Checking In Your Sponsor
Sponsors are appointed to help all personnel assigned to the Academy. They are prepared to help you with any questions or problems before your arrival and while getting settled. Please exchange phone numbers, e-mail addresses and your travel itinerary with your sponsor. If you’re unable to contact your sponsor, call the base locater at DSN 333-1110 or your gaining unit orderly room.
Military In-ProcessingUpon arrival, check in with your sponsor and in-process with your assigned commander’s support staff. You will need to hand-carry your orders, the sealed records package from your losing military personnel flight and be in uniform. After obtaining a local address and phone number, you will need to update your emergency data card (DD Form 93), PCIII and the DEERS/RAPIDS computer database with the new information. During the first month following your arrival, you will attend a briefing from the finance office, military personnel flight, newcomers orientation/information fair and,if applicable, a first duty station/military equal opportunity orientation. Spouses and teenage family members are encouraged to attend the newcomers orientation/information fair.
Civilian In-Processing333-2753If you are an appropriated fund civilian employee arriving for employment at the Academy, you will be in-processed by the civilian personnel Flight, Building 8034, 10th Air Base Wing Headquarters. You will be scheduled for orientation briefings within your First 60 days. Call (719) 333-2753 or write: 10 MSS/DPCU, 8034 Edgerton Drive, Suite 100, USAF Academy, CO 80840-2205 for more information. If you are on a leave-without-pay status from a previous non-appropriated fund position you should report to the NAF human resource office located in the upper level of the community center, next to the library, to apply for current open positions.
Phone CallsDSN and commercial calls follow a “333-XXXX” format. The local area code is “719.”
Environment/WeatherThe weather is generally moderate, but can vary. April through September are normally pleasant months; typical high temperatures are in the mid- 80s for July and August and between 20 and 40 degrees for December and January. Normally, snowfall occurs October to late April but the area still enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine each year. Due to the roughly 7,000-foot elevation, some people from lower elevations experience minor discomfort after climbing stairs or walking. Allow yourself time to rest each day and don’t over-exert yourself soon after arrival. The Academy Weather Flight provides daily weather forecasting and observation including weather warnings and advisories for the Academy and Bullseye Auxiliary Airfield and launching weather balloons for upper level wind measurements, as well as observing hazardous flying conditions for the flying training and airmanship programs.
How to Get HereThe Academy is roughly 10 miles north of downtown Colorado Springs and 60 miles south of Denver on Interstate 25. The Academy is near the foot of Pikes Peak—the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains—and covers more than 18,500 acres of spectacular scenery.
If driving from the west during the winter, weather could present some problems. Roads through the Colorado Rockies are excellent, but you’ll have to cross a number of mountain passes. These can be very hazardous or impassable during the winter. Sometimes the state patrol requires snow tires or chains for mountain travel. You can call ahead to the Colorado State Patrol in Denver at (303) 639-1111 or your travel agency, and, if necessary, detour around the mountains.
Colorado Driving TipsColorado’s terrain and weather challenge both the driver and the vehicle. Pay close attention to weather warnings or watches and be sure your vehicle is in top shape, especially the steering, suspension and brakes. A good set of all-season radial tires is a must. Snow routes are posted both on and off base. Snow routes receive priority for plowing and sanding, making them the best roads to use during inclement weather.
When driving up hills, slower moving vehicles are required to stay in the right lane to keep the passing lane clear. If you meet oncoming traffic while on a narrow mountain road, the vehicle going up the hill has the right-of-way, unless it is close to a turn out. In Colorado, drivers may turn right on red lights unless otherwise posted.
Winter SafetyIf you’re arriving at the Academy during the winter months, ask your sponsor to send an Academy snow route map in your welcome package. During inclement weather, only portions of the base’s roads are open for traffic. Additionally, winter weather can bring poor visibility and slippery roadways.
Here are some tips to reduce your chances of having an accident:
• Take it easy.
• Pick up speed slowly. Accelerating too quickly can cause loss of traction and spinning wheels or a skid on icy roads.
• Never slam on the brakes. This could cause the brakes to lock and result in loss of steering control. Instead, take it easy. Just squeeze the brake pedal down until you feel the brakes are about to lock up; let off the brake, then squeeze again. For those with anti-lock brakes, simply press evenly on the pedal and let the vehicle’s braking system control your stop.
