POV= Personally owned vehicle. VPC= Vehicle Proccessing Center. Thankfully, the Navy will ship ONE vehicle for FREE to an OCONUS duty station. What does OCONUS mean? Outside the Continental United States.. Hawaii counts!
Since they will only ship one car, we decided to sell my car before we left Rhode Island. It was a 2005, Altima, that has been driven by my mother, brother, and then myself when I inherited it in 2010. It was a good car, but it was time to say good-bye. We took it to a CARMAX in Massachusetts (first experience with a CARMAX). It was an easy, quick process. You literally walk out the door with a check. However, I will warn, you probably can get more money if you sell your car on your own, but we did not have the time or means for that option. Our “plan” is to buy an Island Beater for Nathan to drive once we arrive in Hawaii with approximately the same amount of money that we got from the Altima. (We’ll see how that works out). There are supposedly “Lemon Lots” on certain bases where military sells/buys/re-sells vehicles quickly due to changes in duty stations. Hopefully, we can find an older truck or jeep! I’ve already been looking online, and the prospects look decent.
The military has Vehicle Processing Centers located throughout the US and Overseas for members to take their cars to be shipped. If we had shipped our car from Rhode Island, the nearest location would have been in New Jersey. However, since we decided I would come spend time in TN (meaning I would need to keep our main vehicle) the nearest location is in Atlanta. You do not need an appointment. What you do need is the following:
1) 3 copies of your orders
2) Power of Attorney if the car is being shipped by someone other than the active duty member. This was our case, therefore, Nathan, had to have a Power of Attorney document specifically created and notarized for the vehicle for me.
3) Copy of Registration and/or Title
Atlanta is approximately 3 1/2 hours south of Knoxville. My wonderful Aunt Jan is a nurse, therefore, she already had the day off to follow me and bring me back. The drive to Atlanta went smooth minus continuous scattered rain showers. Thankfully, the rain stopped before we got to the VPC. Now what was interesting about our trip… the GPS took us through a rather rough part of the city. We came upon this massive old building. Since I enjoy history, I was thinking, “Oh, wonder what this used to be!? Maybe an old train station?” Nope.. it was the Atlanta State Penitentiary! I’ve never seen anything like it in person. Yes, there were prisoners outside in the “yard.” CREEPY. I thought, “Gosh, this makes me feel real safe about dropping off our car!”
Thankfully, the VPC was at least 15 minutes away from the facility. The process was quick, easy, and painless. I had everything prepared. They completed the inspection within 20 minutes, and we were out of there in about 45 minutes. On a positive note, the inspector stated that our POV was in excellent shape (jokingly asking if he could keep it) and found no scratches or dings that I wasn’t already aware of. The entire staff was very nice and professional. Our car is scheduled to arrive in Hawaii on July 22! I’m hoping it will arrive early. How does it get to Hawaii? Well, it is taken by a Big Rig to California with other POVs and then sent by Boat to Hawaii!
See you in Hawaii! Hope you arrive safely, with no scratches, and sooner than July 22!
Seeing the Penitentiary made me want to do a little research. During my time in California, I had toured Alcatraz (also reccommended if you are in San Franscico). Here are some intereting facts:
1) In 1899, President William McKinley authorized the construction of a new federal prison in Atlanta, Georgia; Construction was completed in January 1902 and the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary opened with the transfer of six convicts from the Sing Sing Correctional Facility in upstate New York.
2) It is a medium-security prison with approximately 1,940 inmates
3)Notable Inmates:
A) Said Abdi Fooley Currently serving a life sentence. Somali pirate; convicted in connection with the 2010 hijacking of the civilian yacht Quest, which led to the deaths of four Americans; the convictions marked the first time in 190 years that an American jury has convicted defendants of piracy. This is interesting because Nathan was involved in Anti-Piracy missions of the Coast of Somalia (which included an engagement out at sea).
B) Charles Harrelson Convicted of murdering Federal Judge John H. Wood, Jr. in 1979 at the behest of a narcotics dealer; father of actor Woody Harrelson;; died in custody in 2007.
C) Frank Abagnale \Escaped from USP Atlanta in 1971; captured several weeks later in New York City. Notorious check forger portrayed in the 2002 film Catch Me If You Can.
D) Jimmy Burke Unlisted* Released from custody in 1978 after serving 6 years. Associate of the Lucchese crime family in New York City; Burke and fellow associate Henry Hill were convicted of extortion in 1972; Burke is the suspected mastermind of the 1978 Lufthansa Heist, in which nearly $6 million in cash and jewels were stolen at JFK Airport. Burke and Hill were portrayed in the 1990 film Goodfellas.
E) Al Capone Transferred to the federal prison on Alcatraz Island in 1934. Leader of the Chicago Outfit, which smuggled and bootlegged liquor during Prohibition in the 1920s; convicted of tax evasion in 1931.
Today you have learned some military terms, how the military ships a POV, and a little history about the Atlanta Penitentiary! =)
Atlanta Penitentiary
Navy Wife: Navy Life 