[ARCHIVED CONTENT] Posts in Halton

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Description of duty position and work environment

Training Development Advisor / Instructor at the Defence Centre for Training Support, Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom.

Serves as a training development advisor and instructor in a Tri-Service (joint) organization within the Ministry of Defence. The Defence Center of Training Support trains and certifies instructors and training managers from all three British services (British Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy), and is responsible for developing training doctrine and conducting training research across the Ministry of Defence.

The first few months of duty in DCTS will be dedicated to attending in-house training courses, after which, you will become certified as a DCTS instructor.

After establishing a thorough understanding of the British training environment, the exchange officer's focus will shift from serving as instructor to working on training development projects. One example would be conducting a detailed study on how to contract for a civilian firm to train all of the helicopter engine technicians in the Ministry of Defence.

DCTS is commanded by a British Army Colonel (command shifts from service to service; the previous commander was Royal Navy), and the exchange officer reports to the Chief of Staff, a lieutenant colonel (or the RAF/Navy equivalent). The organization includes military and civilian personnel. More information is available on the DCTS website at http://www.mod.uk/dgte/dcts.htm.

I do PT on my own before work. Our Chief of Staff encourages everyone to play sports on Thursday afternoons, and we occasionally take hikes in the local area. Participation in the Adventurous Training Program is highly encouraged. We spent four days in northern Wales doing mountain hiking, white-water rafting, gorge scrambling, rappelling, and mountain biking. In May 2006, we walked the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island, Canada. The trail is 75km of rugged rain forest. Our team had to carry all food and supplies for the length of the trail. Our next scheduled trip is a mountain hiking expedition in Greece.

Duty Uniform and Other Required Clothing:

Duty Uniform.

I wear ACUs (BDUs) every day. Class B's are considered equivalent and acceptable, but I never wear them.

Dress Mess.

You will routinely wear your dress mess. The Halton House Officer's Mess has monthly events that you will be expected to attend. British officers don't routinely wear their dress blue equivalent and dress blues would be out of place at these events. To date, I have not needed my dress blues. I have worn my mess dress each month.

I wear my Class A uniform for graduation ceremonies for various courses. As the Army transitions to the blue uniform in place of the Class A uniform, the requirement for Class A uniform will obviously end.

Civilian.

Requirements for attire tend to be more formal than in the US. These are the minimum requirements:
Business Suit. You will need at least two, preferably conservative dark blue or grey. You will occasionally be required to travel on official business and officers are expected to dress at this level.
Tuxedo - Also known as "dinner jacket" or "black tie" in the UK. These are worn at the Christmas Ball and other formal functions when military uniforms are not worn. There are places to rent locally, but you will almost certainly be financially better off to buy a tuxedo either in the US or in the UK. Tuxedoes are more readily available in the UK than in the US. I waited and purchased my tuxedo in the UK, and paid only £125. I did that to ensure that the style of tuxedo would be appropriate. I bought my at a store called "Suits You" on the market square in Aylesbury.

Blue Blazer.

There are occasions where a blazer, slacks (or khakis) and tie are appropriate. An example of such and occasion would be Sunday brunch at the Mess.

Social Requirements.

Nearly all events center around the Halton House Officers Mess. UK military social activity is much higher than what we are accustomed to. There will be a summer ball, a Christmas ball, and monthly events such as dining ins and Battle of Britain Night, Trafalar Night, and others. I find the event prices a bit higher than what I'd pay for a U.S. ball, but the location is incredible, the food is fantastic, pre-dinner drinks and wine are included in the price, and the events are really good fun. For example, the summer ball in 2005 was a county fair kind of theme, with bumper cars, dart throwing, ferris wheel, laser tag, amusement rides, laser skeet, plus food all night long, bands, and good comraderie. It ended with champagne breakfast. The 2006 summer ball was similar in nature, and loads of fun.

Entertaining.

We have a young child, so our entertainment schedule has been a bit limited, but we are looking forward to hosting the friends, neighbors and colleagues who so graciously welcomed us to the community. We hold an annual 4th of July BBQ at our house for our unit, and it has been fantastic. One thing I did pick up on -- the British officers typically offer white and red wines with any evening meal, regardless how casual. For example, we had a summer BBQ in our neighborhood, and all of the British families had nice wine glasses and wine with their BBQ. If you entertain, I'd suggest doing the same.

If you have any questions, and especially if you have received a request for orders assigning you to RAF Halton, feel free to contact me at 011-44-1296-656328.

Description of Housing & Utilities

Single officers have the option to stay in the Halton House Officer's Mess (very spartan) or rent on the economy. I would recommend renting on the economy. A single officer could live quite comfortably on the economy, rather than being in a dorm room environment. Current Overseas Housing Allowances are available on the Per Diem and Travel Committee website at https://secureapp2.hqda.pentagon.mil/perdiem/ohaform.html.

The location code for this assignment is "UK 319 High Wycombe/Daws Hill (incl. RAF Halton)". For more info, see "Rent" below.

If you are married, I would recommend living on the patch (on post). Family quarters are available in various housing areas across RAF Halton, and my current quarters are 0.7 miles from work and just a few hundred yards from the Halton House Officer's Mess. It takes me 5 minutes by bicycle or 12 minutes by foot to get to work. The nearest town is Wendover, which is 1 mile away. Quarters are allocated based upon rank and number of family members, similar to how the U.S. Army does it. If the incoming officer wished to take over the same set of quarters that we live in, that is possible to arrange.

