PCSing to Lakenheath, any tips?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 May 2015 09:13:13 -0400

I am permanent party at Sheppard AFB and have been for almost 3 years. I just found out that I got selected to go to Lakenheath yesterday. This will be my first PCS other than from Lackland to Sheppard for tech school and switching squadrons at Sheppard to go from AIT to permanent party. For those of you who have PCS'd before but particularly overseas, I would like to know if you have any advice on this ie cell service provider, what I can and can't take, etc. Any additional help that you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2015 10:02 AM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 May 2015 10:02:02 -0400

I was stationed in the UK and loved it!!

Few items:
-Do not worry about cell service. You will be better off getting a UK "mobile" anyway. I used T-Mobile, but like anywhere, you will get mixed reviews on carriers. They also seem to be ahead on cool new cell phones, so you will love it.

-If possible, do not bring a huge American gas-guzzler over there. Although you will be able to use gas stations on post, when you do buy "petrol" out in town, you will be crucified with prices!!!! Also, parking is a serious b*tch for larger cars. I had a Toyota 4-runner before I was heading off to the UK. I trade it for a RAV-4--PERFECT!!! Had all the room that I needed and was easy to park everywhere.

-There is a mixed bag on how the Brits feel about Americans. (Little known fact, in England, you should call then "Englishmen" or "Englishwomen" if you want to be correct. "Brits" can include Welsh and Scots.) Be humble while you are there and enjoy the history and chance to travel immensely. All too many "gobby Americans" are loud and tacky and it leaves a bad taste to our host nation. Oh, and you will quickly get into crap if you utter the words, "if it weren't for us, you'd be speaking German"--seen it done too many times. Not cool.

-Be prepared for awful weather. It stays grey and dreary a lot of the year. The days get really short. Take trips to stave off the doldrums of rainy weather as much as you can. I used to go to Spain and France all the time!! BUT, when the sun is out and the fields are in full bloom, there is nothing more stunning and breathtaking as the English countryside.

--In case you haven't noticed the trend of my thread, TRAVEL TRAVEL TRAVEL!!! There are super cheap flights to anywhere on the continent (of Europe/EU). Get out and see it. You will never regret the ease and experience of traveling while there.

--Oh, Lakenheath/Mildenhall has Taco Bell. This will be a drawing point for the rest of the Americans in the UK with base access. :)

--You will have to pay weird UK taxes if you live off base (which is likely). You have to pay Road Tax. You have to pay TV tax.

--Be prepared for TERRIBLE customer service. Everywhere. When you dine out, you will not get the attention that we get here. It is not them being rude, they just don't have that "WHERE Y'ALL FROM!!!!????" type of standard.... (Oh, and you will not get a lot of ice where ever you go. You have to ask for it.)

--When you order basic services like cable, phone, you will be on their time. Do not get frustrated and ask to speak to "their supervisor"--they do not roll like that. It will probably delay your whole service further. Installing BT (phone) could take a few weeks. THEN, you can have the SKY (cable) people come... it is a test of patience.

--Manners are everything!!! Remember the "please" and "thank you" always. There is an entire new language that you will learn called "British English", which is the proper English, to be fair.

So much, I know. Message me if you have any questions!! Have fun!!!

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made May 30 at 2015 8:28 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 30 May 2015 20:28:28 -0400

Tips? Hell! Can you pack me in your Seabag? Did 3 years at Naval Communications Unit London and spent a Month at RAF Lakenheath. Great Place, Great Times.

Response by Maj Mike Sciales made Jun 12 at 2015 1:11 PM

Maj Mike Sciales — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 13:11:10 -0400

