my son has put himself on the voluntary deployment list, the individual augmentee list and has almost been deployed to Japan once. He got canceled last minute (big disappointment). So I'm not sure if being deployed is related to how proactive you are however, it hasn't happened for my son yet. I'm not sure but because my son tells me it changes all the time but 120 days will get something like 20 or 30% of their gi bil but like my son says I don't know everything. I thought the recruiters went through classes if not a school?
Moms might not know everything, but neither do recruiters! FYI - If your son is waiting to class up in Pensacola, my son just did...almost 2 months to the day he graduated BC. I wish that time could count for their GI bill, but like I said, he would have signed up either way. I am sure after he finishes college he will also volunteer for deployment if he can. Strange how we all are getting a different number of days to become eligible for the GI bill!
For anyone who rides and is in California....there is a ride this Sunday from Pt. Mugu to Pepperdine U. Here is some info.
By Operation Gratitude Join Operation Gratitude supporters and others as we honor and remember the victims of 9/11 at the Ride to the Flags event on Sunday beginning at 10 am at the Pt. Mugu Naval Base in Oxnard, California and ending at Peppderdine University's Alumni Park in Malibu. More information may be found at the Ride to the Flags website: http://www.ridetotheflags.com/ and Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ridetotheflags
My son just graduated boot camp for FTS/AV Navy Reserves, he is in Pensacola now, I read a lot about FTS full time support and I find that is beneficial to be in the Reserves because there is less competition when it comes to promotion,
Hi all...I haven't been on the site for a long while. My son's 1 year PIR anniversary is coming up and Im feeling a bit nostalgic. Ive been reading over recent posts about the whole GI Bill thing...we too only recently realized the ridiculous discrepancies for Navy/Marines/Coast Guard. Being married to a 30yr Army Nat.Guard vet, I am appalled that the branches can be treated so differently. We have hit it at every imaginable angle...of course, no avail. Like many of you said. my son would of joined anyway...was never about the money for him. He may have consider joining active though had he known this up front. As for his bonus...he finished FMTB in mid July and has yet to see it. He's holding tight as he trusts his Navy... I am just about livid though! Seriously? He has done everything asked of him with honors no less...was gone for training for a solid year...has endured one pay screw up after another and still remains loyal all while being considered "just a weekend warrior". Ultimately at his rate and rank his monthly paycheck is $134. GRRR...c'mon! His buddy is Army Reserve(no deployment and less than 90days active) with an equal type rate/rank and he's attending school at the Army's expense with a housing and fee/book allowance. His monthly drill pay is similar but in the end he ends up with about $300 a month to spare after school expenses... what the heck? I know this to be true as my brother-in-law is a retention officer and has confirmed the differences in the branches for us. Army and Air Force receive GI Bill benefits by mere enlistment...with perks(kickers) for active service. How can this be acceptable?? Anyway...enough of my venting.
Hope all is well with all of your sailors...prayers and good thoughts as we continue to support our unique members..the Reservists!!
My son graduates A school tomorrow. Will officially be a CM-Seabee, then home and I hate knowing this school money issue is going to hit him like a ton of bricks as he is still believes me wrong, after all his recruiter must know more than his civilian mom. He too is all Navy and I am sure this will upset him but not as much as it upsets me. He enlisted Reserve for 8 years. That is a lot of his life only to find you are not getting what you were told you'd get. I wish there was something we could do for our Sailors, I'd butt heads with the system if I thought it would do any good but I know it wouldn't make a difference
Hi, to all N4Mom Reservists, I'm Navy Mom of 1 Girl and my daughter graduated PIR 4/8/11. She's been home since June and doing her one weekend a month since July. She finally got her sign on bonus. It took three months, but the officials came to her with a copy of the sign on bonus and got that ball rolling. She was ready to go to them with her copy of it. So, three months is average military time, I guess. We have found out, too, alot of things that have been disappointing, but as Reservists we come under the Montgomery GI Bill - SR (Select Reservists). Find the website under www.gibill.va.gov/benefits/montgomery_gibill/selected_reserve.html At that website you can find the eligiblity requirements and the forms that your reservist's unit has to start that gives them the Notice of Basic Eligibility. From there, of course, there's another form which is the application for Education Benefits. She can get $345 month that will go to her account for her to spend however she wants. I also found out about the NYS Division of Military and Naval Affairs, which is open to Reservists in New York State. Look into your respective State agencies for benefits, as well. The NYS Naval Militia will pay up to over $4,000 for the cost of tuition at a NYS College. So, my daughter had to transfer from a private college to a State College. She is waiting to hear of her acceptance for Spring 2012 admissions. So, the point is, you have to find out ways around all the lies and misinformation and make it work for your situation. Good Luck and visit that Federal Website. At least that will be some money coming in while they go to college since they don't pay tuition until AFTER they are deployed. That was the biggest bummer we ever heard and they told her that three weeks into boot camp. There was no turning back at that point. So, we're making the best of it. Good Luck.
