First PayCheck at BC

[GraceRae<3]

When does the first pay check come? If you dont mind answering how much was the first pay check? Are they single or have dependants? If they have dependants was BAH included?

 

Anything would help..Im super confused. Seems like people I have talked to have diff stories and answers so JW.

[lemonelephant]

This will probably be more than you asked for, but it's what I put up for the groups I helped with in the fall, except I updated the links since some in the original Page no longer work.

It will take about a month before your Recruit will be paid because it takes a while for everything to get entered in the system, but be assured, your Recruit will receive the pay from the day s/he was sworn in at MEPS on the way to the RTC. Pay days are the 1^st and the 15^th, but those who choose to have the pay directly deposited into a Navy Federal Credit Union account will see the deposit a day earlier. Here are some examples of when others have received that first deposit: arrived March 8 – deposit March 31 (this Recruit must have chosen NFCU), arrived December 2 – deposit January 1, arrived May 28 – deposit July 1, arrived May 20 – deposit June 15.  If your recruit has been at the RTC at least 3 weeks when a pay day arrives, then s/he most likely will be paid on that pay day.

They don't get pay stubs. Their LES (Leave and Earning Statement) is online at mypay.com. The mypay account appears to be set up by the recruit at some point during the first week or so of BC.

If something happens and a Recruit is sent home, s/he will be paid for that time.

BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) does start from day one, but you won't see it in the accounts right away. In fact, some don’t see it until after the Sailor has left boot camp. 

Medical coverage for Recruits begins as soon as they swear in at MEPS, as does life insurance. Dependents are also covered under medical from day one. The Recruit must enter them on page two and get them enrolled in DEERS (Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System). This happens the first week in processing during boot camp.

The link, Navy Pay Charts, provides information to help figure out the pay and BAH.

This is the calculator for BAH, it is based on the zip code where the dependent resides.

http://www.militaryforsaleforrent.com/basic_allowance_for_housing.s... (The ones on the Navy and Military sites I have aren't working so I put this one in this time.  It may or may not be correct.)

Here is the Regular Military Compensation Calculator.

http://militarypay.defense.gov/mpcalcs/Calculators/RMC.aspx 

[kathyrc(Ship03DIV175)PIR 6/08/12]

GraceRae - I can't answer for any others, but my son went in as single, no dependents. I believe they get paid twice a month, the 1st and 15th or 15th and 30th? Also, quite a bit is taken out for uniforms. I think total for uniforms ends up being close to $700. They take a little bit at a time, so it doesn't hurt their pay quite as much.

[lemonelephant]

The Navy puts in a uniform allowance and then takes it out, so they don't actually pay for the first set of uniforms.  If they need uniform pieces before the next time for the allowance, it does come out of their own pay. ( See Navy Clothing Allowance.)

(Here is a link to know when the Pay Days are this year, 2012 Active Duty Military Pay Days.  If the recruit/Sailor has direct deposit with NFCU, then it is a day earlier.  For example, my Sailor was paid Thursday, 12 July 2012 this time.)

[kathyrc(Ship03DIV175)PIR 6/08/12]

lemonelephant - My son was told that he pays for uniforms (which is all clothes, shoes, boots, coat, etc.) and I believe it has been deducted from his pay approximately $700. Did you just mean they aren't charged for the actual uniforms? or any of the clothing?  Just curious.  Thanks.

[lemonelephant]

See Navy Clothing Allowance (clickable link).  The recruits do pay for some items that are required for their Sea Bag, like undergarments and socks, but you and I pay for those when we are in the civilian world, so why would we expect the Navy to pay for those for our Sailors?  An allowance for actual uniform items goes into their account and then comes out.  He can see it on his LES.

[lemonelephant]

My Sailor has been hit by 2 changes in the uniform since his enlistment, but only one of them was covered.  There was a statement from the Navy that indicates that those who have been affected will be reimbursed, so we will just have to see how that works out, but that should not affect your Sailor since his Sea Bag should be current.  He also chose to get a different coat at one point and so he had to pay for that out of his own pocket.

[kathyrc(Ship03DIV175)PIR 6/08/12]

lemonelephant - Thank you.

[lemonelephant]

You are so welcome.

[bneville]

My stepson graduated BC a little over a year ago - I asked him and he said his first "check" came in about 4 weeks into
BC - but it was for like $5....then next one was about $20.  He said they finally got normal after he went to his A-school. He said the first "check" his RDC handed to him ....then laughed. :)

[lemonelephant]

I respectfully disagree with some of the above statements.  I know that the first few amounts are different because the first one is prorated from the date of arrival and it may also have the NAF/XCHNGE DEBT out of it.  NAF/XCHNGE DEBT is what goes on the LES to indicate the money put on the NEX card to pay for items that they have to have that are not covered by the Uniform Allowance, such as hygiene items, shoe  polish, sewing kit, t-shirts, underwear, PT-Shorts, sun tan lotion, etc.  I also know that some have indicated that the Uniform allowance went in the next pay cycle after the money was taken out, so it really made for a small first deposit.  The second deposit in that case was more than what subsequent deposits were.  I also have heard from wives indicating that their husbands did not know how much was deposited because they don't have access to the LES while at BC.  I also do not believe that the RDC would be able to look at the LES of a recruit since that would be confidential information.  I do agree that the deposits often do no get to "normal" until A School.  That's jsut my thoughts on that.

On that same note, be forewarned that they get a food allowance at A School and it may then be taken out to pay for food at the Galley whether they eat at the Galley or not if a Galley is available.  I have heard some gripes on that, but it is not the same at every A School.

[bneville]

I know my stepson tends to exaggerate so I'm not sure how much stock I put into what he says - I'm guessing he meant the RDC laughed because they knew the check amts wouldn't be what the SR's were expecting/hoping for..... I'll be curious to see what my son says when he gets his first paycheck. :)

[lemonelephant]

:o)