We love our part of the patch. It is peaceful, and situated on the edge of Wendover Woods, a forested park that includes hiking, biking and bridle trails that wind through the hills behind our house. It is a fantastic place to go walking, running, or bicycling. The trails begin right at the entrance to the patch. There are other fantastic things in the local area, which are detailed under "miscellaneous" below.

We find our quarters very comfortable and in good condition. They are a four-bedroom red brick two-story duplex, with a tiny one car garage (8 feet wide by 12 feet deep). Do not plan to park your car inside the garage. A description of each room is below. Across the board, the quarters are smaller than a new house in the U.S. and the rooms tend to be smaller and of an odd shape. Careful consideration should be given in determining the size and amount of furniture you ship to England. I'll describe what we have in each room, and let you decide for yourself how much furniture to bring. We have a significant amount of furniture in long-term storage at government expense.

Utilities.

The quarters are equipped with 220 volt 50 cycle electricity, with standard UK outlets. Each outlet has a switch. The hot water heater is natural gas, as is the home heating system. Each room is equipped with adjustable radiators. Every room has an interior door, so you can selectively heat different parts of the house. The water is relatively hard, so we drink bottled water that we buy on the U.S. bases. Sewage and garbage collection are included in the rent that we pay for the quarters. It appears that the portion of our Overseas Housing Allowance allocated for utilities is adequate to cover our electricity, water, gas, and telephone. For current rates, see the Per Diem and Travel Committee website at https://secureapp2.hqda.pentagon.mil/perdiem/ohaform.html.

Electrical Plugs & Adapters.

Lamps.

Lamps are easy to convert because they have no motors or electronics. Buy a 220 volt bulb, and screw it in the lamp. Put a plug adapter (one of the three methods I described above), and stick it in the outlet. The lamp should work.

Rent.

On the economy, rents are very high, as is the Overseas Housing Allowance. If you live in government quarters, you will pay rent to the Defence Housing Estates. They are a civilian firm that administers all MOD housing in the UK. The 2006 rent for a four-bedroom set of quarters is on the order of £320. Your OHA will cover the exact amount of the rent, plus a monthly allocation for utilities. For more info on allowances, see "Banking and Finances" under "Miscellaneous". For current dollar to pound exchange rates, you can use this website

The official British currency is the British Pound Sterling, or informally, the "pound". The international abbreviation for the pound is GBP (Great British Pound). The common slang term for a pound is a "quid".

Appliances.

Quarters and economy homes are all 220 Volts/50 cycles. That means your U.S. 110 appliances would require the use of electrical transformers. Those transformers step down the 220 volts to 110 volts so you can use your appliances. Each room in our quarters has between one and two permanent ceiling light fixtures. However, lamps are one electrical device that can be easily converted by using a plug adapter and screwing in a 220 volt bulb, so I would bring them. Anything with an electrical motor or electronic processor is a different story. See "Electrical Transformers and Adapters" above.

I have been in Europe for a number of years, so I plan to sell many 220 volt appliances upon my departure, to include: vacuums, coffee makers, microwave oven, television, stereo system, food processor, extension cords, power strips, plug adapters and electrical transformers.

Washer and dryer are available for the duration of your assignment, free of charge through the U.S. base. You can request either European or U.S. sized 220 volt washer and dryer. However, based upon the size of the laundry room, I strongly suggest you accept the smaller-sized European machines because they will fit neatly under the laundry table that is built into the laundry room. If you get U.S.-sized machines, they will not even fit in the laundry room, much less into the designated places where the electrical, water and drain pipe are located. The European wash machines accept smaller loads and the wash cycles take a longer time to run (over an hour), but they get clothing very clean because the machine heats the water internally on hot wash cycles.

Refrigerators and stand-alone freezers are also available free of charge for the duration of the assignment. They are provided the Consolidated Furnishings Management Office on RAF Croughton. Ours is a 220 volt U.S.-sized upright fridge with a four-drawer freezer on the bottom. We tend to buy three weeks worth of meat at a time, and we have enough freezer space to accommodate everything. We were eligible to sign for a stand-alone freezer in addition to the fridge/freezer, but decided against it and have not regretted our decision. If you have a large family and need more fridge/freezer space than the two provided free-of-charge, I'd recommend buying a used one locally, or asking CFMO for a waiver to get a third item. I'd have a tough time imagining the need for that. I would not even consider shipping a U.S. 110 volt fridge or freezer to the UK. Using a U.S. 110 volt fridge would force you to have a heavy-duty electrical transformer turned on 24 hours per day. That would be a constant drain of electricity that you'd have to pay for.

**Remember that each room in the house has interior doors, so that takes away some floor space inside each room because the door must have space to swing into the room. That may not sound like a big deal, but when you look at the sizes of the smaller rooms, it restricts how much furniture you can put in them.

**A peculiar thing about British homes is that they run the water pipes and electrical wiring IMMEDIATELY beneath the floorboards. Don't make the mistake of driving nails or screws into the floorboards to reduce squeaking noises. You could easily puncture a water pipe (or three). Trust me. I have that T-shirt.

Living Room.

Not exceptionally large, but can accommodate a three-seat sofa, love seat, end table(s) and a coffee table. We also squeezed in two bookshelves and a desk for an arts and crafts area. The room is about twice as long as wide, which makes furniture placement awkward. The room is fitted with an electric fireplace.