NAVT4ONLY1GIRL:Thank you for that glimmer of hope that he will be able to get at least a small amount. He will be living with his Dad and I, but I'm retired and his Dad is retiring next year so our funds are fixed and we won't be able to help him too much towards school. He has a part time job at a movie theatre which doesn't pay much and he was hoping quit that and go to school full time. He may just have to go part time and work part time. Hopefully if he can also get what your daughter gets ea month that will pay for books, supplies and gas to get there. Thanks again for the info. Navy for Moms is so great for getting info from others who are going through the same thing.
Yes..thank you NavyMomofOnly1Girl..I will definately keep looking for angles. My second son has been talking to recruiters and this time Mom is asking many more questions...and we thought we were informed given our long military history with the husband..geesh!
Im so glad to see folks talking on here :) I have sooo missed my PIR group that was so active during RTC/A school and even shortly after :( We've all ventured off to other things and only chat occassionally.
Many of those pals are active families too and that (as we know) is a whole different "ship" lol
Sometimes it seems that those groups become a little leary of Reservists participants..and I understand..it would be hard to be empathetic to my woes over college when they have sailors in warzones...
At the same time..we have sailors that must stand ready 24/7 to be called to duty at the drop of a hat...and they must balance being civilian and military in an environment that largely doesn't understand their dual roles.
Anyway...glad to meet some birds of the same feather :) ...or folks in the same "boat" lol!
FIREMANSMOM: I too find that the way people view reservist much different than the "full time" Navy. As if they aren't really serving...we know differently. I also know the problems are different in many ways so I am so glad there is a group for those of us who are in need of advice and help!
Today was a great day my Sailor graduated A school and is now a Seabee and is home in his own room/bed! I couldn't be any prouder or happier! Everyone...Have a great weekend, Blessings to all our troops!
Terry'saproudmom congrats on your sons graduating A school. It is nice to have them home. But,...for me he's getting on my nerves. Just like Judy it sounds like my son was told the same exact story so I kind of question whether they just don't know or it's to see how many go for it. What ever it may be sounds like they got at least two in this bunch. My son is also dreaming of the same scenerio that happened to your son ie: being deployed for enough time to get his GIB. He keeps plugging away at his drill weekends to his CO's nothing yet. He has 2.2 years now so we hope something will come soon.
Shoot they sure do bring a lot of clothes home with them from A school I need at least one more closet in this house. :-( Dress blues, dress whites, MSU, 2 Blue MWU's, 2 green MWU's, shoes, boots, lots of socks, extra towels, P-Coat and the list goes on
Congrats to your Seabee, Terry'saproudmom !!! And what a wonderfully relaxing feeling to have those "kids" in their own beds...if even for a minute!! O.my.goodness!! I am with you on the extra closet..lol..its crazy! Now I'm thinking an extra room...my son was just informed this weekend at drill that he was picked up by the 3/24th Marines... just between us..I was hoping this wouldn't happen :(
But that is what he trained for...he's a Corpsman...and he is thrilled. Sooo..that means in addition to all the Navy gear he will also have an entire truck-load of Marine issued goodies...ugh! I have no idea how they even figure out what to do with all that stuff lol. On the up side...he did finally receive his bonus...what remained after taxes...a bit over half ??!! We are hoping that he will recover alot of it in tax refunds next year...fingers crossed....
