Navy pay and lifestyle.?

[eatglue]

My husband is thinking about joining the Navy and I have a few questions. Thanks to anyone that can help.

1. He is eligible to enter the Navy as an E-3. Does anyone know about how much he would make every two weeks after taxes? We live in GA but I am not sure the tax rate. We also have a child who is 2 years old.

2. He has an Associates Degree in Business Administration and Information Technology. He isn't eligible for the Bach. Is it feasible to think he could complete two more years of college while in the Navy and earn a commission? He needs 60 hours to graduate with his Bachelors.

3. What is base life like for a family?

4. I am a little confused about deployments in the Navy. Will we be able to live at his duty station while he's deployed if he goes straight to deployment out of "A" school? Would it be possible for us to stay where we live now (would we still get BAH?)?

5. How do overseas deployments work? Can we join him?

Thanks.
^^That was supposed to say "he isn't eligible for the Bach completion program because he's been out of school for 6 years".

 

[Ekrul]

I can answer a couple of ur questions.
2. yes it is possible. He would probably be eligible for the STA-21 (Seaman to Admiral) program especially since he already has an associates. This is where he will have to put a package together showing that he could receive a bachelors degree in under 3 years and he would propably have to take the ACT & SAT again and get qualifing scores. Im not sure what they r but I think the ACT is 21. If he does that they will pay for him to go back to school and he will still recieve E-5 pay while going to school (I believe). Your best bet would be to ask a recruiter about it. If you would like u could e-mail me & i can put u in touch with one.

3. not sure but the Navy does have the reputation of being the most family friendly out of all the branches.

4. yes you could live at/around his base. i think that u may be able to stay where you r and still recieve BAH but your husband would have to stay in the barracks then.

5. If he is stationed overseas and depending on where yesyou can join him, but since he has a family that most likely wont happen unless he wants it and then still probably wont happen. Now when he is on deployment depending on where, yes you could go visit him (for ex. they port in Japan for the weekend). You and your husband would have to pay the bill though and you would have to stay in a hotel.

 

[Bruh!]

Im in the Navy myself the best advice is think before you sign your life away.

 

[NWIP]

1) E3 pay after taxes and deductions will be around $1200 a month. With BAH added in there depending on your location & Family Separation (250 per month when gone longer than 30 days on orders) it will be around $2200 or so while he is in Boot Camp. This will be paid on the 15th and 1st of each month. First pay can take up to 6 weeks before it is seen so make sure you have a budget for that. To find out pay & BAH rates go to http://www.military.com and click on benefits.

2) Completing his Bachelors in his first enlistment will be difficult. He will have a lot of work to do on the job and not every one has the chance to go to school in the evening and weekends. He could be stationed on a ship that does have an education office on it where they do have it available. He still has his work, qualifications, duty, etc.... Plus during his first few years he is limited to Tuition Assistance of up to $4500 a fiscal year or 16 credit hours that are paid for. Everything else is out of pocket including the cost of books. So most likely not going to happen.

3) Not all military housing is actually on the base, several areas have it off base in the middle of areas. On base there is usually a gym, movie theater, pool, commissary (grocery store), exchange (department store), Child Care, ASYMCA, Education Office, etc... It can be nice in some areas and not great in others. It depends on what exactly you are looking at and for. Some bases everyone talks to one another and in other areas they keep to themselves.

4) After he completes A School he reports to his first command. If it is on a ship then they can be gone up to 75% of the year. There is times they are gone for a few days, a week, few weeks, a month, a few months and then over 6 months. There is exercises, trials and workups. He might get a ship that is in the yards where he isn't gone at all. Then he might get on a ship that is gone a lot. Or he could get very, very lucky and get Shore Duty first. With Shore Duty they can be gone but it depends on his Rating (job). Some never leave at all.

When he reports to his first command that are in the lower 48 states (CONUS) then you can join him. You qualify for housing or to live out in town. The military pays for the movers to move your things there and you to drive there. The BAH will change to that location. If you choose to stay where you are right now and not go with him at all, then that is called a Geo Bachelor. If he is on a ship and they are allowed to sleep on board then no problem at all. If he is in barracks then he will sacrifice BAH completely or have to find a place out in town and pay both rents with the one BAH amount each month. Plus you would not get Family Separation each month unless he is on deployment. As this is considered a voluntary separation. If you choose to join him later then the move there can be at your own cost if he has been there over 12 months.

now if he gets an Overseas (OCONUS) assignment then if he is E3 and below you can't join him anyway unless approved by the command there. If he is E4 it can or cannot be approved depends on the command. If approved you have to undergo an Overseas screening (medical and dental) on each of you to makes sure the medical facilities there can handle any condition you have (including allergies). If the sponsorship doesn't get approved then he will get BAH based on where you are and family Separation as well. This orders are generally for 2 years, while accompanied orders are for 3.

5) Overseas deployments if on a ship and they pull into a port you can meet them. You have to pay yourself to get there and be prepared for a port call to change at the last minute. Deployments in other areas you cannot meet up with them at all (ie Bahrain, Djibouti, Kuwait).