Base housing or Living out in town?

Sir, I prefer to live off post for a multitude of reasons. In order to get some perspective, I have lived on post three different occasions. While all three are different, they all were not as great as living off post. First, I can come and go as I please without having to worry about "offending" any neighbors, per se. Second, if I so choose to, I can reside in a place that I have bought therefore am putting equity into it. Not just that but when I PCS I can rent it out and make some passive income. Third, and probably the most critical, is I can have my firearms in the house and not worry about some "inspection". In addition, I can conceal carry to and from my house without having to worry about bringing it on post.

Lt. Blais,
When I left Quantico to my first duty station aboard CLNC back in '97, my wife and I (no kids at the time) had the privilege of renting out one side of a small duplex in Midway Park subdivision, Jacksonville, NC (behind Midway Park enlisted base housing) from my platoon commander at TBS. It was ideal for the first year to live off base and collect the BAH, etc., but the trade-offs were paying electricity, water and trash out of pocket, missing out on the close knit military community of other officers and their families in base housing and dealing with traffic to get on and off base every day. To address the situation specific to Jacksonville for schools, I can tell you my wife taught high school courses at White Oak and Jacksonville schools were a pretty good school system back in the late-90's. When I finally was able to get into base housing, we were assigned a 3 bedroom, 1 bath home with carport and attached shed that was in a great location close to other company grade officers who had a lot in common (i.e. young couples, young families, etc. across multiple commands) from a wide cross-section of the base. On base all of your utilities were paid (except telephone and cable) and there was a block party or get-together's with other families at minimum every weekend, etc. During the hurricane season, our family and others would get together at our house or theirs (the electricity would usually be shut off) and barbeque/watch the storm come in. Good memories. Driving to work was easy and we had easy access to the O-club, over 10 miles of running trails around the swamp, easy gym access to multiple sites on base, Wooden Nickel and Onslow beach aboard the base on the weekends. I heard a lot of good things about the base schools from both officers and enlisted. For my wife and I (and my son who was born at the Naval Hospital about 6 months before I completed active duty), on-base was definitely better than off base. IMHO if had kids your age back then, I would probably try and move on base so my wife and kids could be around other military families and experience that sense of community. I have to say I miss that the most of my experiences in the Corps. S/F- Jeff

I lived on post when I was lower enlisted at Camp Lejeune and as an NCO at 2 other post. I can say without a shadow of a doubt never will i ever do that again unless forced to do so my local policy. Post housing is terrible especially now that civilians run it and military spouse who think they where there husbands or wives rank. When I get off work I want to be free to be lazy and forget to cut the grass without a letter going to my commander or my kids getting into disagreement with the neighbor kids and there parent thinking they can pull rank on me.