Life for Navy Wives?

[litnut]

Hello!

 

My husband just joined the Navy, and I have no clue what to expect. I know I can join him for his schools, but what happens after that? How often will I get to see him once he's on a ship? I want to go with him and stay on base, but I'm not sure if I'll get to see him. He will be a sonar specialist, and I don't know what that requires, either. I'm not from a military family, so I'm going in blind. Help?!

[corpsmanwifeschu]

We finally got through the process of getting my hubby into the Navy as well. He leaves in a week for RTC. From what I know living near military bases (Army and Air Force) and from what I hear from my friend who is married to a sailor, how things work can almost be different for every situation.

RTC (Recruit Training Command AKA Boot Camp) is anywhere from 7 to 9 weeks in order to make our loved ones into Sailors. A School training time is different based on their rate. My hubby has heard 14 weeks for his and we've also seen 20 online for the same rate, so, we'll know for sure when he gets there. Some can be as long as three years. If you have a family to move and a job and such, I wouldn't move until you know where he'll be permanently stationed at. My kids and I are going to stay in our house until graduation from RTC, then we'll probably move in with my mom who lives in the same town until we find out where he'll be stationed. I know the idea of being away from my husband for up to 7 months seems daunting, but it is something that I'll have to get used to.

My friend's hubby is ABE (Aviation Boatswainmate) and is going to be going on his first deployment shortly. In the year that she has been with him at his station, he goes out on the ship for a couple weeks at a time called and Under Way. Under Way's prepare for deployment. While the ship (if he's assigned a ship) is in port, it needs to be watched, so there will be days when he'll have to stand watch, guard the ship and do duty days.

You have the option of staying on base, if housing is available. You can always live with him off base and his pay will be subsidized by BAH, Housing Allowance.

I hope that some of this helps ;-)

Jamie

[bsobo]

How did basic go for your husband.? Mine just left and I'm nervous. We have a four year old son who seems to be doing fine so far but it's still early. How wAs A school ? Were you able to visit often? Was there a C school and when did you finally move?

[BunkerQB]

This discussion is pretty old. Click on GROUPS on menu bar and search through more current groups. Here are five to get your started.

If you have your form letter, it should tell you when his PIR is. I'll bet it's 10/28/2011. This group is for your.

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/pir-10-28-2011-ship-12-div-355

Here are two groups for wives.

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/navywivesonN4M

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/girlfriendsfianceswivesofsailors

Here is a group for members from Maryland

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/advicefornewspouses

You'll find lots of info about PIR in this group.

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/pirreferenceinformation

Good luck.

[corpsmanwifeschu]

Basic went well for him. He graduated on the Centennial of RTC. He's been in TX for A school since July 2. Our children were 1 and 9 when he left, so our daughter handled it okay, she knew where daddy was and we'd see him when he was done. Our son, acted out, a lot. Barely being two he didn't understand where daddy had run off to. He didn't want me going to work cause he was afraid I'd leave too. We found ways to keep daddy around, we read a book called My Sailor Dad at night and he would mode daddy's picture from MEPS before bedtime.
We got to see him for 12 hours, six on PIR day and six at the airport. Definitely wish it was longer though.
I just got back the other week from seeing him at school. He is in Phase 3 of Liberty so be was able to stay overnight with me. Those were the two greatest days of the summer other than seeing him on the graduation field for the first time. I'm going back for his graduation in a month and well hopefully get to keep him for. I'd be down there a lot more to see him if it wasn't so expensive for a visit.
He got his verbal orders the other week. I'm not making any plans for where we're supposed to heading yet until he has his written orders. But we may be moving to be with him in Dec. I can't wait.

[BunkerQB]

sailorwifeschu,

WOW. It's really great to see your post. You are a good writer. Hope you stick around and help the newbies. For new wives, fiancees and girlfriends, it mean more to hear the stuff from someone who is in the same situation. It's different to hear it from moms. It'll be a lot easier when you are all living together. Let us know where you are going. Dec is just around the corner. You might want to do some research on the school district where your daughter will be attending. Contact the district and ask to get some of the material that was covered prior to your daughter getting there - so she won't be behind and she will have seen the same lessons.

Good luck.

[AlwaysReady]

I dont know much in the way of schools but I do know what its like after.

 

Yes you can get housing. In housing you pay by allotment and they take all of your BAH. The wait list for some housing is much longer then others it just depends on the area. Sometimes its also cheaper for a couple with no kids to live in non military housing. You can find an apartment under your BAH amount and pay for the apartment and all your utilities and come out a head. I personally like living in housing. Its just easier.

 

Life on the ship is interesting. Yes there will be a lot of time apart.  The ship has to go out and keep its qualifications, work up and then of course deployment. I know personally we are on a carrier and before deployment they were gone a half a month every month. Sometimes more. It was stressful but it is what it is and you learn to adapt and treasure the time you have together more. There are duty days some of them are 24 hours some of them are 12. It depends on the rate. I have no idea about sonar and their work and hours. Some jobs have a night shift and others dont. Day hours are pretty typical I think. I am sure this varies from ship to ship and base to base.

 

You will get to see him it will just vary month to month on how much ;) Unless they are out to sea or he has duty he should be home at night.