Navy Reserve Moms

After working with, and for, colleges and universities, I have not experienced a student not getting refunds and records taken care of when orders were shown and the proper paperwork was completed. I know we hoped for summer enrollment, then fall semester, now it is looking like winter/speing semester. ~ It happens! ~ kk

thanks Angie thats really helpful and a great site, a little scary but then again Im sure he has an idea of the risks he will be taking. He still has to get through A school so maybe his thoughts will change.

Yes! I just received a phone call. The several month hold just ended! My son's classes are starting Thursday through Monday! This means he may be home sometime in April or May : ) He has such excitement in his voice. "Now I can be home and back in college!" ~ kk

Danielle-Billionaire's Mom ~ He was not bored. He was always very busy. But he is happy he can now progress with school and get on with his life and be back in college and working again. ~ kk

jen(Ship 07 Div 001) ~ Hang in there. I think they are rethinking their budgets and may get the Reservists moving along. It is costing them a lot of money to have them on hold. But each rate is different - so they need their numbers to start the class. ~ kk

Angie F.- WA: HM mom I so love your comment about needing permission or a chit! My son, although young, was mature when he left for BC; job early, college early, not tolerant of irresponsible peers, etc. It will be interesting to see how life changes when he is back in college after A & C school. He has already modified his major and is researching/inquiring about a different job.

The best of luck to your son. I bet he is excited! I know Mom is : ) ~ kk

Rene ~ The military, and majority of the government, payrolls are processed through DFAS. I have not heard of multiple W-2s based on types of duty. Your son can look at his electronic (online) earnings per pay period to verify. ~ kk

Reservists ~ Based on my Sailor and his Recruiter (Chief); when they complete A and C School, and possibly other if requested, they are shipped home usually within 2 days to not incur the additional payroll expense - they report to their assigned Reservist base, participate in their one weekend a month active duty, and participate in their two (2) weeks a year active duty.

Times have changed...I use to process the paperwork for a Navy Reservist to take leave from his job when he was being deployed. Most of the time he was being deployed to train or be a part of a team of trainers for a period of 10 to 14 days. His frequency was approximately once or twice a quarter. I use to feel terrible that his vacation time was always depleted for his deployment. Now I realize he actually welcomed his deployment : ) ~ kk

Hi everyone! its been a while since Ive opened my mouth but Ive been peeping and listening. I cant be that much help where its all fairly new to me. Well my son is will be graduating A school the end of this month and I guess will be going on to C school. From what he is telling me, is that the reserves officer down there (VA) Im in MA lol. is telling him that his region MAY need imagery but the they always need opintel of course no definitive answer from them right now so that he could figure out how to plan. Because one C school is 6 weeks and the other is 16. But my question is if he were given the option does anyone know which one he would be best off choosing. Either for a civilian job when he comes home or to be further utilized by the navy? And Im so excited he's coming home for a visit between A and C school well he put in for a leave anyway we are waiting to see. Cant wait for this snow to melt!! Have a nice day

I had a nice visit at Corry Station - -> the Navy Lodge --> NAS with my son! I can't wait untilApril when he comes home : ) ~ kk

Hello,
My son, Matt has been in the reserves four years. He is on his first deployment in Kuwait with a reserve unit out of New Jersey (we're from Ohio). Matt is an engineman, PO3

Becky, Matt's Mom ~ If you are interested, we northern Ohio N4M members meet monthly for lunch. I know you are a wee bit away from us (I use to travel to your area for business.) - but please join us. Maybe when the weather gets better, you may want to attned some of our lunches. We hope to have outside park events when this summer. Please join the Ohio group for more information. : ) ~ kk

kimbokatbo ~ Thanks! Our next visit will be picking him up from the airport - coming home in April from Corry Station. ~ : ) ~ kk

MamaBear kk - Thank you for the invite. I look forward to attending the lunches.

