Settling In

Getting settled and getting around—two things any newcomer is eager to do! It's easy at Columbus, and there are plenty of people to ensure you're well taken care of.

WHERE TO LIVE
You should report to the housing office within three days of arrival. The housing staff will assist you in the assignment of on-base quarters or, if you are authorized to live off base, provide a listing of available sales and rentals. The Housing Referral and Relocation Office is located at 256 State Loop across from the Columbus Club. The phone number is (662) 434 3474 or (662) 434-3475, DSN 742.

Privatized Family Housing
Hunt Military Communities is proud to provide Columbus Air Force Base with its premier privatized housing community, Columbus Family Housing. We offer spacious brand new, renovated and existing homes built as recently as 2009 and designed to exceed your expectations. We have three, four and five bedroom single and two-story homes that are allocated based on rank and family composition. Some features include spacious bedrooms, living rooms and dining rooms, oversized closets, multiple storage rooms, vaulted ceilings, mud rooms, screened patios, full-size washer and dryer connections, modern kitchens, multi-car garages and lush green yards with lawn care services provided.

The community has a number of exclusive recreational facilities including: playgrounds, tot lots and a fitness center in our brand new community center. There is always something going on throughout the month with our numerous and unsurpassed resident activities designed to promote a sense of community that include: picnics, BBQs, holiday and seasonal parties, luncheons, pizza parties, kids crafts, bowling nights and karaoke. The Columbus Family Housing Community Center is located at 256 State Loop, Columbus AFB, MS 39710. Our office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information or to lease your new home, please contact one of our friendly and courteous staff members at (662) 434-8213, fax: (662) 434-8217 or e-mail: Information is also available at our website: http://www.columbusfamilyhousing.com.

Unaccompanied Officer Quarters (UOQs)
UOQs are mandatory for single student pilots. Permanent party officers reside off base. Single SUPT lieutenants or military married to military (not at the same base) are required to live in the UOQs. Single captains and above attending SUPT are authorized to reside off base. UOQs are private rooms consisting of a combination living room/bedroom area, kitchen (with stove, refrigerator, microwave, sink and 54 units have dishwashers), bathroom and private outside entrances. Laundry rooms are located in each building with free washers/dryers. Maid service, cable television and telephone service are available at the member's expense. If you have UOQ questions, contact the UOQ manager at (662) 434-7278.

Unaccompanied Enlisted Quarters (UEQs)
UEQs are for single Airmen Basic through Senior Airman under three years of service including military married to military not at the same base. Dormitories feature single-person sleeping rooms, semi-private and private baths, and semi-private or private kitchens (with stove, refrigerator and microwave). Cable television, internet and phone services are available at the member's expense. Each dorm building has a laundry room with free washers/dryers. The UEQ also has a community building with large screen TV, study area, pool tables, and a TV area for internet games. Current policy allows E 4's over three years service and above to reside off base and receive basic allowance for housing. If you have UEQ questions, contact the UEQ manager at (662) 434-2392.

PERSONAL

PROPERTY SHIPMENTS The Traffic Management office is located at 495 Harpe Blvd., Building 730, Suite 120. The local phone number for the Personal Property office is (662) 434-2569/2685, DSN 742 2569/2685. If at any time you are experiencing problems or have any questions, please contact us so we can resolve any questions in regard to your household goods shipment.

Scheduling Delivery
Customers are requested to contact their respective destination transportation office as far in advance as possible to set up a delivery date. JPPSO San Antonio, TX, is the appropriate transportation office to schedule a delivery for Columbus AFB. Contact phone numbers for JPPSO-SAT are Comm: (210) 321-4200, DSN 954-4200. You may also visit their website: http://jppso-sat.randolph.af.mil. You must have a complete delivery address to schedule delivery, i.e., apartment complex name, building number, apartment number, street address and zip code. Deliveries are accomplished Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding Saturday, Sunday and U.S. holidays. Specific delivery times cannot be scheduled. Property owners or their designated agent must be at the residence during those hours on the day of the delivery. Members should not schedule a delivery on the closing date of residence.

Shipment Delivering Out of Storage-In-Transit (SIT)
When ready to accept the shipment, the member shall contact the destination TO and request delivery to the destination residence. JPPSO San Antonio, Texas, is the appropriate transportation office to schedule a delivery for Columbus AFB. Once the transportation office has made delivery arrangements, the member can contact the agent on the afternoon preceding delivery out of SIT to determine if the delivery will be performed in the morning (8 a.m. to noon) or in the afternoon (noon to 5 p.m.) of the following day. This data will be based upon the best information available and will be provided upon telephone request of either the TO or the member/employee. This provision does not apply when direct delivery was authorized by the origin TO or when delivery can be arranged upon arrival of the line-haul van in the destination area.

If you did a PPM Move (DITY), you must have your full and empty weight tickets, original DD Form 2278, orders, voucher for advance operating allowance, original fuel, oil and toll receipts, copy of rental contract and moving equipment receipt. You may settle your PPM move at our local traffic management office; we are located in Building 730, Room 120. No appointment is necessary for turning in PPM paperwork. If you need to weigh before completing your move, we have scales located at the Outdoor Recreation office, Building 152, (662) 434 2505. If you need other options for obtaining weight tickets, please contact our traffic management office at (662) 434 2567/2685 for more information.

LOANER KITS
Small household items are available for loan from outdoor recreation until your household goods arrive. Outdoor recreation is located in Building 152. The phone number is (662) 434-2507.