• Keep plenty of distance between your vehicle and the car in front of you. Colorado spreads crushed stone on the roadway to enhance traction. Unfortunately, many people have cracked windshields because they were driving too closely when a car in front of them kicked up loose gravel.
Every driver should check the following:
•
Under the hood:• Cooling system
• Windshield washer system (fluid)
• Battery and connections
• Tune up (check air filter, oil/oil filter)
• Outside of the car:
• Tires and windshield wiper blades
•
In the trunk:• Shovel, chains, bucket of sand, defroster sprays, flares, jumper cables, towrope and an orange or yellow streamer for the antenna.
• Blankets, heavy jackets, gloves, stocking caps, snow and ice scrapers, flashlight, safety matches or lighter, high-energy foods such as candy and nuts (enough for several days) and an empty coffee can and candles for heating water.
Lastly, the time-tested tips are to be prepared, be defensive and slow down.
Postal Services472-0537Sponsors can obtain a postal service center box number for military personnel with one copy of their PCS orders. Lock boxes are available without charge for permanently assigned military members living in the dormitories.
Civilians transferring to the Academy can forward mail to general delivery at the Academy. They may also request a post office box; however, the request requires a home address and phone number. Submit box requests to: USAF Academy Postmaster, USAF Academy, CO 80840-9998, along with a fee ($29 plus $2 deposit for key).
There are four proper addresses for personal mail at the Academy:
1. Base housing residents: name, street address, USAF Academy, CO 80840-xxxx (“xxxx” is a Zip+4 extension based upon geographical location in the housing area).
2. Dormitory residents: rank, name, PSC box number, USAF Academy, CO 80840.
3. Civilians renting post office boxes from U.S. Postal Service: grade, name, post office box number, USAF Academy, CO 80840-xxxx (xxxx is the box number).
4. Civilians using general delivery: name, General Delivery, USAF Academy, CO 80840.
(General delivery is in the community center next to the post office. Mail is held for 10 days before it’s returned to the sender.) There are two postal facilities at the Academy.
The main post office is located at the community center. The second facility is in the cadet area on the ground floor of Vandenberg Hall. This facility primarily serves the Cadet Wing and has its own ZIP code of 80841.
Cadet addresses include: name, post office box number, USAF Academy, CO 80841-xxxx (xxxx is the box number).
HousingOn May 1, 2007, the Air Force Academy’s housing privatized, and the housing and associated infrastructure was conveyed to our privatization partner, Forest City-Hunt, LLC. New construction and whole house renovations have begun and will be completed by mid-2013. During this time, there will still be an abundance of units available for immediate occupancy.
Mountain living in the heart of the Air Force Academy and best school district (D-20) includes two neighborhoods, Douglass and Pine Valley. The homes range from two to five bedrooms, each equipped with a range, refrigerator and dishwasher, grounds maintenance, snow removal and $20K in renter’s insurance. In 2009, a community center will open, providing the residents a fitness center, children’s playroom, social lounge and multi-purpose room with full kitchen that can be reserved for parties. Additional trails and playgrounds will compliment the great community development of Air Force Academy housing.
Forest City Residential Management welcomes you to visit their Web site at
http://www.usafaliving.com and encourages you to contact them weekdays, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at (719) 867-9688. They are conveniently located at the Community Management Office, 6556 Columbine Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840.
Temporary Lodging333-4910 Ext. 0
The Rampart Lodge, located east of the Falcon Club, provides overnight accommodations by reservation only. The lodging staff accepts reservations for priority one and two travelers 24 hours a day. Reservations are available by calling the lodging reservations desk, or via e-mail at
rampart.lodge@usafa.af.mil.
Temporary lodging facilities and visiting quarters are available for authorized families or single members. Priority-two guests possessing a DOD identification card may request lodging by calling the reservations clerk or the front desk. Reservations will be taken three to 30 days in advance depending on the percentage of occupancy for the particular day requested. The VQs are available to both officers and enlisted members. TLFs are for military members and their families. These facilities feature one, two and three bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, living room and dining room.
Pets are not allowed in either the VQs or TLFs. A list of commercial kennels is available to the guest at the front desk. Handicap accessible rooms, rooms for the hearing-impaired and a small conference room are available.
Immediate family members of cadets and prep school students are considered priority one guests November through March, and are priority two at other times.
