View Full Version : LOA
TAC Queen
31st Mar 2007, 22:54
Can anyone post the USA rate of LOA please.:confused:
Thanks
D-IFF_ident
1st Apr 2007, 00:05
You want Jan's Feb's or Apr's? They're all different. Take it you lost out in Feb's pay packet?
PM for more info...
Could be the last?
1st Apr 2007, 06:38
My heart bleeds for you.....
Roadster280
1st Apr 2007, 12:41
LOA in the US? Just what, exactly, is more expensive here than the UK?
vecvechookattack
1st Apr 2007, 15:26
What has "more expensive" and "cheaper than" got to do with LOA ?
D-IFF_ident
1st Apr 2007, 16:58
I've got a 'friend' who lives in the US. After LOA his take-home pay is about the same as his Sqn mates of equivalent rank. At least it is now - US LOA rates will be substantially reduced in May.
Sloppy Link
1st Apr 2007, 17:58
Residential rates, exercise rates, what rank?
Whaaa newark
1st Apr 2007, 18:41
Why don't you phone the imprest people, you idiot. Why would you think this is a better place to get LOA info than by contacting the correct people. :ugh:
Unbelievable. The only thing I can say about people like you is that you will never be promoted. That would be madness. If I had my way people like you should pay money to be allowed to say in the forces. That's if you really are in the forces.
By the way this forum is for aircrew, not idiots. I bet even if you are aircrew your not very good, but think your great. And with a name like Tac Queen your probably wear a dpm dress and can't drink.
I used to go to school with a girl called Tac Queen! :p
flipflopman RB199
1st Apr 2007, 18:45
Oooooooooooh, You bitch!!
:p
Flipflopman
Echo 5
1st Apr 2007, 20:06
Whaaa newark,
" By the way this forum is for aircrew, not idiots."
TQ has taken the trouble to complete his Public Profile so we know what he does. WTF do you do hotshot ? On second thoughts..........don't bother to reply, just get back in your box.
There now................I feel better for that:)
Of course we all know an anagrame for NEWARK that seems appropriate in this case.
Union Jack
2nd Apr 2007, 10:11
Before re-entering your box, or indulging in further intemperate rants, may I suggest you also carefully read the precise wording at the top of this page. To make it easy for you:
Military Aircrew A forum for the professionals who fly the non-civilian hardware, and the backroom boys and girls without whom nothing would leave the ground. Army, Navy and Airforces of the World, all equally welcome here.
If you had only stopped to think about it, there could be lots of reasons for asking the question on this forum, which discerning people (like Tac Queen) know is one of the best ways of "contacting the correct people" as you put it yourself" ...
Jack
PS Which girls' school did you attend? :)
Aeronut
2nd Apr 2007, 11:31
Roadster 280 asked "Just what, exactly, is more expensive here than the UK?"
My recent recollections are:
Car insurance for foreigners. About double the UK.
Rented home/contents insurance includes a sizeable amount to cover the chance of being sued by someone on your property.
Mobile phones are much more expensive than in the UK.
Petrol is cheaper but you end up using a hell of a lot more.
Expect to haemmorrage money on a US tour. LOA does not compensate sufficiently for having to sell your cars in the UK early and then having to buy again. Wives definitley need their own car too despite being unable to work. More insurance at $2000 a year.
You have to repurchase all of your electrical kit. They will let you claim for a kettle though.
Disturbance allowance doesn't stretch far enough to cover the effects of terminating insurances and subscriptions that are not transferable overseas.
So overall a US tour will cost you. Best enjoy it.
sirsaltyhelmet
2nd Apr 2007, 11:34
And why pray tell can't wives work?
Aeronut
2nd Apr 2007, 11:35
sirsaltyhelmet And why pray tell can't wives work?
Visa, work permit for starters
also qualifications that earn well in the UK just aren't recognised in the US.
Eg teacher, medical etc etc
sirsaltyhelmet
2nd Apr 2007, 11:42
Oh, that is different to what I got told by a dude out there
Aeronut
2nd Apr 2007, 11:44
which was?
sirsaltyhelmet
2nd Apr 2007, 13:35
Wives could work out there no problem
Of course, should you go on an overseas tour to the US with a US wife, then she could work the minute she steps off the plane.......theoretically ....;)
I've also heard that those in the US that have swimming pools HAVE TO PAY THE RAF FOR THE PRIVILEGE !! Think it's about $120 a year.
I suppose that's what they use the LOA for..........
