Casey

How to Find a Home Near Hurlburt Field

August 10, 2010 by Casey

I lived near Hurlburt Field for four years while in the military, so I know the housing market fairly well. I’m going to break down the neighborhoods where most military live, providing pros and cons for each.

Navarre/Holley by the Sea

Navarre Map near Hurlburt Field — Commute time to various parts of Navarre

Navarre is located west of Hurlburt Field towards Pensacola. It consists of neighborhoods and beaches along Highway 98.

This is the most popular area to live near Hurlburt Field, as you get the biggest home for your money. Your commute will be anywhere from 5-30 minutes depending how far you go from the base.

There are many family-friendly neighborhoods along Highway 98 leading to Navarre. Most feature large homes with decent size yards. Holley by the Sea, a subdivision near Navarre, features 4,700 homes, all with access to a recreation center and swimming pools.

Most homes in this area will be a short drive to the Navarre bridge, which takes you to Navarre Beach. This is a beautiful beach that’s less crowded than the beaches in Destin. It really depends what you’re into though… the crowds in Destin can also make the beach fun.

Beware, traffic along Highway 98 is rough. A lot of accidents happen on that road due to cars darting across the highway at one of the many intersections. I’m a victim myself, totaling my Honda Accord in 2004 after I crossed the bridge into Destin. You can expect to be stuck in traffic probably once a week for more than 30 minutes due to an accident.

Navarre
Pro: Large homes, military-friendly neighborhoods, good schools, affordable
Con: Bad traffic on Highway 98, lack of shopping/restaurants in the immediate area

Fort Walton Beach/Mary Esther

The neighborhoods in Mary Esther (area right around the base) and Fort Walton Beach are close to base. Some of the nicest neighborhoods can be accessed by driving out of the back gate. These homes are very convenient as you avoid many of the headaches associated with Highway 98.

Fort Walton Beach/Mary Esther
Pro: Close to base, close to shopping and restaurants, less traffic issues than Navarre
Con: Homes on smaller lots when compared to Navarre, may cost more, neighborhoods sometimes right next to rundown areas

Okaloosa Island

The majority of the homes on Okaloosa Island are condos. Live here if you want to be on the beach but fairly close to Hurlburt Field.

Destin

I lived in Destin for my first year while at Hurlburt Field. Destin is a clean, upscale, town. This is your best option for access to great beaches, bars, and nightlife.

Your commute to Hurlburt will be at least 15 minutes and more likely 20+. The traffic in Destin gets really bad during the summer months. You’ll be right in the middle of the party all summer long, but it will tick you off on a few days when you just want to get home and relax.

Resources

Emerald Coast Homes Online – this is a joint web site shared by all of the realtors. Probably your best bet for finding a home near Hurlburt Field or Eglin AFB.

Holly by the Sea

The Magic Coffee Maker

July 30, 2010 by Casey

I am absolutely loving my Keurig single-cup coffee maker. I used to walk to the chow hall to get some coffee before work, now I quickly make a cup in my room. Why do I like this contraption so much?

Keurig B30 Coffee Maker — Keurig on my nightstand

First, it’s the cleanest way to make coffee, given that there’s no pot to wash out or filter to deal with after the coffee’s made. You simply place a coffee pod in the brewer to make one cup, then throw it away when you’re done.

Second, you can order variety packs, choosing a different type of coffee every day. They even have iced coffee and various teas available.

Third, it’s convenient, brewing one cup of coffee in about 3 minutes. It brews fairly quietly which keeps from waking my neighbors.

Finally, the brewer is small and takes up a small amount of space in my cramped dorm room. I highly recommend this coffee maker for the office, an extended TDY, or deployment. My favorite types of coffee are Caribou Coffee Daybreak blend and Green Mountain Coffee Nantucket blend.

Eat Like a Local Near Hurlburt Field

July 29, 2010 by Casey

Have you ever driven into a new city and accidentally stopped at the crappiest restaurant in town? I know I have, and I felt ripped off. Skip the b-list and visit one of these top 8 restaurants near Hurlburt Field (Fort Walton Beach/Destin area).

Fudpuckers in Destin, FL

1. Big City American Bistro

Big City always impresses, whether it be for lunch, dinner, or their Sunday brunch.

2. Old Bay Steamer

You came to the Gulf for some seafood, well this is the place. Locals know that Old Bay Steamer has the best seafood in the Fort Walton Beach/Destin area, and the price is what you would expect to pay for top quality.

3. Fudpuckers (Destin)

Fudpuckers is a great place to bring out-of-town family for lunch. The fried dill pickles are an awesome appetizer. Kids will like writing on the walls and feeding the crocodiles.

4. Makong Thai

This restaurant is closed!

5. Bonefish Grill

I know, it’s a chain restaurant… but the food is damn good. The atmosphere on the weekend rocks as well.

6. Another Broken Egg Cafe

Best breakfast on the Gulf coast. The restaurant is fairly small, so get there early if you want to get seated quickly. They recently started franchising, so I hope to see it in more parts of the US soon!

7. Royal Orchid

Great sushi and thai food.

8. Olive Garden

Try the soup and breadsticks. If you want to eat like a local, then you’ll eat at Olive Garden. And you will like it.

More Restaurant Reviews

Trip Advisor (FWB | Destin)

Yelp

Do you agree with this list? Let us know in the comments.

Want to be an Officer? It’s Easier than you Think

July 27, 2010 by Casey

2Lt Rank If you’re enlisted and want to become an officer, I have a plan for you. Get out when your enlistment is up. Apply to a university with an ROTC program. Use your GI Bill to pay for school while you complete your degree and attend ROTC. BAM! In 2-3 years you’ll be pinning on bars.

