Beale AFB

[Chicken]

Both my wife and I are PCSing to Beale around Sept. What is our BAH based off of? Is it the zipcode for the base or where we choose to live?

Also, anyone have ideas of the housing out there? We are planning on renting so we can get a larger house and invest some of the xtra $.

Thanks.

[Guest nolanrthompson]

Unless you find the needle in the haystack, you won't be able to find a house you can rent, especially one you can rent and make extra $$$.

The market did just drop and there are many new developments locally. The alternative would be living on base. It's not too bad but definately IS NOT the lap of luxery.

Shoot me a PM if you want some more details or specifics on local areas.

Nubby

-believe you BAH is based off of the zip code at which you reside

[Guest Navtastic]

BAH is based on where you are stationed (zip code for the base).

[Chicken]

Well my wife and I are both active duty O-3. So both our BAH should be about $2600 combined I believe. We found a house that is 3100 sq ft.. 6 bedroom.. 4 car garage.. etc for $2300.

The houses we have been looking at for sale are 3 bedroom, 2000 sq ft.. but about $500,000. I can't see myself buying a half million dollar house at this point in my life.

We have been looking in Rocklin.. which is ideal for me since my family lives in Fair Oaks.. Lincoln and Roseville.

[Guest Pogo]

People I know at Beale live at Lincoln and Rocklin, commute from either isn't bad in the mornings.

[Chicken]

I am trying to figure out what my BAH and CONUS COLA will be monthly without dependants.. I am getting conflicting numbers from finance saying combined it will be $1200 a month, while someone else claimed that they are getting $1900 a month. Anyone here a no kidding 0-3 thatis stationed at Beale and can tell me what I can expect as an over 5 year captain a month in BAH and COLA? Thanks..

[ellsworb]

all directly from the DOD Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee :

BAH for Zip code 95903, O-3, no dependents:

$1224

COLA for Zip Code 95903, O-3, 4 years, no dependents:

Cola Index is 1%, $29 a month.

So as I add it up. . expect $1253 a month after BAH and COLA.

[LT4Life]

Originally posted by ellsworb:

BAH for Zip code 95903, O-3, no dependents:

$1224

COLA for Zip Code 95903, O-3, 4 years, no dependents:

Cola Index is 1%, $29 a month.

So as I add it up. . expect $1253 a month after BAH and COLA.

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?

[Guest pjc2002]

COLA is in addition to BAH, at least that was the case two years ago when I was stationed in Boston.

[PirateAF]

Any Global Hawk dudes out there care to answer a few quick questions?

- how long is an assignment to Beale?

- how much TDY a year (I hear about 45-60 days a year)

- how far is Sacramento from Beale - traffic issues?

- how many hours do you work a day (I've heard 4-6 hour shifts)

Thanks for any info!

[Guest xtndr50boom]

I feel qualified to answer #3 (well, technically 4)

how far is Sacramento from Beale - traffic issues?

About 30 miles. Traffic issues? Oh yeah! Galleria, lincoln, rocklin area.... Not as bad as the 80W near the BB cloverleaf, but pretty bad nonetheless

[HuggyU2]

I live in the Rocklin/Roseville area. It's a 40-45 minute commute. I drive north on Hwy 65 in the morning; south in the evening. Traffic isn't a problem. However, traffic going the opposite way is heinuos. If you move here, I recommend Rocklin for schools, Grass Valley/Nevada City if you must live in the mountains. Not much in Wheatland, but land values are going up; and it's only 10 minutes to the flightline from Wheatland. I wouldn't live in Wheatland if your kids are in high school.

You can actually live as far out as Loomis and Auburn: there are some back roads that can keep your commute to under an hour.

Very little TDY. I hear it is a 3 year assignment.

Short days: seems to me those guys don't work much. I don't know for sure --- just my impression based on watching them run for their cars at 1530.

Why are you considering the RQ-4?

Edited September 15, 2007 by Huggyu2

[PirateAF]

The non-vol list came out and it's either that or C-17 FTU at lovely Altus OK.

ah...choices.

[HuggyU2]

Don't be too harsh on Altus. I spent 4 years in Del Rio,... and loved it. Absolutely a great time. It's what you make of it.

[Rudy the Rabbit]

Any Global Hawk dudes out there care to answer a few quick questions?

- how long is an assignment to Beale?

- how much TDY a year (I hear about 45-60 days a year)

- how far is Sacramento from Beale - traffic issues?

- how many hours do you work a day (I've heard 4-6 hour shifts)

Thanks for any info!

Bump.

So what is the lifestyle there like these days. With guam having opened it sounds like life could be worse as far as deployments go. It sounds like preds have the bad locations and ops tempo from reading the UAV thread. Is the GH a different lifestyle?

[Chicken]

Bump.

So what is the lifestyle there like these days. With guam having opened it sounds like life could be worse as far as deployments go. It sounds like preds have the bad locations and ops tempo from reading the UAV thread. Is the GH a different lifestyle?

Guam ...yes. Sigonella... yes. Grand Forks...yes. And that isn't the end of it either. If you come here, plan to be UAVs forever. There has been talk for a while of recoreing all GH peeps as 11U. Many people are jumping ship just in time. Deployments still are not bad, and there are other TDYs so the quality of life is not bad. However, plan to work weekends and holidays often....but you are still home with your family.

Bottomline..if you come to GH you will most likely be UAVs forever. So think hard about it.

