Arrival

WELCOME
One of the treasures of the California gold country, Beale is home of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing and is considered by many to be one of the show places of the United States Air Force. It’s a base steeped in history, yet at the same time it soars in the forefront of the Air Force’s future in high technology. As a new member of the Beale community we welcome you and at the same time thank you. We thank you for bringing your skill and knowledge and for helping to make Beale just a bit more valuable.

YOUR SPONSOR
Your sponsor is a personal representative of your gaining squadron commander who is assigned and trained to assist you and your family in all aspects of your relocation to Beale AFB. He or she will be knowledgeable about Beale and the surrounding communities and available to aid you from assignment notification until you are settled in your home and work center here. Do not hesitate to ask questions of your sponsor, as they have the resources of the squadron and the relocation assistance professionals at Airman and Family Readiness to help them address your concerns and needs. Please visit www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil  for instructions for receiving your personal property and pictures to help you visualize your new home.

Remember, Beale is relatively isolated and unless you are arriving by car, you should coordinate transportation arrangements from the airport to the installation with your sponsor. If you need help in obtaining a sponsor, please contact your Airman and Family Readiness Center at (530) 634-2863 or DSN 368-2863.

LOCAL TRAVEL TO BEALE
If you arrive at the Sacramento Airport, you can arrange for taxi service to Beale. A taxi from the Sacramento Airport will cost you approximately $85. When possible, notify your sponsor of the date and time you are scheduled to arrive in case he or she may be able to provide you with transportation to the base.

FINDING US IS HALF THE FUN

Beale is located in northern California about 10 miles east of the towns of Marysville and Yuba City and about 45 miles north of Sacramento, which is the state capital.

When traveling from the east or west on Interstate 80, Highway 65 provides the easiest access to the base. Those driving from the south on Interstate 5 should take the Highway 70/99 turnoff just north of Sacramento and follow the signs for Marysville. Beale’s access appears just before the city limits of Marysville.

When driving from the north on Interstate 5, take Highway 20 at Williams, and it will take you to Yuba City and Marysville. Once in Marysville, take Highway 70 until you see the Beale access sign.

Beale is a large base in terms of land and has five gates providing access on all sides of the base. Although many of the “back gates” save time, they may prove confusing to the newcomer.

The Schneider (main) and Vassar Lake (near housing) Gates are open 24-hours-a-day. The Wheatland and Grass Valley Gates are open daily, 5 a.m. to midnight. The Doolittle Gate is open Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to midnight and UTA weekends. For more information, call the Base Defense Operations Center at (530) 634-2131.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY EN ROUTE
If an emergency should arise while en route to Beale, contact the base operator at (530) 634-3000 or DSN 368-1110 and ask to be connected with your unit orderly room. If for some reason you are unable to contact your unit, request to be connected with manning control at the Military Personnel Section during duty hours at (530) 634-3116 or DSN 368-2824. In the event of illness, death or natural disaster, contact the nearest American Red Cross chapter.

24-HOUR ARRIVAL POINT
The lodging office, or “Gold Country Inn,” is the base’s 24-hour arrival point and should be your first stop. It’s located at 5786 A St. The main office is snuggled between the dormitories. Directional signs are posted on base to ease your arrival. Once there, lodging personnel will assist you in contacting your sponsor. Upon notification, your sponsor should meet you at the arrival point. To contact Gold Country Inn, call the front desk at (530) 634-2953.

TRAVEL PAY
Military pay and travel in-processing is normally held Monday and Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. in the Military Personnel Section conference room located at 17855 Warren Shingle Blvd. In-processing is scheduled through the base Military Personnel Section.

BASE IN-PROCESSING
Upon arrival, all military personnel must first report to their squadron’s Unit Program Coordinator. After in-processing with their unit, all military members must then report to the Military Personnel Section’s (MPS) Customer Support Element. After in-processing through the MPS, members will be scheduled for Personnel/Finance in-processing which is conducted on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. The Customer Support Element is located in the Consolidated Support Center building at 17855 Warren Shingle Blvd.

Items required for in-processing are:
PCS orders and amendments for member and dependents
Personnel and Medical/Dental records if hand-carried
Mailing address, home and duty phone number, and office symbol

The following information will assist those individuals on in-processing procedures for Beale Air Force Base:
Members in-process through their unit orderly rooms before coming to the MPS Customer Support Element.
Members in-process with the MPS Customer Support Element and are scheduled for the following mandatory appointments:

Wing Right Start briefing is held on the second and fourth Tuesday morning each month at the Recce Point Club. You will be scheduled for this briefing during your MPS in-processing.