GI Bill + ROTC = Commission

A sharp enlisted troop with 1-2 years of college has an outstanding opportunity to earn a commission. The easiest option is to simply get out of the military once your enlistment is up and join ROTC at a university. The next available option would be to apply for a program that lets you out of your enlistment early (more on that below).

Why ROTC? Here’s a secret: many students that try to join ROTC aren’t cut out for the military. Some run two laps around the track and pass out. Others hate the idea of marching or doing anything really military. Because of this, a class of 30 freshmen drops to about to 10 by the senior year.

But you already pass the fitness test. You know how to march and you’ve seen the real military. ROTC will develop your leadership skills and test you in this area. But odds are you will excel when compared to your peers. By using your GI Bill you can comfortably support yourself while going through college and ROTC. You’ll be more mature than many of the other students and should do well in college just by applying yourself rather than binge drinking.

Unlike other commissioning programs, if you make it through an ROTC program you will commission when you graduate. Let’s be clear, I’m not saying that being an officer is easy, or that the process will be a piece of cake. But when it comes to getting in the game and following the track to being an officer, joining a college ROTC program is probably the easiest way.

Plan of Action

1. Talk to a counselor at your education center

They can tell you if you qualify for a program that lets you out of your enlistment early. If one is available, then apply. If not, no big deal. If you have the new GI Bill you can simply wait until your enlistment is up and attend ROTC then. There’s really no difference between the new GI Bill and the scholarships that the services offer in terms of money. The major difference is that they will likely let you leave early (I left at 3 out of 4 years for mine).

2. Call an ROTC recruiter for your desired branch

For a while, students could join ROTC during their third or fourth year of college. From what I’ve heard this is no longer the case. You need to find out at what point you can no longer attend ROTC. For instance, can I join ROTC if I’ve completed 60 credits and am transferring to a university as a junior? Do I need to be a certain major to join? For most services you need to have 2 years of college remaining to join ROTC. Your major should not matter. But check to be sure.

3. Choose a nearby school with an ROTC program

You can either go to a school with a program, or attend via “cross-town” which means you drive to that school for your ROTC courses.

4. Work out a degree plan with your college counselor

5. Execute!

Don’t give up, you can do this! So many enlisted troops I talk to think that becoming an officer is some crazy process that is out of their reach. ROTC is an opportunity to jump right into the track towards your commission.

Resources

Air Force ROTC

Army ROTC

Navy ROTC (also for Marines)

GI Bill – the Education Jackpot

July 25, 2010 by Casey

The new GI Bill should be presented with a big check like you just won the lottery. A newscaster should ask you what you’re going to do now that you have the GI Bill. It’s really that good.

Back in the day, getting a military scholarship to pay for tuition and books was a major feat. For mine, I filled out mountains of paperwork. I met with my commander to ask for an endorsement. I committed to attend ROTC. The new GI Bill gives you a full scholarship and more without the hassle.

The New GI Bill

The new GI Bill pays a hefty living allowance, book allowance, and for most schools, full tuition and fees. I entered my alma mater UC Davis into the GI Bill calculator to see what benefits you could receive today. According to the results, you would receive:

$13,079 for tuition and fees (pays 100%)
$1,680 per month living allowance
$500 paid twice per year for books

All this for 3 years! A quick look on the UC Davis Community Housing Listing shows that a two-bedroom apartment is around $1,000. So the monthly living allowance could more than pay for your housing. Get a part-time job on campus and you’re set!

GI Bill Calculator Results for UC Davis — GI Bill Calculator Results for University of California, Davis

Today’s military are extremely fortunate to have this program available. A wise plan would be to accomplish the first year of college while in the military using tuition assistance. When you go to college full-time, you’ll have a full ride for the remaining three years.

Learn More

GI Bill Application

GI Bill BAH rates (select school to view)

GI Bill Phone Number: 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551)

How Much Money will I Make if I Join the Military?

July 23, 2010 by Casey

The majority of a military member’s paycheck comes from their Basic Pay, Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS). By breaking these down we’ll see how an E-4 with 4 years in service earns about $46,000 per year.

Basic Pay

Basic pay is determined by rank and years in service. For example, an E-4 with four years in service will earn $2,199.90 per month in basic pay, which is split into two payments paid on the 1st and 15th of the month.

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)

Basic Allowance for Housing is only paid if you live off-base. If you live in the dorms or on-base housing you will not receive BAH. However, you will not pay rent for your home if you live on-base. BAH is calculated based on the zip code of your assigned installation, and whether you are married or single. Married personnel earn a bit more than single. Keeping with our example above, a married E-4 assigned to Travis AFB (zip code 94535) would receive $1,599.00 per month. As single E-4 at the same base would earn $1,332.00.

So far our married E-4 with four years in service earns $2,199.90 + $1,332.00 = $3,531.90 per month.

Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS)

Military personnel also receive Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) if they live off base. This money is meant to purchase food. If you live on base you will not receive BAS, but you will be allowed to eat at the dining facility for free.

Current BAS rates:

Enlisted – $323.87
Officer – $223.04

Adding to our previous example, our married E-4 earns $3,855.70 per month total, or $46,268.40 per year.

Additional Allowances

[shamwow] Wait there’s more! [/shamwow] Military personnel have the opportunity to earn special pays based on their job or special skills. For instance, if our E-4 is an aviator he’ll receive $225 per month. If he’s a linguist he could receive from $300-1,000 extra for knowing a critical language. Click here to view various special pays.

Deployment Pay

Finally, military members may earn several extra payments while deployed, to include hostile fire pay ($225), hazardous duty pay ($150), and family separation allowance ($250). Certain deployed locations are also tax-free.

* Photo by Thomas Hawk