So lacking people who have gone recently from my unit to ask about this, I have a few questions I'd like to ask:

1. Are 35P BNCOC soldiers required to do PT everyday? I've scored 300+ for more than six straight years now, and I'm not anywhere close to dropping below that, so I'm curious if there's a PT exemption policy in effect, or if there are levels (certain PT score levels go more or less than others). I'm assuming not, but it's worth asking. I do much better in terms of fitness when I'm training by myself, because then I can actually push myself and train realistically--that is, use the techniques I've accumulated from years of competitive sports and NCAA competition.

2. Are the Angelo Inn rooms still decent, and are they single- or double-occupancy for BNCOC soldiers?

3. If I don't show up with a POV, am I probably going to wish that I had? I know the bus runs by base at various intervals, and there's always the cab service, but is a guy who sometimes absolutely has to escape the military environment going to find it hard to catch an occasional ride into town? Do most students show up with POVs?

4. Since the per-diem and other information sheets regarding MI NCO Academy attendance are geared almost entirely toward Ft. Huachuca, how does the cost of eating at the DFAC now compare to the per-diem offerings?

5. My wife will be out of school for the summer, and I'm a big sucker for my family, so I'd like to have my wife and toddler out to visit for a couple of weeks. Did anyone see any other BNCOC students do something like this? I know a couple of decent places they could possibly stay out there, but I'm also curious as to whether there were any policies against such visitation.

Thanks for any informed answers to these questions and of course any other comments/suggestions from experienced soldiers re: BNCOC at Goodfellow.

Anyone? Buehler?

burntorange, I can give you one definite answer and one opinion.

A couple of guys from my unit just got back last month and regarding #4) You only get the school per diem rate of like $10 or something per day. Everything at the DFAC is sold a la carte which makes it very expensive. They ate out nearly every meal in order to "save" money.

As far as #3) I just went to AIT there a little over 2 years ago and found that a car was necessary. I don't know anything about the bus schedule, but unless you want to walk around base all day, I would bring one. They do have the shuttle which will take you anywhere, but you have to ride with a bunch of people so it could take a while.

One more thing, #2) It sounded as if the rooms were still pretty good, don't know about the occupancy, though.

Thanks for what help you could provide. I went through AIT there back in, oh, I think it was early 2003, right before heading to Iraq, and I really enjoyed "living" in my wife's room at the Angelo Inn.

I guess I should call the inn to see if they double-up the BNCOC NCOs.

I was there in 06, so I don't know how accurate my info still is.

There was no PT exemption policy during BNCOC.

I stayed in the double occupancy rooms, I had to shared the first couple nights while the Angelo Inn dealt with the influx of soldiers (I guess we were the first BNCOC class ever), but was moved to a room of my own. One of my buddies there with me got to stay in the nice, what we thought of as "NCO/Officer Rooms" during AIT (queen bed, recliner). Not sure what drug deal she worked out.

I never used my car for on post stuff. That base is too small to drive anywhere. But, I did bring my car for going off post.

I forget how per diem went or the ammount while I was there, but we usually kept to the chow halls for the big meals during the week. Ate lunch and all the weekend meals off post, however.

We couldn't work out a trip for my wife and daughter while I was there that time, but when I was there for AIT, my wife got a room in the Angelo Inn and I just stayed with her while she was there. I don't know if there were any policies against visiting family, I didn't ask.

The class was extremely laid back when I was there. I won't bring up how useful or current it was, I don't want to start a tirade.