Need some advice..prolly catch some shit for this thread.
 

So as some of you may remember from another thread I have officially decided to join the Air Force (provided they'll take me and if they won't someone will.) I've got a few loos financial ends right now that I would like to get cleared up before going off in the service and risk screwing my credit up worse than I have..i got laid off a while back and just been working side jobs so I'm not in the position to liquidate savings to pay shit off since I've already done that to live. On to my question(s)... I've currently got a '95 STOCK NA hardtop no softop, a/c, ps, radio, 163,XXX miles, good body, bronze magnesium 13" panasport, yada yada yada. AND a '96 ford Exploder 125XXX miles 4wd, v6 good shape....should I sell one of the two vehicles to help put myself in better shape or just do what i can keep the cars and not worry about it for now..If i should sell one which one should i get rid of, the toy I'll blow money on with no a/c and lots of potential downtime in the future or the big gas-guzzling semi-reliable (for now) exploder i won't touch save for maintenance? What could I expect to get out of the miata if i sold it as is right now? I think that's all the babying i need for right now but I'm sure I'll think of more before the thread dies out.

Thanks Guys.

Sell the explorer, Miatas last forever.

Check into the Soldiers and Sailors Act. All debt incured prior to active service must be reduced to 2% APR. Creditors don't like it, and don't comply quickly, but its federal law.

Also realize it may not be easy / possible to take both (maybe either) vehicles to your duty station.

Last bit of advice, don't be a pussy. It's bad enough you drive a chick car. Grow a pair and join the Marines.

Semper Fi
--Alex

Once you're out of initial entry training (IET) status, you'll likely be afforded the opportunity to take leave, go home, and move from your home of record (HOR) to your duty station. OCONUS assignments will allow you to ship a POV (I hope you're taking note of the acronyms, better to get used to them now) to your station, but CONUS assignments will usually require you to drive it to your new station, travel expenses paid.

So, having two vehicles is not advised unless you want to suck up the shipping bill for the Exploder. Keep in mind that motorcycles are considered household goods and can be shipped at government expense.

Actually it's 6% last i checked... but yes... all your debt becomes 6% with no penalities or late fees for EXISTING DEBT. Ditch one car... plan on packing lightly for a while till you move out of the dorms.

I would keep the Miata, buy a small trailer and hitch for it and use it to move from basic to tech school to your permanent duty station. This would give you the best of both worlds really.

Mark

Concur

That, or sell the SUV and purchase another vehicle (maybe something smaller, more fuel efficient) for a DD once training's over.

Are they giving you a bonus? If so, sell both and buy a car that suits your needs once you get to your first duty station. It would suck to sell the Explorer and end up in a snowy region!

True, I didn't think about that. I think I'll just wait until I get my orders when basic is finishing up and decide then.

you can always lift your miata for snowy regions... would be 4x4 style!

Keep in mind that you don't get your enlistment bonus until you reach your first duty station (read: complete IET) and even then you only get a part of it, the rest is paid in installments, and all of it is taxed at 25% unless you are in a combat zone.

I'm not USAF though so some of this might be different for you. Also, don't expect to know the location of your first duty station at the end of basic. If your experience is anything like mine and my brothers in arms, you'll find that out toward the end of your job school/AIT. YMMV

Yea that's what I was trying to say, I'll know where my "technical school" will be at the en of basic, then towards the end of Tech School I'll know where I'll be based. I'm allowed to have my car as soon as I leave basic though supposedly.

Keep the miata.

What did you pick in the AF?

Chris

nothing official yet but im aiming for avionics technician.

Don't let snow stop you from keeping the Miata. Coilovers can go up too. Pick it up to stock ride height, slap on a set of snows and your good.

All four branches have avi techs (I think, can't say for sure about the Army). Don't let that be the determining factor.
--Alex

Yes, the army has avionics techs, they fall under the ordnance corps.

Usually you cant have your car until you reach whats called phase 2 in tech school, which means u can dress in civys on base, but to go off base you have to wear blues (from what i remember)

Also, im not sure about now, but when i went in, enlistment bonus was pretty much not heard of in the AF.

No they have Aviation Avionics Techs too.

Chris

At first I was confused what the disagreement was, but now I see. Yes, you're right, I wasn't thinking about the planes. I'm assuming the aviation avionics techs mostly work on the A-10? Or maybe I have it mixed up entirely, the avionics techs I know teach their craft to AITers at Fort Gordon, and they work mostly on the radios and other signal equipment in helos. Two of them came straight to Gordon from SOC, talk about culture shock!!

So I suppose those who turn wrenches on the actual flight systems fall under aviation corps?

From what I've seen the avi guys work on any and all of the electronics on board. From the battery packs and radar systems to radios and NVGs. All aircraft types and in all branches....

Again, I'm not sure how it works in other branches, but in the Marines you contract is for a job field not the job itself. In my case it was the 6000 series, aviation maintenance. That covers everthing in airframes, power plant, ground support equipment.... all sorts of stuff. The couldn't promise just power plants. Just something else to be aware of.
--Alex