Dining Room.

Nice sized room, which can accommodate a full formal suite. We have a table with 6 chairs, two cabinets, a baby playpen and an upright piano in the dining room.

Kitchen.

The kitchen is medium-sized by U.S. standards, with a decent amount of counter space. You might have room to put a very small round table in the middle of the room, but we keep it open because we're routinely wheeling a baby carriage out the kitchen door. There are quite a few cabinets and drawers of sizes similar to what you'd see in a U.S. kitchen. There is only one sink (without disposal) and a built-in stainless steel drain area. There is a space under the countertop for installing a UK-sized dishwasher. You can order one free of charge from the U.S. base. The cooker (electric stove/oven) is provided with the quarters. It is the only appliance provided by the UK Ministry of Defence (at no cost). It has four burners and two separate ovens. Both are relatively small. The largest one can take a U.S. sized cookie sheet, but fills it from front to back. We signed for a kitchen fire extinguisher from the RAF Halton fire station. They don't routinely provide that service, but made an exception for us. The kitchen floor is linoleum. You may want to bring a few throw rugs.

Laundry Room.

The laundry room is an alcove off the kitchen. The appliances are provided by the Consolidated Furnishings Management Office on RAF Croughton as described under "Appliances". There is a cabinet that we use as a food pantry, and a permanent table for folding laundry. UK sized appliances fit under that table. The floor is linoleum.

Bathrooms.

The house basically has 11/index.htm2baths. The full bath upstairs includes a tub with shower head, a sink and mirror. There is one small cupboard, and a tiny medicine cabinet, but there is almost no storage space in the bathroom. We have a specially fitted under-sink cabinet that we will sell when we leave. The toilet upstairs is in a separate room, with only the toilet in it. The half bath downstairs includes a toilet, sink and mirror. The floors are linoleum.

Bedrooms.

Bedroom 1 -- Master Bedroom. The master bedroom is basically the same size as the living room (which is below it). It includes a built-in closet. We have a U.S. queen-sized bed, 2 night stands, three dressers, one wardrobe (provided free of charge by the U.S. base on a basis of one wardrobe per person in the family), and our baby's bed. With the baby's bed it is quite tight, but if we removed it, the room would be comfortable. You could probably fit a king-sized bed in the room, and I think you'd be able to get it up the stairs. The floor is carpeted.

Bedroom 2 -- Guest Bedroom. The guest bedroom is a bit smaller than the master. It includes one built-in closet. We have a queen sized bed, two night stands, two wardrobes, and a bookshelf in the room. The floor is carpeted.

Bedroom 3 -- Baby Room.
The baby room is only 6x9 feet, but it does include one built-in closet. We have a baby changing table, one dresser, one bookshelf, and we would have room for the baby bed. The floor is carpeted.

Bedroom 4 -- Computer Room.
The computer room is the same size as the baby room (6x9 feet). It has one built-in closet. We have a bookshelf and two small computer workstations set up. If you bring a desk, that would fill up most of the room. The floor is carpeted.

Storage.

The only storage inside the house is in the closets, and in one small cupboard underneath the stairs. There are two unheated (read damp) storage rooms on the back of the garage. They are good for garden tools, lawn mower, etc. I would not store anything that can get moldy in those two rooms. If you do need to store clothing and similar items in there, I recommend using lots of plastic storage containers.

TV Taxes -- If you have a television in your house, you must pay the UK TV tax of £120 per year - whether you plug in the TV or not. There is no exception for U.S. Forces as there is in Germany.

TV Formats -- A standard U.S. television runs on the NTSC format. Such a television will not receive a UK television broadcast. If you want to receive UK television broadcasts of any kind, you will need a TV that uses the PAL format. That is the standard European format, and it is the same format used in Germany. You could buy a used TV once you arrive, which would be very expensive, or bring a multi-system TV that will play either NTSC or PAL broadcasts. They are available from AAFES. That is what I'd recommend. That way, you can watch UK broadcasts or use your U.S. DVDs and VHS tapes as you wish. If you bring a U.S. DVD player, you will not be able to use it to watch local UK rental DVDs because your DVD machine has settings inside called "Region Codes" that prevent it from playing UK DVDs. I am not in any way advocating this, but there are many websites that provide info on how to change those settings so that a U.S. DVD player will play U.S and U.K. DVDs without a problem.

TV Voltages -- I'd also recommend you consider the voltage at which your entertainment equipment operates. Most multi-system televisions also operate on either 110 or 220 volts. You can check the data plate on the back of your equipment to see what yours in capable of. Just consider that any appliance that runs on 110 volts only will require a transformer. Transformers use electricity any time they are plugged in, so when you're not using your equipment, you'll want to unplug the transformer. That means the electricity will be cut off to the appliance, and when you turn it back on, the timer will be blinking. That's not a big deal, just a nuisance to be aware of.

TV Broadcasts -- As far as what broadcasts are available, that is up to you. There are five or six terrestrial UK public channels that you can watch with a simple antenna that is already mounted on the quarters. Those public channels are funded by the TV tax.

You could also buy or rent an Armed Forces Network (AFN) decoder and satellite dish, which would enable you to watch four or five AFN channels that play a variety of U.S. shows, news, and sports.

We paid for one year of Sky satellite service, but decided we were not using the television enough to justify the cost (about $70 per month). Our 12 month contract included all the equipment, and "the full enchilada" of service (news channels, limited movies, documentaries, childrens' programs, etc.). If you're interested, you could research what is available on Sky by checking online before departing the U.S.

