CTI school, Monterey, California. First orders?

[hannahp]

Hello, my fiancee just left for A-School to learn Russian. Does anyone here know where the Russian linguists usually get their first orders (first base they got to) to after A-School? I'm trying to figure out what state to semi-settle down in and get my RN license in while I wait for him to graduate. Thanks :)

 

Also, does anyone have any opinions on both spouses being in the Navy? I was thinking of being a Navy Nurse Officer but my fiancee it would be too hard to be married with both of us inlisted... I think he's wrong, but I'm not sure. I just know I would have great training and opportunites as a Navy Nurse.

[Anti M]

`Hard to say where his orders might be, there's a number of places.

As a Navy Nurse, you would be in the officer program. Technically, not supposed to be dating an enlisted sailor. If you were already married, then it would be allowed, but disapproved of. As for getting stationed together? It can be difficult, while the Navy tries to offer co-location, it does not always happen. The first two years we were married, both as active duty, I saw my husband for a total of 28 days. I did not re-enlist after nine years because we could not get orders together.

[hannahp]

Wow, 28 days? Thats aweful! I thought co-location had a 50 mile radius? We would already be married by the time I would join.
It's a tough choice. I'm just selfish and want to get all the great benifits thats he does, inlcuding retiring after 20 years, as a nurse I know that I would be burned out by then and would be nice to retire before I can't handle it anymore. Thanks for replying Anti M!

[Anti M]

Co-location is actually more than 50 miles. He was on a ship which would not let him travel unless he was on leave, and they rarely could let him go. I was in the same situation, I had the apartment and couldn't travel down to where he was easily. Later, they were going to send me to California while he remained in Japan. Some dual military couples make it work, our rates and NECs did NOT allow us to be stationed conveniently close to each other. Oh yes, did I mention the Navy is under NO obligation to fill co-location requests?

I would speak to an officer detailer to find out the requirements of the nursing program. See if you are even eligible. But do understand, it can be a hard life apart. Not only will you be dealing with his orders and deployments, but if you were to join, there would be your obligations as well. The marriage takes a back seat to all that. Not impossible, but also not something to be jumped into lightly and uninformed.

[hannahp]

Yeah, I understand. I'm trying to inforom myself as much as possible. I actually live in a different state than him ( got a scholarship ) and have been for the past 1.5 (been together for 6) so I'm used to being apart and understand how hard it can be. Sigh, I actually think being a reserve navy nurse officer might me a bit better choice right now, lol. I truly appreciate your advice, I havn't gotten the chance to talk to someone who actually has experiance with all this.

[Angie]

It is even less likely that Officers and Enlsited people will get stationed near each other, due to one being an Officer and that person can affect the others career. When it is two Enlisted people it is easier to be stationed near one another. If you where to become a USN Officer RN, you couldn't be stationed any where that your hubby could end up at for treatment due to possible "speical treatment" of you with him. So yes...odds are really good you would not be stationed anywhere near each other.

As Anti M said, you need to talk to a recruiter to even see if you are qualifed for the program you are looking to join.

Regarding doing the 20 years and retireing, not everyone even makes it to the 20 year mark there are LOTS of hurdles that will need to be overcome for anyone to get to that point. It doesn't matter if he (and or you) has the drive and desire to stay for 20 years. Anything can (and could) happen to end a USN career prior to the 20 year mark, which wouldn't allow the person to retire.

[hannahp]

I didn't even think of that. Of course I would want to give him special treatment if he came into my hospital, which is most definitly not authorized, even in a civilian medical setting. Food for thought for sure. I just want to serve my country, get good benifits and great experience. I know the Navy could do that for me. I'm considering the Navy Nurse Reserve Corps now... I still have till April 2012 to figure it out though (when I graduate my BSN program). Also, it's so true about the 20 years to retire, who knows what could impede that from actually happening?
Thanks for your thoughts Angie :)

[Craig]

Two things:
1. You need to read through the CTI section and see what duty stations the past sailors went to. http://www.navyformoms.com/group/cti

2. Have him login to the CMS detailing page. He can see all billets for the different paygrades up to 1 year out.
http://www.persnet.navy.mil/Enlisted/CMS/

[Fur&FeathersDVM]

I was looking into being an Army Veterinarian (I'm in school to be a veterinarian and it's so expensive... but the army has a great program to help pay for costs). I didn't want to be a financial burden to my fiance (about to become my husband after a wait of over a year next month!). Army veterinarians do take care of any animals on navy bases because the navy doesn't have veterinarians. My fiance is an officer so we wouldn't have had the officer/enlisted problem. But after talking to a recruiter further about it, and talking to a few Army veterinarians, I pretty much realized we would NEVER end up together- and since I'm spending five years away from him (have 2.5 done... 2.5 more to go!) in order for me to finish school, I didn't think it was worth it. Eventually I would like to live with my husband :). We were pretty much told "well, we'll try to fulfill your co-location request, but we can already tell you right now it won't happen right away."
We do have an officer on my Fiance's ship whose wife is enlisted in the air force. They were both enlisted when they got married though. He told me it can be hard because her friends from work aren't very comfortable with him and vice versa. They also have had their deployments line up such that they haven't been together in 3 years. This seems to be the situation with most of the dual military couples we know, although many of them make it work!
Good luck with your decision! I know it wasn't an easy one for me. As to your comment about wanting to serve your country- I'd like to just say that at the Navy Memorial in DC, there's a plaque for Navy Families that says "They Who Wait Also Serve." No, we may not be the ones handling the hard part of the job, going away from home for months at a time and working long hours and standing duty days and such- but keep in mind that just by supporting your fiancee and taking care of things on the homefront so he doesn't need to worry when he is gone means you are helping him to serve his country... so you are serving your country too!

[Anti M]

There are also plenty of volunteer opportunities which are related to the military, from helping vets to the USO. That's another way to give back.

[hannahp]

Thanks for your reply :) I hope everything workd out for you and vet school :) I know how hard that is because I moved states to go to school and now my man joined the Navy. We'll see what happens with me joining or not... Thats a really good point you made about "those who wait serve". :)