Forgot to mention.. they have whored some guys out to pred squadrons. So just because you come to GH doesn't mean you won't go to preds.

[Chicken]

Short days: seems to me those guys don't work much. I don't know for sure --- just my impression based on watching them run for their cars at 1530.

Why are you considering the RQ-4?

Also forgot to mention. U2 guys will crap all over you every chance they get. Not sure why they hate GH types, but most do.

[PasserOGas]

Guam ...yes. Sigonella... yes. Grand Forks...yes. And that isn't the end of it either. If you come here, plan to be UAVs forever. There has been talk for a while of recoreing all GH peeps as 11U. Many people are jumping ship just in time. Deployments still are not bad, and there are other TDYs so the quality of life is not bad. However, plan to work weekends and holidays often....but you are still home with your family.

Bottomline..if you come to GH you will most likely be UAVs forever. So think hard about it.

Forgot to mention.. they have whored some guys out to pred squadrons. So just because you come to GH doesn't mean you won't go to preds.

What about AFCENT? Without naming bases how much time do you spend in tan flight suits? Are the deployments voluntary for the most part?

Those people "whored out to preds", were they pcs'd before their 4 years were up? I also heard you guys may get dual qualled in the mc-12. What is that looking like?

I'm seriously thinking of pulling the handle on tankers. The lack of follow on doesn't bother me as I'm pretty sure it will be my last assignment.

[Chicken]

What about AFCENT? Without naming bases how much time do you spend in tan flight suits? Are the deployments voluntary for the most part?

Those people "whored out to preds", were they pcs'd before their 4 years were up? I also heard you guys may get dual qualled in the mc-12. What is that looking like?

I'm seriously thinking of pulling the handle on tankers. The lack of follow on doesn't bother me as I'm pretty sure it will be my last assignment.

45-60 a year in the desert at most...if that. And no. Generally not voluntary. THe "4 year rule" is garbage btw. They look for people with the most time on station, and tag them as required. Once (if) the MC-12 gets to Beale, the dual qual thing will most likely go away and there will be MC-12 guys. If it's your last, then go for it... but I also heard of people possibly getting an assignment to Beale, and getting surprised with a rerouting to the Forks following training.

[HuggyU2]

Also forgot to mention. U2 guys will crap all over you every chance they get. Not sure why they hate GH types, but most do.

Care to elaborate?

[Kuma]

Clearly, your BAH is based on your base's zip code; that is the same for any military base...for Beale that is 95903. I do not get any kind of COLA ( I checked my LES.) I have no idea how that changes with two married military members.

I don't intentionally crap on Global Hawk guys. Huggy is probably the most laid back, cool pilot on the planet.

Be aware that if you choose an RPA, then you may stay RPA for the rest of your career. The A3 is making this decision soon. So, if you like to fly (actually be in a plane and manipulate flight controls) stay away from any and all RPA.

Good luck to all-

Kuma

[PirateAF]

Be aware that if you choose an RPA, then you may stay RPA for the rest of your career. The A3 is making this decision soon. So, if you like to fly (actually be in a plane and manipulate flight controls) stay away from any and all RPA.

Good luck to all-

Kuma

Thanks for filling in this thread with more GH/Beale info gentlemen!! I'm trying to figure out my next assignment and knowing that going to the GH would most likely be a one-way track makes my decision easier.

From everything I've read about the "deuce", I don't think I'm ready to submit myself to the harsh extremes that you U-2 pilots go through, but my hat's off to you for what you do. It sounds incredible.

[PasserOGas]

45-60 a year in the desert at most...if that. And no. Generally not voluntary. THe "4 year rule" is garbage btw. They look for people with the most time on station, and tag them as required. Once (if) the MC-12 gets to Beale, the dual qual thing will most likely go away and there will be MC-12 guys. If it's your last, then go for it... but I also heard of people possibly getting an assignment to Beale, and getting surprised with a rerouting to the Forks following training.

How about TDY's to Sig and Guam and the CAOC? Is the 45-60 days including all TDYs? Also what is the work schedule like? Lots of shift work like the preds?

[Chicken]

How about TDY's to Sig and Guam and the CAOC? Is the 45-60 days including all TDYs? Also what is the work schedule like? Lots of shift work like the preds?

Unsure about Sig and Guam. They are still standing up so it's up in the air. The 45-60 days a year I posted above was my past 4 years experience. You will most likely do a 60 day deployment to the CAOC as a LNO is some capacity (RQ4 or MC12), as well as deploy to the desert, but not frequently.

Work schedule isn't bad, but not like a typical flying squadron. There is shift work, and the current commander is a prior pred guy trying to bring some experience to the community and stablize life a little. There are three 8 hour shifts in which you will do flying duties and/or office work. Typical day is 10 hours for most, so not bad at all. You will work weekends and holidays sometimes. And with RQ4 guys getting tagged for MC12 more and more it will most likely get worse sooner than later. Of course, you can escape most of this by working outside the squadron and getting yourself a group/wing/TEG/etc job.

Not sure if you are coming from 135s or 10s, but if come to GH, you will be UAVs for life most likely. So choose carefully.

[Guest HerkRacer]

I know there have been rumors that U-2s will eventually retire (may be 2012??) and potentially be replaced by GH. When that day comes, what will happen to the U-2 pilots?? Will they retrain to fly GHs??