Netflix.

We used Netflix in Germany, and found it a good value. We cancelled our Netflix subscription when we came to the UK, because we only go to the U.S. post office every three weeks or so. That makes the use of Netflix a waste of money because we would be paying for unlimited videos, but only watching three per month. Mailing DVDs to Netflix through the Royal Post would be very expensive. We mailed two CD ROMs to a family member in the U.S., and it cost about £2 ($4).

Garden (back yard).

Our garden is about 15 meters by 20 meters, and is quite private. It is surrounded by a combination of trees, bushes and privacy fence. It includes a small patio brick platform that is about 15 feet by 15 feet, which is a nice place to set up garden furniture. I recommend that you bring a normal gas-powered mower or purchase a used one when you arrive here. The housing office, which is run by a civilian contractor, will cut the grass in the front of the house only. They will come and trim the trees and bushes, but if you have garden tools and enjoy that kind of thing, I would recommend bringing a gas weed-eater and a pair of hand shears. I would not recommend bringing 110 volt electrical garden tools like hedge trimmers. You could use them in conjunction with an electrical transformer, but it would be a hassle. I bought a long UK garden hose that reaches across the garden and out to the driveway. Unlike Germany, UK law does not prevent one from washing the car in the driveway.

Grills.

Gas grills require an adapter to use a UK tank, and you have the option to use butane or propane fuel. We use propane, because our American-made grill was designed for that. An adapter can be purchased on American bases for about $12, or you can buy the one from the previous exchange officer. Tanks can be refilled at a store in Wendover. Propane is not available on the nearest U.S. bases. If you use a charcoal grill, you can buy all types of charcoal and supplies from any grocery store or convenience store.

Telephone and Internet Services.

Telephone services are available through British Telecom (fees vary depending upon use) along with an optional long distance phone service.

British telephone jacks are different from standard U.S. RJ11 jacks. We have 4 telephone jacks in the house, one each in the entryway, master bedroom, living room and dining room. The phone cords have the British standard plug on one end, and a U.S. RJ11 plug on the other (we will sell these when we leave). That means your U.S. telephone devices will work. Consider that if you want to use a U.S. telephone that requires electrical power for the answering machine, you will have to plug it into an electrical transformer. That transformer will consume electricity 24 hours per day. I'd recommend storing U.S. phones that require electrical power. Bring along phones that don't require electricity. You can buy a used or new UK answering machine when you get here if you feel you need one. A corded phone with digital answering machine costs about £30 at Tesco, the big supermarket chain.

Mobile Phones.

Mobile phone companies are all over the place. Big-name providers include Vodaphone, British Telecom, and many others. The basic choices are 12 month contracts or pay as you go. Do some searching on the internet to determine what fits your needs. You will NOT require a mobile phone for official reasons. The decision regarding buying a mobile phone is completely up to you. I bought a very cheap device, and pay for service using vouchers. This is commonly referred to as "topping up" one's phone. Customers can top-up over the internet, telephone, or in stores and service stations. If you plan to buy more than one phone for your family, I'd get SIM chips (the memory chip that goes in your phone) from the same company. Most cell phone service providers charge more if you call someone on a different network (different brand of SIM chip).

Defense Switched Network (DSN) Access.

At work, you can dial any U.S. DSN telephone number in the world using your MOD Defense Fixed Telephone System (DFTS) work telephone. Dial 9205, then the seven digit European DSN number (9205-380-1110). If you are dialing CONUS, use the prefix 312, followed by the seven-digit DSN number (9205-312-xxx-xxxx). For the Middle East, use prefix 318, followed by the seven-digit number (9205-318-xxx-xxxx). If your DFTS phone has commercial access, you can dial zero, followed by any British commercial number (0-01296-555555). The international country code for the UK is 44. From CONUS, dial 011 for international access, followed by 44, then drop the zero from the commercial UK number, and dial the rest of the UK number (011-44-1296-555555). From countries other than the U.S., dial 00 for international access, followed by the UK country code 44, then drop the first zero from the UK commercial number (00-44-1296-555555).

Internet Service.

There are numerous internet service providers in the UK, from dial-up to DSL. We use British Telecom, the same company we pay for our phone line. Service has been excellent for about £20 per month with nearly unlimited access. If you plan to use BT, check their offers early. We needed a modem, so I bought one locally. I found out later that BT would have provided it free, and included a free "DSL splitter", the device that allows a telephone to operate on the same phone line as the computer.

Accessing Human Resources Command Website.

Getting into HRC's website through a foreign internet service provider can be real challenge. I have detailed instructions on how to change your browser settings. If you are identified to replace me, I'll share those instructions with you.

Computer Peripherals.

Plan ahead on how you want to set up your computer before you come, and buy your supplies before shipping your HHG. The exchange on RAF Croughton does sell some basic stuff, like mouses and things like that. You can also buy anything you need at British computer stores, but it will be about twice as expensive as in the U.S.. You can buy things online, but some companies don't ship to APO/FPO addresses, especially when the items involve radio transmissions (things like wireless routers, and wireless adapters). It is much easier to plan early and buy your stuff in the U.S..

Medical and Dental Care

There are several options for health care including the National Health System (NHS), British Army services (for service members) or U.S. services at RAF Croughton. The National Health system is available to exchange officers and their family members. It is completely free health care. British Army services are free for the exchange officer, but not available to family members.

