INBOUND

Upon your arrival to Pope AFB, contact the 24-hr arrival point located at 302 Ethridge Street (Lodging/Billeting/The Carolina Inn) for assistance in obtaining general information about the base.  

SPONSORSHIP: 
Hopefully everyone received a sponsor before arriving at Pope AFB.  The unit to which you are assigned should appoint a sponsor for you.  If you do not have a sponsor or cannot contact him/her, contact your unit’s orderly room.  Your sponsor packed should have included a Fayetteville map, Pope map, Fort Bragg map, North Carolina Travel Guide, Discover Fayetteville and much more.  If you did not receive your sponsor packets, please visit the Airman & Family Readiness Flight (A&FRF) at the corner of Pope and Armistead Streets.  Also, see www.militaryinstallations.dod.mil/ for information on Pope AFB and the surrounding area.

REPORTING PROCEDURES:
The 24-hr arrival point at Pope AFB is located at the Carolina Inn on Ethridge Street.  You can contact them at DSN 424-4131 or 910-394-4131.  If arriving during duty hours, report to your unit's Commander's Support Staff/Orderly Room.

Air Force personnel should:
Whichever mode of transportation you decide to take, be sure to contact your sponsor or first sergeant to inform them of your plans and arrival date and time.  Or you can report to Building 308, first floor, (Military Personnel Flight).
Report for In-processing is every Thursday at 0900 at the Military Personnel Flight located in Bldg 308, 2nd floor.  Travel vouchers, base packages, ID Card/CAC certficate updates, etc. will be accomplished at in-processing.

AFTER YOU ARRIVE: 
Contact the Traffic Management Office located on Fort Bragg in the Soldier Support Center on Normandy Drive, if you shipped household goods or a vehicle.  If any of your household goods were damaged or lost in transit you MUST inform the Legal Claims office within 70 days of delivery.  Use the DD Form 1840 and 1840 R to file your report.

Contact the Picerne Military Housing Leasing and Relocation Center at the Soldier Support Center for on base housing information. For off base housing information contact the Fort Bragg Housing Division or visit their web site at www.bragg.army.mil/dpw-hsg.  Military members MUST contact the Fort Bragg Housing Office prior to signing a lease.  Single members below the rank of E-4 who will live off-base must go to Housing before finance will start BAH.

File travel vouchers at Finance if not completed at In-processing.  Members who used the Government Travel Card should be prepared to provide the total dollar amount charged on the card, as they will receive a split disbursement.

Visit the Airman and Family Readiness Flight for maps and newcomer information, family member employment assistance, volunteerism information, childcare for PCS voucher (Air Force only), Heart Link (orientation for new spouses), budget assistance, financial classes, marriage/baby/parenting classes, emergency assistance and with any questions you may have.  Loan closet items (pots & pans, dish packs, futons, linens etc.) are available through Family Services Office located in the Airman & Family Readiness Flight Bldg 430 on Armistead Street at no charge to the military member.

Contact your family to let them know you have arrived and how to contact you.
Visit your current family center (Airman & Family Readiness Flight) for more detailed information regarding the following topics:

BEFORE YOU MOVE - take care of the following issues:
Receive relocation counseling and/or attend a Smooth Move seminar.

Finances - Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for Pope AFB is one of the lowest in the Air Force.  Spouse employment opportunities are limited, and at the lower end of the wage scale for all career fields.  It is always a good idea to complete a budget when there is a significant change in circumstances (relocation, employment change, family status, etc) - assistance is available at family centers worldwide.  Members in PCS status, other than those living in dorms, should request Dislocation Allowance (DLA) through their finance office - single members and sister service members may need to wait until they check in to Pope to request DLA.

Household Goods shipments are arranged by the Joint Personal Property Shipping Office (JPPSO) through the local Traffic Management Office (TMO).  

Self Move, formerly called a DITY move, allows a member to get paid for transporting some or all of their household goods, rather than the government arranging transportation.  Pre-authorization is required, and should be obtained from the member's servicing TMO at the losing installation.  Member is paid based on the weight and distance of the items transported, as compared with what the government cost would have been.  This is considered earned income, and is taxed at 28%.  There is no minimum weight required; self-move can occur in any type of vehicle.  Contact TMO for authorization and details.

Inventory your household goods.  It is always wise to maintain a good inventory; in the event of a catastrophe, loss, damage or theft, you have proper documentation to support any claim you may need to make with insurance or at the base legal office.  This is particularly important with regard to relocation.

Notify your utility companies of your pending move.  Make sure to leave a forwarding address, for the final bill and for any deposit to be returned to you.  Ask for a letter of credit; you may receive a waiver of the deposit requirement in San Angelo.

Notify child care and schools of your pending move.

Provide change of address information to: friends, family, subscriptions, all medical/dental/veterinarian providers, schools, insurance, vehicle service facilities etc.

Make sure to obtain pet records, particularly documentation of rabies shots and bordatella vaccination.

Notify your civilian employer of pending move.  If applicable, request a leave of absence rather than resign.  Obtain copies of all work records and training received.  Ask for a letter of reference.

Make sure your vehicles are "road-ready."

Hand-carry all family member medical and school records.

