'Moving on up:' Are you prepared to move out of dorms Published April 23, 2013 By Senior Airman Daniel Hughes 99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- "One of the biggest milestones in an Airman's career can be moving out of the dorms and into a place of their own," said Quan Franklin, 99th Force Support Squadron community readiness financial specialist. Before an Airman is able to move onto the economy, there are some requirements that must be met. People moving from the dorms must be a Senior Airman with 36 months' time in service, married or have a hardship waiver. "Nellis has a big turnover of Airmen so we don't usually keep Senior Airmen until their 36 month mark," said Tech Sgt. Latrice Thomas, 99th Civil Engineer Squadron Airman dormitory leader. If an Airman is going to get married within 60 days, he or she is eligible to move out of the dorms with a legal marriage certificate. An Airman may also qualify to move out of the dorms if he or she has a hardship waiver. Hardship waivers can be obtained if he or she has special circumstances, such as caring for a family member. Airmen will be contacted by their dorm manager if they are eligible to move out. "When it is time for an Airman to move out, we talk to [his or her] first sergeant," Thomas said. "We make sure we have [his or her] blessing to make contact and let the Airman know [he or she is] eligible to move out of the dorms and to come to building 704 to begin [his or her] out-processing checklist." According to Master Sgt. Ashika Dyson, 99th Comptroller Squadron first sergeant, first sergeants are encouraged to tell their Airmen about all the classes the airman and family readiness center offers like the Moving On Up and Out On Your Own class. "It is not mandatory to attend [these classes], although first sergeants may mandate their Airmen to do so," Dyson said. Airmen looking to move out of the dorms should check into the airman and family readiness center's financial readiness class, it's held on the first and third Wednesday of each month. "The financial readiness class provides [Airmen] with a number of resources that [they] will be able to use when [they] are preparing to move out of the dorms," Franklin said. The class helps answer questions such as where to live, considering a roommate, how to set up housekeeping, and budgeting. "The first couple months are the hardest financially because you're setting up your household goods and figuring out your finances," Franklin said. "If Airmen use the resources [provided by the airman and family readiness center], they will be prepared to take care of their finances," The out-processing check list also has tasks that need to be accomplished before Airmen move out of the dorms, but the final inspection of an Airman's dorm room is one Airmen tend to overlook. "Cleaning your dorm for final inspection is something Airmen forget about or don't do thoroughly enough," Thomas said. "Each room should be cleaner than when you received it and ready for a new Airman to move in." Take the time to learn what needs to be done to move out of the dorms and do it right. For more information on moving out of the dorms and how to prepare for the transition, call the dorm manager at 652-3162 or the airman and family readiness center at 652-3327.