We use the National Health System surgery (clinic) in Wendover. It is two miles from our house, and they have provided fantastic pediatric services for our newborn baby. They offer post-natal care for mothers, a weekly well-baby clinic, weekly baby massage classes, and loads of other services. We have had a number of home visits from the mid-wife and other specialists. The nearest UK hospital is Stoke-Mandeville, which is about 7 miles from our house. Our neighbors have offered mixed reviews of Stoke-Mandeville. I went to the Accident & Emergency clinic (Emergency Room), and was admitted for emergency surgery. The wait was over 24 hours, but the care was good. One small issue with using the NHS for children is that the series of immunizations in Britain is different than in the US. If you follow the NHS schedule of childhood immunizations, your child will not be admitted to US schools when they reach age 5. We strongly recommend getting your immunizations at RAF Croughton.

In the event we need back-up care, we have in-processed with the health and dental clinics at RAF Croughton, about one hour north of here. The staff at RAF Croughton has been outstanding.

If the NHS and U.S. facilities cannot provide the specialty care required, exchange officers can use the U.S. hospital at RAF Lakenheath. Dependant upon the circumstances, the U.S. government may fund TDY travel to Lakenheath. To ensure you receive reimbursement, you must gain advanced approval through the MPEP administrator at the Embassy. That can be done via email. You can go to Lakenheath without approval, but you run the risk of not being reimbursed for travel expenses. RAF Lakenheath optometry clinic does referrals for laser eye surgery. If you qualify, you will eventually get the surgery done at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.

I recommend signing up for TRICARE Prime. If you need specialty care not available elsewhere, Prime will cover 100% of the costs. The most significant drawback is that you do not select your care provider. The MPEP website includes an information brief on TRICARE policies, procedures, and points of contacts. I recommend you read it thoroughly.

For medical emergencies in the UK, dial 999. It is the equivalent of 911 in the U.S.

If your child is born in the UK, you will need to do some paperwork to get them documented as a US Citizen, to apply for a US passport, and to get a Social Security number assigned. All of this is explained on the US Embassy Consular Affairs website.
http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/acs/passports/robirth4.html This all takes time, so talk with the Consular Affairs office before making plans to fly the newborn home to see the family.

Description of Military Post Office, Commissary and PX Facilities

US support facilities for this assignment are relatively convenient. The closest US military facility is located at Royal Air Force (RAF) Base Croughton. It is located approximately 50 miles (or 55 minutes) from our quarters. Services available are mail, small commissary, small Base Exchange, shopette, chapel, bowling center, medical, dental, banking, service station (with fuel pumps, limited auto supplies, and beverage mart) and community club. The commissary is adequate for a small installation and provides the majority of items needed. We buy our eggs, bread, fruit and veggies on the local economy, and everything else at the commissary. The money we save on buying one U.S. steak at the commissary pays for the trip to RAF Croughton. RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath (both major bases) are approximately 100 miles (or 2 hours) northeast. There you will find a major PX with sporting goods, outdoor equipment, cinemas, DA photo lab and all the major support services typically available at a large military installation. In addition, RAF Mildenhall is the location for the Military Airlift Command and offers air transportation services in accordance with the applicable rules. There is also a large furniture store at RAF Feltwell, 10 miles north of Mildenhall.

Ration Card.

You will want a ration card for yourself and your spouse, if married. It is required for purchasing coffee & tea, liquor, and tobacco products. Various U.S. exchanges enforce the use of ration cards to various degrees. It's best to keep it with you, because after driving an hour to get the exchange, you want to ensure you can buy what you need. Ration cards are currently available from RAF Croughton.

Postal.

The nearest post office is at RAF Croughton. Once an inbound officer has orders, they can send a copy of their orders via email, and the existing exchange officer can establish a post office box in advance. That will enable the inbound officer to provide a forwarding address to family, friends and businesses. It will also enable the inbound officer to send packages in advance of arrival. If PCSing from another overseas assignment, all Military Postal Service (MPS) packages are postage-free. The post office is open Monday 0930-1700, Tues/Thur/Fri 0930-1700 (package shipping service closes at 1600), Wed 0930-1500. Closed Sat & Sun. It is also closed on U.S. Holidays and for unit functions. It is always a good idea to call before driving.

Auto Skills Center.

There is a two-bay auto skills center at RAF Croughton, about 1 hour from our quarters. The opening hours are: Tues & Wed 0930-1700, Thurs 1200-2000, Fri 0930-1630, Sat 0930-1600. Clean-up begins 20-30 minutes before closing daily. closed Sunday and Monday.

Gas Station / Class VI Beverage Mart.

There is a gas station/auto parts center/beverage mart at RAF Croughton, about 1 hour from our quarters. The repair parts are very limited, and include supplies like motor oils, filters, spark plugs, etc. I recommend you plan ahead. Ship your vehicle in top mechanical condition, and bring a two-year supply of things like wiper blades, special light bulbs, a fan belt, oil filters, etc. I have seen that a number of service members from RAF Croughton order tires and other US auto parts through the mail, so that is an option.

Base Exchange (PX equivalent).

The Exchange hours are Tues-Fri 1000-1800, Sat 0900-1700, Sun 1100-1600. Closed Mondays.

Commissary.

The commissary is open Tues-Fri 1000-1800, Sat 0900-1800. Closed Sun & Mon. The phone number for the commissary listed on the RAF Croughton website is incorrect. The correct number is DSN 236-8789 or commercial 01280-70-8789.

