About their payment

[NavyMom3051]

Hi, does anyone no when the boot camp trainees will be getting paid? Will it be while their there in boot camp or will it be whenever they finish boot camp. Thanks in advance for the help.

[Phoenixmom]

Good morning, they begin getting paid while in BC.

here is more info I was told. 

They do not all sign up with NFCU.  They can use their existing hometown account, or choose AACU for banking.  What they do get is a line of NEX credit which is paid from their base pay by accounting.  They have a card, so it is much like a prepaid credit card, but one with overcharge abilities.  NFCU is a civilian credit union serving the Navy and Marine community.  We still use it as retirees.  Also, they pay nothing for their health insurance, no premiums or co-pays as active duty.  It is all free to them as long as they as using the military system, which they are required to do. 

[julieanns]

I asked a similar question of my son's recruiter and I was told they get paid twice a month, 1st and 15th. I believe that part of the bootcamp process is setting up all the direct deposit info, at least from what my husband remembers from entering boot 20 years ago. 

[Chipmunk]

NavyMom3051 and Phoenixmom - here is the link for pay information. It is one of the 22 pages that Lemonelephant or others have posted to the side of the boot camp Moms group.

http://navyformoms.ning.com/group/bootcampmoms/page/when-will-the-r...

I only know this one is over there, because long before I found this website, I was calling NFCU and writing to my son and asking him on the phone when he was going to get paid. It really wasn't a matter of if for us, but when his first paycheck would show up in his account, due to some other interest rate offers that were contingent upon him having an active duty paycheck.

I didn't read back through this but hopefully it helps. If your son is signed up with NFCU and they have their checking account listed as active duty along with their direct deposit, then their paychecks will usually go in a day earlier.

Keep in mind though it may be close to a month from when they left MEPS till their paycheck is actually first deposited, and it will be larger than their subsequent ones. They have to learn how to navigate understanding their leave and earning statement on their own though, because it is all online from my understanding. Hopefully, if it isn't all figured out by BC they can get some assistance with it at "A" school. My son's paycheck was in his NFCU account in time for him to be able to purchase T-shirts and the photographic package himself. Mind you - we had opened up his NFCU account before he left, had them fill out his direct deposit form and had his account turned on to active duty status two days before he shipped out. I am also joint on his account, so until he could have computer access to check on his account, I was able to log in and do it myself and also call NFCU for information.

There is an NFCU branch up at RTC, that they can go into (if time) and they can also do that on PIR day after liberty if they haven't set up an account already. But then the direct deposit information would need to be changed from whatever bank account they set it up with initially.

[julieanns]

Chipmunk, we too opened up my son's NFCU account before he left but I'm not sure if they listed him as active duty. He showed them his deb card and let them know when he was going to bootcamp. Unfortunately, I am not joint on his account or have a POA. Will it cause him any issues if he is not listed as active duty?

[Chipmunk]

julieanns- No, there should not be an issue if his account isn't set up "active duty." There are a few perks the enlisted receive when their NFCU accounts are set to "active" duty status, and one of those is a paycheck going in a day earlier. Also, there is an Early Start Certificate that they can make deposits into up to the max $3000.00 where they can earn a considerably higher interest rate. That has to show you are on active duty status.

The fact that they have a DOD paycheck depositing into their account, indicates to the bank that they are on active duty status. But that doesn't necessarily ensure that the bank will switch their account status to "active duty".  It is okay for the account to not show that, but they may not receive some of the other "perks" or benefits of membership so to speak. -

My suggestion - if you aren't on their account, is to call NFCU and just ask general questions - nothing specific about your son's account and find out what your recruit needs to do, then you can convey that in a letter to them. They can go into the branch at RTC and change their status. They also should be able to add you as beneficiaries or payable upon death if they don't have one of you set up as a joint account owner. This is also something you can do after PIR once they go on liberty.

I hope this makes sense.

[NavyMom3051]

Chipmunk, me and my daughter set up her account before she left for boot camp. It was like about a week prior to her leaving. They gave her all the information and also the direct deposit form from the bank NFCU to give to them. But she still hasn’t gotten paid anything as of yet. Thanks for the information that you shared.

[Chipmunk]

I would have to look at my son's account, but I think it was almost 2 full rounds of pay dates before he actually received his first paycheck. I was starting to panic that it wouldn't be in soon enough for the 30 days (actually 45 since we set his up a couple of weeks prior to departure as well) and then after I found out it could take an extra pay cycle, the next time - There is was!! - Having the information I shared, would have saved me a lot of grief - or at least extra time on the phone!! 

[Phoenixmom]

Chipmunk that is good to know, I didn't have a clue that My Son set all that beforehand, I guess he figured he can handle all this himself, Before he had left he was handling a lot of information, But that is good the other parents helped out with their Loved ones account. I just hope my son did things right for his sake.

[Chipmunk]

Phoenixmom - the interesting thing is my son probably knows more about investments and such than I do but getting to the bank was partially an issue of the time and he would have had to have borrowed my car, so I might as well go along with him. Also, he knew enough from our recent family situations with deaths and those legalities and probate that my being joint on his account, not only protected him but it protected me from having to "waste" extra money on probate costs. I am not a lawyer, and I don't claim to be one, I just have had to navigate a lot of these waters lately, and he was willing to ask our advice and double check on beneficiaries and joint ownership, on all of the financial paperwork he dealt with when he first got to "A" school as well.

I know there are a lot of kids who want to do it on their own and make their own decisions, which I am all for, I am just glad that mine was willing to make sure he took care of his Momma and younger brother as well. - But he has also had to be a part of the heart ache and hassle I have been through, so he has a different set of lenses to view this aspect of life through that others don't necessarily have that opportunity for.

I would suggest you ask your son who he as set up as a beneficiary on his TSP account, or his life insurance and where does he expect his money to go that he earned and is in the bank account if something (God forbid) should happen to him? I am sure you can creatively figure out a way to ask him these questions without putting him off. As Mom - you know him best.  - Just for some perspective - I just closed an estate a week ago that I was dealing with - and due to circumstances - this was actually a second round on the "estate" so to speak. It is costing me $9250.00 because I wasn't able to get all the ducks in a row before hand. My mother's cost me only about $500.00 while she was still alive to deal with, after my father passed away. That is why I am rather passionate about this stuff. Not meaning to step on any toes.

[Phoenixmom]

No I am glad that you are letting us know this Chipmunk, I will have to speak to my son, I understand the mess it can be, thank You so much for this. I appreciate all your knowledge.

[Chipmunk]

Phoenixmom - You are welcome. 

[julieanns]

This is good info to have Chipmunk. I appreciate it. I did suggest to my son to get someone to have POA, just in case. I don’t think he fully understands the potential issues that can arise.