Equal Opportunity briefings are scheduled as follows: Newcomers (second or more PCS) are held in the Wing Right Start briefing, First Duty Station (first pertinent base, e.g., not technical school, OTS, etc.) Equal Opportunity training is automatically schedule for Airmen during FTAC and officers/DoD civilians should call (530) 634-2077/3462 or DSN 368-2077/3462 to schedule your briefing.

Finance for supervisors briefing is held every month at the Airmen & Family Readiness Center (as required). You will be scheduled for this briefing during your MPS in-processing. All in-processing appointments are mandatory military appointments and the uniform of the day must be worn.

GOLD COUNTRY INN — LODGING FACILITY
Temporary lodging is available to all categories of personnel. The Gold Country Inn offers Visiting Airman and Officer Quarters. PCS and TDY personnel are provided with reservation and confirmation numbers when the request is received.

If on-base quarters are not available, lodging personnel can assist you in acquiring a room at a local hotel. For PCS and TDY personnel, lodging may make reservations at a local hotel and provide a contract lodging letter IAW predetermined prices. If guests prefer to find their own accommodations, lodging will provide a statement of non-availability letter in IAW guidelines established in AFI 34-246, Air Force Lodging Program.

The Gold Country Inn offers ten pet friendly temporary lodging facilities. If a pet-friendly room is not available the lodging staff can provide you with a list of local kennels.

Beale has 28 temporary lodging facilities for personnel traveling with family members. These units are located in the family housing area and are completely furnished with washers, dryers and kitchen amenities.

Space-available rooms may be booked depending upon current occupancy rates. The following guidelines apply: 86% or greater up to 3 days in advance, 81 to 85% up to 7 days in advance, 66 to 80% up to 14 days in advance, 51 to 65% up to 30 days in advance, 50% or below 120 days in advance. Initial reservations cannot exceed more than three days.

All personnel can make reservations by calling (530) 634-2953/3662 or DSN 368-2953/3662. Daily charges are based on Air Force Lodging guidelines. To ensure your needs are met, please make your reservation as early as possible.

MILITARY FAMILY HOUSING
Beale’s military family housing is nestled among the foothills of the Sierra Nevada approximately eight miles from the flight line and the noise associated with flying operations. The family housing inventory was privatized in 2012 and handed over to Balfour Beatty Communities. With this privatization comes the construction of new homes, along with community enhancements such as a youth center, library, swimming pool, golf course, bowling center and playgrounds.

Housing amenities vary based on the neighborhood, but many of the two- to four-bedroom homes include garages, along with washer and dryer hookups. Homes are not currently metered; your rent includes gas and electric utility costs.

To be placed on the waiting list for base housing, complete a DD Form 1746, Application for Military Housing. Forward the application, along with a copy of your orders, through your present housing office to the Beale Housing Management Office (HMO). Your name will be placed on the waiting list on the date you depart your current base of assignment, as stated on your application.

HOUSING ASSISTANCE
The housing assistance office can really take the legwork out of looking for an apartment or house and it’s a mandatory stop before you commit yourself to private housing off base. Beale AFB uses the Automated Housing Referral Network accessed at www.ahrn.com  for referral services; this is a data base that is accessible worldwide.

HOUSE-HUNTING PERMISSIVE TDY
Permissive TDY is authorized for those members who plan on occupying non-government quarters in the vicinity of Beale. A maximum of 10 calendar days (including travel time) can be approved for members (including married military couples) who have received formal assignment notification. For more information regarding house hunting trips, stop in at your unit orderly room and review AFI 36-3003.

PERMANENT OFF-BASE HOUSING
In order to receive maximum assistance, you must report to the housing management office before committing yourself to private housing off base. This is a legal requirement that helps ensure all of our people receive equal and fair opportunity for housing. Rent for one and two-bedroom apartments and duplexes in the Marysville-Yuba City area ranges from $700 to $1,100 per month, unfurnished. House rents start at $1,000. Required deposits vary. Most off-base housing is 10 to 25 miles from the main gate. Rent usually does not include gas and electricity. Monthly utility bills may start at $80 and can exceed $200 a month. The utility company, Pacific Gas and Electric, may charge a deposit of $160 although there are different programs to arrange the initial deposit payment. There is also a fee for phone service and a deposit may also be required depending on your past history with other telephone companies. Homes for sale are plentiful. Prices also vary depending on area. For more information, call the housing office at (530) 634-2793/4 or DSN 368-2793/4.