Thanks Firemansmom...Well we worked for about 4 hours rearranging his room cleaning out the dresser and closet. It's tight but everything is stowed away. I was amazed at what he was willing to get rid of. Childhood things that he treasured...now my Navy man got rid of collections of baseball and pokemon cards and stuff I thought he'd have forever. I took two bags of stuff to Goodwill and four boxes of stuff to our nephew. He grew up in the last six months! Love it!
Hi all I'm new to the group, hoping I'm in the right place. My son joined the Navy in June of this year, he thought as a regular active sailor but after swearing in the day he was leaving for bc & a little mix up with the paper work he found out that his status was full time active reservist?? I'm not sure what all that means, when I called his recruiter to find out he said everything was the same it was just because of my son's job that he was classified as a reservist he is an AM since bc & A school it doesn't seem like the job is the reason for the classification. Again I don't really know what the difference is he went through BC, finished A school in Pensacola........now all the active duty got their assignments before they grad A school or right after my son's came this week & he will stay in Pensacola for several more weeks then get to come home for his 2 week leave before heading to his base in SD.............he is assigned to a squadron but not a ship again I don't know if that is normal, or if it is because of his job or again because of his classification as a active reservist...........hoping maybe some of you ladies might be able to shed light on it for me. Thanks
I'm confused then in what they are calling his enlistment, because he is suppose to be just like active sailors. when I first heard reservist I was thinking like the people that live at home have reg jobs go for training called up if needed recruiter said that is not how this works even though he is listed as reserve he will be 4 years active duty along side the other guys that are listed as reg navy, so I don't understand the difference. I know my son will be moved with the squadron he is assigned to so if they deploy so does he.
Hi...I've been on here a while...sorry for not introducing myself earlier!
My husband has been AF Reserves for 27 years and our son is a reservist...Seabee's. (Hello Terry!)
mythreesons2011 - I think your son is FTS - Navy Full -Time Support. Which in a nutshell is a reservist in a active duty capacity.
Full-Time Support – These are designated Reservists who perform full-time Active Duty service that relates to the training and administration of the Navy Reserve program. They may be assigned to shore activities and commands or operational units. They typically are not reassigned to different locations as often as those on regular Active Duty. And they receive the same pay, allowances and benefits as Active Duty members.
Here is link to the about.com page about that and the ratings that are FTS:
FTS, previously known as TAR (Training and Administration of the Reserve) serve in uniform all year round and provide administrative support to SELRES and operational support for the Navy. They are full-time career active duty personnel, but reside in the Reserve Component (RC), and perform a role similar to Active Guard and Reserve (AGR), Air Reserve Technician (ART) and Army Reserve Technician in the Air Force Reserve Command, the Air National Guard, the U.S. Army Reserve and the Army National Guard.
Here is a link to the Official Navy Reserve site on the different kinds of reservists:
The "problems"...challenges are different...been through two deployments with hubby...the most recent just this last year when our son enlisted in the Navy...here for you all if you need it!
I know I will when my son deploys...no "if"...know it's "when". They are reducing the Active duty Seabee force (which is sad) and upping the reserves. Seabee's didn't come up at MEPS but he failed out of his rating (just wasn't something he could grasp well so fast...doing great in BU) and was allowed to choose a new one...three different Seabee specialties came up.
Not sure why they have to make it so confusing - as clear as mud LOL My initial concern when he left was that he quit his good job, gave up his place to live, sold his car etc thinking he was regular active navy.....so the idea of finding out as he is bording his plane that he is a reservist made me nervous for him thinking he'd be coming home in a few weeks & have to figure everything out again. I'm just not sure why they classify them as reserve if they do all the same training have same benefits etc as active - guess I have to read up on some of those links Fireteam sent me. Thanks ladies for your help & yes will be here when your all son's deploy. My son is going to be stateside as of now.........but on the other side of the US from me so feels like he is going to be forever away.
Yeah...cause reservists train resrvists! I remember now all the "active" duty reserve personnel as my husband was at a reserve base for a while. Somebody has to be there full time to do all the paperwork, organize the training etc.
FTLW...my daughter will be a reserve seabee. I'm confused about the "reservists train reservists" statement. Do you mean after boot camp and after A school. She is in boot camp with SR's who will mostly be active duty. Also, I'm confused about leave for the holidays. As reservists, will they be given leave?
