kimbokotbo - Has your son ever been deployed yet in these past two years? I didn't know that you had to "apply" to get your bonus. Our recruiter said that it would be in the Navy Federal Credit Union by the time she showed up to her first weekend reserve duty. Gee, that guy sure told us wrong about alot of things.
Judy - Chris' Mom - I didn't know that they had to fill out a form to get their bonus. How long did it take for your son to get deployed? I heard from one of the PIR 4/8 date N4M's that if they do real well at A school they can choose where they want to be stationed. Does that apply to Reservists? It doesn't sound like they get a choice, but will be told where to go and when. I guess it all depends, but MA graduates will definately be in demand, especially now with all this going on over in the Middle East - Yeman, Egypt, etc. She might be deployed sooner rather than later, but that would help pay the tuition. What form is it that she'll have to fill out to get her Sign On bonus? Sure didn't know about that. There is so much that the recruiters don't know. UUGGGHH!!! Got my 1st phone call today though. A very happy moment!
Is it just certain jobs w/the reserves that get a bonus? When my son was thinking of joining he was told their was a bonus & about tuition for college, his story is about the same as 1girl. After he signed he asked about the sign up bonus & was told his job he picked wasn't eligible for a bonus or tuition. He did not tell me about this until a few wks ago. I to feel he was misled w/info, that's just my opinion.
Does anybody know what base the Master of Arms (MA) technical training is in in San Antonio? Our recruiter didn't know the name of the base. Once she graduates BC, I will leave that group and go to MA group
LaurieM, Thank you for that info. She has a cousin who is in the Air Force and just got promoted to Sgt. He has to go back to Lackland for add'tl Sgt. training. They could both be there at the same time. I can't imagine the size of these bases. But, why would there be a 2-3 week delay before starting training? Her training is supposed to be for 7 weeks not 9 to 10 weeks. Another thing she won't be happy about.
Laurie M, Did you give your SR their cell phone at BC graduation to take with them to MA training? Should I mail it to her after she is in and situated where she can keep it in a secure area? Recruit said to mail them those things and not give it to them at graduation. I don't think I will mail her laptop to her either. College might be on hold until the Spring semester of 12 not Fall 11 like we planned.
kimbokatbo - Thanks for the info. Is the laptop a distraction in MA training? I heard that is hard and alot of work. I don't want her just e-mailing her boyfriend or something when she should be studying. I heard there really isn't that much freedom there until they are almost finished with the whole MA training. I won't give her her cell phone after graduation then. I will wait and mail it to her. Thank you.
I'll mail her both her laptop and cell phone, but I do understand that she cannot have the cell phone given to her at graduation. Want to verify that?
Jackie L - how long out of BC was your son before he was deployed? What is his job? So worried my daughter will be deployed right away after Master of Arms training, especially now with all of this going on over in Yeman and Japan.
Jackie L I would say that your son was some lucky (except for the going to Iraq part). The recruiter did say that she would be deployed at least once in the 6 years. I am still hoping it will be later rather than sooner, but there is no way to know. Graduation from BC in 16 days. Can't belive it. Can't wait to see her. Thanks for your input. Very helpful. I'd be lost without all of you.
My son has been in the reserves for almost three years and is in Ft. Dix, NJ training to be deployed to Iraq the first week of May! I am not ready to say goodbye to him for a year but I also know he volunteered to do this and I have to get used to the idea! He was supposed to get a week leave before leaving for Iraq but now he doesnt think he gets one. How hard for me to not see him at all til April 2012!!
I would gladly go to New Jersey to see him if it comes down to that! I think his real focus is the love of his life and how intense he is missing her! I know he misses me as well and the rest of his family...but you know this young folks!! HaHa!! We will just have to wait and see. I talked to Fleet and Family services yesterday and I was told not to worry just yet that things could change five times before its all said and done!! So I feel better! I was having a bad day when I posted the original post!! I know you understand!! Thanks for the encouraging words!