DINING FACILITY POLICIES FOR NEW ARRIVALS
New arrivals can bring their dependents to the base dining halls for a period of one week after their arrival in an effort to ease the financial burden of a PCS move. There is a surcharge for each dependent, except E-4 and below, in addition to the normal price of the meal. The active-duty member must accompany all dependents. You must have a copy of your PCS orders available to show the dining hall staff.

DINING FACILITY
The food service branch supports a variety of missions. It presently operates one main dining facility. Located at 17853 C St., the Contrails is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year in order to robustly support the 9th Reconnaissance Wing’s high operations tempo. Meal times are 5:30 to 8 a.m. for breakfast, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch, and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. for supper Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for brunch and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. for supper on weekends, holidays and down days. Midnight meals are available from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m, 7 days a week. Our Flight Kitchen is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for uninterrupted food service. Authorized customers include (but are not limited to) all enlisted personnel, on-duty officers between the hours of 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. local, and individuals authorized in writing by the installation commander. No credit cards or checks accepted. Please call 4-2537/5769 for any questions or concerns.

HOUSEHOLD GOODS
You may check on the status of your inbound personal property shipment by accessing the Defense Property System (DPS) with your user ID and password. You can follow the DPS How-To Guide Number 1 located on the www.move.mil  website. You can schedule delivery directly in DPS. If you need assistance you can use DPS How-To Guide Number 8. If you need assistance with DPS you contact our office at 634-2936/5191/2935. If you are returning from overseas and have a shipment in non-temporary storage, you will need to visit our office with your current PCS orders and documentation you received from origin base that placed your property in non-temporary storage.

ADVANCE POSTAL ADDRESSES
To have your mail forwarded to Beale, initiate a change of address through your current post office. Mail can be forwarded to: General Delivery, Beale AFB, CA 95903. General delivery mail may be picked up at Official Mail Center located down the hallway from the Post Office. Upon arrival, you will need to complete another change of address through the post office for your new permanent address.

POST OFFICE
The U.S. Post Office is located at 17852 16th St. and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Full window services are available during business hours. Stamp machines are available 24-hours-a-day. In addition to the normal postal services for all personnel, the base post office also manages issuance of keys for mail boxes for dormitory residents. Upon assignment to a dorm room you will sign for your mailbox key from the base post office. For more information, call (530) 788-2401.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS
There are 108 elementary, middle, and high schools in the four counties (Yuba, Sutter, Placer and Nevada) where people stationed at Beale may reside (62 elementary, 15 middle/junior high, 22 high schools and nine charter schools). However, the main schools that military children attend are in Yuba County — Lone Tree Elementary, Bear River, Cobblestone Elementary, Rio Del Oro Elem., Riverside Meadows Intermediate School, and Wheatland Union High School.

ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
One elementary school, Lone Tree, is located on base (on Camp Beale Highway between Gavin Mandery and Garryana Drives). Lone Tree school accommodates kindergarten through fifth-grade students. There is no bus service for base residents in the housing areas attending these schools. For additional information, contact Lone Tree School at (530) 788-0248. Sixth, seventh and eighth graders attend Bear River School in Wheatland and complete their public education at Wheatland Union High School. For more information concerning these schools, contact Bear River School at (530) 633-3135 or Wheatland Union High School (530) 633-3100.

OFF-BASE SCHOOLS AND CHILD CARE FACILITIES
Information about the locations and services available in local childcare centers and preschools can be obtained from the Children’s Home Society of California, 990 Klamath Lane, Suite 18, Yuba City, CA, 95993. A number of centers offer both full-day and part-time childcare. In addition, the center offers a resource and referral library, which lends items such as toys and books. CHS also has information about family day-care homes, parent education and child care workshops. Enrollment is limited to income-eligible children in a few of the centers, and a program is available to help pay for childcare. For more information, call (530) 673-7503.

SPECIAL SCHOOLS AND PROGRAMS FOR THE HANDICAPPED
There are some local schools and facilities providing a wide variety of educational and training programs for children and teens with special needs. For specific information concerning facilities and programs available contact the county office of education:

Yuba County Office of Education
(530) 749-4900
website: www.yuba.net

Sutter County Office of Education
(530) 822-2900
website: www.sutter.k12.ca.us

Placer County Office of Education
(530) 889-8020
website: www.placercoe.k12.ca.us

Nevada County Office of Education
(530) 478-6400
website: www.nevco.k12.ca.us

There are also a number of special schools and colleges that offer a wide variety of classes in music, hobbies, technical skills, art, trade skills and college courses for credit. More information is available at the base education office at (530) 634-2525.

WILLIAM H. PITSENBARGER PME CENTER
This center is the home of the Airman Leadership School. ALS prepares senior Airmen for supervisory and reporting official duties. Instruction covers three broad areas: profession of arms, leadership and communications skills.