Aeronut
2nd Apr 2007, 15:11
Also, anticipate paying through the nose for heating and aircon.
The scheme to assist with this went some way to assist but still cost exactly double that of heating and lighting a house in the UK.
As for wives working some Visas allow application for work permit BUT getting the job is the real problem. The qualifications issue means that all but the lower end jobs are unlikely.
Overall it did cost us.
Believe that the heating and light system is different. A set amount is deducted at source per month and your bill is then reimbursed after you pay it.
Issue of jobs is true though.
Aeronut
2nd Apr 2007, 18:08
FFP - "Believe that the heating and light system is different."
that is the very system to which I refer. Whilst it cost less to pay the "heat and light" charge at £80 this was still double the £40 a month I paid in the UK.
Whaaa newark
2nd Apr 2007, 20:54
Right that's it. See what you have done now Tac Queen, I hope you are happy with yourself. Now I have got a torrent of abuse because of you. Cheers mate! And what the hell is an anagrame? And I can't even begin to think why anyone would think that Tac Queen is discerning? Do you know him/her? S/He sounds like some kind of mover to me. :p
Spotting Bad Guys
2nd Apr 2007, 21:51
As they are there on a NATO2 visa, spouses of personnel serving in the US can work as long as they have the relevant document (Employment Authorisation) issued by the State Department on application. The comment about qualifications is true enough, however, but not insurmountable.
Heating and aircon bills can be v. expensive depending on where you are based, but signing up to the overseas fuel and light (X/Y scheme) can alleviate this. More paperwork, as you pay the bill and claim back from the Embassy, but cheaper in the long run. The contribution for a pool is indeed 10% of the relevant bill.
The LOA was reviewed recently and was cut by about 30% - to take effect in May as D-IFF Ident points out. The amount of the reduction is dependant on circumstances and is the third or fourth time a review has led to reductions in the last 3-4 years. Nothing to do with cost-cutting, of course....
Cheers
SBG
Roadster280
3rd Apr 2007, 02:26
Aeronut:
A couple of observations, if I may.
Car insurance for foreigners. About double the UK.
Well, depends on your negotiation skills. If you get a home contents policy with the same agency (mine is Allstate), tell them the deal is theirs if they credit you with your UK driving history. The copied my counterpart driving licence, and I got credit for 20 years clean history. I pay considerably less than I did in the UK. (About half!)
Mobile phones are much more expensive than in the UK.
Free unlimited calls in the same network. Depends on what you were used to, but nothing like the same in my opinion. My bill is 25% of what it used to be, although I will admit I used to travel a lot.
Petrol is cheaper but you end up using a hell of a lot more.
Well, I filled up my 20 US gallon tank the other day, it cost $47. What's that, about GBP 25 for 76 litres? You're right though, my car does 19 (US) mpg. So that's about 24 UK mpg. Maybe 30% less than a typical UK car. But the fuel is much less than half the cost.
LOA does not compensate sufficiently for having to sell your cars in the UK early and then having to buy again. Wives definitley need their own car too despite being unable to work.
I agree with the idea of selling your cars etc, and those here too. I didn't think LOA was intended to cover that though.
You have to repurchase all of your electrical kit. They will let you claim for a kettle though.
US electric kettles are terrible since P=IV, and V is half UK, and so I must double, which it can't in a domestic situation. Hence P falls, and makes for a terrible kettle. Get a stove top one. Works just fine.
As for other stuff, TVs would be bad, but much equipment (if bought here) is dual voltage. Always check. It's waaay cheaper than the UK in any event.
Disturbance allowance doesn't stretch far enough to cover the effects of terminating insurances and subscriptions that are not transferable overseas.
No chance of suspending them?
So overall a US tour will cost you. Best enjoy it.
Not a happy camper then? Each to their own. I'm making a good life here, much more so than I would have in the UK at the same time of life.
I honestly thought LOA was to compensate for those items that are more expensive in daily life than the UK. Few and far between here.
BEagle
3rd Apr 2007, 05:31
Presumably the US $ to UK £ exchange rate may have something to do with all this?
I cannot think of a single item which is more expensive in the USandA....
And I understand that you now have the right to a free flight back to the UK every year?
Aeronut
3rd Apr 2007, 08:22
Yes, Maglites, Weber BBQs and CDs are cheap in the BX and Walmart..... but that's not the point I make.
