Anyone here a military dependent

  I was from Wales and have lived in the United States for two decades.  I am a dual citizen, British/USA.  I was wondering if anyone on the site was a dependent.  I might be coming back to UK to reside.  Was wondering about military facilities such as Fairford etc.  Sich as px and commissary benefits, and the medical under tricare and dental.  I know dental is not available in UK, so the lady told me at the USA offices.  I am a widow and my id card is active duty deceased.  He was a pilot and the plane blew-up. 

welshrain,

My condolences on the loss of your husband, even if the loss is not a recent one.

I have watched all day to see if anyone will answer your post, but no one so far.  I'm retired from the US Army and have apartments in the States and in Cardiff, but I can't answer your questions because I have never been in a position to use any US military facilities here.

So far as I know, RAF Fairford is only used by deploying units and has no permanent US facilities.

Points of contact for the permanently used US bases in the UK are given here:

http://www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_web/acs/uk/missing-uk.htm

There's one e-mail address there.  Suggest you contact them with specific questions.  Good luck!

Jim

Sorry I can't help either-- I am an army brat so therefore lost right to military benefits when I grew up unfortunately! Good Luck in your search for information.

Helena

Army brat here too...ditto what Helena wrote; sorry I don't have info.

Air Force checking in and I don't know for sure either... lost mine at age 24 and I don't know if a spouse can visit military bases/posts outside of CONUS.

Hi
Im an ex military spouse. My sons are military dependents. We live about an hour from RAF Alconbury and around two hours from RAF Lakenheath. Lakenheath is pretty good I hear with a large BX and commissary. RAF Alconbury is small but has everything there you could want. BX, shoppette, commissary, theater, etc. We have been there a few times when I first moved here but havent been back in awhile.
Security is tight. When entering the base dont be surprised if they ask for your ID card, drivers licence if you are driving, proof of insurance for your car and they may even bring out the sniffer dogs and run a mirror under the car before giving you an entry pass to the base. Too much hassle for me! We are used to living on the Brit economy and with the NHS we dont need military medical/tricare so we dont bother with the base anymore.

Jim, I went to the website you put in your response.  It did not have facilities listed but had some other good information.  I was amazed when you said you were in the States and Cardiff.  I have a house in Cardiff.  In fact will be there 9th of March.  Thank you all for your help. 

Moving around in the military, I soon learned what a small world it is. 

House prices here in Cardiff have gone mad.  A pokey little rowhouse "cottage" in Llandaff sold (possibly on the first day it was listed) for almost £200,000!  So whatever you own here, it's a major asset.

Won't be here in the spring, sorry.

Jim

  I am a widow and my id card is active duty deceased. 

Hi,

My husband is medically retired from the US Air Force and we stayed at RAF Mildenhall on our last trip to the UK --he was stationed at Lakenheath when he was on active duty. We found that staying at Mildenhall although less expensive than accomodations off base, it was a hassle. But this is not unlike staying at the bases in the states. He is permanently retired and maybe your ID card and the status thereof would bring you less of a hassle. When we stayed at Mildenhall we were able to shop at the commissary but only because the "powers that be" chose to not say anything. Apparently we weren't really supposed to shop there because my husband is retired. We shopped at the BX and ate in the food court a couple times with no hassles. We were not able to purchase fuel because of the rationing and because he is, once again, retired. We did not find a need for medical help while there but we were told it "wouldn't be a problem".

Entering the base was the bigger hassle altogether and we got a different story each time we came on base. Expect to not have this be a simple process all the time.

My husband says that the BX on Lakenheath is much better than Mildenhall......hope that helps some.

Heather