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Comment by miss_e on April 9, 2015 at 2:04am

Hi! My boyfriend left for boot camp back at the end of March. I was wondering if anyone could tell me how long it usually takes to recieve a real hand written letter from them? And about when do they start receiving yours? Thank youu!

Comment by Melissa on April 9, 2015 at 12:41am

Navy101214, the recruiter was probably talking about your SRs form letter. They fill that out when they get there and you should receive that at around the same time as "the box". It just gives you information about their PIR and stuff like that. They literally just fill in the blanks, but you should get your first real letter around week three. And it'll probably get there later on in the week at first and then start coming earlier as the mail POs learn their job better. They're only allowed to send out letters on Sunday (Monday) but they can write every day of they have time. Just remember that no letter means that they were busy studying and making sure they're prepared. No news is good news, even if it doesn't feel like it. Hope that helps. <3

Comment by Melissa on April 9, 2015 at 12:36am

Hey Elise, welcome to the group! My boyfriend is graduating boot camp on the 17th of this month and just know that it does get easiER (will never be easy). The first three weeks were the hardest because you're getting used to not talking to them all the time and you don't hear anything and it's just all around difficult. Add yourself to groups with her PIR date and make friends! They seriously help you get through everything because they understand and are going through the same thing. Also, the last two weeks are hardest because you start to get so excited in the anticipation of FINALLY seeing your loved one again. Just write her as much as you can and be supportive. As hard as these next two months are going to be for you, they're even harder for her. Just know that we all love you and are all here for you. <3

Comment by Jenni1453 on April 9, 2015 at 12:31am

The only schools that allow live ashore are Nuke and AECF I believe.

Comment by Jenni1453 on April 9, 2015 at 12:30am

I personally would advise against moving on your own for such a short school. Maybe a weekend visit. Also she won't have a lot of free time. My husband is at school in Great Akes. His school is eight months, so he is able to live with me, but I never see him during the week. His day starts at 5 am and he usually is studying until midnight or later. As far as deployment goes, you should be able to look up the ship to shore rotation for her job. Example, my husband does 6 years sea and 4 shore. That doesn't mean he will be gone for 6 years, but he goes where his ship goes during that time. Hang in there. RTC is the hardest part.

Comment by wigglyturtle on April 9, 2015 at 12:23am

Hey Elise! Welcome! I had and still have many of the same questions as you, however many of them don't have answers that will be the same for all sailors. My husband is in boot camp right now and will also go to corpsman A-school in Texas. HM A-school is not long enough for the navy to move you to Texas, it's only 14 weeks, and it has to be longer than 20 to qualify. This doesn't prevent you from moving there on your own, however your wife will have to live on base in the barracks and you will not be able to live with her. They have phases of liberty and after a month or so there she shoudl be able to leave base for the whole weekend unless she has watch. HM schooling is very demanding however, and she will likely need to spend all of her free time studying.

As far as FMF and being sent on a ship, those are needs of the navy qeustions. You really won't know until she gets orders. From what I can tell, women tend not to get sent FMF as often, but I believe it does happen. Also, corpsman are frequently in hospitals, but again, there's no way to know now if that will be what happens with her as they do get put on ships as well. Corpsman are everywhere sailors are, so technically, she could go literally anywhere.

I hope that has answered some of your questions - feel free to message me and I can share the information that I have found out from my own research. My husband signed up in August and has been at bootcamp for 16 days (not that I'm counting!), and I'm beginning to let go a bit and just get prepared to hang on for the ride. It will definitely be an adventure!

Comment by elise_denise2514 on April 9, 2015 at 12:15am

Hello all. I'm new to this website, but have already read so many questions and answers and found out so much. Some questions I still have that concern me. We are married, I have heard and read several different things about being able to live with them during A school, which will be in San Antonio, TX. Is that an option? She will be a Corpsman. What happens after A school? Will she be stationed somewhere to work in a hospital? She's not doing FMF although I've heard she could still do it even if she doesn't choose to because well, they own her. But she wants to just do HM. How does that work? Will I be able to live with her whenever she goes adyer school? Will she have to go out on ships? What are the odds of her being deployed? Sorry for all of the random questions. I have no clue about anything and that kills me. She just left yesterday for bootcamp and I feel so helpless not knowing anything. This isnt easy :( any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Comment by Navy101214 on April 8, 2015 at 8:54pm

Thanks!! His recruiter had me worried b/c he said he probably sent a letter his first Sunday there. I've written everyday since he left!

Comment by Navy101214 on April 8, 2015 at 6:59pm

Question! My BF left for BC 3/24... Just curious how long it takes, generally, to get that first letter or phone call!

Comment by Anti M on April 8, 2015 at 8:22am

For a sailor to take a dependent overseas, a couple things have to happen.  He must be an E-4 or above.  E-3 and below are not authorized to have dependents with them overseas.  There are a few rare cases where they get waivers, but most strictly say no.

Second, the dependent must pass overseas screening and receive command sponsorship.  You cannot just go live in a foreign country, the sponsorship means you get a SOFA visa, and can stay, and the command picks up your travel and moving expenses, and takes responsibility for you while overseas.  They make the sailor extend his overseas tour to make it worthwhile to provide sponsorship.  

So not a matter of just doing paperwork, several things have to fall into place.  

Usually a command tries to accommodate holiday leave requests if possible.  Most of the time they split the dates, with some getting Christmas, some getting New Years.  The new guy usually does not get the most desirable dates, a lot depends on the command and the work tempo.  While most commands try to go to a relaxed holiday routine, none stand down like the school commands do.  He can put in a leave request chit a month or two in advance, but rarely more than that.  He can ask his command when the request window opens.  Stay flexible on the dates, and have him start saving up for a plane ticket.

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