questions for military ppl

[silkydragon]

if you live on base are there anybases that allow you to keep chickens? if not are you allowed to have cage birds (thinking coturnix and button quail count as cage birds) im so used to my fresh eggs when i went to meps overnight for asvab i almost gagged (little bit of an exageration) on the storebought eggs and had to salt them like crazy i like quail eggs so button or coturnix may be the answer since most ppl keep them in small cages and stuff inside anyway im not talking a huge number of quail just 2 or 3 females

 

[teach1rusl]

Well get use to gagging on the food...lol!! Obviously your training commands would be out. I doubt that any base housing would allow for poultry, simply due to logistics, but maybe I'm wrong. Now if you're able, you could always get housing off base... Do you know where you'll eventually be stationed???

Oh...and best wishes on your new venture...and thank you for choosing to serve!

 

[silkydragon]

yea i doubt it but just figured no harm in asking and if anybody new it would be the ppl of this forum not going to be heartbroken either way and weathernot i can have chickens wont be a huge difference in selecting the base like if my options are florida and alaska and alaska allows chickens im still going with florida

 

[Tbird84]

being prior military myself, I have never heard of a base or base housing allowing poultry. On base in the barracks, I think a 2-5 gal aquarium is what you can get away with, unless you are an officer and have your own on base housing. Then you can have a dog or cat. 'Base housing' (located off base) usually will allow two pets, that I know of. I am sure you are allowed caged birds, but we are talking exotics. I am sure they will still list quail as a farm bird or hunting bird. You might get away with it if you educate them with facts though. It can't hurt. They are highly unlikely to chew the carpet, rip up the linoleum, and tear the screens. So, they might view them as a low-risk pet. But be prepared for initial resistance. They sell diamond doves as an ornamental caged bird, why not button or coturnix quail?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Occasionally one will hear someone on BYC mention that they are active duty military, and I am pretty sure some have mentioned being in base housing. While I know that on base housing can have quite strict rules, it will depend to some extent whether you are in the dorms (barracks) or in family housing, and their own rulings on allowable pets. My suggestion is to call the likely bases and speak to the housing office. Ask about pet policies for the type of housing you will be authorized. You will also want to know whether you will be required to live on base or not.

As for offbase housing, there is no standard set of rules. Look at all the threads here, and you will see the huge variety of restrictions and their lack. If you are renting, you also have to consider whether your landlord will allow you to keep chickens (even if city ordinances and zoning code allow).

Be up front and ask plenty of questions in advance.

 

[silkydragon]

Quote:
i was told by my recruter that as far as housing gos if i want to live off base for the 1st 2 yrs it will be out of my pocket after i have served for 2 yrs they will give me an allowence or something if i live off base but im thinking military will pay good enough for me to pay out of my pocket to buy 4-5 acres without filing for bankrupcy

 

[mylittlechickpea]

My husband and I live in family housing (but not on base), and I am not supposed to have my chicken. She counts towards farm stock/livestock, and that is not allowed. I think if we were actually on base Chickpea would have been kicked out a long time ago..

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
If you live in government provided housing (on base or not) you generally will not be allowed to keep poultry. As a single person you will be living in the barracks, where you might be able to keep a fish, if that. If you have a family and live in Military Family Housing you will be allowed to keep a dog or cat, but for the most part, the rules in MFH are very conservative.

Most single military members do not keep pets. In most military jobs you are on call to deploy anywhere, on short notice, as necessary. Most young, single members do not have anyone to turn to that could reliably take care of pets on short notice. You are expected to grab your bags and go.

Most young troops are required to live in the barracks for a year or two, space permitting. Some bases may not the room available and will give young troops the option to live off base where they would receive a Basic Allowance for Housing and a Basic Allowance for Subsistence in lieu of a meal card at the chow hall. If required to live in the barracks, you could choose to not utilize your room and find someplace on your own dime, but that room and meal card are a large part of your benefits. Why pay for something that you don't have to?

As a young military member your social group will be those that you work with and your new-found friends that live in the barracks. While living in the barracks may seemingly "suck", as a young troop, it's generally where your friends are.

As far as being able to afford things such as a few acres? I think that you will find that your paycheck will never go as far as you think it will. My advice? Live in the barracks and use the chow hall as much as you can. Live frugally and put some money away for a rainy day. Use any spare time that you may have to take advantage of the myriad of education benefits that are available to active duty members. If after your first enlistment you don't like it and want to move on, then at least you will have some money and some education to rely on to move on to something else, whether it be another job or continuing your education in college.

 

[silkydragon]

would it make a difference im joining airforce not marines or army? ive heard from army ppl that airforce lifestyle is way better then the other branches and ppl from the army will go to airforce kitchen to eat

(and as for jobs i qualified for are : enviromentalist, bioenviromental engineering, security, and dentistry...well there where 5 pages worth that i qualified for but those are the 4 i picked)

 

[Rozzie]

You'll still be required to deploy when told & to move where told, when you are told to do so.

When you are in the military, your life is not your own. It belongs to Uncle Sam until your time is up.

I strongly suggest that unless you have a non-military spouse you do NOT get animals while in the military.

I'd also suggest NOT buying property until you are out since they can move you about as needed. You cannot count on being there to care for your property, let alone any animals.