List Only - pcs to texas, i have some questions?

pcs to texas, i have some questions?

My husband just found out that we are moving to Texas once we leave Germany, he asked to go there. We are here until April of 2010 but we haven't got our orders yet to go to Texas. Does anyone know if we have to do all 3 yrs here in Germany or if we can leave earlier to go to Texas? I mean I know we will get the orders soon but I'm just excited. Also I went to the army one stop to look at the on post housing and we have 2 children and I was just wondering if anyone that lives there now or has recently, recommends which housing to live at. My husband will be an E-5 and we have 2 kids so if anyone could help me and tell me where is good that would be great. I don't want to live in some dump I want it to feel like a home. I'm getting nervous because it is hard for me to think of living anywhere but Germany because this is our first duty station. I'm just excited so if someone could tell me some things about there I would appreciate it:) Just wanted to let you know my husband is in the army...hooah all the way. Anyways his mos is a 19k for those of you that don't know thats a tanker. This is his first reenlistment and he chose ft hood texas and he got it. we still have until april 2010 before we finish out tour in germany

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Welcome to the wonderful world of being in the military. In answer to your first question, yes, you will finish out your tour in Germany. They won't shorten it unless the post your husband is assigned to is being closed permanently...and that could be the case since your husband found out about his assignment so soon. They are closing some installations in Germany under BRAC and moving a lot of troops and families back stateside. However, it is highly unusually to find out a year out and from my experience, I would take that notification with a grain of salt. Expect that assignment to change...maybe a couple of times...before you get orders. So don't get TOO excited. Frankly, I am surprised he didn't get orders to the east coast of the US coming from Germany, but then you did not mention his MOS and that may have something to do with it. Military moves can be exciting and stressful. To avoid the highs and lows, wait until you get actual orders (they can still get changed, but doubtful), before you get all targeted in on one future new location.
There is more than one base in Texas, so it's difficult answering your question without knowing more details. If your husband is in the Army, he could be stationed in San Antonio, El Paso, Corpus Christi, Killeen, or just outside of Texarkana. Those cover every corner of Texas and it's a pretty big state. I was stationed in San Antonio (Camp Bullis & Fort Sam Houston) and have visited the base in Killeen (Fort Hood) a couple times. Both places are great, military personnel are friendly (for the most part), and the larger cities always offer more to do than many other places. In San Antonio, I would recommend the museum, the zoo (especially with the kids!), and the theme parks, not to mention the 5+ malls (if you like shopping). While Killeen is a small city, Austin, Texas' capital, is a short drive (45-min drive is short in Texas) to the south. There is plenty to do here; it is an active town with a great music scene and night vibe. Closer to San Antonio, but well within driving range of either city is New Braunfels, home of the country's number one-ranked (according to the Travel channel) water park, Schlitterbaun. I would be able to answer many more questions about San Antonio, as I spent two and a half years there, but Texas is my home state and I might know a thing or two about any area you will be moving to. Free to ask if you'd like... and welcome back (soon)!
First, Take a breath!! My hubby and I (and our son) are also currently stationed in Germany. Our tour is not supposed to end(in Germany) until 2010, but upon his re-up and request for next duty station, his ETS was extended through 2014, but our DEROS date stayed the same! ANY WAY, when your new orders are issued, there will be a couple dates listed throughout the orders. There will be a "Report Date" for when your husband has to report to his new unit/duty station and then a "DEROS" or 'departure date' that will tell you how soon you can depart from here(Germany). Depending on your location, will also depend on your departure date because of base closings. Families are be moved to-and-from different bases all over Germany and to the states because of this! He will, though, finish his tour here, in Germany, before starting his new tour in Texas. QUESTION: Is your DEROS date April of 2010 or is that his ETS date??? I'm not sure about housing, I do know that you have to report to your on post Housing Unit/Office before looking at buying/renting off post. But more than likely, you will have to simply report to your housing office and they will give you a little more information/phone numbers/units you qualify for, etc.!! Go to www.militaryhomefront.com and you can actually put in all your PCS info and it will provide you with an entire calandar(several months) of when you should start planning packing, having the movers come get your stuff, lists of travel items and lists of things to do or take care before you leave... It's a GREAT site!! It will also provide you with all the phone numbers you could POSSIBLE need for your current location AND your new location!!! If you have Vonage your calls will be free(A BIG PLUS living here). Your husband and mine are, now, the same rank and will be the same rank. We're scheduled to PCS in September to Hawaii. I'm just not looking forward to the LOOONG flight stateside!! lol In any case, I hope I could help a bit! GOOD LUCK!!! Feel free to contact me if you'd like!!
they don't hand out orders until 60 days prior to PCS'ing. I would much rather stay in Germany than go to Texas!
better than 90% certainty that you will do most of the full three years, give or take a few months. actual hard copy orders will not be given until probably 90 days out..and don't get too excited.. a lot can happen in a year and they might get changed. we are penciled in for our orders leaving December 2010..and trust me I ain't making plans to move to Japan until we have hard copies in hand... now if the kids are school aged you MIGHT be able to swing leaving say in December so that you can get settled and get them enrolled before school starts back up again in January.. but that won't necessarily mean HE will get to leave early. Or you may have to wait until the school year in Germany ends in May or June and then PCS. ( that's probably the better option cuz then he can leave at the same time).
Every Soldier who serves in OCONUS locations have a DEROS date. That is the date that he/she is eligible to return to the States. Being that he re-enlisted to go to Ft Hood and his DEROS is April 2010, he will most likely be reporting to Ft Hood by 10 May 2010. Fort Hood has privatized housing, meaning that your husband will receive BAH, but he must pay "rent" to the housing office. If you ask me, when you think about it...a SPC who lives in the same neighborhood will pay less for the same amount of sqft that you'll be living whereas you'll be paying more because his BAH will be higher. That's why I would rather live off post. At least I know where my money is going and I get my money's worth. I'm from Killeen. Grew up around Ft Hood all my life and joined the Army to get away for a little while. If you want to do some researching, look up www.kdhnews.com and look at the rentals. Put the addresses on Google Maps. As long as the house is SOUTH of HWY 190, it's in a pretty good area. The same goes with Harker Heights. Now...if you're looking for a small town atmosphere, then you'll want to live in Copperas Cove. It'll be a little bit of a longer drive for him to get to work but he can go through Cove gate or Clarke Rd gate. Most people would rather use the Main gate but it's always so crowded getting in for PT. I literally have to leave 45 min early just to get on post in time...sometimes an hour early...but that was when I was living in Copperas Cove. I lived in Killeen and would leave 20 min before formation and cut through the hospital/college areas to get on post Below are websites that I suggest if you decide to rent: www.tricitypm.com www.hunterrentals.com www.jwcrentals.com www.centraltexasrentals.com www.colonialrepm.com DO NOT GO TO TEXSTAR PROPERTIES!! I had too many Soldiers who had issues with them. Plus, the owner's daughter is one of my NCOs soon-to-be ex wife...if she ever decides to show up to court. Even if you professionally clean your house and show the receipt, they will still charge you for "their" professional services. Email me at crazy_angel31078@yahoo.com if you have any more questions. I will also give you my AKO address...but not on here. My husband and I are headed back in Oct 09 and I can't wait to go home to Hood.