Well...I stuck my foot in my mouth with that on! Was basing it on my hubby AF reserves. They do have some reserve only bases. He has been an IMA - Individual Mobiliaztion Augementee...attached to a base. So, sometimes they DO train with the active duty members. But when he was with a regular reserve unit they drilled once a month together and did their two week training together. So there was a full time reservist contigency (some civilian personnel too.) on the base.
Will be finding out how it works with my son. He is also a Seabee reservist...or will be in a month.
As far as Boot Camp...it is basic training for the Navy...so evryone trains the same active and reservists. A school same thing as they all have to learn their job. I hear that they go to their homebase for combat training thou as far as Seabees go.
So...yes...after BC and A school...but I still don't know how it exactly works in the Seabees and/or the Navy for that matter. I know there are eserve units but not the "details" of how they operate...guess I'll find out! It was about time I hauled my cookies over to this group and start asking some questions myself!
Leave -While they are in Boot Camp and A school they are on "orders"...reservists on active duty, so they do earn leave. 2.5 days per month. Your daughter graduates this week from BC,so she will be in A school for the holidays? Each base has stand down time for the holidays and she has to put in a chit...paperwork...to request leave. Holidays are the only time you can apply for leave in A school. So she may only have five days to burn.
thanks for the info eaglemom my son is on his first year FTS AN I am surprised that your son is already deployed. Thanks for the heads up on advancing to E4 he thinks it will be easier being in the reserves
Shari - my son was thinking the same that it would be easier to advance being reserve instead of active but that E4 is just harder to achieve then the ranks before it. My hope is that it is all the same & all our boys(&girls) have every opperturnity to a great navy career.
FTLW - thanks again for the links you know I think I remember reading some of that info after I found out about his reserve FTS status..........but guess I had forgotten with time & everything being so chaotic since he left.
I really hadn't been on this site since bootcamp was finished..........I'm sure that is the case with a lot of people but it is always good to have a place to go when you have questions. I look forward to getting to know all of you better.
My son has been an E5 for a year. It took him many tries before he advanced. I agree with Judy-Chris' Mom that it is a shame that they work so hard, but not advanced.
Just asking for some info if anybody knows..my son is a corpsman and graduated C school in May 2011 and has been doing his weekends since then...my question is about his sign on bonus 7months later and he hasn't gotten it. He has talked to everyone at his reserve location and no one seems to be able to help him...any suggestions ??? Thanks in advance for any advice
Hi, Rockwido, at my daughter's Reserve Unit, she didn't even get her weekend pay for two months. They have a newsletter and there was a commanding officer's name who signed it. He said if anyone had any problems to go to him or send an e-mail. Well, she sent an e-mail to him, and she finally got her weekend pay to come in. The next Reserve weekend, she was ready to go to them with a copy of her sign on bonus. They had found that in her records and proceeded to process it. It is very complicated and they have to be put into their "mypay" account correctly. Have your son go to "mypay" and see what is going on in their. He'll need his military passwords, etc. to get in. She got her sign on bonus and it showed up in there as to when she would receive it. It showed up in her Navy Federal Credit Union account. I suggest going to a commanding officer of the reserve unit.
Thanks NavyMom he does have his mypay acct and has been checking it everyday..I think he has talked to the commanding officer but I will check to make sure
Hi everyone! Just joined. My husband is a Seabee reservist and just left for his/our first deployment. We have 3 boys and my youngest can't really grasp that his dad is gone for 10 months. Does anyone have any great ideas on how to deal with this with my kids? I did look at Navy One Source....great website for help but, nothing on there told me how to help my kids cope. If you have any great ideas or suggestions, please let me know!
Hi! My son just signed his contract for the Reserves as a AirCrewman. His ship date is March 21/12 for boot camp. We are very excited for him. In my eyes, the Reserves is a great way to go! Kind of the best of both worlds - am I right?
emilton - There is a bunch of books on Amazon. I have not personally read any of them but the reviews might help OR you could look on Barnes and Noble too. I know that even if you have them order and send to the store...you are not obligated to buy it. Maybe you could browse through it first.
