LT4Life

So has anybody else been issued a CAC reader to check your email at home (err TDY rather)? From what I understand, they have eliminated web mail all over and this is the only way.

Turbotax still offers it free but they have a catch...you have to have earned under 52k AGI or less. I don't know if this includeds your spouse or not but should work for the youngheads before they get rich like the oldheads. https://turbotax.intuit.com/taxfreedom/ EDIT: Also if you go through the USAA website you can get a 20% discount if you want to pay to use TurboTax. [ 25. January 2007, 10:57: Message edited by: LT4Life ]

Does anybody have any insight as to whether or not TurboTax/H&R Tax Cut do a pretty good job for first time homeowners? My wife and I bought our first house and now I'm wondering if it's better to go to an actual tax person or if the software versions do just as good a job. I've used TurboTax for the past four or five years but it was pretty standard stuff. Also, any insight on TurboTax vs H&R Tax Cut. Thanks all.

That's a good idea. I wish I would have did that when I was in UPT. We had a Navy instructor that had to do it, now I realize it's a smart idea, not a hassle.

Search function for T-34 comes up with a lot of info on the ol Turbomentor. A good website for T-1/T-34 suff is www.dansdiversion.com

Not in college anymore...no more registrars. Registrar=OSS...call them. Kinda piggybacking off of what Linda said, a couple of weeks is plenty time to get there early. Not enough time for a casual job but enough time to get your inprocessing done, maybe get pubs, meet some classmates, and figure out where your at. If you're married gives your wife some time to find a job, or at least get familiar with the area. If that all happens for ya I would memorize the BF, maybe the ops limits, but that's it. Don't try and geek out on the pubs. It won't make enough sense to you in the time you'd put in for it to be worth your time. You'll have people teach you that and within a short matter of time all your classmates and you will be on the same sheet of music to succeed or go down in flames. IMHO.

I'm not sure if it will be kept on file but it won't have any effecton your FC1. That is a much much much more thorough physical that is standalone. "2" on what AKANG said. Brooks will test a bunch of other stuff, and if those tests have problems or complications, they will keep you there for retest and whatnot.

If your squadron has a mic light for your flight helmet that would be pretty helpful. A buddy of mine hooked me up with one halfway through and I don't know how I ever went without it (on night flights of course). Another nice thing to have is one of those simple straps that holds an approach plate, some kneeboards work fine but a lot of people prefer the strap.

Oakley has an unbelievable military discount. You have to call them up to get the forms but you get anywhere from 40-60% off of almost all thier stuff. The only catch is it must be a dark color and the lens has to comply with uniform regs. If anyone needs the forms I got them, PM me, or call them yourself. A great deal though.

I too have been wondering the same thing as CHQ. I planned on using the Vonage service while over there. They have international rates but the kicker is if you call the states from overseas it is considered a local call. They have this small USB drive that can be connected to any computer with an internet connection (click here to see) and you plug one of those cell phone ear attachments into it and make your phone calls. If you get thier $15 plan (500 minutes) it works out to 3 cents/min and is 4 cents/min after that. Also they have a plan for 25/month for unlimited minutes. Of course this is all dependent on having a computer with an internet connection. I haven't been deployed yet so I don't know how common that is. Please give thoughts on this idea. Also if the person you call is a vonage customer it in network and is free like cell phones. [ 01. July 2006, 21:12: Message edited by: LT4Life ]

First off, if you so $hit hot, you have nothing to worry about. Second off, it might take you an extra 2 months or so to finish (remember after you finish Whiting you have a PCS=DLA) but you will be happy. The guys going through T-6's at Vance (which is your follow on after Whiting if you go T-1/T38) will get maybe 2 days off average before they go from T-6-->T-38/T-1. You on the other hand will have some time to unwind, relax, and get ready for the next step, whatever it may be. Whiting is a great place. Most of my classmates at Vance when I checked in were slightly envious of my past months as opposed to thiers. And this extra time at Whiting won't throw you behind because if I'm not mistaken,(someone chime in if I'm wrong) Whiting guys don't have to go casual before they report where a lot of the other guys get a few months casual. Yeah, the Navy training is different, they don't hold your hand. It's a big boy program so take your ENJJPT scores and run the show. And on the days when your not talking about your scores that should have gotten you "a plane to have fun in," go grab a bushwhacker from Bamboo Willies on the beach, throw an extra shot of 151 in it and check out the eye candy. Vance sure as he!! won't have that.

So there's hope yet...

I was beginning to wonder if anyone else was noticing this rather depressing trend. And yes, it is a HUGE trend among the married dudes. I will never live in base housing again because my wife and I were viewed as heathen's because we'd go the the club on the weekends and stumble home, or we'd be the one's having the barbeque and drinking in the back yard with friends. Nobody else in the neighborhood drank at ALL. That was probably my biggest reality shock coming on active duty years ago was how few drank and had fun. It seems like LT's are pinning on the butter bars these days and throwing in out thier taste for the social nector. Anybody else notice this?

I was told by finance the other day that COLA is already added into your BAH. So in the case above the guy would get $1224 a month because the COLA was already added in. I didn't think that sounded right. Can anyone clear it up that has had experience with COLA stateside?

I rolled the option of FAIPing around for a while too. I talked to a few instructors from an MWS and they told me FAIPing is a good deal, but they have a lot more to offer the "kiddies" with an MWS tour under thier belt than the FAIPs with 112 hours of dual Tone time. As for the family, that was my number one reason for FAIPing and yet another instructor told me if you FAIP then after that you will have at least 2 back to back MWS tours. If you have a family then a lot of guys like to use the instructor slot (and from what I understand you only get one) between MWS as a 'break' or at the end when the kids are a bit older and they could interact more with them than just diaper changes and such. Just a thought. Like C-21 pilot said, consider the 21 world as well.

Point taken. I've read that in numerous places and should have mentioned that in my post. I just wanted the guy to know that although it is a fantastic assignment, it is rarely guys number one pics directly out of flight school. Lots o guys want to go 'operational' and keep the white jet tour for later on. Hope I didn't step on any toes and I apologize for any confusion.

You are entitled to an advance on your DLA if you would like to get it to help with moving expenses, or just want to have the cash en route. For that you would talk to the Finance at your current base. If you don't want it then you will fill out an A$$load of paperwork when you in process at Vance and get a decent sized check about 2 days later. Also a sidenote to TLE (the 10 days of paid lodging). That is the most flexible pay I think we are entitled to. For example, if you stayed in a hotel for 10 days (more expensive) and billetting for 5, you don't have to report the billetting, you could just claim the hotel. Also it can be split up. When I PCSed to Pcola years ago I stayed in a hotel M-Thus while my buddy was in training then stayed with him on the weekends when he wasn't busy. This allowed me to spread that 10 paid days out a little longer while I waited for my apartment to open up. Oh yeah and Brabus, there is an Amn in the finance office who is unbelievable. He will make sure you get all you are entitled to and then some. He's the first guy I've ever seen that not only knows his ish, but wants all of us to get what's outs. A solid guy. PM me if you got any questions about lovely Vance. I'm still here about to go TDY to Altus for training but I'll be around.

C-21's aren't that hard to get out of pilot training in my experience. The past three drops have all had them and the guys that wanted them got them. Although a nice assignment, a lot of guys these days don't want to give up thier "white jet tour" right out of UPT. They's rather save it after an MWS tour keep they're options open. C21Cowboy is right, expect Andrews or Scott, although a guy a few weeks ago landed Ramstein.

https://www.dansdiversion.com/ This is a fantastic site for T-1 stuff and has some pretty good 34 stuff. Definately more recent than the other sites.