Okay i'm enlisting in the air force soon. I'm young and don't have much money saved up yet. I'm not entering the military for the money (at least it's not the main reason). I was thinking of selling my car sometime before I go off to boot camp. It would give me about 4 or 5 thousand cash to get some things paid off before I leave for boot camp and active duty. My question is, if I do sell my car, will it be detrimental to my boot camp or my 4 year active duty experience? Is it absolutely necessary to own a car if you are on active duty in the military? Can I get by without one?
Views from those who are or who have been in the military would be greatly appriectiated. Thanks.
2007-03-05 10:54:48 · 13 answers · asked by World Expert 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
First, congratulations!! I enjoyed my AF career, give it a chance and I know you will too, and thanks for serving your country.
On the car, I left mine back home when I joined up many moons ago, and it sat there wasting away. Once you're through basic you'll be sent off to tech school, and then, you'll likely be stationed somewhere far from home. It's your call, but you'll find that once you've settled in a new area and are beginning your career, you'll easily be able to afford a car, if one is even needed. in the meantime, if you can sell yours and dispose of some bills, that's not a bad plan at all.
Good luck in the AF, ... I found it to be one of the best choices I ever made, ... hope it works out as well for you. Just remember, basic training is designed to weed out those who can't cut it, ... work hard and don't take the harassment to heart, six weeks will fly by and a good career will lay ahead.
2007-03-05 11:03:37 · answer #1 · answered by Owlchemy_ 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Tough question,,, first off depends on how much you owe and what new hobbies and friends you may aquire. And where your stationed and Current condition of your car.. Some people are just rattling answers off too fast including me. If you join the Air force what will your job be and what bases will you go to.. You may get bored at base X( your base after all schools) then you be iclined to buy a POS car because that is all teh money you could get,,, then POS car could break down and then you end up losing it or very expensive repairs..because No doubt you will want your own car.. I have been all over the world(navy and Air force) and other then Korea I wanted a car where ever I was Sicily(italy), Greece,Puerto Rico, a few bases in Texas, South carolina, Connecticut,Mississippi and a few others... Yes you can get by without one, you can sponge off friends or maybe sponge of a signifigant other.. There are far too many things but If it would pay off all your debts and your the type of person who is VERY DISIPLINED and you dont get anyone pregnent or become pregnent .. Then Sell car pay debts and start saving again,,, bring your x-box to tech school and permanent duty station(NOT BOOT CAMP), Anyway If you would join the NAVY after some schools you can get E-4 and its very easy to get a credit when you hit E-4 (a good card not one with high percentage rate) and car loan.. Anyway Air force will take longer, Anyway I have no idea where i am going with this haha,,, take your time and think about reality, before you think about ideally
If you want send me your yahoo messenger ID and you can give me details over voice you dont even have to add me... It is a big decesion so hopefully you read all ideas
2007-03-05 11:30:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You won't be allowed to drive while in boot camp anyway, unless things have drastically changed since I was there. After boot you will probably be offered a short leave before going on to your first duty station. At your duty station there will be a military bus route to get you arround base, so no problem there, But its nice to have a ride when home on leave and nicer yet to have transportation once you get to your first duty station. If you really need to pay off those bills then go for the sale. If not, keep your car, because it will come in handy. Retired Army, 23 years. Good luck to you.
2007-03-05 11:08:11 · answer #3 · answered by sarge 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You are not allowed a car while at Lackland in boot camp but after that you will probably want one. If you have loads of bills you may want to sell it and get debt free prior to leaving but if you feel you can pay off the bills on an E-1 or E-2 pay scale, keep the car.
2007-03-05 11:13:15 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I sold my car, so that I would not have to be burdened with Insurance payments while in training. I am already bugeting for another one, once I get settled at my perminate duty station.
This also ensures that you will not be burdened with a car, if you are stationed overseas.
My father was in the Army, I remember him buying a car after we were settled at the each new duty station; then selling it before we left. He used the money from the sell of the last vehicle, to buy the next one.
2007-03-05 11:22:18 · answer #5 · answered by whathappentothisnation 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you can sell your car to help pay off some debt before you join you will be better off. Your first few years in the Air force you will have to live on base anyway so everything will be with in walking distance. If you live your life smartly than you can save money and buy a new car in a few years. But be careful I have seen alot of Airmen live beyond there means because they do live in the dorms and have no bills so they tend to get into debt very quickly. So I would say sell your get get out of debt and your life will be easier.
2007-03-05 11:04:17 · answer #6 · answered by KBAMFS 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Sell your car. I was former Navy and it's better off not to worry about it and pay your bills off. Yes you may desire a car later on after boot camp and your initial training, but you will be too busy during boot camp and training to have too much free time driving around. You can always buy another vehicle after you graduated. Besides, you may be stationed far away and you don't want to have your vehicle shipped over from another state.
2007-03-05 11:00:01 · answer #7 · answered by LW 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Do not sell your car. When you get to your duty station do you want to have to count on other people to get you around post or to the city to have fun. Trust me not having a car sucks and the weekend can be very boring if you don't have a car. Also having a car is a good way to meet new people because you can take them places and not have to rely on others to tote you around.
2007-03-05 14:21:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can sell your car now since you would not need it if you will be dispatched to different bases of the Air Force anyway. Besides, you can get another one while in the service as long as you know how to handle your money.
2007-03-07 13:45:44 · answer #9 · answered by Jochel 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're not married, it's really not necessary to have a vehicle in
the service. Transportation is usually readily available, and I found
that if it wasn't that the military would furnish "liberty runs" to the
nearest town(s), medical appointments etc. Would suggest that
you DO sell your car so you don't enter the service with extra
financial baggage. Good Luck to you, and "Thanx" in advance.
2007-03-05 11:09:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