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS TO HAND CARRY:
1.   At LEAST 10 copies of your orders
2.   Birth Certificates (or certified copy)
3.   Marriage Certificate
4.   Copy of advance travel pay or allowances paperwork
5.   All moving paperwork including:  inventory, TMO information, Self-Procured Move paperwork, and all receipts associated with moving
6.   Employment records or resume of civilian family members
7.   Medical/dental records from your previous duty station - entire family
8.   Immunization records for all children and all active-duty members
9.   School records/transcripts for children and adults
10. Pet medical and immunization records
11. RECOMMENDATION: Letters of credit from utilities companies (telephone, electric, etc; may result in waiver for deposits)
Note: "If you get married before you PCS, you MUST inform your commander and follow the procedures exactly as you are given them.  The military WILL NOT PAY for travel and housing of your spouse if you do not follow the proper procedures."

TRAVEL PLANNING:
It is important to make temporary lodging reservations early. Your sponsor can accomplish this for you. The Carolina Inn provides temporary lodging for transient personnel and visiting military personnel on a space-available basis.  All rooms are non-smoking and no pets are allowed in any room. 

If you experience any problems or emergencies while en route to Pope that would prevent you from arriving on time, contact your sponsor, unit orderly room, first sergeant or the Military Personnel Flight customer service at 910-394-2276 or DSN 424-2276.

Contact either your current family center or the Pope AFB Airman and Family Readiness Flight for relocation planning.

Make sure to keep all receipts - food, gas, lodging, pet expenses, etc - while in transit.  Some receipts may be needed when you file your travel voucher upon your arrival.  Some receipts may be needed when you file your taxes next year.

Travel and Relocation Entitlements - members may contact the finance office and/or TMO to determine entitlements based on their exact situation; the Joint Travel Regulation (JTR) is the governing source on travel and relocation entitlements.  

The Newcomers Orientation program is held once a month at the Airman & Family Readiness Center.  It takes place the third Wednesday of each month beginning at 8:00 a.m.  This orientation is mandatory for all incoming military members and is scheduled during your inprocessing.  Spouses are highly encouraged to attend.  The program lasts approximately four hours, and includes a briefing by the wing commander and other agencies on base to familiarize newcomers with Pope AFB and the local communities.

OUTBOUND

Smooth Move
This three-hour seminar (a must for first time movers) provides empowering information that contributes to a stress free relocation. You will receive briefings detailing the current entitlements/benefits, as well as some helpful hints associated with relocation process. Briefings include: Traffic Management Office (Personal Property), Picerne Military Housing Leasing and Relocation (On-Base Housing Office), Off Base Housing Office, Military Pay, and Airman and Family Readiness Flight. 

Relocation Assistance
Preparation and knowledge are the keys to any successful relocation. However, if you have never moved before or had a miserable relocation experience, you may not know where to get started. The Airman and Family Readiness Flight is a great place to get started. We will begin by providing information on your next duty assignment and surrounding community. We will help you plan your route if driving or provide some suggestions on travel options if flying. Additionally, we provide assistance in helping you obtain a sponsor.  To make an appointment, please call us at (910) 394-2538.
To get information on your next base or post, visit the Military Installations website at (http://www.military homefront.org).  Click on "Installation / Agency Lookup," then scale down to "US Air Force," then click "Pope AFB" (or other base, as applicable) and hit the yellow "Search" button.  Contains resources for everyone who is relocating from one duty station to another, as well as those working or living at or near an installation.  Military Installations information is posted and kept current by family center personnel located in family, community, or work-life centers on installations located around the world. Select from more than 350 military/Coast Guard/DLA installations that list their information in Military Installations.  Installation information includes phone numbers, addresses, and email addresses of key personnel, as well as local community facts and organizational contacts.  Military Homefront replaced the well-known "SITES" website in 2007. 

PCS Travel Entitlements Estimator - This spreadsheet will estimate your relocation entitlements including Mileage, Per Diem, Dislocation Allowance, and Travel Days. All you need to do is select your rank, marital status, next duty station, etc. from the pull-downs provided and the spreadsheet will provide an unofficial estimate of your relocation entitlements.

Sponsorship Training
Sponsorship is a commander's program and sponsorship training is mandatory for all first time sponsors and for those who have not attended training or been a sponsor within the last year.  In order to attend the class, you must first register by calling the Airman & Family Readiness Center at 394-2538.  The class provides you with tools, resources, and information on being an excellent sponsor for your squadron.   Completing sponsorship training is a simple process and only takes about an hour of your day.

Loan Closet
Getting ready to leave, or newly arrived and don’t have anything to set-up your household? You have packed out, but can’t get into billeting for a few days and don’t have anything left in the house. These are typical situations.  The Loan Closet Office is located at the Airman & Family Readiness Flight in building 430.  They have available for loan (for 30 days and at no charge) many of the items required to sustain a household pending arrival of your personal belongings. Available items include, but are not limited to: futons, linens, TVs, microwaves, baby items, pots, pans, dishes, silverware, coffee pots, toasters, and much more.  For more information, please call the Family Services Office at (910) 394-2119.

Automated Housing Referral Network (AHRN)  Sponsored by the Department of Defense, the Moving Station helps with home buying, selling, and rentals.