Dormitories
333-4229
Single/unaccompanied E1-E4s with less than three years are required to live in the dorm unless they apply and receive authorization from the commander. All residents are assigned single rooms and share a bath with a suite mate. The rooms are a minimum of 180 square feet and include a full size bed, entertainment center, TV, drawer dresser, night stand, desk with hutch, recliner and one floor and table lamp. The dorm is in the Community Center area and is an easy walk to the gym, Milazzo Center, post office, clothing sales, credit union, Military Personnel Flight, bowling alley, base exchange and commissary. However, most working areas are located several miles from the dorms, so residents will need personal transportation.
Off-Base Housing Referral333-2247The housing referral office provides counseling to all incoming/outgoing customers in securing adequate and affordable housing in the Colorado Springs area and follow-on duty locations. They provide an abundance of community information and will provide you a newcomer package upon request. If you are planning on purchasing a home, don’t miss their semi-annual home buying seminar.
All listings are maintained through the Department of Defense sponsored program called the Automated Housing Referral Network at www.ahrn.com. AHRN is designed to improve the process of securing available housing for relocating military members and their families. People can access this Web site 24 hours a day from your own home.
Military members are required to report to the housing referral office upon arrival to their new duty station. Additionally, all members are encouraged to call or visit the housing referral office before entering into a rental or purchase agreement. The office is located at 6556 Columbine Drive.
Household Goods554-9298Call the joint personal property shipping office and follow instructions to determine if your household goods or baggage has arrived and to make arrangements for delivery. The JPPSO office is located in the lower level of the Community Center.
Pet Policy333-4055Pet owners residing on base must register dogs and cats with the Academy Veterinary Treatment Facility within 10 days of arrival. All dogs and cats are required to be microchipped. The facility is located in Building 6966, behind Air Academy High School. Call 333-4055 for available services. Pet owners cannot maintain more than two adult pets (4 months or older). Small caged birds, small caged rodents, and reptiles and aquarium fish are exempt from registration.
Request letters to exceed the pet limit or to keep exotic pets should be addressed to: Military Family Housing at: 10 CES/CEH, 6556 Columbine Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840-2516. For more information, call 333-2100. Exceptions will be strictly limited. In addition to the waiver, base residents with exotic pets must meet applicable federal and state laws and current Academy regulations, as stated in USAFAI 48-103.
Pets must be on a leash or chain or in a fenced area at all times. Forest City Housing established a breed ban for housing residents. The current ban includes pit bulls and Rottweilers and any dog that has a mixed lineage of said breeds. The breed ban is subject to change at any time. Contact Forest City Housing for more current information. Members residing off base must license their animals with the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region. Proof of current rabies immunization is required. It can be a 1 or 3 year vaccine.
Veterinary Treatment Facility333-4055The Veterinary Treatment Facility provides low cost, quality health care to privately-owned pets of active duty and retired military members eligible to receive care at any military medical treatment facility through DEERS. Services include, but may not be limited to: vaccinations, microchips, heart worm testing and prevention and limited sick call; which focuses on the prevention of zoonotic diseases (disease transmitted from animals to humans.) Clinic staff will determine if the medical condition is within our scope of care when the owner calls for an appointment.
Emergency care, surgery, radiology and boarding and grooming services are not provided. It is recommended all newly-arriving families consult the local telephone directory to locate a civilian clinic for services the base facility does not provide. Pet owners living on base must register their pets at the facility within 10 days of arrival, and on an annual basis thereafter. Registration requirements consist of a current rabies vaccination, annual Distemper combination vaccination, microchip and annual examination for intestinal parasites.
The facility is open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3:30 p.m. All pets are seen by appointment only. For more information, call (719) 333-4055.
Employment Opportunities
At the Academy, family members may find employment at a variety of service facilities. If you are interested in applying for non-appropriated fund employment once you arrive at the Academy, please apply at the NAF Human Resource office located in the upper level of the Community Center, next to the library. The Academy has non-appropriated fund positions open to military members and family members over 16. Positions are available for military members after duty hours. Call 333-3425 for non-appropriated fund positions.
Information on job openings is also available by calling the NAF job hotline at 333-9627. For applicant information prior to a reporting date you may view current vacancies on our Web site at
http://www.usafaservices.com/hro.htm and mail your completed application package to 10 SVS/SVH, 5136 Eagle Drive, USAF Academy, CO 80840.