Becky, Matt's Mom ~ Good to hear! We love to share our stories. See you when the weather breaks! We also love to laugh : ) ~ kk

Does anyone have a Reservist that is a full time college student? It will be interesting to see how this works during the academic year, other than the weekends - which for him is more schooling as far as we know. I do know I worked with a Navy Reservist and I was processing paperwork for him quarterly (at least) for 10 to 14 day training/trainer trips. Thank you ~ : ) ~ kk

Judy -Chris' Mom and Carol F. Thank you! This is going to be interesting. I do not worry about the tuition being refundable, as the university is accommodating to our military and veterans (special programs). He was told that his 2 week training periods would fall in the summer months as not to conflict with the academic schedule. But telling and orders are two different things. : ) ~ kk

Hey everyone. I am still kind of new to this whole thing. I have a fiance who's PIR date is April 2. He then goes to Gulf Port MS for 7 weeks. His rate is SW (steel worker). Does anyone know the deployment demand for this job as a reservist? I'm still very nervous about the whole deal. If anyone has any information I would greatly appriciate the support. Thanks!

Hi all, My name is Sylvia and my son is a reservist. He is currently out of the country on active duty. He is also a student. He had been attending Cal State Long Beach until he went active. He has now discovered the American Military College. All online classes...he loves it. He can work on his degree no matter where in the world he is.
Shuler's fiancee...I don't know anything about your guy's job but congratulations on his decision. You should be very proud...are you going to PIR?? It is an amazing experience.

Sylvia- Yes I am definately going to PIR. I can't wait. I leave in exactly 2 weeks :) I can't wait to see him. We had never been apart for more than a week for the past 4 years so it's a really hard transition. I just wish I knew more about what will happen after. I'm scared to death that something is going to happen to him : / I worry too much though I know. Every one tells me that but I can't help it.

jen(Ship 07 Div 001) So far all we know is my son has to check in within 72 hours. He wants to go directly to the Reservist station/unit (?) when he gets off the plane. This is going to be all new to us too. : ) ~ kk

jen(Ship 07 Div 001) ~ He should be able to check his leave accum. online. I have not seen my son's, but most of us (also government with DFAS processing) have a portal with the accum earned per pay period and YTD balance.

Dani I wonder if my son will have the same experience. He is still in VA in C school due to come home in June. But my worry is that the life he left prior to enlisting is still the same. Im not sure if he will be able to get a job? he did not have a steady one before leaving, he was living at home and going to community college. He didnt seem so happy with that setup thats why he joined. But the recruiter told him for the rate he wanted he would have had to stay at home and wait for a year so he did the reserves now I am fretting him coming home with a weekend a month commitment and no job the same ol, same ol. His rate is IS and he tells me they dont get deployed often and I know I should be careful of what I wish for but I just hope, along with half a billion other Americans that he can find a job and be productive. blah, blah, blah sorry

BrendanSMom(Billie Jo) ~ We have neighbors (husband & wife) that are reservists - but not Navy. They are busy a lot. They assist the deploying and returning military with their paperwork, etc. So you never know. Just be positive. : ) ~ kk

kimbokatbo I am so excited! My son said he would help me paint the interior - every room - of the house. A Marine veteran at work asked me if I taped the conversation. As he will paint one room and forget the offer - haha : ) ~ kk

This is the best support! Im sure my son will be fine its all that hurry up and wait that gets me and then Im a big worry wart to boot. But by the sounds of it I may just be a typical mother. Carol is your son in IS? Isnt it funny how you want to protect them like they are infants. Sometimes I could stand back and laugh at myself.

Judy -Chris' Mom ~ Thank you! I think he is awesome : ) I sure hope his offer stands - we want to downsize, so we need to update. There is a point when you do not need that square footage and the acreage. He will be glad to be back in college...also excited about seeing what his Reservist duties will be. I received a box from him last week. He bought mom a P-Coat! : ) ~ kk

Im not so familiar with all of the rates so I do some looking up. Thats a hard job Carol. It must be scary. My thoughts are with all the mothers and loved ones here that have someone over seas I feel selfish. Mamabear I heard a rumor that todays young live at home for a very long time. Funny story that always reminds me of this was something my now 13 year old said when he was about 6 that for some reason stuck with me he asked "mom, where is my wife gonna sleep when I get married?" as he was sleeping in the bed with me after a bad dream. So Im not so sure about downsizing, for us anyway.

