Altus AFB Lodging vs. Off-Base Crash Pads

Off-Base Crashpads

11 hours ago

4 min read

Updated: 4 hours ago

Ask ten Altus graduates where you should stay and you'll get ten opinions, most of them loud. We run off-base crash pads, so we obviously have a bias. But we're also aircrew who've done the Altus TDY ourselves, and we'd rather give you an honest comparison than a sales pitch. The on-base option has real advantages. So does a house. Here's how they stack up. It's the question every Altus TDY student asks: Altus AFB lodging or an off-base crash pad?

First, the Policy

This part isn't a matter of preference. The 97th Training Squadron's New Students page currently states:

All students are required to stay in on-base lodging at the Red River Inn.
Single rooms are automatically reserved for students when there's availability. Don't book lodging through DTS.
Before arrival, students call the Red River Inn at (580) 481-7356 to confirm a reservation or receive a Certificate of Non-Availability. Only non-availability slips received through or coordinated with the Red River Inn are honored.
Exceptions are considered case by case and must be approved by the 97 OG/CC (via the 97 TRS/CC). We can help if you have questions on how to obtain one.

So for most students, an off-base stay comes about in one of two ways: the Red River Inn issues a non-availability, or you get an approved exception to policy memorandum. Read the current Student Reporting Instructions and 97 AMW Lodging Policy for the details, and talk to 97 TRS Student Administration ((580) 481-7446) and your finance office or AO about your situation. Don't take a website's word for it, including ours.

The Case for the Red River Inn

Give the base lodging its due:

You're already on base. No gate line, no commute, and the Hangar 97 Dining Facility is on base too. The 97 TRS page notes that students can order flight meals from the Hangar 97 DFAC for sorties.
It's the default. If a room is available, it's already reserved for you. Fewer phone calls, less paperwork.
Hotel-style services. The Red River Inn lists amenities including daily housekeeping, free Wi-Fi, a microwave and refrigerator, a coffee maker, and a guest laundry facility.
Your own room. No roommates unless you want them.

The tradeoffs are the ones you'd expect from a lodging room on a long TDY: you're living out of a single room for the length of a formal course. And the Inn says itself that it can't guarantee on-base lodging on arrival because of varying departure dates and occupancy. That's why it recommends including rental car authorization on your orders in case you need off-base lodging.

The Case for an Off-Base Altus Crash Pad

A crash pad is a furnished house you share with other aircrew for the length of your TDY. It's not a hotel. You live there. Here's what that gets you at OffBase:

Space. Large bedrooms with storage and a 4K TV in each room, plus a whole house to spread out in.
Somewhere to decompress. An 80" 4K TV with Dolby Atmos and a massage chair in the living room, and a game room with a pool table, poker, ping pong and arcade.
Outdoor time. Fire-pit dining out back after a long day.
Practical stuff. Garages with a workbench and tools, and EV charging.
Housekeeping. Weekly maid service.
Close to work. All four houses are under three minutes from the front gate.
People who get it. Your housemates are going through the same program. Study groups and gouge-sharing happen naturally at the kitchen table.

The tradeoffs are real too. You'll need a vehicle (a POV or an authorized rental) because you're commuting through the gate. You're sharing common spaces with roommates. If you want fewer of them, OffBase 3 at 1413 Dustbowl Lane is a 4 bed/2 bath with a smaller layout built for exactly that. Housekeeping is weekly, not daily.

What About the Money?

When an off-base stay at OffBase is authorized, your military TDY orders cover it. There's no out-of-pocket cost. We bill the same price as on-base lodging, and you get itemized receipts showing a zero balance for DTS.

We won't quote per diem rates or regulations here. Those change, and they depend on your orders. Your finance office or AO is the right call for anything about entitlements or reimbursement.

Which One Is Right for You?

If the Inn has a room for you and you're fine living in one, it's the simplest path. If you're issued a non-availability, or you've got an approved exception and you'd rather spend months in a house with room to breathe, a crash pad is worth a look. Either way, sort out the policy piece first.

Request a Stay

If off-base lodging is on the table for your class, we'd love to have you. Use the Request a stay form on our site, email Stay@OffBaseCrashpads.com, or call/text (765) 633-2273.

Built By Aircrew, For Aircrew.