AECF Wives Club for our ET and FC wives

[Mary, Proud Mom of Nick]

There seems to be so many of you lately!!! It is wonderful that you will have each other's support while going thru the process together.

Thought I would start this thread so you can at least connect and share stories together. Seems like there is a fair amount of you in Great Lakes and just as many more trying to decide if you can more to Great Lakes.

[xxpaprincessxx]

ok yea thats how it is with my fiancee I just wasnt sure if that was where your husband was stationed or not thank you very much for all your help.

[LaurelAnne]

Does anyone know - during A school and beyond, will my husband be using a car as much as normal, or will we really only need one car between the two of us? Our apartment is six miles from base.

[Amanda(proudnavywife)]

LaurelAnne- My husband and I shared a car, but I didn't work. It is a lot more convenient to have two cars because otherwise you'll always have to take him to school (my husband had to be there at 5am every morning) and you never know when they get out (my husband got out anywhere from 4:30p-6p everyday) It is a bit of driving around if you share one. Also, if you plan to have a job also I'd suggest having two. But it can be done with one, my husband and I were in Great Lakes 15 days shy of a year. Oh also another thing to think about, is how will you get both of them up there? You'll probably have to drive one and get the other towed or shipped.

 

Paprincess- Good cities are Lake Bluff, Gurnee, and Zion bad are Waukegan and North Chicago. The closest one to the base is Lake Bluff, my husband and I lived in an apt there called Forrest Pointe and is was very safe.

[Mary, Proud Mom of Nick]

Yay!  Congrats to him April and it's moving into a nice system.  Go Aegis!!

[Suzanne027]

My husband is starting A school middle of January, and I plan on moving there if/when possible. Does anyone know how the Navy decides if they will pay for your move? Does it depend on how long he is stationed there or how long you actually live there with them? What I mean is, if he is there Jan-Sept,  but I don't move until June, will the Navy still pay for the move?

 

Thanks!

Suzanne

[Mary, Proud Mom of Nick]

I don't want to give you any bad info Suzanne and your hubby won't be able to get alot of info until he graduates and moves to the other side of the base.

 

The good news is you were married before he went to boot camp so you are on his "page 2" which will give you benefits and he will get accompanied orders so the Navy will pay for your move but I do believe he has to have six months left at a school/command to incurr those moving costs.  I may be wrong about this and when he goes thru indoc after graduation and can put in a Live Ashore package he will get the most current information.  Are you waiting to finish school and that's why you are waiting till June to move?  

[Mary - wife of a sailor]

My husband was in GL for 8 months before we had the Navy move us. But that was during the time when they had really long hold times during A school. We have been here for 13 months. You're only planing on being here for 3 months, so it's hard to say.

[Ship 9 [Div 306] PIR 09/10]

As far as I know they do not pay for it unless you were already married. I just moved up here on my own dime.

[Navy Wife Ginnibean]

we were told it's something like if the school is 21 weeks or more, buuuut that it "depends" I guess every situation can be different

[Jasons Wife]

Hey guys!! I moved to Great Lakes yesterday from Michigan. I am exhausted. I'm am trying to look into daycare information. is there anyone currently in Great Lakes with any suggestions? I need help and its starting to become a very stressful situation. I am supposed to go on a interview / orientation thing this Wednesday from 9am until about noon and I have a 2 year old and a 5 year old with no family out this way to help. my 5year old actually starts school on Wednesday as well but not until later in the day (half day kindergarten). and if all goes well on my interview, I will start working.on Jan 24th which should give me enough time to work something out, but at the same time, what am I going to do Wednesday?? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!__

[Dani_Girl (ET wife)]

Hi ladies! My hubby has PIR 02/18/12... how long should I plan on waiting before being able to move to Great Lakes? Is there any chance of base housing or should we just plan on off base? I need to make arrangements with my job and my home here and have no idea of a time line. Any suggestions on safe areas to live close to base? Good hospitals?

Also, I bought our plane tickets for graduation and am planning on staying in Great Lakes for two weeks (I wanted to be there for his birthday, need to do some legwork for endorsing my nursing license in IL, and thought I could look into the housing situation.) I'm pretty sure he can't stay overnight with us in the Navy Lodge, but will he be able to spend time with us in the evenings and weekends? Otherwise, it'll be a lonely couple of weeks in "sunny" Illinois. :)

[priscilla; FC wife]

I called the housing office today and they said there's a good availability of housing. :)
If you choose to live off base, I hear that Gurnee, Zion, & Lake Bluff are good areas.

QUESTION: how long is it taking to get the live ashore paperwork to get approved? Husband just checked into FC a school today and told me he was given paperwork to get the move process started.

Also, I'm having a baby next month. If I'm moved up there before she's born, any recommendations for obgyns/pediatricians in the area? I'm currently seeing civilian doctors because I've had too many bad experiences on base at Wilford Hall San Antonio, lol.