Posted on Nov 20, 2018
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is one my list of possible PCS options. What are some pro/cons for the base?
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Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is on my short list of PCS options. The area looks gorgeous and I've heard it's great for outdoor activities. The big downside for us is that's is pretty far from friends and family (to be honest that's not always a bad thing). I hear the cost of living is a little steep as well.
Alaska
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER)
Anchorage
Officer
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 7
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MSgt Stephen Council
SGT Ej P. It's not that simple. First you have to be the for one full calendar year. So let's assume you arrive in July 2018. That year doesn't count. You have to live there all of 2019 and then you can apply for the dividend you will eventually receive in October or 2020. You must also honestly agree that you intend to make Alaska you permanent home. If you are reassigned and continue to claim the dividend and then fail to return after you retire, Alaska can and will come after you for the checks you received plus interest. That said, I lived there for 15 years and loved EVERY DAY of it.
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Vonice LarsenBailey
As an Alaska resident, who will be living here until I die, I really do not appreciate people who have no intention of living here permanently applying for a PFD. For the few years I couldn't live here I had to forfeit my PFD. You'll find I am not the only Alaskan that gets a little irked that people collect their check an then bye bye. It is not just people associated with the military that move here and collect checks, then bounce. They do eventually get caught and the state does collect the money back.
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MSgt Stephen Council
Vonice LarsenBailey - In fairness, I did, in fact, plan to live in Alaska for the rest of my life and as an NCO and SNCO, I always cautioned my troops to apply only if they can honestly say they intend to stay. The unfortunate part of that equation is that my post retirement job went away (after a total of 15 years in Alaska) and I had no offers that even approached the raise I got to move to Alabama (cost of living 30% lower). I had to make a choice. I immediately ceased to apply for permanent fund dividends as I was not sure I would move back. On another note, I have known a LOT of military members who came to Alaska and claimed the permanent fund checks. Many of them stayed. Some were forced to leave. It was their right to claim it as they honestly intended to stay up till it was clear that they couldn't stay. Under your logic, I assume you think I should re-pay the monies that I received? Does that include the monies I received on behalf of my son? It is one thing to hate someone for breaking the rules,it is another thing completely to hate them for playing within the rules when they arrive and then continuing to play within the rules when they leave. We (the Military) did NOT set up the rules. We merely contribute to the economy the ENTIRE time we are there 9and we are disproportionately compensated on the low end of the scale for our ACTUAL COSTS) so yes, we claim what we can when we are there.
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I was stationed in Adak so had to make numerous passes through "Los Anchorage". People either love it or hate it. It's a different lifestyle. You get limited daylight, lots of black ice, etc. during the winter. You wind up staying indoors more. That said, if you get out and experience the area, you have the opportunity to do stuff you can't do in the lower 48. The Fur Rendezvous and Iditarod were my favorites. Things like McDonalds, etc. are pricier because of the added shipping costs. However one of the best NY pepper steaks you'll ever eat is at the Double Musky Inn out on Turnagain Arm. They have to use a small oval serving platter just to hold it and it still hangs off the ends. If you like fishing, then salmon, halibut, etc. are the best you'll find. Real Alaskans will say Anchorage area isn't real Alaska, primarily due to the city aspects. You'll also sense a different culture and some of it you won't like. We'd use to say the Alaska Salute is the outstretched hand for money. There is a larger entitlement culture there. If you're into people watching the two best places are ANC Airport baggage claim and to a lesser extent the indoor mall. Bottom line, I enjoyed Alaska (Anchorage, Fairbanks, Ketchikan) for different reasons at each location. And there were things at each location that burned my buns. One thing for sure, the MIL culture is better in the sense as being further away from the flagpoles, the independence and more maverick attitudes can be a welcome relief from the Pineapple Admirals who have no clue what that AOR is like.
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I've never been there, but as a career counselor I deal with a lot of duty station requests. EVERYONE who goes to JBER comes to me, begging me to go back. They all love it.
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CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana
JBER is am awesome assignment; a dream, if you can get it. Those who manage it will never part with it, except in exceptional circumstances. Even then, most special circumstances will swap out to another dream assignment that is acceptable based on requirements. Don't give up JBER, if you wing this gorgeous assignment.
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