Life for Navy Wives?

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

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.