LA AFBuellers

[Blaylock1988]

Hey guys! I am finishing AFROTC and finally learned my first base assignment: L.A. AFB (located ON LAX). I don't know when my report date is yet but I am estimating in about 6 months. I just wanted to get some input from people that live in the area. Are there a lot of Buells in LA or anyone stationed at LA AFB. I am coming from NC, is there anything I need to keep in mind for my bike like emissions and safety? (I know CA is different than most states). What are some good areas to look for housing near the airport? Am I going to have to pick up Spanish again?

Thanks for any input or feedback or suggestions!

 

[theoctopus]

Born and raised in Los Angeles. Currently live in East L.A. I hated it when I first left, and love it now that I'm back. There's a lot to do and see, you just have to be proactive about it given how sprawling it is here.

It is most affordable to live south of the airport, but not advisable. It's not a very safe neighborhood there. Then again, I live in East L.A., and I'm totally content to fall asleep to gunshots and sirens at night. I know that sounds crazy, but it's true. Your best bet will probably be Marina del Rey or Playa del Rey if you want to live nearby. Safe, relatively affordable, good neighborhoods. Also close to Santa Monica and West LA, and not terribly far from LA, proper. With that said, it's not hard to commute by motorcycle in Los Angeles, so living further out isn't difficult.

If you're not planning on registering your bike in CA, then you don't have to worry about anything. If you are, then there are a bunch of hoops and hurdles to bypass before they'll let you reg an out of state bike in state.

Spanish is definitely good to know here in LA. It was my first language before English, and though I've lost touch with my fluency, it's good to know that I can understand most everything, and say what I need to when I need to. You would be well advised to brush up on it. With that said, it's not a necessity at all.

Let me know when you get here, and we can meet up for a ride.

 

[Blaylock1988]

I don't have to worry about affordability too much since the Air Force will be paying for it, I was just thinking an apartment with some place to store my bike when I am not riding it. I own an Explorer as well. I guess I could probably register my bike in Nevada, my Grandparents live in Las Vegas.

I never really spoke Spanish, I had a few years of it in grade school. I will probably use Rosetta Stone, since the AF provides that for free.

 

[mar67655]

get as close to beach as possible always nicer

 

[Blaylock1988]

Hmmm, I was just looking around the LAAFB website and read that their housing is privatized now, I might actually be able to live on base and still get my BAH, not sure if its only for families like other bases though.

 

[Miami78]

PM me for my number if you think you might need any help in Vegas, with the paperwork or anything like that...I live there (stationed at Nellis) and would be glad to help.

I believe the AF just got rid of the free Rosetta Stone offer, but they replaced it with a different program. I haven't looked into it yet, but it's probably very similar to Rosetta.

 

[Bossanova]

¿Hola, cómo está usted? ¡Y hola el pulpo![smirk]

 

[Blaylock1988]

Well, I found out when I am leaving for my first base assignment. 12/16/2012. I have to wait around an entire year after I commission before leaving to LA. Having such a big wait is bad because its tougher to keep in shape without mandatory PT, and going that long will be bad for my memory of military and air force stuff. uuuugghhhhhh....