PETS Dogs and cats must have a current rabies vaccination certificate before moving into military family housing. Housing residents are limited to three four-legged pets, which must be penned or leashed when outdoors. Farm, exotic or wild animals, including birds of prey, pigeons and reptiles (including snakes and lizards) are prohibited. Pets are not allowed in the enlisted or officer dormitories.

POSTAL SERVICE
Mail is delivered to your home in family housing and to the dormitories once you submit a change of address. If you live in the dormitories, you will be issued a mail box at the time you receive room keys and the dorm managers are authorized to accept packages. Columbus AFB no longer has a Post Office on base.

FIREARMS, FIREWORKS
If you live in Columbus Family Housing, you may store your firearms at home. If you live in unaccompanied officer or enlisted quarters or are staying in the Magnolia Inn, you must bring your weapon(s) and ammunition to the security forces squadron armory for storage. All firearms, whether stored in family housing or in the armory, must be registered with Combat Arms Training and Maintenance. Call (662) 434-7180 for more information. Fireworks are prohibited on Columbus Air Force Base.

TELEPHONE, TV (CABLE)
AND INTERNET SERVICES
If you have questions about your service contract, contact the Base Legal Office at (662) 434-7030. Telephone service is provided by AT&T Communications. To arrange service, call (888) 757-6500. Cable ONE provides basic, premium channel and pay-per-view cable television to all on-base residences including dormitory rooms. Cable service must be arranged in person at 319 College St., Columbus MS. The phone number is (662) 328-1781. BLAZE 64, the base's information channel, airs on cable Channel 64. Personal 18-inch television satellite dishes are allowed in family housing with permission; however, dishes are not authorized in the Enlisted or Officer dormitories. The Columbus Family Housing maintenance office must approve the system and its installation in advance. If you have questions about your service contract, call the legal office at (662) 434-7030. Internet Service can be provided by either Cable One or AT&T (888) 321-2375, depending on the type of service you want.

DRIVING
You'll receive local conditions driver's safety training during your first month at Columbus. Unless otherwise posted, the speed limit is 30 m.p.h. on base, 15 m.p.h. in family housing areas and 10 m.p.h. in parking lots. Speed limits are strictly enforced. U-turns are permitted only on Simler Boulevard and Harpe Boulevard. Seat belt use is mandatory for everyone on and off base. Mississippi requires seat belt use for drivers and front seat passengers. Child safety seats are required for children age four and younger or 40 pounds or less. The Airman and Family Readiness Center has child safety seats for temporary checkout.

Implied Consent
When you drive in Mississippi, you give your implied consent to testing for the presence of alcohol or drugs. If a law enforcement officer has good reason to suspect you're driving under the influence, he can ask you to take a breath or chemical test. You have the right to refuse, in which case you must surrender your driver's license on the spot. Your license receipt will serve as a temporary license until it is proven in court you were not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent is considered evidence of driving under the influence for all ages. The base requires minimum coverage of 10/20/5, and uninsured motorist coverage is strongly recommended. Family members must show their identification card and know their sponsor's organization and duty phone.

State law requires all vehicles registered in Mississippi (other than for short-term visits) display a current safety inspection sticker. If your vehicle has a current sticker from another state, it will satisfy the Mississippi requirement. The auto skills center and several off-base locations such as car dealerships, tire stores and auto maintenance shops perform safety inspections. To operate a motorcycle on base, you must have a helmet with eye protection, long pants, over-the-ankle footwear, full-finger gloves, and a valid motorcycle endorsement on the license. Proof of insurance with a valid Mississippi registration is required. If you own a motorcycle, you can get a temporary registration until you complete a motorcycle safety course, after which you can get permanent registration. The course is also required before borrowing a motorcycle to ride on or off base. Call the wing safety office at (662) 434-2518 for scheduling information. For more information on vehicle registration, call the pass and registration office at (662) 434-7133.

Car License Plates
Service members or their family members stationed at Columbus AFB may use tags from their state of legal residence (if permitted by that state) or may purchase Mississippi license plates. Service members who are not residents of Mississippi can pick up a tax-exempt form at the 14 SFS pass and ID office if purchasing Mississippi plates. Civilian employees who are new residents must purchase Mississippi tags within 30 days of establishing residency. Tags for cars and boat trailers may be purchased at the tax collector's office in the Lowndes County Courthouse, 505 2nd Ave. North. The phone number is (662) 329-5771. Boats must be registered with the Mississippi Wildlife, Game and Conservation Office in Jackson, Miss. Forms are available at the tax collector's office in the courthouse and at most sporting goods and department stores.

Driver's Licenses
If you're stationed at Columbus AFB, you and your family members are not required to have Mississippi driver's licenses but must have valid license from your home state. You can still use your home state driver's licenses if you purchase Mississippi car tags. Civilian employees who are new residents must apply for a Mississippi driver's license within 60 days of establishing residency. To get a Mississippi driver's license, a person with a valid out-of-state license must take an eye exam. You'll need your social security card when you apply for your license. The fee for a four year license is $20 and must be paid in cash. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety driver's license office is located in the Justice Court Building at 17 Airline Road in Columbus or on Highway 82 as you enter Starkville. The phone number in Columbus is (662) 327-1833.

No Three-Way Split
Any combination of your car tag, your driver's license and the state in which you are stationed cannot involve three different states. For example, you cannot have a Colorado driver's license and a Texas license plate and be stationed in Mississippi; two of the three must be the same. Any registration, license or tag that you possess must be from your state of legal residence (if permitted by that state) or from the state of Mississippi. For clarification, call the legal office at (662) 434-7030.