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Getting situated at 1st duty station, living plans?

I have joined the Army and I leave in March. I am also married with 2 children. What do I do when I get my 1st duty station about our living arrangements. I was thinking it would be wiser to go to the duty station ahead of my husband and kids to get us situated. Where do I live and how do I get started, do I contact a apartment finder or what? Any tips, opinions, advice is appreciated….

Public Comments

1. nope. once he gets his orders he must start the process to arrange for the household goods shipment. does no good to show up before he does as you can do nothing until he has actually checked in to his command. all you can do prior is maybe call the housing off ice to see what their policy is about getting on the housing list and do a little research on area apartment complexes/rentals. if you show up before he has permission to move you, no expenses incurred will be reimbursed. he will get up to ten days of temporary lodging once you all arrive so you can house hunt. all sorts of different things must happen if he gets overseas orders to include everyone passing an overseas screening. that can be a six month process before the family joins him.
2. Once you are at your first duty station you have the option of living on base or off base. If you want to live on base it would probably best to have you get there first, get yourself on the housing list (there is usually a wait time for housing that can range from 1-6months) then when a house is available move your family down to move into your house on base. If you want to live off base that's on you but it will also allow for your family to immediately move with you. You can go to ahrn.com (it's housing for military and dod) and look for off base options. You can also do what my husband and I did which was winging it. Lol he got his orders, we packed the uhaul and drove down to California. Then went to a realtors office and said we need a house to rent and moved into one the next day. Looking for realtor offices who have rental houses would work too so you aren't stuck in an apartment. Best of luck!
3. Mrsjvb, how about reading the question... it is NOT her husband joining, she is joining. That is why she wondered if she should get there ahead of them and work everything out first. Geez, read a little before you answer. I know people that go ahead of their spouse and child to get things prearranged but it isn't necessary. They can go with you at the same time and you'll manage to find housing together. If you get post housing, they hand you keys, you move in. If you go off post, then you look at the paper, craigslist, contact an agent, find a place to rent. It isn't as difficult as you might think. I have moved thousands of miles for military transfers and my own personal transfers in the civilian sector. I have been able to find a house in 3 days. You have to know what is a TOP priority in a house and what is a feature you want but can live without. It isn't that difficult.
4. About a month or so from graduating AIT you will be getting your orders so you know where you will be going. You will also outprocesses and get your transportation set up. If you are staying stateside when you go to inprocess your first unit you can get something called PTDY. This gives you 10 days to get your affairs in order. Normally you get this after you inprocess the base. Your first stop should be housing where you can sign up for base housing if you want to or they can suggest areas to find an apartment etc. If your family wants to come up then you also have the option of doing a do it yourself move. You will learn more about that. I personally don't suggest it. If you go overseas you will more than likely have to go yourself first and then bring the family later. If you go to Korea chance of command sponsorship will low. Just relax and take it one day at a time.