Jackie L. It was always my understanding that when they are called Active Duty, it won't matter if they are in school in the middle of the semester or the middle of a final. When they're called they have to go. Isn't that right? I work with a woman whose daughter joined the Army National Guard. She was scheduled to go to Afghanastan is 2012, but was changed to this year. But, she is in school, so she got to reschedule, because, the mom said, they want them to stay in school. So, who's right? Do they go when they are called or can they defer that if they are in school? How are we supposed to know?
My daughter has been in San Antonio in Master of Arms training since her PIR of 4/8. We (my husband and I) want her to buy her own Federal Health Insurance. I know that they are covered by Tricare for being in training (considered active duty), but when she comes back home for her reservists (drill status), how will she know what option of Tricare to pick? She said that someone is supposed to meet with her regarding Reserves. She's gone to the Tricare website, but it doesn't seem very user friendly. Does she have to go to the base whenever she wants to see a doctor? What about dental and vision? Can anyone help?
Well that is good to know, Anchoredmom. She met with a Reservist's Specialist at MA school in San Antonio and all he told her was the Federal Insurance was Tricare. Well, we knew that, but wanted to know different options and have vision and dental coverage, too. Some you have to go to a base, others are like an HMO and they send you out to specialists. The recruiter said that Tricare Prime was the best with no copays. But, what doctor's participate and how can you find a list?
Hi! My daughter just graduated and is now at A school. She is full time support. Can anyone tell me what that is? I know she is reserves but full time? Not sure where she could be based...some people say her home state, others say she could be sent any where...Any info would be greatly appreciated!
I don't know what "full time support' is, but my son is a reserve his unit is based in Maine, but he does most of his weekend's here in R.I. (where we live) or in nearby Mass. He was in Iraq for 10 months and is scheduled to be deployed again in 2012, he is a Seabee, what is your daughters m.o.s.?
jos mom- my sailor is also full time support and has been in over a year...full time support is full time reserves for 4 years and 4 inactive years. My son is with a reserve unit in San Diego, Calif. he is an AE and he is with a squadron that works on Helos.
I guess it depends what you daughter rank is to what she will be working on and where she will be stationed at.
We live in Illinois and I heard they were stationed in their home state to, but that isn't so. My sailor also preferred the East Coast on his Dream Sheet, but you see he got the West Coast.
He loves it in San Diego..So it is a good thing. I think the Navy sends the sailors where they are needed.
Thank you everyone for your comments I really appreciate it! She is a Logistics specialist. I did not know about the 4 inactive years after serving for 4. And its good to be prepared about the dream sheet...I will plan on her being sent to where ever she is needed! Thanks again ladies.
Hi, I am new to this group. My SR is going into week four at RTC. He will then go to Port Hueneme for A school. His rate is CM reserve. Port Hueneme is 55 miles from us so I am happy about that. I don't really know too much about reserve enlistment so I am hoping to learn a lot here. What to expect after A school, etc.
Son has the same situation he is going IS at Dam Neck, VA so he will be able to work in that field as a reserve. If he wants to after A school he will be able to go active or possibly if all works out well officers training from what his Recruiter said. It is his call we are just waiting to hear what he want's to do after A school he can also go private contractor with IS.
My son wanted to go into a construction job with the Seabees but after 11 months in DEP none of the jobs he wanted became available. He took a construction mechanic job because otherwise the DEP job was going to be in computer work and that isn't what he wanted. He wanted to build. Now he'll be working on vehicles. I feel he got a bit of bait and switch. His recruiter signed him up in computers because of his high test scores in that field. Recruiter knew that wasn't what he wanted but told him that he had a year to find him a job. Then recruiter left and didn't tell the new recruiter of my son's wishes. Four months went by before we realized no one was looking for a Seabees job for him. Finally a month before he would go in as whatever the computer rate was the CM job became available and my son grabbed it out of fear...did not want the computer. Sounds like he will be stuck with it for the next 8 years. Is there anyway to get into another Seabees rate at this point? He will PIR on 7/22.
my sailor wanted medic and not sure what the rate code is, they pushed him into Avatoins Electronics because of his high score-he took it because he wanted into the service..my son hadn't ever fixed anything or even worked with tools before. No interest in it at all.He has been in for a year and says its ok..he has learned to fix stuff and is very proud of himself. People who wanted mechs and stuff got medic..doesn't make sense to me why they do things this way but they say they can cross over to new job in 2 years if its available...
