[CRS]

Does anyone have any knowledge/experience with Ft. Meade, MD? We received our 4 choices for our PCS move, and that was one of the more promising ones. Two were in LA, but after Katrina, I'm too nervous to move there. The other would be our first choice, but it would only be short term because of rank. So, any info anyone has on the post or surrounding area, I'd appreciate it. I'm mostly interested in schools and any on post experiences.

TIA!!

[SodScrap]

Well....I'm no help!! I have NO IDEA!! I can't imagine a big move like that! We have moved MANY many times...but they were all close!! (our DD was 3 and in her 5th house...that's what you do when you build, lol)

I'm anxious to hear what others have to say!! Good luck!!

[ArizonaAngel]

We were never stationed there so I'm sorry I can't help!

[Bride]

I'm still crying over no MI .... Hope you get your answers, Carla.

[Sara Arell]

I know nary a thing about Ft. Meade, Carla, but just wanted to say that you could always come to Ft. Bragg! (No, I wouldn't really want to go there either, but just throwing it out there!) But you'd be alot closer to me! And I'd love that!

Oh, I love these PCS moves! Someone will know something about Ft. Meade I'm sure. How long do you have to decide?

[princessrunningfingers]

Don't know anything about Ft. Meade, Carla. Having had many of those big moves, I don't envy you. I'm not up on my Army terms. What is a PCS move?

[Sara Arell]

princessrunningfingers, on 08 June 2011 - 06:42 AM, said:

Don't know anything about Ft. Meade, Carla. Having had many of those big moves, I don't envy you. I'm not up on my Army terms. What is a PCS move?

Permanent change of Station, Joyce ............although it isn't always permanent! LOL

[CRS]

We have until Friday at noon to decide! The 4th location is Richmond VA. That would be perfect (dh went to school not far from there for a few months a few years ago), but the position is his current rank and he's up for promotion in March....which would mean another move. We are hoping it's a typo, lol. We did some quick research last night and it looks nice, but I'm still nervous about it all! Dh is excited to live on post and thinks it would be a great experience for the girls.

Thank you all for your words of encouragement. Once we decide where to move, then we need to decide when!

[tinkerbell11]

Well Carla at least it isn't far far away! Hopefully someone will come along with some info for you!

[Smiles]

I do know that Ft. Meade got a whole bunch of new housing while I was at OCAR. It was the new program where they're contract built and maintained, and you turn your housing allowance over for it. I think the difference between that and regular base housing is you end up paying for utilities. (For all I know, you might be paying for utilities in traditional base housing by now). They were new townhouses - a friend said they looked really nice.
There are a lot of great things about the area - close to all the culture in DC, availability of mass transit. The weather might be a tad more mild than Richmond in the summer.
You'd be close to great medical care with Bethesda/WalterReed.
There was a 2 star command there when I was at OCAR - and the position availability would be greater. It's also not a bad commute to NCR positions, which counts as a PCS but you don't have to move if he's willing to commute.
I guess I'd ask if you'd definitely get on post housing. And would they put you in company grade or field grade quarters? There can be quite a difference - and you don't want to move in 6 months. Off post housing can be spendy, although I was less out-of-pocket (with the higher housing allowance) at OCAR than I was at Ft. Lewis.
If it were up to me, I'd definitely go for Ft. Meade over Richmond.

[CRS]

Thanks for the info, Gayle! I was going to email you. Richmond is not an option now...because of rank. So, we put in for Ft. Meade and we'll see what happens. Dh should be promoted in March, so I'm not sure what housing they will give us. I'm hoping for the nicer ones, lol! Once that is done, we'll have to decide on when to move, December or June...or somewhere inbetween.

[Sara Arell]

Isn't it a good feeling to at least have that decision made, Carla! Oh, boy - we need to get orders again - that's the only way my closets, and all of the stuff we've collected got cleaned out! Alas, I don't think we'll be getting any more of those though!

I'm so happy for you! And congrats to Tim on the upcoming promotion.

[Smiles]

Will he be going to school en route? Sometimes you can sign in or get your name on the housing list before you start school, so you're farther up when you get there.
They used to have geographic bachelor quarters available (that kept your housing allowence going to pay for where the family lived) at Ft. Meade - if he is there for a while before you arrive.
I think you will really enjoy living in the area.
I had lots of doubts moving to the NCR, but we developed "Potomac Fever" in no time and were happy to stay 4.5 years.
"Potomac Fever" happens to families when their sponsor is assigned to the Pentagon - it may be long hours, but they're home every night and weekends, and families really like that! Plus, there is so much to do and see.

[KFiasco]

Carla,

I really liked Ft. Meade, but I was only there TDY twice and twice for reserve duty in the summer. I worked for the NSA which was really facinating. Like Gayle said it is close to lots of culture. I went to DC by train. I think it was a 20 minute taxi ride to the train station and I forget how long to DC. I hear great things about Baltimore as well. I can't answer questions about the schools or base housing as I was enlisted and single. I hope you like it there. Do you know what unit he will be assigned to?

[CRS]

Thanks for the info! We were just talking about dh living in the bachelor housing until we get there so we could get the better housing. We'll see what happens. He is going to be assigned to a MP unit doing budget, I believe. The more we talk to people and read about the area, the more excited we get. Dh is going to CCC in SC next month thru December. They had an opening and slipped him in. We didn't have much notice, but since we've been waiting for this since he got back from deployment, I'm just glad to have a plan!

Now, to actually get those orders in dh's hands!!

[Sara Arell]

CRS, on 08 June 2011 - 07:13 PM, said:

Thanks for the info! We were just talking about dh living in the bachelor housing until we get there so we could get the better housing. We'll see what happens. He is going to be assigned to a MP unit doing budget, I believe. The more we talk to people and read about the area, the more excited we get. Dh is going to CCC in SC next month thru December. They had an opening and slipped him in. We didn't have much notice, but since we've been waiting for this since he got back from deployment, I'm just glad to have a plan!

Now, to actually get those orders in dh's hands!!

Is he going to Ft. Jackson for school, Carla? Our last assignment was at Shaw AFB, about 40 miles from there.......I loved it there, but it is very HOT!

[Smiles]

I'm so glad he got a school date in plenty of time for the promotion board!
Did he get the branch transfer, then?
Well, going to the field in the summer or fall is probably better than in the winter.
You guys will all get through it!

[CRS]

Tim did get the branch transfer. He now is a Finance Officer. The school is in Ft. Jackson, SC. We hope to have orders for Ft. Meade soon. His career councilor was working on it yesterday. The more the girls and I talk about Ft. Meade, the more excited we get!

[Smiles]

Congratulations to Tim! Tell him to keep his ear to the ground about the possibilities of Comptroller. Money drives everything at the planning level - if he is good, he will be in great demand!

[KFiasco]

It is really hot at Ft. Jackson and at Ft. Meade, so he will be acclimated. lol

[CRS]

I hope the air conditioning works well, lol! I'm getting excited about the move. Still not sure about when we'll move. I'll worry about that once we have an order!

[Sara Arell]

Carla, I saw on a special on tv last night that the area in which you are going to be living is one of the best areas in the country for children to grow up!
Best education, culture and best everything!

[CRS]

We are really excited about it. Still waiting on orders, so it's not a done deal. If we get orders before dh leaves, we may make a road trip down there and check things out. Thanks for the info, Sara. One of my biggest worries is the girls' education!

[Smiles]

they may have on-base schools, at least for elementary.