Financial Services333-4298Finance customer service is located on the 2nd floor of Harmon Hall. This office provides one stop processing of pay and travel entitlements. Military members should continue direct deposit of their pay during their move to the Academy. Your travel claims are paid by electronic funds transfer ensuring fast and efficient settlement of travel claims.
Vehicle RegistrationVehicle registration is no longer mandatory on Air Force installations. Those personnel who commute to Fort Carson or plan to utilize services on Fort Carson should register their vehicle. Vehicle may be registered at the Pass and Registration Center located just outside the South Gate Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vehicle registration documentation requirements include a current DoD ID card, current driver’s license, valid vehicle registration and insurance. All documentation must be presented during the registration process.
The DoD Form 2220, DoD Vehicle Registration decal, Academy color-coded decal and a year of expiration tag must be displayed on the top center or lower left of the front windshield. All individuals operating government owned vehicles or privately owned vehicles on the Academy must possess a valid state driver’s license or international driver’s license and be in full compliance with Colorado state law. Foreign operators must carry their driver’s license from their home country. International driver’s licenses are valid for a maximum period of 1 year. International driver’s licenses may be obtained through the American Automobile Association. Military personnel returning from an overseas assignment with an international driver’s license must obtain a valid U.S. driver’s license within 30 days of return.
Civilian personnel must obtain a Colorado driver’s license and vehicle registration within 30 days of arrival. Military members and their families may keep their valid driver’s licenses or license plates from their home states or get them from Colorado. Vehicles registered to military members (and not family members) are exempt from Colorado’s vehicle ownership tax.
To obtain the exemption, you must:
1. Be assigned to a military base in Colorado.
2. Show a copy of your current registration or renewal notice.
3. Show a military ID card.
4. Complete the military exemption form (available at unit orderly rooms or the base legal office). Military spouses may accomplish this with an appropriate power of attorney and a current copy of the active duty member’s orders assigning them to a Colorado military base.
For information about Department of Motor Vehicles office locations and other frequently asked questions, visit
http://www.mv.state.co.us.
Firearms333-0442Dormitory, visitor’s quarters and temporary lodging facility occupants must register and store firearms at the Security Forces Armory, Building 8024. Call 333-2000 for information. All personnel residing in Air Force Academy privatized housing must follow the Forrest City Residential Management requirements for registering their privately owned weapons. Privately owned weapons must be registered with the Security Forces Pass and Registration Center located in Building 8486. Registration must be completed via an AF Form 1314, Firearms Registration, coordinated through the individuals’ First Sergeant and signed by the Unit Commander or designee. All personnel are also required to complete a DD Form 2760, Qualification to Possess Firearms or Ammunition. The original AF Form 1314, signed by the unit commander or designee, and DD Form 2760 are required to be dropped off at the PRC to complete the registration process. Discharging firearms of any sort, to include air rifles, BB guns and similar devices, within the Academy’s boundaries is forbidden. The only exception is guided hunts conducted by the natural resources section. Call 333-0442 for more information.
Fish and Wildlife333-3308The Academy has large populations of deer, elk and other wildlife and each year there are numerous vehicle-wildlife collisions. Drivers should be prepared to encounter wildlife on or near the roadways, especially when driving at dusk and dawn. Flashing your headlights can be used to warn oncoming vehicles of a wildlife hazard. If you have an accident involving wildlife, please call the 10th Security Forces Squadron at 333-2000. A road kill permit is available from the Natural Resources office for any deer or elk that is salvageable. The Air Force does not compensate vehicle operators for any damage resulting from an accident involving wildlife.
The Academy is also home to black bear, mountain lion, coyote, raccoon, skunk, fox, squirrel, snakes, wild turkey and other wildlife. All wildlife should be considered potentially aggressive and dangerous. It is against state law to feed wildlife and people should not attempt to approach, capture, or pet any wild animal. Black bear or mountain lion sightings should be reported immediately to the 10th SFS at 333-2000 or Natural Resources at 333-3308. Living with Wildlife brochures, which provide information on co-existing with wildlife, are available at the Natural Resources office. Persons interested in hunting on the base should contact the Natural Resources office for information. Base fishing permits may be purchased at the Outdoor Recreation Center (Building 5136) or at the Farish Recreation Area.