I have read a couple of wives ones...they were given to me when my hubby deployed last year (AF Reserves SFS). My son is a Seabee reservist. They do talk a little bit about Family life more from the moms end. I am sorry I can't remember how much on helping the children but I do know there was some. One was written by a Navy wife.
One book is more focused on deployment...The other is by an AF brat/"married to the Navy" mom.
Here are the books:
Seperated by Duty, United in Love - A Guide to Long Distance Relationships for Military Couples by Shellie Vandevoorde
The Homefront Club - The Hardheaded Woman's Guide to Raising a Military Family by Jacey Eckhart (This is the Navy Wife)
You can probably find them on Amazon.
(Disclaimer, I am not affiliated with either author and receive no monetary gain by suggesting their works)
As with any book I would recommend-take what works for you from it...and toss the rest. Just because SOME of the stuff doesn't work for you doesn't mean it doesn't have stuff that does!
Hello Everyone! Husband is a reservist currently in BT. He will move on to A school in San Antonio in April for Hospital Corpsman.
I am trying to understand how deployment works for him. I know there is a waiting list for active duty where we are, so I had assumed deployment odds to be low, however, the hospital corpsman get deployed with Marines sometimes, I guess that ups it? There is so much to learn! My husband is in the older category (31), so we're starting a little late here!
Hmm. Interesting. He is going to be a hospital corpsman. I understand we are bringing troops home and there is a waiting list for active, so I am thinking odds are low, but it's very helpful to know what others experience.
My son is aircrew. For those reservists going into aircrew, his timeline was almost exactly 9 months from the time he left for BC to the time he graduated his final school in Pensacola and returned home. He still has additional training needed, but it has to be scheduled through the reservist hierarchy.
BrendanSMom(Billie Jo)
Sep 7, 2011
MidwestMom
Sep 7, 2011
Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936)
Sep 7, 2011
Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936)
For anyone who rides and is in California....there is a ride this Sunday from Pt. Mugu to Pepperdine U. Here is some info.
By Operation Gratitude
Join Operation Gratitude supporters and others as we honor and remember the victims of 9/11 at the Ride to the Flags event on Sunday beginning at 10 am at the Pt. Mugu Naval Base in Oxnard, California and ending at Peppderdine University's Alumni Park in Malibu. More information may be found at the Ride to the Flags website: http://www.ridetotheflags.com/ and Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ridetotheflags
Sep 7, 2011
Shari (FTS ATI) Mom
My son just graduated boot camp for FTS/AV Navy Reserves, he is in Pensacola now, I read a lot about FTS full time support and I find that is beneficial to be in the Reserves because there is less competition when it comes to promotion,
Sep 23, 2011
firemansmom(S7/DIV357)
Hi all...I haven't been on the site for a long while. My son's 1 year PIR anniversary is coming up and Im feeling a bit nostalgic. Ive been reading over recent posts about the whole GI Bill thing...we too only recently realized the ridiculous discrepancies for Navy/Marines/Coast Guard. Being married to a 30yr Army Nat.Guard vet, I am appalled that the branches can be treated so differently. We have hit it at every imaginable angle...of course, no avail. Like many of you said. my son would of joined anyway...was never about the money for him. He may have consider joining active though had he known this up front. As for his bonus...he finished FMTB in mid July and has yet to see it. He's holding tight as he trusts his Navy... I am just about livid though! Seriously? He has done everything asked of him with honors no less...was gone for training for a solid year...has endured one pay screw up after another and still remains loyal all while being considered "just a weekend warrior". Ultimately at his rate and rank his monthly paycheck is $134. GRRR...c'mon! His buddy is Army Reserve(no deployment and less than 90days active) with an equal type rate/rank and he's attending school at the Army's expense with a housing and fee/book allowance. His monthly drill pay is similar but in the end he ends up with about $300 a month to spare after school expenses... what the heck? I know this to be true as my brother-in-law is a retention officer and has confirmed the differences in the branches for us. Army and Air Force receive GI Bill benefits by mere enlistment...with perks(kickers) for active service. How can this be acceptable?? Anyway...enough of my venting.
Hope all is well with all of your sailors...prayers and good thoughts as we continue to support our unique members..the Reservists!!