BrendanSMom(Billie Jo) I love those stories! When my son was in elementary school, he said, "Do not sell this house ever!" I told him that I would not be able to take care of it when I get old. He said, "I will help you." Well that did not happen. lol : ) ~ kk

Wow this is an active group of moms:) Let me introduce myself..My name is Sylvia. My son has been a reservist for almost 2 years. Billie Jo...my son is an IS..and is currently out of the country on active duty. He was only 17 years old when he enlisted. He PIR'd in Oct. 08 completed A school, and then came home. He started college and got into a very active drill unit. They sent him to C school right away . I knew it was a matter of time before he was deployed. Sure enough..he started a year of active duty this last Jan. and was sent out of country in Mar 8th. We talk to him often via skype and facebook. He is so happy with his choice of being in the reserves...he says its the best of both worlds:) He is still so young and full of great plans...God Bless Him:)

So tell me about your sailors.............and your right....all these great stories made me want to join you guys!

We are still waiting for the text with the flight day & time from A School (Pensacola). My son had his graduation picture taken today...festivities will be soon! I was called for a job interview for the day he may fly home. I stated I would love too - but it has to be early as my son is coming home from active duty and no times have been confirmed. They were very accommodating; most of my coworkers are Reservists or Veterans : ) ~ kk

Sylvia, thanks so much for telling me your journey so far, its so helpful and reassuring to hear everyones experiences. The specific rate is even more interesting trying to or wishful thinking in figuring out his future. He thinks I'm crazy. He told me he doesnt think he would be deployed until he was at least an E4 and that would take him about a year and a half so it sounds about the same amount of time your son was deployed Sylvia. Is that true for most? The other hhhmmm I had was they sent him right to C school does that make any difference. Oh well they like to keep the mothers busy wondering. Concrats on your job interview Mamabear hope all goes well

Carol I'm sure the time will fly bye and he will be home quicker than you know it. I'm sure deployment is whenever they need him like I said wishful thinking on my part but him saying it is what they hear around the base, kind of like rumors I guess. Only time will tell.

Judy -Chris' Mom & Dani Thank you! If all works, I will be staying within the same agency...just a different division/service. I work for our military; veterans, active duty, reservists, and their families : ) ~ kk

Talk about last minute...my son had his airline tickets about 2 hours before he had to be at the airport in Pensacola...then wrong destination airport (more than twice the driving distance of his originating airport). It is all good ~ he is home. He has to check in within 72 hours at the reserve location...no one answers phones...just voice mail. : ) ~ kk

Hello everyone, Its been great reading about everyone's experiences. I'm new at this sight Candice has only been there a week now. A school seems to give them alot more freedom than I thought. It's been great being able to talk to Candice every night.. She is doing great. She classed up yesturday. Candice told me that it is possible that she will finish earlier than she was originally told. After that they told her she will be headed to Ft Worth, Tx. Yeah not too far from home. She is a SH Reserve. Her PO told her that there was only about 12 of them in the Navy, and they are still trying to figure out exactly what to do with them. LOL. I'm still learning along with her everything that her job envolves. Does anyone here know anything about this job?
God Bless you all and your Sailors

He went to the Reserve station this morning and checked in. I asked how it went. "Great!" haha It does not appear he will be around much this summer. I will miss him - but glad he is a happy camper : ) ~ kk

jen(Ship 07 Div 001) ~ without weekday traffic, probably about 35 minutes...but that station is going to be eliminated (2011-2012) and the new one will be about 50 minutes away. We are going to downsize and move to another county, hopefully within a year. When that happens he will add another 30 minutes to his travels. : ) ~ kk

jen(Ship 07 Div 001) That is far! Well...it is just once a month. Good luck to him : ) ~ kk

jen(Ship 07 Div 001) We also had a Reserve station in Cleveland, OH. But is was eliminated in the BRAC 2005 (Base Realignment and Closure 2005). The Department of Defense awarded a contract to construct the new Armed Forces Reserve Center at one of our airports; it replaces the Cleveland Navy Reserve Center (already closed) and the Akron Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center. I belong to a disaster preparedness group (Medical Reserve Corp) and occasionally attend seminars with the Coast Guard. They love to make the comment that they chased the Navy out of the city, tore down their building, and built a parking lot! LOL : ) ~ kk