My son was also told that after A school and C school he would be able to change his status, little did we know the navy rarely if ever changes your contract. If so you have a beyer chance of it happening ay or after 2 years of service. My son is at his 2 year anniversary now and he is trying so we are being hopeful. He had been on the IA list and has had a couple of almost deployments but they canceled him. It's been a lot of hurry up and wait.
Does anyone know anything about the Reserve Center in Knoxville ??? My son graduates on Tuesday from FMTB and has to report to Knoxville on Wednesday where he said he will have to be active there for 30 days
Good, nice to know someone else there. My son has to report there tomorrow, he took 1 day of leave today. Does your daughter live in the area ? My son is thinking of moving to Johnson City.
Well, you guys aren't the only ones promised something and then that not being what happens. My recruiter told my daughter that the Reserves would pay for 75% of the cost of her private college. Well, come to find out they don't pay anything for tuition until after she's deployed! Also no sign of the sign on bonus she was supposed to get after MA training in SA. What's up with that?
Hi everyone! I read all the post about the Post 9/11 GI Bill and have some info to pass along. Last Saturday, NOSC Akron had their Family Day. Most of the briefings were pre-deployment, but there were others, such as the GI Bill. This briefing was presented by someone in the Admin Office. If your Sailor has questions about the Post 9/11 GI Bill or the Montgomery GI Bill, they should ask someone in their NOSC Admin Office.
Kimbokatbo - my navy girl graduated from the Master at Arms program from San Antonio, TX on June 3, 2011. She arrived home on June 4th. She is a Reservists and is stationed near home.
Judy - Chris' Mom - I will have to tell her about this form and to hand it in the next time she has reserves. She was told before she left SA that she had to fill out a form, but everyone she asked said that there wasn't any form.
My son was just released from active duty after graduating last Tuesday from FMTB ...he had to take his transition papers to the Reserve Station for his sign on bonus. He got attached to the 4th Medical Battalion, anyone else attached to this unit
My daughter had her first two weekend reserves in July and August and just got paid for them. She is going to submit a copy of her sign on bonus and hopefully get someone going on that. They lost her medical records. No one seem too interested in helping her. Nothing to do but go to meetings. She was quite disillusioned with the whole thing. It has been a completed different story than what the recruiter painted. For the next six years, however, she is just going to make the most of it. Nothing else she can do about it now. But, overall it has been a big disappointment. Especially the lie about paying for her college tuition.
My son got his first overnight liberty this weekend. Nice that it is a long weekend. I mentioned about to him the subject of not being paid until after the first deployment and he still insists that I'm wrong....saying his recruiter told him there is a form to fill out when he gets done with A school. I am going to hate it when he finds out the truth of the matter. I'm afraid he will go into a depression. Seems a bit strange this weekend. It seems things with his friends are not the same...guess he doesn't realize he has changed and they have stayed the same. I'm feeling very sad for him.
Judy-Chris' Mom: No I wasn't talking about the signing bonus. My son is in a rate that doesn't qualify for a signing bonus. My son's recruiter told him that he would get education money after 90 days and that bootcamp and A school counted towards that and that he just has to fill out a form. So he believes that when he gets done with A school he will be able to go to school full time while he does his reserve duty. I have read now that this is not true but he still thinks it is and thinks I am wrong...I would love to be wrong this time because I know how upset he will be.
Judy: I know, my son would have joined the Navy no matter what but he wanted active duty full enlistment in the beginning. He wanted the education incentive most of all. He was in the DEP program for 11 months and decided on the reserves when the rate he wanted only came up as a reserve and the recruiter explained that he would still get the education money after he did his Navy A school. Either these recruiters don't understand the program they are selling or they intentionally mislead these kids. Such a shame...and they are playing with the lives of these great, dedicated young people.