Nov 3, 2011
Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936)
My son graduates A school tomorrow. Will officially be a CM-Seabee, then home and I hate knowing this school money issue is going to hit him like a ton of bricks as he is still believes me wrong, after all his recruiter must know more than his civilian mom. He too is all Navy and I am sure this will upset him but not as much as it upsets me. He enlisted Reserve for 8 years. That is a lot of his life only to find you are not getting what you were told you'd get. I wish there was something we could do for our Sailors, I'd butt heads with the system if I thought it would do any good but I know it wouldn't make a difference
Nov 3, 2011
NavyMomofOnly1Girl Ship 9 DIV126
Nov 3, 2011
Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936)
NAVT4ONLY1GIRL:Thank you for that glimmer of hope that he will be able to get at least a small amount. He will be living with his Dad and I, but I'm retired and his Dad is retiring next year so our funds are fixed and we won't be able to help him too much towards school. He has a part time job at a movie theatre which doesn't pay much and he was hoping quit that and go to school full time. He may just have to go part time and work part time. Hopefully if he can also get what your daughter gets ea month that will pay for books, supplies and gas to get there. Thanks again for the info. Navy for Moms is so great for getting info from others who are going through the same thing.
Nov 3, 2011
firemansmom(S7/DIV357)
Yes..thank you NavyMomofOnly1Girl..I will definately keep looking for angles. My second son has been talking to recruiters and this time Mom is asking many more questions...and we thought we were informed given our long military history with the husband..geesh!
Im so glad to see folks talking on here :) I have sooo missed my PIR group that was so active during RTC/A school and even shortly after :( We've all ventured off to other things and only chat occassionally.
Many of those pals are active families too and that (as we know) is a whole different "ship" lol
Sometimes it seems that those groups become a little leary of Reservists participants..and I understand..it would be hard to be empathetic to my woes over college when they have sailors in warzones...
At the same time..we have sailors that must stand ready 24/7 to be called to duty at the drop of a hat...and they must balance being civilian and military in an environment that largely doesn't understand their dual roles.
Anyway...glad to meet some birds of the same feather :) ...or folks in the same "boat" lol!
Nov 4, 2011
Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936)
FIREMANSMOM: I too find that the way people view reservist much different than the "full time" Navy. As if they aren't really serving...we know differently. I also know the problems are different in many ways so I am so glad there is a group for those of us who are in need of advice and help!
Today was a great day my Sailor graduated A school and is now a Seabee and is home in his own room/bed! I couldn't be any prouder or happier! Everyone...Have a great weekend, Blessings to all our troops!
Nov 5, 2011
BrendanSMom(Billie Jo)
Nov 5, 2011
Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936)
Shoot they sure do bring a lot of clothes home with them from A school I need at least one more closet in this house. :-( Dress blues, dress whites, MSU, 2 Blue MWU's, 2 green MWU's, shoes, boots, lots of socks, extra towels, P-Coat and the list goes on
Nov 6, 2011
firemansmom(S7/DIV357)
Congrats to your Seabee, Terry'saproudmom !!! And what a wonderfully relaxing feeling to have those "kids" in their own beds...if even for a minute!! O.my.goodness!! I am with you on the extra closet..lol..its crazy! Now I'm thinking an extra room...my son was just informed this weekend at drill that he was picked up by the 3/24th Marines... just between us..I was hoping this wouldn't happen :(
But that is what he trained for...he's a Corpsman...and he is thrilled. Sooo..that means in addition to all the Navy gear he will also have an entire truck-load of Marine issued goodies...ugh! I have no idea how they even figure out what to do with all that stuff lol. On the up side...he did finally receive his bonus...what remained after taxes...a bit over half ??!! We are hoping that he will recover alot of it in tax refunds next year...fingers crossed....
Nov 7, 2011
Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936)
Nov 7, 2011
mythreesons2011(ship09/div255)
Hi all I'm new to the group, hoping I'm in the right place. My son joined the Navy in June of this year, he thought as a regular active sailor but after swearing in the day he was leaving for bc & a little mix up with the paper work he found out that his status was full time active reservist?? I'm not sure what all that means, when I called his recruiter to find out he said everything was the same it was just because of my son's job that he was classified as a reservist he is an AM since bc & A school it doesn't seem like the job is the reason for the classification. Again I don't really know what the difference is he went through BC, finished A school in Pensacola........now all the active duty got their assignments before they grad A school or right after my son's came this week & he will stay in Pensacola for several more weeks then get to come home for his 2 week leave before heading to his base in SD.............he is assigned to a squadron but not a ship again I don't know if that is normal, or if it is because of his job or again because of his classification as a active reservist...........hoping maybe some of you ladies might be able to shed light on it for me. Thanks
Nov 11, 2011
mythreesons2011(ship09/div255)
Nov 11, 2011
FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW
Hi...I've been on here a while...sorry for not introducing myself earlier!