Barber Shop.

The RAF Croughton barber shop is closed on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I routinely get hair cuts for about £9 in Wendover.

What religious services are available locally?

Religious Services.

Therea is wide range of religious services available in the general area. RAF Halton has Catholic and Church of England chapels. The local community has a variety of other services available.

Banking & Finance Issues

Banking decisions are very personal, but I'd recommend getting a pound account. That can be done two ways: on-base; or off-base. I did it on-base, through Community Bank's overseas banking program. The main advantage to that type of account is that you can transfer money to your pound account without doing it manually (taking cash from an ATM and depositing it, or cashing checks at the exchange and depositing it- that would be very painful). You can also transfer money to your community bank account by paying a small international bank transfer fee. If you take the second option and get a pound account at a local British bank, you will pay the going international rates for transferring the money from your U.S. account to your British account.

Advantages of Pound Account.

I pay many of my monthly bills by direct debit, to include: rent; electricity; gas; telephone and internet; officer's mess subscriptions (monthly membership fee); and my annual fees for historical societies, which were reduced by 25% for using direct debit. The pound account at Community Bank will also give you a way to write British checks. You will need checks for paying your vehicle road tax and a few other things throughout the year. Beware that getting the equivalent of a money order is very expensive. I made that mistake one time, and it cost £8.75. They are available from the Post Office and are called Postal Orders. I recommend getting a checking account instead.

Debit Cards.

Debit cards are very common in the UK. I use my USAA debit card all the time, on base and off. It is accepted in grocery stores, pubs, hotels, train stations, and online. A person can get by in the UK carrying very little cash.

Currency.

The official British currency is the British Pound Sterling, also known as the pound sterling, or informally, the "pound". The common slang term for a pound is a "quid". The international standardization (ISO) abbreviation for the pound is GBP (Great British Pound). You can check the current exchange rate at this website: http://www.xe.com/ucc/.

Allowances.

You will be entitled to:
Overseas housing allowance (OHA). Calculate your current rate on this Per Diem Committee website. The location code for RAF Halton is UK 319.

It is designed to cover the exact amount of your rent, up to the monthly cap, plus a monthly rate to cover utilities and recurring expenses. You will also be eligible for a one time Move-In Housing Allowance (MIHA).

Cost of Living Allowance.

Your COLA is designed to adjust your income based upon the exchange rates between the dollar and the pound. It can change dramatically monthly. In the eyes of the Department of Defense, that COLA also compensates you for UK-specific costs such as annual TV Tax, and the road taxes you will pay for your second and any subsequent years in the UK.

You will probably receive the one-time dislocation allowance (DLA), so long as you have not received it for another PCS within the current fiscal year.

Schools

We do not have any school-aged children, but once my replacement is identified, we will start very early to get your kids registered for school. There is a link on the MPEP website to the most recent Department of Defense Dependant Schools briefing provided at our most recent conference. That briefing provides great info. The bottom line is the DoD will pay up to $15,000 per year, per child, for private school expenses. You will decide which school is best for you. I will do everything I can to help collect information on local schools so you can make the right decisions for your children. This link shows every school in Buckinghamshire County (the county RAF Halton is in).

There are three school terms. The Fall Term (begins in early September), Winter Term (after Christmas) and the Summer Term (late May through late July). Breaks between terms are usually two weeks and mid-term breaks are one week long. Hidden costs for children K-5 are the cost of school uniforms and sports equipment. There are greater educational differences at the 6th through 8th grade level as students begin to prepare for exams, which determine whether they continue what we would consider traditional education or attend the UK equivalent of trade school. It is very important to research this thoroughly upon arrival to determine what is best for your situation. Additional costs include school uniforms (for both public and private schools), school trips, PE clothes, etc.

POV Information

Auto Fuel & Vehicle Registration.

As a U.S. servicemember in the UK, you are entitled to buy tax-free fuel to get you to and from work. That means if you plan ahead, you can pay prices very similar to those in the U.S. If you don't plan ahead, you will pay local prices, which are about three times higher. If you are single, you can import one vehicle tax-free. If you're married, you can import two. You will be able to purchase fuel for each vehicle you import tax free.

Step zero is to call the local vehicle registration office at RAF Croughton to find out the latest and greatest requirements for vehicle registration. That not-withstanding...

The first step in getting tax-free fuel is visiting the vehicle registration office. Take along all of the shipping documents for your vehicle/s, an original letter (no faxed or emailed copies) from your insurance company proving that you have insurance for each vehicle, a copy of your orders and amendments that document whether or not you have dependants with you, a copy of your previous registration at your last duty station, and your I.D. card. Also bring along your home mailing address in the Royal Post system, so that your completed registration documents can be mailed directly to your house. When you walk away from your first visit to vehicle registration, you should have a memo or letter authorising you to purchase tax free fuel for 30 days. That is designed to support your needs through the completion of your registration. There are no fees for registration, unless you drive your vehicle from Germany via a ferry. I paid a £26 fee for importing my car that way.

The second step is to bring your vehicle into compliance with UK Ministry of Transport standards (You can do this in conjunction with step one). The auto skills center on RAF Croughton has a lot of institutional knowledge on how to make these modifications, so I recommend going there as soon as possible after arriving. The modifications include: turn signal indicators on the left and right front fender (between your doors and the front wheels), a right rear fog light (because of the extreme fog that occurs in the UK), and headlights that do not blind oncoming traffic. You can get the MOT-required work done to your car as soon as you arrive, because the skills center and auto shops are open on Saturdays. Once the vehicle meets the MOT standards, you are ready to get it inspected.

