Girlfriends, Fiances,and Wives of Sailors

FSA is the Family Separation Allowance.   BAS is basic allowance for sustenance.  BAS is given when a sailor lives off base and has meals at home instead of being fed by the government.  But is is not intended for dependents, so goes away when the sailor deploys (or is in training). 

http://militarybenefits.info/2016-bas-basic-allowance-for-subsisten...

Anything which is a "pay" is taxable, allowances are not.

Paige, here is the website for housing at Great Lakes:

http://www.navygreatlakesfamilyhousing.com/

We're almost at the 4 week mark (4 weeks Tuesday) and still no call.  Anyone with experience in this that may know why? 

@jss37028 There's tons of factors that come into play with calls. My boyfriend gave up his call so that his shipmate who had watch duty could go call his wife and kids. So your recruit may be on watch or may have taken somebody's watch, or the RDCs may not have given them an opportunity to call. I know it's tough but just keep your eyes on the "I'm a Sailor!" call! I'm in week 5 and that's keeping me going!

I know he was on duty last Sunday, during Easter.  Maybe he was on duty on Saturday too.. Those are the days they got to call.  I guess I will just hold tight until 5 weeks.  I am on the PIR 4/29 page and his group page for DIV 170.  There is just one mom and myself that we know of that didn't get a call.  Just hoping for some insight.  I know his entire Navy career will be relatively unpredictable, I just can't wait to hear form him at this point. Thanks aboun18 and thinNavyblueline!

I was in boot camp much longer ago, and we had a few phone calls.  I had no one to call as my brother was at work, and my parents were working in Saudi Arabia.  That was depressing, but freed up a phone for another recruit.  I wonder why your dad said there were no phone calls?  Because even on this board, in posts eight years old, people talk about those precious calls from RTC.  Maybe another branch?  

Our political leaders have next to nothing to do with the day to day activities of the military at training commands, although an uptick in the tempo of operations might happen (longer deployments), and the budget gets rearranged.  You have to take a very long view... 

aboun18 - It is very depressing.  I know he is okay and that he's thinking about me etc, because I did finally get all of his letters last week.  Like everyone else here, I just miss him soo much and it's hard not to worry!   :) 

A Marine, that explains it!  My grandfather was a Marine, but in WWI.  Had his leg machine-gunned off on Nov.18!  He died in 1941, long before I was born.  My father was Navy though, a crusty old Masterchief.   I know every joke about the Marines, and none of them are polite enough to share.  Have you seen a movie called The Last Detail?  You might enjoy it, old movie with Jack Nicholson as a sailor.

Paige ... roughly a month from what I've seen posted here.  Depends on the school.  

By week two or three you should have a letter with a signed form DD 1172.  He needs to send you that.  A POA might work if you have one, but some bases will vary on policy.  

Use the RAPIDS locator and call the office, see what they need to issue an ID for you.  If you already have a POA, see if they will accept that.  If not, write to your husband and let him know he needs to arrange to sign and send a new 1172. 

https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl/appj/site?execution=e2s1

If you need to, you can call Great Lakes Public Affairs Office and ask for guidance.  Your form might have been lost in the mail.

http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/contact.html

A school ... okay.  New plan.  Call or text him and tell him to get his ass in gear.  He needs to let his CPC know his spouse does not yet have her dependent ID card and get a DD 1172 to you ASAP.

If I were his LPO, I'd be kicking his ass verbally about now.  May be why he's dragging his feet, he knows he's going to get chewed out for letting it slide. 

Good morning... I hope my last post didn't scare anyone!  Just be aware that your sailors are expected to take care of business concerning their dependents.   

Where does my sailor go to update his page 2 and any other paperwork he needs to complete since we just got married? We are going into the DEERS/ID office once my birth certificate gets here, but I am wondering what else we need to do?

He talks to the CPC at his command, it is what they do.  He will need a certified copy of your state ID/DL and your SSN card, the marriage certificate too.  Shouldn't need the birth certificate, unless the ID office is being stubborn.

They were very adamant about the birth certificate. Which is especially annoying since I have already been a mil dependent so I am already in the DEERS system... but we are at a Marine Corps base... so that may be why they are being stubborn. The piece of paper I was given with the requirements say "NO exceptions... per rules of USMC headquarters" haha... but okay he checks into his new command tomorrow so hopefully he will find out who is CPC is soon. Thanks Anti m!!

Marines, yeah, they can be stricter than other branches.  LOL, future advice to anyone else marrying on leave ... if there is an Air Force base nearby, go do the DEERS/ID stuff there.  They are always much easier and nicer than the Marines.  Navy bases tend to be busy for some reason.  No experience with Army bases and dependent IDs.  This can be done at any base, not just your sailor's command or homeport.

Hey all, quick question. My boyfriend wants to be on his own phone plan after bootcamp graduation and does not want his previous phone from a different plan. That phone has since been cancelled. Has anyone had experience with their Sailor getting a new phone after bootcamp as opposed to the old one being brought to the airport? Since he'll be able to have electronics again, I want to make sure we'll be able to call and text as soon as possible and I wasn't sure if there would be any waiting period. Thanks!!!

@Anti M, thanks so much! So basically, if he does not get one while on liberty in GL, there's a good chance he may have to wait a few weeks after his arrival to A-school to purchase one?

He might have to wait, but if he does not, he can get one on base at the NEX, or on his first weekend of liberty when he can go into town.  Just a couple weeks at most, I'd think.  

Great, thanks! We were so focused on researching bootcamp that I didn't really think to research what happens after, and now he's not here so I can't ask! I appreciate the info!

Hi Loren!

Yes, you will get paperwork for an ID when he is still in boot camp.  You can use the RAPIDS locator to find a place nearby to get one made, it doesn't need to be Navy.

APACT is so short, he may have orders in hand when he leaves RTC.  Do not start packing, but do begin the clean up and organization process.  Create a file of important papers, get your car ready (Navy doesn't ship cars), and begin throwing out or donating anything you do not need.  It will give you something to do while he's in boot camp.  

Since he hasn't left yet, go get a POA.  Also, look over these links with him about what to do before he leaves, when he gets paid, the PACT program, and the boot camp group.

http://navyformoms.com/forum/topics/things-to-do-in-the-last-month-...

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

http://navyformoms.com/group/bootcampmoms/page/professional-apprent...

http://navyformoms.com/group/bootcampmoms