Girlfriends, Fiances,and Wives of Sailors

LOL, near the NEX.  No bears!

Michael, 

Sailors get three phone calls, "I'm here", usually a ten minute call, and the "I'm a sailor call". The timing of the ten minute call depends on the behavior and timing of other events throughout boot. They are guaranteed three calls, anything over that are earned and a privilege. 

Ani M is correct, they really have to screw up to not get phone calls. Things come up and some sailors miss call times, but usually they get to make them up later on. 

My SO got 4 phone calls because his division won captain's cup. I also know of some people who got a call every weekend because their sailor's division behaved very well. It definitely depends on how the division performs but you should get 3 calls at a minimum.

Michael, 

You don't need to be so rude. Clearly we have different sources of information. I have had many family members through BC as well as an Uncle as an instructor. All information depends on the source, especially in the military. Agree to disagree on this apparently. haha. Have a wonderful evening :) 

Hey everyone I'm new here! My recruit is off at basic right now  PIR March 24! I was so excited to find this forum here! I'm still very new to all the navy stuff but eager to learn as much as I can! Its also nice to find a place where people are going through a lot of the same things! My friends are super supportive but they don't always get how it feels! 

Welcome Ellek73!

Hello! I was just wondering when do the Sailor and spouse start receiving benefits?? 

In addition, the Family Separation Allowance will begin after 30 days, it is $250 a month.

It takes about three weeks for them to see a first paycheck, and it is often small.  Usually the one after that has the BAH (housing allowance) in it, as Allison said.

Overall, about a month and a half for things to settle in properly financially.

My husbands recruiter said when he gets to his first duty station, my husband has to fill out paperwork before I can move there. Does anyone know how long that process lasts? 

TieranyC, that is not how it works.  When your husband receives orders, they will indicate whether they are accompanied or unaccompanied.  If accompanied, then you get to move to where he is going (usually within the US).  Sure, there is paperwork, but that is done before the move, and usually involves setting up the move, requesting dislocation allowance, signing up for housing, etc.  You get to move with him, it is called "concurrent travel".  

He does NOT need to file paperwork for you to move with him.  The exception would be if he gets overseas orders, which is totally different.

The recruiter is not correct, or is not expressing the way things work adequately.

Anti M. can you send me a message? I have more questions. 

Anit M. why would I NOT be able to go with him? I doubt it'll be overseas.. so I should, correct?

verseas orders have a different set of rules.  However, they try very hard not to send married first term sailors overseas.  This includes Hawaii.  A sailor must be an E-4 or above to take dependents overseas.  Do not worry about that, just be aware.  
There are also a few duty stations overseas where dependents cannot go in any case, but the chances of that are very slim.  Again, nothing for you to worry about.

Send me a friend request so I can read your messages.

It takes a few weeks to get the special request chit processed, which lets the school know he wants you there, and to begin the process.  Two at a minimum, I'd guess somewhere around four, six if things get off track.  

A regular duty station would not require the chit, but the schools do as some students who are eligible to move their dependents there choose not to.  So the school needs to know who wants to move dependents, so they can get the proper authorizations in place.  Allison summed it up pretty well.   Your sailor will not have C school, he will have A school and Power school at Goose Creek, then Prototype, which is either SC or NY.  

The timeline is hard to pin down because there are variables.  In some cases, nuke school will allow them to fly home to bring you back.  This is NOT usual, and is the only school to allow it, so while you cannot count on that happening, if it would be useful and affordable for you guys, he should know he can at least ask if it is possible (once he gets to Goose Creek, no one at RTC will have this level of detail for him).

Custody is a civil matter, so JAG cannot help.  Your husband can contact them and they should be able to give him some contacts.  I believe Fleet and Family Services also has lists of civilian family lawyers.  Good luck!

I know I'm still new to all of this my boyfriend will be graduating boot camp on March 24! I am so incrediably proud of him and have been writing him letters every day since he has left. His mom has been confiding in me a lot lately about things going on back home (I am a travel nurse and currently living states away from friends and family both mine and his) and things do no look good for them financially or otherwise. I help as much as I can but they don't accept much of my help. They are a very close knit family and it took them a while to warm up to me and even now things can get hairy. Any way the point of me rambling is I could really use some positive thoughts and prayers my way. My cat who is my lone compainion at the moment is not doing well and at the vet and things don't look good for her right now. Some days I can handle it all but keeping as big of secrets about his family from my SR as I am right now while I know is absolutely the right thing to do is a certainly a struggle at the moment. And it breaks my heart because I am the only one who will be able to make it to his graduation so I know a lot of this news will be broken over skype after he graduates. I know there is nothing I can do about any of this but some days it just feels like a lot. Thank you 

ANYONE WITH THIS INFORMATION IT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! ASAP!

My fiancé is graduating next Friday and is in Div 102, I was told to expect the "Im a sailor" call tomorrow and even with the chance of that happening I had another Marine say he would take my place in an event tomorrow if I do one of his in the future. I didn't want to allow myself to be in any situation where I wouldn't be able to answer the phone whatever the time of day is the call might come. Before tomorrow though I would like to know how likely I am to receive that call the Friday before her graduation so I don't have another Marine take my event for no reason if its most likely not going to happen. Anyone who can provide an answer it would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

He will need a certified copy.  Order a few extras from the county where you married.

As long as he has his account and routing numbers, which would be on a voided check, that is sufficient.  

Question! When will insurance for the wife start??

Thanks! 

My son was told the next payday (around the 15th & 30th of each month) after you had been there at least 20 days. For example, if he arrives on Mar 15 - Mar 25 the first paycheck should be on April 15. It might be one earlier or rarely one later. You will get the FSA, it happens after they have been away for 30 days, then they back pay for those 30 days. That takes a while to settle out too, but eventaully you will get it.

@Thelight,

That happened to my friends son too. When was he supposed to graduate? If its next friday, the 7th, he still has time to pass... If its this friday, he will go to the FIT division and work on his swim test twice a day until he passes. He may not get to March at a PIR, but you may still get to see him over the weekend that he graduates. I understand the frustration.

My husband is in the RCU recovering from a torn PCL and partially torn ACL. We dont know when he will graduate. **HUGS**

It is not unusual for a ship's schedule to change.  Your sailor cannot email the changes to you, as he'd get in trouble for violating OPSEC.  The source of official information will be the ombudsman.  Some are willing to work with girlfriends, some are not.  In any case, your sailor will need to verify your identity, as the ombudsman needs to know who you are.  Google them, make contact, find out what needs to happen to keep you in the loop.

You are now learning the essentials of having a Navy SO.  Hurry up and wait.  No news is good news. Semper Gumby (always flexible).  

You can do this, it is okay to worry, but know it comes with the territory.  Your next task is learning the best ways for you to handle this type of thing.  Everyone deals with it a bit differently.

Allison, when I go on the Tricare website it doesn't have a place to enter a SS #... 

You will definitely need your sponsor's SSN.  They haven't asked for mine in decades.  They go by his, and my birthdate.

Thank y'all! 

Hi guys! when do you usually receive the first written letter from your sailor? do you usually get his form letter before he gets to write a letter to you? 

Yes the informative letter came in about a week two after he left i believe, and I got my first letter about 3 or 4 weeks in... He told me they were only allowed to write and send letters on Sundays and since i live in California i would usually get his letters on Thursdays. But honestly that first letter and every letter after that bring so much relief, the wait is definitely worth it. You will be so overjoyed, there's no other feeling like it! 

Normally the BAH kicks on after a few pay cycles in boot camp.  He needs to follow up on this ASAP when he gets to A school.