Navy Pay FAQ - What is paid for by the Navy, what do recruits pay for?

[Arwen]

My recruit entered the Navy as an E-3. Why is s/he being paid as an E-1?

All recruits are an E-1/Seaman Recruit until they complete boot camp. They do not earn that "automatic" promotion immediately, they are simply a trainee and potential future sailor. Once they complete Battlestations 21 they receive the paygrade and rate they signed up for in their contract.

Under 2013 pay charts for the first four months of service, E-1s are paid $1,403 per month, during their initial training.

Beginning in 2014, E-1 pay will be raised by $14, to $1,417 per month.

After four months, and up to two years of service, E-1 will be paid $1,532.

Upon date of promotion and up to 2 years of service, E-2s are paid $1,717 and E-3s are paid $1,805 monthly.

These pay amounts will change as of Jan. 1, each year. Pay amounts always increase due to cost of living increases.

Does the Navy pay for uniforms?

Yes, but not for everything they need at boot camp.

In 2013, recruits receive an initial uniform allowance when they enter boot camp - $1,811.61 for men and $2,031.69 for women. The sailor never sees the money. It is goes directly to pay for the uniforms and is recorded as a credit and debt on the pay record, for recordkeeping purposes only.

The uniform allowance pays for the "sailor's seabag" which consists of four sets of Navy Working Uniforms (aka "digis"), two Navy coveralls, one pair of boots, one set of PT gear (sweats and shorts/t-shirt), two sets of tan and black Navy Service Uniforms (aka "peanut butters"), two sets of dress white uniforms (polyester), one dress blue uniform (wool), one pair of dress shoes, a pea coat, a rain coat with liner, an NSU parka with liner, various covers (hats) to go with each uniform type, and a seabag (backpack/giant duffel bag).

Women also receive skirts for each service and dress uniform, a "combination cover” (dress hat) and a set of uniform leather dress pumps (for wear with skirts), which is why they get a higher allowance. Women's dress blue uniforms have more parts than the mens' "crackerjack" and is more expensive.

This allowance does NOT cover the many small things they need that are not uniform items, from underwear to shampoo to athletic shoes, as well as shipping costs for "the box". These items are considered to be general living expenses and must be paid for by the sailor. The first paycheck is reduced by $400 - $600 (often the entire paycheck) to pay for these items. My son received $47 from his first paycheck.

During winter months they may also need to purchase specific cold weather gear such as a scarf, gloves and a cold weather mask that may not be part of the basic "sailor's seabag."

What else comes out of my recruit's paycheck?

Later in boot camp sailors will have the option to purchase "yearbooks", PIR DVDs, pictures, division t-shirts, etc. Some of these are deducted from the sailors' paychecks, others may be paid from their accounts. They do have the option to not purchase these items.

However, if they do purchase these items at the time the photos are taken, the pictures and t-shirts arrive before PIR. If parents order them at PIR or later, it may take 1-2 months to receive them. DVDs and yearbooks take about 6-8 weeks to arrive.

When does my recruit get his/her first paycheck?

The first paycheck usually arrives in the recruit's bank account about one month to six weeks after his/her arrival at boot camp. Paydays are on the 1st and 15th of each month. No physical checks are issued, sailors must have a bank account ready for direct deposit. If a sailor does not have a bank account, or does not have the correct bank information for an existing account, one will be set up for him/her at either Navy Federal Credit Union or Armed Forces Bank.

If the sailor has dependents, the sailor should receive BAH (housing allowance for dependents) in the second or third paycheck. Sometimes there are paperwork problems that may delay payment. Plan ahead to pay rent and utilities for two months without the sailor's assistance, just in case.

Does the Navy pay for food?

Yes. However, the system is confusing to some people, so on paper it looks like sailors pay for their food. The Navy used to just feed all sailors, but for bookkeeping purposes it was difficult to figure out how much they paid for each sailor to eat.

Now the Navy issues a monthly food allowance of $352.27 to every sailor. If that sailor is on shore duty and does not live on a ship or in barracks with access to a mess (cafeteria), the sailor keeps the cash to pay for their own food. However, if the sailor is assigned to a ship or barracks with access to a mess the Navy deducts the food allowance to pay for meals. At first glance on a pay stub this *looks* like the sailor is paying for his/her own food, but in reality the Navy is merely re-claiming the food allowance.

