What tips does anyone have for housing at my first duty station (Anchorage, Alaska)?

2019-09-29T14:30:25-04:00

I'm getting married right after ait on my leave. So I'll be receiving bah. Any tips on what to do as far as housing, then just general tips?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2019 4:08 PM

2019-09-29T16:08:48-04:00

The first tip is don't do it. You're setting yourself up for a world of problems.and while you might think you're tough enough to handle it, you're going to be dragging your spouse through hell and uncertainty for the first few months of your marriage. Go to your duty station, inprocess, and then bring your spouse. If your relationship can't handle 3-6 months of waiting to get married, it won't handle the rest of an enlistment or career in the Army.

If you do what you're planning this is what will happen:
You'll reach back to your AIT to get your spouse on your orders. Someone will inform you that she needs to be command sponsored. Then you'll find out that she has to go through EFMP screening which will take months. Now you're stuck deciding to bring your spouse or leave them. If you bring your spouse to an OCONUS tour, you won't be reimbursed for their travel, you won't be authorized BAH or OHA, and your spouse won't have any health insurance. You would be paying thousands of dollars to move your spouse's household goods, put down the money for an apartment and their travel. Your situation will become a nightmare for you, your spouse, and your leadership as they try to fix all the damage you will have done by that point. In the end it will take months to get her command sponsored, or worse, she won't be approved for command sponsorship and she will have to return home.

So, wait until you get to Alaska to discuss getting your spouse command sponsored with your leadership. They will help guide you through the pitfalls of the process

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Sep 30 at 2019 10:16 AM

2019-09-30T10:16:29-04:00

You do i=understand that 2 of the highest cost of living area are Alaska and Hawaii. Damn near everything must be imported into each area. Housing off base is slim and cost is high.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2019 3:58 AM

2019-10-02T03:58:37-04:00

I would suggest either South Anchorage or Eagle River areas, stay away from Muldoon or spenard.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2019 11:55 AM

2019-10-02T11:55:11-04:00

Don't get married Private. Enjoy the barracks and have fun in AK. Its a beautiful state with lots of great outdoor activities.

Response by SGT Edward Thomas made Feb 19 at 2020 12:53 PM

2020-02-19T12:53:14-05:00

Another helpful tip is to hold off getting married until you’re a sergeant. That’s advice I wish I had heeded when it was given to me in 1985. But nooooo I had to get married as a PFC making $695 per month. Then we went to Alaska when I made SP4 back in that day. Please pay attention to what SFC Private RallyPoint Member has said. He’s wise beyond his years. I drug my wife around and while we are celebrating 35 years of being married, we aren’t a typical couple. We dealt with her severe home sickness. The odds are overwhelmingly against you in this matter. Please rethink putting her through this so young.