aware  of  the  availability  of  career  information  and assistance  in  your  career  guidance.     You  should discuss  each  of  these  subjects  during  your  reporting interview. Each  command  has  its  own  counseling  program for  junior  officers.     You  can  expect  an  interview within  6  months  of  your  reporting  interview.    This second interview provides your commanding officer with an opportunity to apprise you of your progress; it also  provides  you  an  opportunity  to  express  your opinions  on  your  current  duties.   Your  commanding officer  will  discuss  your  career  goals  and  the  steps you   must   take   to   achieve   these   goals   in   each succeeding  interview.     You  can  request  advice  in preparing  for  and  seeking  future  sea  and  shore assignments including various in-service educational opportunities. Expect to be interviewed after 1 year and again 1 to  3  months  before  your  rotation  to  another  duty station or prospective release from active duty.   The purpose of these interviews is either to discuss your career  potential  and  allow  adequate  opportunity  for coordinating  your  desires  with  the  Bureau  of  Naval Personnel  or  to  preface  your  return  to  civilian  life. Your  commanding  officer  will  give  you  a  frank  and honest  appraisal  of  your  career  potential  as  a  naval officer.    If  you  demonstrate  career  potential  in  your performance,   your   commanding   officer   will   do everything  possible  to  ensure  your  personal  desires are considered along with the needs of the Navy. SETTLING-IN Since any number of events could occur on your way to a new duty station, do not make the mistake of shipping  all  your  earthly  possessions  ahead  of  you. Many  new  officers  have  lived  in  one  uniform  for several weeks because of this error in judgment.  You can avoid such problems and be more comfortable if you  carry  another  suitcase  with  extra  uniforms  and civilian  clothes  appropriate  for  the  climate  of  your new  duty  station.     They  may  make  your  stay  more enjoyable in case you get stranded somewhere. If you have dependents, we suggest you get them settled for the first few days in a hotel, motel, or one of the temporary lodging facilities listed in appendix III.  Your sponsor can be infinitely helpful during your initial settling-in period. OBTAINING HOUSING We advise you to write the housing office at your new duty station as far in advance as possible for any information  on  available  housing.    (If  reporting  to  a ship,  write  the  naval  station  housing  office  at  your ship’s home port.)   Housing information is available from  Navy  Family  Service  Centers  located  at  all major  naval  installations  in  the  United  States  and overseas. FAMILY HOUSING Do  not  sign  any  leases  until  you  check  with  the housing  section  of  the  Family  Service  Center.    The center  will  have  the  latest  information  on  approved and available housing. When  you  do  sign  a  lease,  be  sure  the  lease includes a military clause.  Without such a clause, you could find yourself paying extra rent if breaking your lease should become necessary. NOTE: If  you  seek  off-base  housing,  do  not enter  into  a  rental  agreement  until  you  review  the listing of discriminatory and nondiscriminatory rental establishments  maintained  in  the  Housing  Referral Office.  Regulations prohibit you from entering into a rental   agreement   with   an   establishment   listed   as following a discriminatory rental policy. BACHELOR HOUSING Navy  policy  places  high  priority  on  providing adequate living facilities for its personnel.  In keeping with  this  policy,  the  Navy  improved  its  criteria  for construction  of  living  facilities  and  established minimum   standards   of   adequacy   for   volunteer assignment  to  Navy  bachelor  quarters.     Unless dictated  by  military  necessity,  you  will  not  be involuntarily assigned to accommodations that do not meet   minimum   standards   of   occupancy. When accommodations  meeting  the  prescribed  minimum standards are not available, you can live in the civilian community and receive Basic Allowance for Quarters (BAQ)  and  Variable  Housing  Allowance  (VHA)  or per diem, as applicable.   When overseas, you qualify for  a  Cost  of  Living  Allowance  (COLA)  instead  of VHA. If  you  receive  orders  to  a  naval  shore  activity whose bachelor officers’ quarters (BOQ) do not meet minimum occupancy standards, you can either choose to   live   in   the   inadequate   quarters   or   request permission  to  reside  in  the  local  community.    Make 3-3