Step three is to get your vehicle inspected by a service station that is authorized to do so by the Ministry of Transport. This is commonly called "getting an MOT" for your car. This inspection verifies the vehicle is in safe mechanical condition, and that it meets the UK-specific safety requirements. Many auto garages do the inspections, and they typically have a sign in front of their business indicating that. You will have to pay a fee for the inspection, and you will drive away with your "MOT", a certificate stating that your vehicle meets the requirements. We used Wendover Garage, which is very near our house. They have been pretty hassle-free, and did decent work the one time our car needed a new control arm. If you need a motorcycle MOT, you'll have to go to a motorcycle shop. There is one 7 miles away in Aylesbury, called Street Machine. They don't appreciate loud Harleys, and I had a tough time getting my MOT certificate last year, so I switched to Moorside Garage LTD, Unit Boyn Valley Industrial Estate, Boyn Valley Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 4EJ. Their phone number is 01628-637015. If you need Harley parts quickly, I recommend Thames Valley Harley Davidson, 84 Altwood Road, Maidenhead, SL6 4QB. Their phone number is 01628-788188.

Step four is to get that "MOT" certificate to your vehicle registration office. They will put it together with your shipping documents, your proof of insurance, your orders, your previous registration, and a copy of your ID. They'll mail that to their local British vehicle registration office.

Step five. You will receive a letter authorizing you to buy British number plates (license plates) in your British mailbox about a week after you turn in your complete packet with MOT certificate. You will also get all the other paperwork you turned in to the vehicle registration office, along with your small paper "tax disc". The tax disc is the document you stick to the inside of your windshield, proving that your vehicle tax is paid. It serves the same purpose as the annual registration stickers used on license plates in the U.S.

Step six. Take that letter to the local Auto Spares (auto parts) store on Aylesbury Road in Wendover, and pay to have two number plates made for your vehicle. You need one white number plate for the front, and one yellow number plate for the rear. If your car is not European, take along one of your previous license plates so they can measure it and ensure they make plates that will fit on your car. It costs about £15 per plate, or £30 for both. They offer overnight service. You can buy the number plates from any business that makes them, but I used the store in Wendover for convenience and speedy service. Note that you cannot buy the number plates until after you receive the authorization letter from the British vehicle registration folks.

Step seven. To mount you UK number plates, remove your previous license plates. Make a paper or cardboard copy of your UK number plates, and hold it over the license plate mounting holes. Use a pen or nail to punch holes through the paper where the mounting screws need to go through the number plates. Next, lay the UK number plate on a piece of wood, and then lay the piece of paper over the plate. Using a felt-tipped marker, mark the UK plates where you need mounting holes. Remove the paper, and drill holes through the UK plate. Mount the plates to the car using the same screws that held your previous plates. Do the same for front and back. The white plate goes on the front of the auto; the yellow goes on the back. Next, mount your tax disc in a plastic holder to the inside of your windshield.

Step eight. Take the documentation that you received from the British registration folks to the U.S. vehicle registration office. They will produce a permanent "gas card" authorizing you to buy tax free fuel. You will have to show that and your ID card each time you buy fuel at a U.S. gas station, and each time you buy fuel vouchers at a U.S. NEX (Navy Exchange) or BX (Air Force Base Exchange).

Step nine. Take your gas card and ID to the customer service desk at the BX, and tell them you want to buy fuel. They offer various denominations of vouchers. You pay in advance by the liter, and then you redeem those vouchers at participating UK "All-Star" service stations across the country. Always check with a service station attendant before pumping to ensure they accept the vouchers. If they do, they can process the voucher through their automated credit card system, or through their old manual credit card system. After they acknowledge that they accept the vouchers, pump exactly that number of liters of fuel. If you have a 20 liter voucher and pump 22 liters, you'll have to pay for those extra two liters with cash. That gets very expensive very quickly. Note your vehicle odometer mileage. Go back in the station with your mileage, your voucher, your permanent gas card and your ID. You will sign the voucher and provide your mileage. The attendant will enter that info, plus the 16 digit voucher number, the expiry (expiration) date of the voucher, the amount of fuel, and the date. You will get the original copy of the voucher for your records. There are two UK service stations in Wendover that accept coupons. I go to the same station every time because I now have all of their employees well-trained on how to process the transactions.

Additional expenses include automobile road tax (£165 yearly; with first year exempt), vehicle tags (number plates approximately $25 if you get them at RAF Croughton, about £30 if you get them on the economy) and Ministry of Transport (MOT) fee (£35). In order to register your car, see the instructions above under "Auto Fuel and Vehicle Registration". RAF West Ruislip is scheduled to close in 2006, and the future POV processing center has not yet been identified.

To renew your vehicle registration for your second year, you will receive a notification letter from the DVLA. You will need: a current MOT inspection document, the notification letter from DVLA, the registration document you received after registering your car the first time, an updated original letter from your insurance company (USAA sends them out automatically), a completed application for registration (DVLA sends you a blank form with the notification letter), and a check for the amount indicated on the notification letter. My 4 liter engine full-sized car cost £175 per year. Take all those documents to the Pass & Registration office on RAF Croughton. It is in the building near the flag poles.

