Did you know that over 42,000 active military service members call Alabama home? That’s over 10% of Alabama’s population. Most have no idea what needs to be done before PCSing to Fort Morgan Barracks Alabama. The video above covers everything you need to know about your PCS.
USCG Sector Mobile Alabama
You just got your orders, you’re PCSing to Alabama and your next duty station is USCG Sector Mobile. You’re excited, you’ve got a ton of emotions going on and you have absolutely no idea what you’re getting yourself into. That’s all right. A lot of people don’t. A lot of people are in the same position you are, and now they’re searching the internet, they’re searching YouTube, Google, everything to try and find something about USCG Sector Mobile to help them prepare for this massive move that they’re about to do. We’ve got you covered! From the time you get off the plane, what to expect with in-processing, and where you may want to consider living.
USCG Sector Mobile, Alabama History
Mobile, Alabama has enjoyed a continuous military presence since 1938, when Army and Air Force Base Brookley Field was established. Currently, Mobile is home to the US Coast Guard Aviation Training Center and US Coast Guard Sector Mobile, operating 17 miles apart.
Coast Guard Aviation and Training Center is a multi-mission unit: it is the aviation and capacities development center, as well as an operational air station. Training is conducted for pilots in the Guardian, Jayhawk, Dolphin, Ocean Sentry and both HC-130 and 130J Hercules planes and helicopters. This base is located in West Mobile near the Mobile Airport.
The recognizable orange and white colors of the Coast Guard are always visible in the skies and on the water around Mobile. Most recently, the Coast Guard Community played a vital role in the Mobile area’s recovery from the BP oil spill.
Mobile Bay’s population hovers around 500,000. Pensacola, Florida is just an hour to the East, and the Mississippi Casinos and the city of New Orleans are less than two hours away to the West. The closest major airport to Mobile, Alabama is Mobile Regional Airport (MOB / KMOB), about 12 miles from the center of Mobile and adjacent to US Coast Guard Aviation Training Center. Mobile Downtown Airport is a cargo airport located at the Brookley Complex where US Coast Guard Sector Mobile is located.
Mobile Bay enjoys four moderate seasons ‘ ideal for activities such as hunting, fishing, golf, boating and swimming ‘ making Mobile a popular tourist destination. Mardi Gras, Bay Fest, The Senior Bowl and the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo attract hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
The port city of Mobile’s economy is powered by Healthcare, Banking, Technology, Maritime, Aviation, Transportation and Manufacturing. The major employers in Mobile County are Austal USA, ST Aerospace Mobile, AM/NS Calvert Infirmary, Airbus, Health Systems, Providence Hospital, Mobile County Public Schools, and the University of South Alabama.
The Mobile County Public School System provides services to over 59,000 children each year in grades K-12. The area has a large Parochial School system, several Christian schools and Private Preparatory schools. There are three major universities in Mobile County offering Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees. Also, there are community colleges and vocational schools with training for the quality jobs are offered by Mobile’s employers.
Mobile, Alabama was listed as one of the top cities of its size in housing affordability according to the National Association of Realtors. The average sales price for Mobile and Baldwin County as of 11/1/2015 is $170,359.
The Coast Guard community is well-integrated with the civilian population and involved in Mobile’s schools, churches and civic organizations. Many ‘Coasties’ (as Mobilians refer to members of the USCG) enjoy their tour of duty in Mobile so much that they come back to retire!
City of Mobile website: www.CityofMobile.com
PCSing To USCG Sector Mobile, Alabama
A few things that you need to know right when you get here. I can tell you this information because my brother-in-law is actually an E6 station here at USCG and he is part of the in-processing team, and so I have this information directly from him about what you need to be doing, and we’re gonna start directly at the airport.
The first order of business when you get off the plane is you need to go to baggage claim 19. There will be a kiosk there for you PCSing to USCG, and they’re gonna have all the information that you need. Regardless of rank, go to baggage claim 19.
Depending on if you’ve been vaccinated and some other things you might have ROM, R-O-M or Restriction Of Movement. It also depends on the day you get here. If you arrive on a Wednesday night or a Thursday, you’re going to have to wait until over the weekend and then starting on Monday, that’s when your four days in-processing will begin. Please be aware that this information is as of July 2021 and will be updated periodically. Contact me if you have any questions.
Day 1 you’re going to have a financing brief intake, movement to a field, and you’re going to have a patching ceremony. On day two, you’re going to have family advocacy programs, accountability of a bunch of things to help you with your PCS out here, and you’re going to have to do a run.
Remember, if you do get here at that time where it’s Wednesday or Thursday, then you will most likely stay in a hotel over the weekend. When you are on restriction of movement, that means restriction of movement, you are not allowed to leave your place that you are assigned to, unless it’s for(as I was told) personal hygiene and food, that’s about it. You could potentially get in trouble if you decide to break those rules.
Where Is USCG Sector?
USCG Sector is centrally located on Mobile. See the graphic below for a reference point. There’s a couple of little towns around it and also located near the Fairhope mountains on the western side of the island. Now you can not necessarily get to Fairhope from USCG. The Fairhope mountains are somewhat of a divider with no passage through.
The towns around USCG are going to be Fairhope and Foley. Foley is one of the most sought after towns for newcomers and longtime residents of Mobile. It is one of the most sought after towns because of its central location and mainland suburb feeling that you get living in Foley. A lot of military do decide to live in Foley being right next to USCG. You’re also going to have Wheeler Army Airfield.
Wheeler Amy Airfield is home to the headquarters of the U.S. Army Garrison Alabama. Alabama alone has over 20 military installations across the state. This general area consists of Wahiawa General Hospital, Ka’ala Elementary, Wheeler Middle School. You will also have Leilehua Golf Course, Wheeler Army Airfield, a commissary and a post exchange. These are things that are going to be in that general area, in that proximity of USCG Sector.
Best Places To Live Near USCG Sector Mobile, Alabama
One of the great things about USCG is being centrally located on Mobile. It’s smack dab in the middle making a lot of amenities are fairly accessible.
A vast amount of military decide to live in Daphne due to proximity, and the suburb mainland home-style feel. A CON of living in Daphne is it’s not necessarily close to beaches. You’re not going to be living on the water. You’re actually living in over 600 feet of elevation and Daphne will give you weather that appeals to more of the seasons. Now it’s not going to snow in Daphne, but it does get very cool and breezy in the fall and winter. So you get a little bit of everything when you live in Daphne.
All of that being said, military do often move out from the proximity because they don’t mind driving a little bit. One of the main items on our calls with soldiers PCSing to USCG is living in a location that provides them with the proximity to work they are looking for.
