If you need to arrive before the assigned arrival day, that is OK. Just contact the officer training school at 334-953-9675 to convey that information. However, you will have to pay for your own lodging. You may attempt to gain lodging at the University Inn on base. If they are full, you will have to take a room off base.
It's your choice whether or not to bring a car to OTS. You won't be able to use one very much during training, but there are some good reasons to bring one. The first reason is for storage. Many OT's store their extra goods in their vehicle during OTS. Vehicles are kept in a secure parking facility on the OTS complex. Another reason to bring a vehicle is to get around town during the end of training or after graduation. A certain number of students have to wait at Maxwell for security or medical clearances, tech school training dates, or other reasons. Billeting is very busy at Maxwell and there is a chance they'll send you to a hotel downtown. You might appreciate the freedom a car would give you at this point. Finally, you may choose to drive to your next duty assignment. For example, if you came from Washington State and were assigned to Navigator training at Pensacola NAS in Florida, you'd have to fly back to Washington and drive across the country.
1. Exit on Exit 172 (Herron St. exit). Stay in the left exit lane.
2. Turn left at the 3rd stop light (Bell St.).
3. Proceed to the Bell St. Gate of Maxwell AFB. (See Map link below for directions on base)
4. If you don't have DoD stickers on your vehicle, you'll have to stop at the Visitor's Center, located at the Bell St. Gate, to get a pass.
From I-65 South
1. Exit 172 (Clay St. Exit). Stay in the left exit lane.
2. Turn left at the 2nd stop light (Herron St.)
3. Turn left at the 1st stop light (N. Holt St.)
4. Turn left at the 2nd stop light (Bell St)
5. Proceed to the Bell St. Gate of Maxwell AFB. (See Map link below for directions on base)
6. If you don't have DoD stickers on your vehicle, you'll have to stop at the Visitor's Center, located at the Bell St. Gate, to get a pass
From I-85 South
1. I-85 S
2. Exit onto Day St (Exit 172)
3. Turn right at Air Base Blvd; Day Street Gate. (See Map link below for directions on base)
4. Go straight pass gate and follow street (3rd St/Mitchell St)
5. Make left on Ash Street
6. Make right on Mulzer Blvd, follow signs to OTS In-processing
