the Traffic Management Office (TMO). Please check your orders for your shipment options with regards to weight.
-Self Move (formerly DITY) allows a member to receive payment from the Air Force for moving themselves instead of the government arranging your move. Pre-authorization is required and should be received from the TMO at the losing base. The payment will be considered earned income and will be taxed at 28%.
-Relocation offers an excellent opportunity to clean and organize your household nad belongings!
-Inventory your household goods. Make notes of the conditions of your property, and take photographs when possible. In the event of a catastrophe, loss, damage, or theft incident this information will be necessary to support any claims that would have to be filed.
-Notify your utility companies of your pending move.
-Notify your children's schools or childcare providers of your pending move.
-Provide change of address information to family, friends, insurance providers, schools, credit cards, subscriptions, etc.
-Make sure your pet records are available and your pets shots are up to date, and documented.
-Notify your civilian employer of your pending move. If possible, request a leave of abscence rather than resign. Always ask for a letter of reference.
-Make sure your vehicles are "road ready".
-Personally carry all family members medical and school records.
-Permanent Party enlisted members should apply for Military Family housing 30 days prior to arrival at Keesler (see Housing for more information).
-Permissive TDY MAY be granted by your squadron for 'house hunting' and may be authorized for up to 8 days. This applies only to permanent party.
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS TO CARRY ON HAND:
Have these with you at all times during your inprocessing
1. At least 10 copies of your orders
2. Birth Certificates
3. Marriage Liscence
4. Copy of advanced pay or allowance paperwork.
5. All moving paperwork including TMO information, Self Move paperwork, and all receipts associated with moving.
6. Employment records or resume of civilian family members.
7. Medical/Dental records of your entire family from your previous duty station.
8. Immunization records for all children and active-duty members.
9. School records/transcripts for children and adults.
10. Pet medical and immunization records.
11. Recommendation: Letters of credit from utility companies
If you get married before you PCS, you must inform your commander and follow the procedures exactly as you are given them. The military will not pay for travel and housing of your spouse if you do not follow proper procedures.
Travel Planning:
Due to Hurricane Katrina - Permanet Party members must get approval from Commander before family members may PCS to this area.
Concurrent Travel - Most students are not authorized to relocate their families here at the governments expense.
- Make Temporary Lodging/Billeting reservations early. Confirm them before you leave you base, or are in route to Keesler AFB.
-Contact your Relocation Office (Airman & Family Readiness Center) for assistance with planning your travel.
-Travel and Relocation Entitlements- members should contact their finance office and/or TMO for information regarding their travel entitlements. Students entitlements will probably be limited because this is not a permenant duty station. For permanent party arriving at Keesler, entitlements are based on rank and dependance status.
Reporting Procedures:
Prior Service airmen should always discuss "unit inprocessing" with the sponsor to know the preferred procedures. Permanent party personnel check-in through their orderly room on the first duty day after their arrival. Then report to the Personnel Employment Office in the Sablich Center (MPF). You should bring your "inprocessing/PCS package," which will include your field record, to this meeting. There you will be scheduled for two additional informational briefings: inprocessing/finance and Newcomers. Please bring your spouse to the Newcomers Orientation, as they will learn much about the base, community, environmental conditions, services and programs.
Technical Training Students (Non-prior service) will arrive by bus from Lackland AFB. They normally arrive on Monday. All in-processing for non-prior service students is accomplished in the Student Personnel Center in the Levitow Building upon arrival at Keesler AFB. The first few days are filled with briefings and appointments that will keep students very busy.
If you arrive after duty hours or on a weekend or holiday, Muse Manor is the official check-in point. Refer to "Installation: Directions Topic" for details. Remember to call your sponsor and let them know you have arrived.
If you are a single enlisted person (E-4 and below) you should ask your sponsor in advance if you should stay in billeting or if you can get into your dorm room right away.
Air Force Reserve/Guard: The liason office of the ANG/AFRC is the focal point for all coordination, questions, situations, health, welfare, and moral issues of the ANG/AFRC 81st Training Wing. All ANG/AFR Students will in and out process directly with this office.
The "MAJOR UNIT LISTING" has phone numbers of Keesler squadrons. The two Keesler web sites also offer a Directory for contacting units.
After your arrive:
-Contact your sponsor
-Contact TMO if you shipped household goods or a vehicle.
-Contact Housing for dormitory, apartment, and on and off base housing. Military members MUST contact housing prior to signing a lease.
-File travel vouchers at finance. There will be a finance briefing when you arrive at the base. You should bring copies of all of your receipts and DLA information.
-Newcomers Briefing - contact your orderly room for information regarding the times. This briefing is mandatory for all permaent party members. Spouses are encouraged to attend.
-Visit the Airman & Family Readiness Center for lending locker items, maps, and newcomer information. Please have a copy of your orders and military ID with you if you are planning to check out any items from the lending locker. The center can also assist you with vouchers for childcare (Air Force Only), Heart Link (orientation for new spouses), budget assistance, financial classes, marriage/baby/parenting classes, emergency assistance, and any other questions you may have about the base and the community.
-Contact your family to let them know that you have arrived and how to contact you.
Mail: Since Hurricane Katrina the location for the "Mail-Bag" has been temporarily relocated to the Levitow Building mail room. PCSing permanent party will be able to obtain PO Boxes for forwarding their mail. Please send your sponsor a copy of your orders and they can set up your PO Box. Upon arrival, please visit the Post Office to collect your mail. When you have a permanent resid them know of your permanent address. The temporary post office boxes are only available for a limited time.
The Post Office operates a base location and individuals can also rent boxes from that location.
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