It is such a shame that these kids are mislead. They told my daughter three weeks into boot camp that the recruiter lied to her and that as a reservists she would get nothing. She wrote me a letter stating how this Navy guy told them all this and if that was true to "get her out." Well, of course, there was no getting her out, but at that point I called her college and the financial aid package that named the service as the source of money was for FT active duty people after they did their four years and then got out. She didn't know anything about Reservists. She referred me to a Federal website where I found out that Reservists do NOT get anything towards tuition until AFTER they have been deployed for at least 90 days. Other than that they get about $383 a month to spend however they want. We should have done our homework first and have asked to have seen this in writing first, but my daughter was told that they would pay for 75% of the cost of her college. Two days later she was signed up. Big difference. Big bummer. We are not alone.
same story here... two years in and waiting on a deployment of some sorts to fall from the sky so we can earn more % paid of tuition. On the scale for the GI bill they have to serve at least 30 cumulative months to get 90% at the rate my son is going in the over manned navy would be impossible unless he is deployed for a year or more. Its the same for active duty enlisted 30 months 90% so due your 4 years and on your way if you'd like with your tuition paid. All we can do is let people know AND I TELL EVERYONE considering recruiters are like car salesmen they tell you what you want to here, do your research first and if your going to give up part of your life for the US Navy stand proud but get something out of it. Because we learned to late :) My son loves the Navy he's just waiting on deployment
BrendanS Mom, So right. We were too smart too late. I would advise that for anyone that is told anything about Reservists' benefits, to look it up on a Federal Website and "get it in writing." I tell my daughter to be proud of her accomplishments, which she is, but still, we are no further ahead than when we started. No money to pay for college. It is unfortunate to say the least.
JUDY-CHRIS'MOM: I am with you, they should have to be honest with the kids they are recruiting. My son would have gone into the Navy anyway because that was what he wanted but the bonus for him was the college funding. Without that he probably would have waited for a full enlistment as he originally planned. I just have to keep reminding myself that God is in control and it will all work out to His plan. Just know how disappointed my Sailor will be.
You can add my son to the story about being promised money for college. I didn't get wind that this was wrong until he was in BC and so I called his recruiter. I honestly don't think his recruiter had a clue that BC and schooling don't count towards the 120 days of active duty needed to get the full educational benefits. I don't think he purposely mislead my son...I don't think he knew it. Sometimes it isn't intentional--remember, these recruiters had other day jobs before becoming a recruiter and those day jobs didn't give them much exposure to the reservists. Like Judy--my son would have signed up anyway and if he gets deployed, he'll be able to use the educational benefits to pay his student loans. He will have those for several years to come!
NavyMomofOnly1Girl Ship 9 DIV126
Mar 7, 2011
NavyMomofOnly1Girl Ship 9 DIV126
Mar 7, 2011
nanny2
Mar 7, 2011
NavyMomofOnly1Girl Ship 9 DIV126
Mar 12, 2011
LaurieM Ship 2 Div 902
Mar 13, 2011
NavyMomofOnly1Girl Ship 9 DIV126
Mar 13, 2011
NavyMomofOnly1Girl Ship 9 DIV126
Mar 13, 2011
NavyMomofOnly1Girl Ship 9 DIV126
Mar 16, 2011
NavyMomofOnly1Girl Ship 9 DIV126
Mar 16, 2011
NavyMomofOnly1Girl Ship 9 DIV126
I'll mail her both her laptop and cell phone, but I do understand that she cannot have the cell phone given to her at graduation. Want to verify that?
Jackie L - how long out of BC was your son before he was deployed? What is his job? So worried my daughter will be deployed right away after Master of Arms training, especially now with all of this going on over in Yeman and Japan.
Mar 20, 2011
NavyMomofOnly1Girl Ship 9 DIV126
Mar 22, 2011
Cheryl T.
Mar 28, 2011
Cheryl T.
