Welcome Aboard!
REPORTING ABOARD
Congratulations on your assignment to USCGC VIGOROUS! All of us aboard VIGOROUS look forward to your arrival and are committed to making your transfer and integration into the team as smooth as possible.
The uniform usually worn during the workday is the Operational Dress Uniform.
DEPLOYMENT INFORMATION
Homeported in Portsmouth, VA at Coast Guard Base Portsmouth, VIGOROUS generally deploys 185 days a year to a variety of operating areas extending from the Gulf of Maine to the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Our primary mission areas include Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, Migrant Interdiction, and Environmental Protection. An average patrol length is 60 days.
CONTACT INFORMATION
The ship’s phone number while in homeport is 757-483-8784.
Your mailing address will be:
Commanding Officer
ATTN: YOUR NAME
USCGC VIGOROUS (WMEC 627)
4000 Coast Guard Blvd
Portsmouth, VA 23703
POINTS OF CONTACT
You should receive a sponsor message or email shortly after receiving your orders. If you do not receive a message or an email from VIGOROUS, please contact the unit Yeoman to make sure a sponsor has been assigned to you.
Please email or call your sponsor at your earliest convenience and I strongly encourage you to directly discuss transportation to Portsmouth, housing options, duty schedules, expectations, cutter deployment schedules and general shipboard life.
HOUSING
The USCG Base Portsmouth Housing Office provides housing support services to members within the Hampton Roads area. Services Include Referrals, Leases, Rental Partnership Program (RPP), Public Private Venture (PPV) and Requests for Release from Mandatory Assignment to Housing. Visit their website: https://uscg.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/dol_spo/dol-3/BP/P/SitePages/Housing_Division.aspx
Members without Dependents (Single Individuals)
If you are E-4 and above, you can elect to live on the economy and receive Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) AFTER obtaining a release from mandatory housing.
Please use attached form, CG-5267 to request release from mandatory housing.
Enlisted members, E-3 and below, without dependents will be berthed at Unaccompanied Personnel Housing (UPH) Barracks.
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Unaccompanied Members with Dependents (Geographic Bachelors)
Members who report to VIGOROUS without their dependents will be temporarily berthed aboard the cutter.
An alternative to either government owned housing or living on the economy in Portsmouth, your family may elect to remain in the vicinity of your old PDS, giving you the opportunity to collect the higher of the two BAH rates. Your BAH rate at the location of your dependents will remain in effect until you depart PCS from VIGOROUS or move your family to the Portsmouth area. Contact your Servicing Personnel Office for guidance on requesting BAH rate protection if considering leaving your family at a previous duty station.
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Accompanied Members with Dependents
Members with dependents have the option of Lincoln Military Housing or requesting to live on the economy AFTER obtaining a release from mandatory housing.
All Navy owned housing is now managed by private contractors. If you choose these quarters, you will continue to receive BAH in your paycheck, sign a lease and pay the contractor by allotment each month your full BAH amount. The contractor will charge each member the exact amount of their BAH entitlement for monthly rent and utilities. There may be other factors, restrictions and waiting lists independent to each contractor, so you must contact them directly for all information and applications, NOTE: Privatized military housing is considered "living on the economy" and therefore not a mandatory assignment to quarters.
Privatized housing is available at the following bases: Naval Station Norfolk, Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Naval Air Station Oceana/Damneck Annex, Northwest Support Activities (CAMSLANT), Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Norfolk Naval Shipyard (Portsmouth) and Joint Base Langley/Eustis.
The other housing options besides BAH on the economy and Lincoln Military Housing are as follows:
1. Coast Guard leased housing: Coast Guard Leased Housing is available for eligible personnel E-6 and below. If eligible you will need to submit a Housing Application CG-5267 with your PCS Orders and a copy of your BAH/Dependency/Emergency Data sheet (CG-4170).
2. Rental Partnership Program (RPP): RPP is a program designed to provide Military Personnel with off-base affordable Housing. All military personnel with at least one year remaining on active duty in the Hampton Roads area are eligible to apply. This program enables our members to rent on the economy at a reduced rental rate -5% below the current market rent. Members may or may not have to pay a security deposit and the member must pay the monthly rent by allotment. To apply for RPP you will need a copy of your current PCS Orders, Leave and Earnings Statement and Military ID Card.
3. Referral Websites: The websites below can be very helpful in looking for your future residence. We know that the internet leaves out a lot of information, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area. If you see something you are interested in please feel free to call the Housing Office to make sure the property is in a safe area and that no complaints have been received about the complex, landlord or location. The Automated Housing Referral Network (AHRN) is a DoD and CG sponsored website designed to assist military members and their families with finding housing in their assignment location.
4. Looking to Rent or Buy? Visit the Automated Housing Referral Network at www.AHRN.com to find housing before you pack. Sponsored by the DoD, AHRN.com listings include available community rentals, military housing, shared rentals, temporary lodging and military for sale by owner (FSBO) listings. In AHRN.com you will find a variety of housing options to choose from. Listings include property descriptions, pictures, maps, links to local schools and contact information. If you would like to rent your home, sell your home for sale by owner, or are looking for another service member as a roommate in your current home, you may post an ad free of charge on the site. Visit www.ahrn.com to start searching or posting today.
Referral sources:
http://www.sargeslist.com
http://www.craigslist.com
http://realestate.hamptonroads.com/apartments
http://www.militarybyowner.com
http://www.apartmentguide.com
http://www.forrent.com
http://www.REmilitary.com
http://hamptonroads.com/crime
MEDICAL AND WHAT TO BRING
Please bring your original official orders with you when you report:
You must also have a current physical exam with sea duty substitution, be Class 1 dental, and if you need glasses, have two (2) pairs of them. You must have current PPD, typhoid, TET-DIP, yellow fever, HEP-A, and have a DNA card completed.
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS
The major commercial airport is Norfolk International, 12 miles from Base Portsmouth. Another major commercial airport is Newport News/Williamsburg International, 29 miles from Base Portsmouth.
IF VIGOROUS IS UNDERWAY
If VIGOROUS is underway on your reporting date you should report to Base Portsmouth Servicing Personnel Office (SPO) located at:
4000 Coast Guard Blvd
Portsmouth, VA 23703
between the hours of 0800-1500. You will need to report in Tropical Blue Uniform with your complete sea bag and orders. They will endorse your orders and process your personal information. Depending on VIGOROUS tasking and location, the SPO may make arrangements for you to meet the ship or perform TAD duties at Base Portsmouth. The Coast Guard will provide your travel to the ship.