VEHICLE STANDARDS
The following items are required to operate a motor vehicle on the installation:
Valid military ID and driver’s license
Proof of registration, bill of sale

Meet minimum insurance requirements of the state of California as follows:
$15,000 for bodily injury to, or death of, each person as a result of one accident
$30,000 for bodily injury or death of all persons as a result of one accident
$5,000 for damage to property of others as a result of one accident

Vehicles not registered in California must have proof of compliance for an emissions test (smog test) performed in California.

If a privately owned motor vehicle is registered in the name of a person other than the owner, the applicant must have a power of attorney or notarized written authorization from the registered owner to obtain base registration. If you have any questions, call the Pass and Registration section at (530) 634-3128 or DSN 368-3128. Questions regarding California registration may be addressed to the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) at (530) 741-4221.

MOTORCYCLE REGISTRANTS
AFI 91-207, The U.S. Air Force Traffic Safety Program, requires all Air Force military personnel who operate a motorcycle, motor scooter or moped to successfully complete an approved motorcycle safety course. All Air Force employees, retired military and DoD dependents who operate a motorcycle on an installation will complete an approved motorcycle course. The base will pay for the motorcycle course for active duty and DoD civilian personnel. Individuals are required to wear a reflective vest, long sleeves, gloves, durable, over-the-ankle foot protection, and helmet while operating motorcycles on base. Approved courses are the Basic Riders Course or the Experienced Rider Course. Personnel may schedule to attend either course by contacting the safety office at (530) 634-8879/8876/4026. Registrants must have a motorcycle endorsement from their state, or a motorcycle-endorsed license from California. A Commander’s Motorcycle Safety briefing must be completed by every active-duty member. A copy of this form will be filed at the safety office and at Pass and Registration.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
It’s your responsibility to maintain valid state registration tags. If you have any questions concerning your obligations in this area, do not hesitate to stop by Pass and Registration or call (530) 634-3128.

FIREARMS REGISTRATION
All firearms on Beale are required to be registered on base through each person’s unit orderly room within 72 hours or the first duty day after arrival to the base. People must report to their orderly room to fill out an AF IMT Form 1314 and get their commander’s signature. Once complete, make two copies of the completed form. The original will stay at the orderly room, the person will keep one copy and the final copy will need to be hand delivered to the 9th Security Forces Squadron armory at 17798 24th St., Building 25470.

FIREARMS STORAGE
Military Family Housing residents may store their firearms in their residence; refer to AFI 31-101, Beale AFB Sup 1 Chapter 14 for proper storage requirements. Firearms are prohibited in dormitories, bachelor quarters and billeting. Individuals residing in these quarters or transiting with firearms must temporarily store them in the 9th Security Forces Squadron armory. Military housing residents cannot store their firearms in the 9th SFS armory unless they are TDY or deployed. If any other extenuating circumstances occur, route these requests through your First Sergeant to the 9 SFS Armory. Although the armory is a 24-hour operation, temporary storage of firearms will not be processed between the hours of 4 to 6 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. due to mission requirements. In addition, firearms may not be stored in automobiles, but may be transported to and from specific locations incidental to their use. Personnel living downtown are encouraged to check with civil authorities for registration of their firearms as it will serve as an additional means of identification in the event they are lost or stolen. Also, consult with civil authorities on the proper transportation and use of your firearms. For any questions or concerns concerning firearms on Beale, please contact the 9th Security Forces Squadron armory at DSN 368-2359 or commercial (530) 634-2359. Weapons being transported in privately owned vehicles must be maintained in a weapons case or out of public view, separate from the ammunition.

LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
There is a base shuttle bus, which runs regularly Monday through Friday, 6 to 7 a.m., 10 to 11 a.m., noon to 1 p.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. Please check the bus schedule under Hot Topics, Shuttle Schedule, on the Beale AFB homepage for specific times and places of pick-up. Between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m. or 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. contact Vehicle Operations at 4-2542/3 for a base taxi for official business.

WEATHER/UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS
You can’t please all of the people all of the time, but most of the comments about Beale’s weather are favorable. Winters are rainy, usually yielding about 23 inches of precipitation. Snowfall is rare enough to make front pages of the local newspapers. The average high and low temperatures from December through February are 55 and 40 degrees. It seldom, if ever, rains during the summer, and the average high and low from June through August is 93 and 62 degrees. A few days will see the mercury climb into the 100s. Spring and fall fit nicely in between. Because Beale enjoys such a warm climate, the normal uniform schedule has been adjusted authorizing the wear of summer combinations during the entire year.