Wonderful assignment! Get in touch with your sponsor by email or Face Time. Lakenheath is in a great part of the UK and is convenient to London and also to anywhere in Central England. Start making your weekend plans right now! Get a tourist passport. Our first year in the UK we concentrated on seeing England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland. It's fun to go to London to see it -- but it is just a big city. The beauty of England is the country side. If you cannot ship a car, plenty are for sale over there by folks leaving or you can buy a new car through diplomatic sales and use it there then ship it home -- we did that -- it was great. The UK has really caught up so anything you'd want in the States they have over there, but there is also the BX and Commissary and fuel is still "rationed" meaning subsidized, so you'll pay US prices at the pumps instead of the $6 a gallon they spend. The trains are great, buses go everywhere, you are near Cambridge. All in all, it's a great spot and you should have a great tour. One tip -- if your sponsor is not responsive or negative, ask for a new one and when you arrive, understand you will be jet-lagged and "not quite right" for at least a week until you get your circadian rhythm restored. Have a great tour! Oh yeah, during the second year visit the Continent. Easy to get to Europe but your command may require you to be on leave to depart the UK -- even to France for the weekend.

Response by SSgt Dale W. made Jun 19 at 2015 4:04 PM

SSgt Dale W. — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 16:04:44 -0400

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member Congratulations on your assignment to the Heath. I'm dating myself, but Feb 80 to Feb 82 was my time there. The East Anglia countryside is gorgeous, even when it's gray out. And it will be gray out alot, as the Chief mentioned. We had F-111F's when I was there. Be sure to keep everything locked up, cause when maintenance is away, the cops will play. (I'm not speaking from personal experience, nooooooooo!) Too many memories of tug & jammer races, snowball jousting, races down the active at midnight...did I mention cops will play?

Mildenhall is about 5 miles away. They still host a really cool airshow every year. Cambridge was a blast, London to me was just a big city, but still, good touristy stuff to do. Based on your profile pic, I'm taking an educated guess you're single. You could get away with not having a car. I don't recommend bringing your own, even if it's a compact. First off, they drive on the wrong side of the road, dontcha know. That makes passing and even seeing oncoming traffic a wee bit difficult. Also many of the roads in towns and villages are a wee bit narrow.

Sponsor, others have covered that.

Travel, Travel, Travel. I spent alot of time hitchhiking and riding buses and trains. If you go to the continent you don't have to fly, you can take a ferry or the train through the "Chunnel".

The village of Lakenheath had some decent pubs. If you like beer or ale, be advised it's difficult to find it chilled in the pubs. That's just the way our cousins across the pond like to drink it.

Courtesy and patience will go a long way. We are guests...long term guests, but guests nonetheless. No matter what you may hear from the natives, DO NOT disparage any member of the Royal Family. Doing so will bring the out the ire of anyone around you. Had a buddy that didn't believe what we were told during the orientation. Sometimes the burned hand teaches best.

You might want to learn to play darts.

Jet lag/circadian rhythm, that's been covered.

Take some time to look at the area using Google Earth or maps to get an idea of the area and such.

Language. A few words and phrases to interpret for you.
Cheerio, or the more common Cheers: Wish You Well; Good Bye; See Ya (or as they say in old Mexico City, AMF); also can be said as a toast when sharing a pint.

Sharing a pint: Not actually sharing a pint, but sharing the time to drink a pint in the company of friends.

Knock you up: We're not talking sex. A friend will come to your room or house.

Give you a ring: Call your phone

Fag: Cigarette

Mate: Friend, buddy

Bloke: Men

Bird: Women

Bloody: Profanity that is used to intensify an expletive. Polite society frowns upon its use.

One other word of caution. On base purchases of Gasoline, tobacco and liquor (spirits, not beer) is rationed. My memory is a little dim on gifts to locals of these products, but OSI takes an extreme dislike to anything that even remotely appears as black marketing.

I hope I've brought a smile (or possibly shudders of dread) relating just a few ways that cops like to play. (I can't give away all the secrets, although I had fun in a few cockpits playing Major Disaster, Champion of the Skies....Dang! I can't shut up!)
Please don't let any of the munitions or line maintenance folks know about the jammers and tugs, O.K?

I hope you like to have new experiences and explore...wait! What am I saying, of course you do, you decided to Aim High!

I don't know if itstill exists in any form, but the sign pictured above was at the personnel entrance to the flight line near the SF Armory and reflected the Cold War attitude at the time I was stationed there.

Thanks for allowing me to sift through memories and share some minor insights. I hope I brought a smile to your face and in some small way contributed to an eager anticipation to your PCS.