...........................................the whole business of moving out to the States will cost you over 2 1/2 year tour. It depends on personal circumstances but losing money on selling a couple of decent cars prematurely in the UK only to have to replace and pay through the nose for insurance as a foreigner, combined with the wife giving up a decent specialist job for which her lengthy training was not deemed equivalent in the USA proved a significant cost to our family. We estimated that cost at approximatley 2 years RAF net wages!
Would I do it all again?.......................probably!
Roadster280
3rd Apr 2007, 12:02
I've thought of one item that is more expensive: UK newspapers. These are ridiculously expensive, despite some of them actually being printed in the US, and carrying US adverts.
I believe newspapers are one of the items that LOA is intended to cover too. However, I can't say I've bought a newspaper in years. In the age of the internet, yesterday's news is just that. Far more timely information online, instantly, doesnt cost half a forest eery print run, and is free (less access charges, which cost about the same as a daily newspaper!)
Geehovah
7th Apr 2007, 06:57
Have to agree with all the comments
It cost an arm and a leg to get there and even more coming home. Its like being 18 again arriving with no bank account, credit rating, driving license or insurance. With a 17 year old son my annual rate of car insurance on arrival was $10k per year. Whilst there I paid council tax on my SFA and my own home in UK.
Once established, the cost of living is good and the LOA covers things just fine
On return, my house which had been empty needed major renovation. Had it been occupied it would have been done tricklefeed. All the expenses such as car insurance, car tax, MOT, house insurance fall at the same time when you return. My car insurance is astronomical because my NCB has lapsed.
Am I loking for sympathy - no. Would I do it again - yes. But if you're looking at a US tour, start saving and go in with your eyes open.
Do you get posted to the US, or do you have to volunteer and then be selected from a board?
If it is the former then you might get some sympathy, if the latter then fraid not!
Mil spouse must get Social Sy No; takes about 3 months
Mine took 19 days, and that was only because my 1-94 hadn't been inputted by Homeland Security when I went to the Social office. However, I'm not doubting or would be surprised if it took you 3 months as the American system is a big variable which starts with what side of the bed the social office clerk got out of that morning !!
Most aircrew posts are volunteers that get selected by PMA though some are not (a few predator guys I know were "posted" there without it being a first choice shall we say)
I think it's inevitable that you'll take a financial hit in some respects. Things like selling your car in the UK and having to buy on your return for instance is a good example. But it's things like this that you'll need to consider before applying and weigh up individual circumstances before you go.
I had a crappy car anyway and will get another crappy car on my return !!;)
Two's in
7th Apr 2007, 15:07
When our company seconds personnel to the US from Blighty we add a "sign on" bonus of anywhere from GBP 10-25K to cover the initial set up costs of everything from cars, car insurance, electrical goods, furnishings etc, etc. We also assume that not many people are making a profit from that number .
Surely a queue........not a line
Cornish Jack
8th Apr 2007, 18:08
Many, many moons ago,in Cyprus, an increase in LOA was announced. One of our Sqn navs kept his spouse well out of touch with monetary matters. She went shopping in the NAAFI and overheard a couple of wives mentioning the LOA increase. Once at home she asked hubby, "What is this increase in LOA, I've just heard about, darling?" Quick as a flash, our hero replies, "Don't you worry your pretty little head about it, my love, I've already paid it" .............. :E :ok:
Echo 5
9th Apr 2007, 17:40
TAC Queen why do you want to know the LOA rates? Have you secured a job out there?
TQ,
Tell him nowt, you'll only encourage him to keep posting.:=
This thread has crept onto LOA wrt Exchange postings. It could be of course that Tac Queen ended up spending a night or two in the Holiday Inn Bangor, for which he would be entitled to LOA. It could then be that his pay statement hasn't met his thoughts on the current LOA rates, and so is asking for help here.
Maybe.......
Echo 5
10th Apr 2007, 16:51
It could be of course that Tac Queen ended up spending a night or two in the Holiday Inn Bangor, for which he would be entitled to LOA
FFP,
TQ may well have spent a couple of nights in some hotel but are Loadies allowed in ANY Holiday Inn. :)
samuraimatt
10th Apr 2007, 16:54
He may have spent a night or two in some hotel but are loadies allowed in any Holiday Inn ?
Well if that is where ASCOT ops have booked them into then surely the answer is yes.
Echo 5
10th Apr 2007, 17:03
samuraiprat,
Get back in your box and don't interrupt whilst the adults are bantering.:=
Of course, if it was Ladies night in the Ramada, the loadie would have no use for the room anyway and find himself chewing off his arm the next morning..;)
Blakey875
11th Apr 2007, 09:11
TQ did you get an answer to your original question? if not could pass on a contact address for the Dulles Det who could probably advise.