Judy
I would gladly go to New Jersey to see him if it comes down to that! I think his real focus is the love of his life and how intense he is missing her! I know he misses me as well and the rest of his family...but you know this young folks!! HaHa!! We will just have to wait and see. I talked to Fleet and Family services yesterday and I was told not to worry just yet that things could change five times before its all said and done!! So I feel better! I was having a bad day when I posted the original post!! I know you understand!! Thanks for the encouraging words!
Mar 29, 2011
NavyMomofOnly1Girl Ship 9 DIV126
Mar 29, 2011
sandy (ship 9 DIV. 126 ) PIR 4/8
Apr 2, 2011
NavyMomofOnly1Girl Ship 9 DIV126
Apr 25, 2011
BrendanSMom(Billie Jo)
May 2, 2011
NavyMomofOnly1Girl Ship 9 DIV126
Well that is good to know, Anchoredmom. She met with a Reservist's Specialist at MA school in San Antonio and all he told her was the Federal Insurance was Tricare. Well, we knew that, but wanted to know different options and have vision and dental coverage, too. Some you have to go to a base, others are like an HMO and they send you out to specialists. The recruiter said that Tricare Prime was the best with no copays. But, what doctor's participate and how can you find a list?
May 16, 2011
jo'smom
Jun 12, 2011
Lois C T(momma T)
Jun 12, 2011
Bobbi Ray
jos mom- my sailor is also full time support and has been in over a year...full time support is full time reserves for 4 years and 4 inactive years. My son is with a reserve unit in San Diego, Calif. he is an AE and he is with a squadron that works on Helos.
I guess it depends what you daughter rank is to what she will be working on and where she will be stationed at.
We live in Illinois and I heard they were stationed in their home state to, but that isn't so. My sailor also preferred the East Coast on his Dream Sheet, but you see he got the West Coast.
He loves it in San Diego..So it is a good thing. I think the Navy sends the sailors where they are needed.
Jun 12, 2011
jo'smom
Jun 12, 2011
Parrothdgal
Jun 23, 2011
Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936)
Hi, I am new to this group. My SR is going into week four at RTC. He will then go to Port Hueneme for A school. His rate is CM reserve. Port Hueneme is 55 miles from us so I am happy about that. I don't really know too much about reserve enlistment so I am hoping to learn a lot here. What to expect after A school, etc.
Jun 25, 2011
Go.Derek (SHIP 10 DIV 262)
Does anyone have an FTS/IT out there????
Jun 26, 2011
MidwestMom
Jul 13, 2011
Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936)
Jul 14, 2011
Debera1952 (SR Kyles Mom)
Jul 15, 2011
Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936)
My son wanted to go into a construction job with the Seabees but after 11 months in DEP none of the jobs he wanted became available. He took a construction mechanic job because otherwise the DEP job was going to be in computer work and that isn't what he wanted. He wanted to build. Now he'll be working on vehicles. I feel he got a bit of bait and switch. His recruiter signed him up in computers because of his high test scores in that field. Recruiter knew that wasn't what he wanted but told him that he had a year to find him a job. Then recruiter left and didn't tell the new recruiter of my son's wishes. Four months went by before we realized no one was looking for a Seabees job for him. Finally a month before he would go in as whatever the computer rate was the CM job became available and my son grabbed it out of fear...did not want the computer. Sounds like he will be stuck with it for the next 8 years. Is there anyway to get into another Seabees rate at this point? He will PIR on 7/22.
Jul 15, 2011
Bobbi Ray
my sailor wanted medic and not sure what the rate code is, they pushed him into Avatoins Electronics because of his high score-he took it because he wanted into the service..my son hadn't ever fixed anything or even worked with tools before. No interest in it at all.He has been in for a year and says its ok..he has learned to fix stuff and is very proud of himself. People who wanted mechs and stuff got medic..doesn't make sense to me why they do things this way but they say they can cross over to new job in 2 years if its available...
