35F AIT school house number?

Im right here. IKN doesn't have the 305th phone number. [login to see] is the S1 number.

I'm also attending the course next week. I am in similar situation, Senior DS said we can bring our POV but MEPS is not allowing me to drive. My plan is to have my wife drive it down there and she can just take a flight out on the weekend.

The orders should say your mode of transportation, the recruiter changed mine before my ship date to POV instead of flight. If you don’t end up driving you’re still allowed to have a POV. A couple of MOS-Ts purchased cars while in the course. You will have some of the same privileges as permanent party so having a car there is fine, but whatever your orders state on the day of your ship date will be the way you have to travel to AZ.

ATRRS says about the 35F course:
Students attending in TDY status will call 305th BN Staff Duty [login to see] ) for
COVID-19-related reporting instructions.

You should probably call to get the COVID-19-related reporting instructions, and you could ask for the phone number you need while you're talking to them.

Hey SGT, I’m heading there next month. I was hoping we could connect so I could ask a few questions? Just shoot me a message if you have time!

I actually had a similar issue when I went there. To avoid UCMJ action, you'll have to take the MEPS issued flight, then coordinate through the S1 down there to take leave to get your vehicle. Otherwise you may face charges of Disobeying a Lawful Order (and/or Missing Movement).

I have no specific help to your question, but when I commissioned from prior service I had to go to Ft Lee for my Quartermaster BOLC. This was west coast to east coast travel for me.

I was not authorized to drive there, and by that, what I mean, as the orders read, I am not authorized to expense anything associated with my travel by anything except air. If my car broke down half way there, then I am screwed as I didn't utilize the approved travel method.

Do your orders actually prohibit you from driving. If not, well, then nothing says you CANNOT DRIVE, it just says you can't get reimbursed for driving. You do however carry all travel risks on your career shoulders.

The Army is going to send you the cheapest and least risky way possible. They have no interest in granting you any sort of convivence once you are there (especially at a school).

I took my car, I drove 2000 miles, and placed myself in a position to have an entire extra travel day, and as well, be willing to buy a brand new car or other various travel means in the event my car failed me. Before I left I had a bumper to bumper service, and got new tires.

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I can say while an entry level 35F AIT soldier I observed Re-Class 35F NCO's in my class. They were only there for school, and were our class leadership while in class and the final exercise. They would PT with us, and then bounce the moment our formation got back from class.

I don't recall them getting to eat with us in the DFAC, and they had the benefit of going anywhere they wanted on weekend and never needed a battel buddy to go to anywhere.

So, what I am saying is the Army is not taking care of you at all as a Re-Class NCO. If you don't have a car things are going to be hard. You will have to use public transportation, and do all your grocery shopping as such.

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When I went to BOLC at Ft Lee I would have been screwed if I didn't have a car. We didn't get any DFAC benefits, and lived out of a hotel. If I needed food it would have been a bus ride to the commissary and had to fit in my tiny hotel fridge. Then there were all the other things we had to do and effectively get around ourselves.

The biggest thing I can think of is your TA-50 issue. You may or may not be in line with the new kids class when you pick that up and turn it in. If you're not, then well, that sucks if you don't have a means to drive it there yourself. You probably will be with the kids at pick up, but you can probably drop it off as you like at the end, and then just bounce.

I presume you already have TA-50, so I would recommend you bring and use yours, and keep what the school issues you in storage until turn in.

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I'm not telling you to drive. You carry all travel costs and risk associated with that decision. Plan accordingly.