Automobile to Newport?

Feel the same way. If I didn't have 6 more months in RI after OCS I wouldn't want to make the 3400 mile drive from here. Sucks but I'm going to stop in Houston for three days of gulf fishing on the way!

Forget leaving base until you're in your Candi-O phase (week 9). It just probably isn't going to happen. If your class is a bunch of turds, you might not even get liberty then. It's totally dependent on your class and class team.

Also, flying commercially with all of your 'crap' from OCS is just a pain in the ass. You're better off being able to throw it all in the trunk of your car and driving.

Furthermore, you'll get more 'personal' (read: Travel) time if you bring your car with you to OCS. It really is a win/win, as long as you don't have a POS car that is going to break down on you.

Just checking to see if driving is still allowed. Swore in today and my processor looked shocked and said he didn't think they allowed us to drive.

Never mind found my answer

I drove. I went to OCS in March of '09...so unless it's recent and someone fucked it away for everyone, I don't see why you can't.

Thank you, I'm sure we still can but my processor is just unsure, checked the OCS website and says we can so we'll see

Just graduated a few weeks ago - driving is still allowed and done by about half of the candidates. If you are planning on driving, just remember that your car will a) have tons of shells and rocks dropped on it by seagulls and b) most likely be buried under some snow for the duration of the RI winter.

I'll be driving to OCS in September and will be staying in NYC for a night. I've been there a couple of times before but never driven into it. Does anyone recommend a place to stay that's easy to drive to, or is it all fairly easy to access?

I don't know if you are a civilian right now or not, or even what the policy is regarding civilians reporting for military duty, but a decent place would be the Nave Gateway located on base. It is used for service members with orders or for leisure purposes. I am staying there for the two nights before reporting to OCS. Just an idea.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I interpreted his post as asking about staying a night in NYC. (About which I have no idea, the closest I've ever been to NYC was when I was at Watkins Glen.)

Thanks OCShopeful, I'll definitely consider staying there in Newport. As texag pointed out, I am looking for NYC options but I appreciate any input on where to stay/things to see on the drive from TX.

Whoa, didn't realize you were in College Station till I checked your profile. Nashville's fun for a night and would be about 13 hours coming out of College Station. You can get a hotel near downtown for a reasonable price and go catch some good music at the bars.

Nowhere in "The Big Apple" is easy to drive to...easy to access! While enjoying the sights/clubbin' there, stash your ride in a secure garage & use public transit/taxi to get around - cheap & speedy. Casual legal parking is virtually non-existent & parking citation fines require 3-year bank loan financing!
BzB

Side note, when does one actually receive the per diem pay for the driving expenses. Is this added into your regular paycheck (aka won't get it as you're traveling, but later on) ?

You'll complete a travel claim as part of your in processing paperwork. It will get direct deposited a bit after that.

Agreed- take your damn car. It's the only private time you'll get when you're there. Ever.

Thanks

Got off the phone with someone from my NRD who is handling my orders to OCS. When asking about per diem, he said that enroute to OCS, you only get one day of per diem even if you drive, regardless of distance. His explanation was that even though you are driving, you could fly and get there in one day regardless.

Anyone else heard the same thing? I was under the impression I got the same per diem pay as anyone else in the military, but apparently enroute to OCS this doesn't apply?

At least as of a few years ago when I did it, you were given days based of the JFTR and per diem. It's similar for all orders you'll get subsequent. I'm not calling your recruiter a liar, but I don't see why they wouldn't use the JFTR like everyone else. Here's the JFTR as a source document ( http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/travelreg.cfm ) so you have something beyond some dude on the Internet telling you what's up.

JFTR Par 3025:

It wasn't my recruiter who I spoke with it's the guy who gave me my orders. I think what he was saying was that the JFTR does not apply to OCS candidates until you have earned your commission (or something of the like).

JFTR also says in another section that, unless POV use is authorized on the orders or deemed more advantageous to the govt (mileage cheaper than airfare), you will only get 1 travel day/travel per diem. Had this issue with a couple guys driving to a 2 month long PME course so they would have cars.

Im trying to decided whether to drive from San Jose, CA to Newport. Im SWO so right after OCS I'll go to either San Diego or Norfolk for further training before going to my fleet assignment (or so I'm told). With the chance of 3 months later having to likely make the 3000 mile trip again I'm questioning making the first drive out. My question however is...will the military pay for instate vehicle transportation (aka 18 wheeler) or does the military only transport a vehicle when you are going outside the states (say to Japan)? I have been told both...so I'm wondering if I can get some clarification on the subject. Thanks for the help!

When I would travel I would allow extra time to see a few places along the way, however I did have limited out of area transfers, when I would go TAD I would also set aside some time to see the local area, I didn't want to say "I have been there, with there being the hotel and/or conference center.

There's basically two ways for you to get to your next duty station in CONUS. First is the Navy buys you a plane/bus/train ticket. The second is you pay and the Navy reimburses you. For the second option, the Navy will pay you a certain amount based on miles between point A and point B. (They will also pay you a set amount each day for food and a varied amount for your hotel bills assuming they are at or below the gov't rate).

If you decide to 'drive' and you ship your car on a vehicle transporter, then you need to find another way to get to your next duty station.
I have known guys who shipped their car to California (from FL) and flew out a couple of days later to meet the car.

But to echo Brett's thought, I've enjoyed 6 E-W cross country drives. I recommend getting some audio books of things you've always meant to read but never got around to it for while you're in the car. You local library is a great source of audio books and you can mail them back to the library when you get to your destination.

Then plan your trip to hit some sights. See this great country, drive the Blue Ridge Parkway, see the Grand Canyon... Recommend using the internet to find things to do and you'll find a site like this: http://drivecrosscountry.net/Places_to_see/Places.html