Be aware that you must jump a few hoops to get your motorcycle through an MOT. You will need to change your headlight to a left-hand drive version. Additionally, you may not have any orange front running lights. The British standard is headlight only, with orange front turn signals. The rear lights are the same as in the US. Any motorcycle shop sells various brackets for mounting your tax disc on your bike. It must be visible (i.e. not tucked away in your wallet or saddlebags).

Miscellaneous Information - Inprocessing, Local Information and Websites

General Inprocessing at the Embassy in London.

Coordinate your inprocessing visit to the Embassy with the MPEP Coordinator. That person is a senior NCO who handles all admin for all the Army Exchange officers in the UK. When you go, take along: a letter from the Defence Housing Estates (DHE) that documents your monthly rent; your orders and amendments; all documentation pertaining to your PCS finances (Temporary Lodging Allowance documents, travel advance information, hotel bills, transportation receipts, visa application fee receipts); info on all of your dependants; your new duty assignment and housing information (such as addresses and phone numbers); your leave form; and your official red U.S. passport. Ask the administrator what the appropriate uniform is, but it is typically smart casual (dress slacks and a collared shirt, with our without tie).

I recommend taking the train from Wendover Station. It's a 45 minute ride to Marylebone Station in Central London. Take a cab from there to the U.S. Embassy (about 5 minutes/£5). There will probably be a long line at the embassy. Go to the front and present your official passport. They will give you unescorted access. If you only have an ID card or tourist (blue) passport, you will require an escort. Ask for directions to the Army Attache's office. There is a sign over the door for the MPEP Coordinator.

During your visit you will update your SGLI, complete your PCS travel voucher, update the MPEP Coordinator's alert roster/phone roster, file your Overseas Housing Allowance paperwork, and submit a TDY travel voucher to reimburse you for your inprocessing trip to London.

I recommend bringing a copy of your ORB and your OER support form if it's done. You may get a "target of opportunity" to visit with the Army Attache. The Attache' will probably already have seen your ORB during the Human Resources Command nomination process, but I'd bring it just in case.

For any inprocessing items that you cannot execute immediately, you can follow-up by faxing or emailing copies of required documents.

Local Inprocessing at RAF Halton.

Local inprocessing at RAF Halton is rather simple, and what you'd expect at a U.S base. It will include: signing up for the Officer's Mess (mandatory); giving your admin data to the personnel flight; getting a photo at the photo lab; getting a vehicle pass at the Main Guardroom; turning in your requests for MOD email and access to the internet; attending a one-day base-wide "Station Commander's Arrival Briefing"; an office call with the Station Commander (base commander); and an office call with the commander of DCTS. You will need your bank sort code (routing number), and bank account number to sign up for your officer's mess account. The payment is made via direct debit. I also recommend you get a "Forces Rail Card". If you take a passport-sized photo to the Personnel Flight on RAF Halton, and pay about ten pounds per person, you can get a Forces Rail Card that gets you discounted rail tickets. The first couple of times you use the card it will pay for itself.

Local Information.

RAF Halton is a sleepy RAF base that is primarily a recruit training center. It is also home to over 50 tenant organizations, including the Defence Center for Training Support. It's located about 45 miles northwest of London in the Chiltern Hills, which are a popular outdoor destination for hiking, mountain biking, and numerous outdoor activities. Central London is 45 minutes by train, and Oxford is less than one hour to the northwest. RAF Halton is 1 mile from the village of Wendover, which is a quaint little village of around 5000. It includes the basics of grocery, bakery, dry cleaners, auto spares (auto parts) store, British post office, library (which offers cheap DVD rentals), and numerous pubs, cafes, and restaurants.

Less than one hour to the north is the city of Milton Keynes. There is an extremely large shopping mall and the city has multi-plex cinemas, sports arenas and even an indoor ski slope. Other exchange officers have found it to be the most American-styled shopping center in the area.

DA Photos.

The nearest official photo lab that does DA Photos is at RAF Mildenhall. The phone number dialing from your British MOD phone is 9205-238-3384 or civilian 01638-54-3384. They do DA photos on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. There is one gate into Mildenhall. Go straight for some distance. There will be a bend in the road to the right. It is marked with a sign that says "Authorized Traffic Only" or words to that effect. Follow that bend to the right. The photo lab is on the right side, in Building 670. It is across the street from a softball field. They did a fantastic job on my DA photo. Be advised that they comply with the current Army Regulation - you, the photographer, or any assistant you bring will not be authorized to tape, clip, stuff or otherwise make your uniform fit better.

Historical Societies.

Joining the two primary historical societies in the UK can save you a large amount of money over a two-year assignment. Many historic sites are controlled by the English Heritage and the National Trust. Members receive free entrance to all facilities. Given the typical tourist entrance fees, your annual membership fee (English Heritage membership for 2005 costs £62 per year for a couple) will quickly pay for itself. You can join at historic sites or online at http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/. The National Trust website is http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/. You can pay by credit/debit card or direct debit from a UK pound bank account. You can also pay cash at any English Heritage or National Trust location, however, they offer significant discounts for signing up for direct debit online.

Useful Links.

Track your Privately Owned Vehicle in shipment at the Surface Deployment Distribution Command webpage.
http://www.sddc.army.mil/

Chiltern Railways, which is the primary rail line servicing Wendover (1 mile from RAF Halton), with direct connections to London.
http://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/