Rene ~ It is my understanding that your son will have the option of hotel/motel accomodations if the distance is over 50 miles away. Make sure that he asks... : ) ~ kk

Hey guys I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with trying to switch to an active duty contract at any point before the reserve contract was over? My fiance is in boot camp now with a Reserve HM contract. He decided about 6 months ago (he's been in the DEP program for just over a year before he left for boot) that he really would rather have signed an active duty contract to just be a full time sailor. He talked with his recruiters and they said it'd be hard to switch before he left for boot because he'd get a whole other contract and his ship date could be pushed back a whole other year, but that sailors get the option after graduating a school to extend their active duty since they are considered active during boot and A School and that if being active duty was something he wanted it would be no problem. We talked to about 3 different recruiters who assured us of this. From what I'm reading it sounds like they were either lying or didn't know what they were talking about and I'm more than a little nervous because we were planning on him going active duty as a full time sailor. Just wondering if anyone has any advice or info on this process? Thanks so much!

Sailorgirl13, that is what the recruiter told my son as well. But from what my son tells me now is that they don't or you can't change your contract for something like 2 years. My son is still in C school so I'm interested to see what the future holds. Good luck

Sailor'sGirl13 ~ My son was offered an "offer he could not refuse" during A School to go active status instead of Reserve status. He did not take the offer. It was a good choice for him, as he wants to complete (already in progress) his BS/MS program now. Based on conversations we had this weekend with 2 Seaman Recruits (1 active on leave and 1 Reservist just returned from A School), if the Navy has the "need" for your rate and you are a qualified candidate, they move quicker to accommodate. If they do not have the "need" - you just keep trying. In addition, they told us that you can change or modify your rate after two (2) years. Some Recruits are told they can change or volunteer for other rates in BC - not always the case. Again - it is all about need and contracts. : ) ~ kk

Maria (Autry)May Just an FYI...the Navy Reservists have the option of purchasing Tricare as a medical insurance option. Once she is a college student, the option of purchasing the student medical plan is there too (sometimes a good plan - sometimes not - but always expensive). Going back to, and continuing school, is always good! : ) ~ kk

...first weekend as a Reservist! I hope he enjoys : ) ~ kk

Do we have any N4M members from Northern Ohio? If so, check out our event on May 8th!

kimbokatbo He loved it! I think the first day was paperwork. Both days the food was great! - very important haha He was not happy with me when I made him get out of bed to register for his fall semester classes at 7:00 AM today (first day to register) - since he spent 4 months getting up at 3:00AM 4 times a week after boot camp. It is good to hear from you : ) ~ kk

jen ~ My son is returning to college. Although we have not used it, number 1 is apply for the FAFSA (he can get a student loan - but based on income levels, etc. the interest is either subsidized or unsubsidized), then call the financial aid office at the college/university he wants to attend and discuss the Post 9/11 Education benefits. You can also google the Post 9/11 GI Bill to see if he qualifies. It is based on their enlistment dates and time of service. A lot of reading...do your homework. Also please understand that a Reservist can be called at any time. If classes start, the college/university should be accomodating regarding the funds already transferred. Make sure you ask the financial aid office and the guidance counselor - also a priority - what process will need to be completed if deployed. They usually complete a form and attach their orders as proof of deployment. : ) ~ kk

jen(Ship 07 Div 001) ~ Make sure you read all options, as the Reservists have a time criteria which equals percentage of tuition paid.

Rene and Jen ~ The pay prior is not uncommon with any federal funding. I use to process stipends and tuition for graduate students. The first semester was always tough for them - so I tried to process their funding as soon as possible so the FAFSA funds could be refunded to them quickly. I do know this year that our community college is requesting the tuition payments later than normal. Community college is always a good beginning; lower tuition - better class schedules - usually more hands on experienced instructors or professors (major determines) - etc. My son always liked the fact that the community colleges have non-traditional students (i.e. varied ages, currently working in different professions, eager to learn and add to the discussions, etc.). Most community colleges allow the students to take classes at a 4 year institution "in addition" to their curriculum.