If a sailor does not like the food offered at the mess, finds the hours “inconvenient” for his/her schedule or is annoyed by long lines or little time to eat, and chooses to eat elsewhere, it is up to the sailor to pay for it out of their own money. The Navy will NOT return the money is the sailor declines to eat at Navy facilities to which he or she has access.

http://www.dfas.mil/navy2/militarypay/allowances.html

Are there co-pays for sailors' medical care?

No. Medical care for active-duty sailors is free, as are prescriptions.

However, most "elective" medical procedures are not offered or covered unless a Navy-approved medical doctor/dentist determines that it is in the best interest of the sailor and the Navy.

Will the Navy pay for a private apartment for ship-based bachelor sailors to use while in port?

No, but they may get to live in a barracks. Even for extended port stays, some ships require sailors to continue to live on-board the ship. However, the Navy is trying to change this. In many places, sailors are assigned a dorm-like barracks (similar to A-school) room with one or two of their shipmates while their ship is in port. Sailors will also receive a barracks room if their ship goes into dry docks for extended repairs.

Occasionally, if there aren't enough barracks rooms to go around for ship-based sailors and the Navy wants sailors to live off-ship, sailors may be assigned a room in a non-Navy apartment building rented by the Navy, or be given a special allowance to find an apartment with other sailors. This is not common but it happens, especially on small bases, or some overseas bases that have limited space.

Shore-based sailors are assigned dorm-type barracks. There is no charge for the barracks room.

An unmarried sailor (without dependents) who wants to live independently off-base must get permission from his/her command, pay for the apartment from his/her paycheck and must still sleep on board their ship on duty days. There is no allowance to assist the single sailor in paying for rent or utilities unless there is a housing shortage on base.

There are very few small shore duty stations where there is no Navy barracks or housing in existance. In those locations all sailors are given a housing allowance.

Will the Navy pay for airline tickets?

It depends on the purpose of the travel.

If the sailor is travelling on orders, the Navy will pay. Sometimes the Navy will issue tickets or assign a sailor to a military flight. At other times the sailor must pay for his/her own ticket and the Navy will reimburse the sailor for travel expenses after s/he submits all receipts with her order on arrival. Again, the reimbursement may take some time to be processed, so sailors should keep a savings account to cover such expenses.

The Navy does not cover travel for sailors to go home on leave. The only exception to this is for leave between A school and their first duty station. The Navy determines the cost of travel between the two points - old and new duty stations - and the cost of flying to the sailor's home in between. The Navy pays the amount of the trip to his or her new duty station, and the sailor pays the difference for a stop at home.

Travel home after being discharged from the Navy (for any reason) is based on bus travel if the sailor is located in the continental U.S. Discharged sailors have the choice of taking a bus ticket home, or accept the cash value of a bus ticket and make their way home on their own. The amount is based on returning the sailor to the location they lived when they enlisted. If airfare happens to be similar to or cheaper than bus tickets, the Navy may pay for a discharged sailor's airfare.

[Arwen]

UPDATED FOR 2013

[lemonelephant]

You may want to check your facts.

[Knicky (Ship14Div351)]

My husband is going in as an E-3 because he has a college degree. We were told that he would be paid as an E-3 during his RTC and A school...he will be promoted to E- 4 once he finishes school. He enlisted for 6 years (is on fast track) and is attending ATF- IT schooling. Did the recruiters lie to us then? If you only gets E-1 pay during RTC will he get back paid based on E-3? That could make those first few months a little difficult for me and my daughter...I'm in school full time and don't have a job.... :(

[lemonelephant]

Arwen's information above is incorrect. Although your future Sailor will be considered an SR at BC, he will be paid as an E-3 if that is his contracted rate. This has been confirmed by several wives who were pleasantly surprised at the second amount deposited. (See When Will the Recruits be Paid? and Information for Spouses.) It will be important for you to put back money to pay the bills for at least a month (more if you can) bacause the pay does not settle into the "norm" for 3 or 4 paydays.