Echo - I thought Prat was banned from here but now looks like 'Life doesn't mean life!!'
Echo 5
11th Apr 2007, 12:05
Blakey,
Well if that is where ASCOT ops have booked them into then surely the answer is yes.
Who's been feeding the Air Cadet samuraiprat duff gen. As I recall the Movers in situ organise accommodation for transiting crews at the request of ASCOT ops. Perhaps things have changed.:confused:
flipflopman RB199
11th Apr 2007, 19:06
Of course, if it was Ladies night in the Ramada, the loadie would have no use for the room anyway and find himself chewing off his arm the next morning..
Aaaah....
That would be a Wednesday then.
Erm.........
.....so I hear!!
Flipflopman
Union Jack
11th Apr 2007, 23:39
Of course, if it was Ladies night in the Ramada, the loadie would have no use for the room anyway and find himself chewing off his arm the next morning
This is fast becoming the plot for a sequel to "Dances with Wolves" - "Dances with Wolverines", with Kevin Costner starring as the Loadie (or Samuraimatt. Apparently. :ooh: )!
Jack
If you were to take a random selection of aircrew from a Muti's Sqn, and ask individually "On what night is Ladies Night in Bangor ? " it is a known fact that you will get 7 different answers (although Tues/ Weds tend to be the more popular guesses :ok: )
BEagle
12th Apr 2007, 06:01
Is there no longer a 'Ladies Night' at the Holiday Inn Odlin Road? It was always a crucial factor when planning States Trainers to know which evening that was.....
3xGreens
12th Apr 2007, 18:59
Ladies? more like grab a grim night. They come from all around Bangor to go to that. They even put their teeth in especially for the occasion.
I don't think they're talking about the Bangor across the Irish sea.
There is of course Bangor, North Wales with the Octapig as the night out of choice when you don't feel like integrating with civilisation on a Friday night.
Echo 5
13th Apr 2007, 11:20
3xGreens,
Well, I wonder where else they could be on about? Bangor, Maine perhaps?
Don't even try to explain. The subtlety of your post was obviously beyond samuraiprats' mental capacity.
have been offered a posting to Creech AFB and would be grateful for a pm from someone currently serving out there who would be kind enough to answer some Qs (contact numbers, cost of living, job opportunities for spouses, standard of accom etc).
Regards,
NP20
samuraimatt
23rd Jun 2007, 22:16
Don't worry about all that you won't need it when the Sqn moves to Waddington to be closer to the satellite over Germany.
Echo 5
24th Jun 2007, 16:23
Remember this:
Well, I wonder where else they could be on about? Bangor, Maine perhaps?
Looks like the simpleton Samuraiprat has been deleting his posts again.
And as for this:
Don't worry about all that you won't need it when the Sqn moves to Waddington to be closer to the satellite over Germany.
What's that all about then ?
Maybe the boy was on the apple juice last night.:confused:
foormort
26th Jun 2007, 03:02
theprior makes some valid points about LOA for personnel based in the US on exchange. The repeated LOA cuts since Dec 06 have been significant when the cost of living in the US is increasing. LOA is not designed to cover many of the things you bring up. If the MoD's policy moves to encouraging us to buy our own homes as SFA becomes a less attractive option for the government then the costs of remortgaging to a buy to let and all the associated insurance costs should be included in the LOA calculation. I can only agree with all the other issues and I was shocked by the amount of the reduction. I know the embassy did a lot of work to counter the cuts but with no luck. No regrets for accepting the exchange but for those out there who are considering an application research the package as a whole before making the leap. Standard RAF, doing the minimum wrt looking after their people. Quite clever really, they seem to know the tolerance limit of those they employ!
I too have friends out there that agree with all that theprior said.
However, I'd rather spend 1 day in California on an Exchange tour than a lifetime in Cartoontown with good OJAR's and a couple of hundred pounds a month more in my bank account.
startermotor
31st Jul 2007, 13:48
Is there no longer a 'Ladies Night' at the Holiday Inn Odlin Road? It was always a crucial factor when planning States Trainers to know which evening that was.....
Wednesday night, and it is at the Ramada, just up the road from the Holiday Inn
D-IFF_ident
31st Jul 2007, 17:53
Anyone been in the US since before the introduction of JPA? I just found out - after a tip-off from a mate - that my LOA has been underpaid since 1 Apr 06. Underpaid on the already reducing rate that is.
Anyone know how one gets it back?