Jul 15, 2011
Bobbi Ray
Jul 15, 2011
BrendanSMom(Billie Jo)
Jul 15, 2011
BrendanSMom(Billie Jo)
Jul 15, 2011
rockwido(S07Div359)
Jul 17, 2011
rockwido(S07Div359)
Jul 20, 2011
NavyMomofOnly1Girl Ship 9 DIV126
Jul 21, 2011
Becky, Matt's Mom
Jul 23, 2011
NavyMomofOnly1Girl Ship 9 DIV126
Jul 24, 2011
NavyMomofOnly1Girl Ship 9 DIV126
Jul 24, 2011
rockwido(S07Div359)
Jul 25, 2011
rockwido(S07Div359)
I am trying to see updated post but I can't see anything past July...anyone else having problems
Sep 3, 2011
NavyMomofOnly1Girl Ship 9 DIV126
My daughter had her first two weekend reserves in July and August and just got paid for them. She is going to submit a copy of her sign on bonus and hopefully get someone going on that. They lost her medical records. No one seem too interested in helping her. Nothing to do but go to meetings. She was quite disillusioned with the whole thing. It has been a completed different story than what the recruiter painted. For the next six years, however, she is just going to make the most of it. Nothing else she can do about it now. But, overall it has been a big disappointment. Especially the lie about paying for her college tuition.
Sep 4, 2011
Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936)
My son got his first overnight liberty this weekend. Nice that it is a long weekend. I mentioned about to him the subject of not being paid until after the first deployment and he still insists that I'm wrong....saying his recruiter told him there is a form to fill out when he gets done with A school. I am going to hate it when he finds out the truth of the matter. I'm afraid he will go into a depression. Seems a bit strange this weekend. It seems things with his friends are not the same...guess he doesn't realize he has changed and they have stayed the same. I'm feeling very sad for him.
Sep 4, 2011
Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936)
Judy-Chris' Mom: No I wasn't talking about the signing bonus. My son is in a rate that doesn't qualify for a signing bonus. My son's recruiter told him that he would get education money after 90 days and that bootcamp and A school counted towards that and that he just has to fill out a form. So he believes that when he gets done with A school he will be able to go to school full time while he does his reserve duty. I have read now that this is not true but he still thinks it is and thinks I am wrong...I would love to be wrong this time because I know how upset he will be.
Sep 4, 2011
Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936)
Judy: I know, my son would have joined the Navy no matter what but he wanted active duty full enlistment in the beginning. He wanted the education incentive most of all. He was in the DEP program for 11 months and decided on the reserves when the rate he wanted only came up as a reserve and the recruiter explained that he would still get the education money after he did his Navy A school. Either these recruiters don't understand the program they are selling or they intentionally mislead these kids. Such a shame...and they are playing with the lives of these great, dedicated young people.
Sep 5, 2011
NavyMomofOnly1Girl Ship 9 DIV126
It is such a shame that these kids are mislead. They told my daughter three weeks into boot camp that the recruiter lied to her and that as a reservists she would get nothing. She wrote me a letter stating how this Navy guy told them all this and if that was true to "get her out." Well, of course, there was no getting her out, but at that point I called her college and the financial aid package that named the service as the source of money was for FT active duty people after they did their four years and then got out. She didn't know anything about Reservists. She referred me to a Federal website where I found out that Reservists do NOT get anything towards tuition until AFTER they have been deployed for at least 90 days. Other than that they get about $383 a month to spend however they want. We should have done our homework first and have asked to have seen this in writing first, but my daughter was told that they would pay for 75% of the cost of her college. Two days later she was signed up. Big difference. Big bummer. We are not alone.
Sep 5, 2011
BrendanSMom(Billie Jo)
Sep 5, 2011
NavyMomofOnly1Girl Ship 9 DIV126
Sep 6, 2011
Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936)
JUDY-CHRIS'MOM: I am with you, they should have to be honest with the kids they are recruiting. My son would have gone into the Navy anyway because that was what he wanted but the bonus for him was the college funding. Without that he probably would have waited for a full enlistment as he originally planned. I just have to keep reminding myself that God is in control and it will all work out to His plan. Just know how disappointed my Sailor will be.
Sep 7, 2011
MidwestMom
Sep 7, 2011