My husband has been AF Reserves for 27 years and our son is a reservist...Seabee's. (Hello Terry!)
mythreesons2011 - I think your son is FTS - Navy Full -Time Support. Which in a nutshell is a reservist in a active duty capacity.
Here is link to the about.com page about that and the ratings that are FTS:
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/guardandreserve/a/fts.htm
Also, this is from WIkipedia:
FTS, previously known as TAR (Training and Administration of the Reserve) serve in uniform all year round and provide administrative support to SELRES and operational support for the Navy. They are full-time career active duty personnel, but reside in the Reserve Component (RC), and perform a role similar to Active Guard and Reserve (AGR), Air Reserve Technician (ART) and Army Reserve Technician in the Air Force Reserve Command, the Air National Guard, the U.S. Army Reserve and the Army National Guard.
Here is a link to the Official Navy Reserve site on the different kinds of reservists:
http://www.navyreserve.com/about/structure.html
Nov 11, 2011
FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW
Well...actually...Sailor son has four weeks to go to BECOMING a Reserve Seabee.
On my knees!
Nov 11, 2011
FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW
For our Reservists as well as all military personnel:
Nov 11, 2011
FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW
The "problems"...challenges are different...been through two deployments with hubby...the most recent just this last year when our son enlisted in the Navy...here for you all if you need it!
I know I will when my son deploys...no "if"...know it's "when". They are reducing the Active duty Seabee force (which is sad) and upping the reserves. Seabee's didn't come up at MEPS but he failed out of his rating (just wasn't something he could grasp well so fast...doing great in BU) and was allowed to choose a new one...three different Seabee specialties came up.
Nov 11, 2011
mythreesons2011(ship09/div255)
Not sure why they have to make it so confusing - as clear as mud LOL My initial concern when he left was that he quit his good job, gave up his place to live, sold his car etc thinking he was regular active navy.....so the idea of finding out as he is bording his plane that he is a reservist made me nervous for him thinking he'd be coming home in a few weeks & have to figure everything out again. I'm just not sure why they classify them as reserve if they do all the same training have same benefits etc as active - guess I have to read up on some of those links Fireteam sent me. Thanks ladies for your help & yes will be here when your all son's deploy. My son is going to be stateside as of now.........but on the other side of the US from me so feels like he is going to be forever away.
Nov 11, 2011
FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW
Yeah...cause reservists train resrvists! I remember now all the "active" duty reserve personnel as my husband was at a reserve base for a while. Somebody has to be there full time to do all the paperwork, organize the training etc.
Nov 11, 2011
FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW
I know...it's sounds so confusing...
Nov 11, 2011
FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW
Veterans Day Freebies and discounts:
http://themilitarywallet.com/veterans-day-free-meals-and-discounts/...
Nov 11, 2011
sonyadw1
FTLW...my daughter will be a reserve seabee. I'm confused about the "reservists train reservists" statement. Do you mean after boot camp and after A school. She is in boot camp with SR's who will mostly be active duty. Also, I'm confused about leave for the holidays. As reservists, will they be given leave?
Nov 13, 2011
FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW
Well...I stuck my foot in my mouth with that on! Was basing it on my hubby AF reserves. They do have some reserve only bases. He has been an IMA - Individual Mobiliaztion Augementee...attached to a base. So, sometimes they DO train with the active duty members. But when he was with a regular reserve unit they drilled once a month together and did their two week training together. So there was a full time reservist contigency (some civilian personnel too.) on the base.
Will be finding out how it works with my son. He is also a Seabee reservist...or will be in a month.
As far as Boot Camp...it is basic training for the Navy...so evryone trains the same active and reservists. A school same thing as they all have to learn their job. I hear that they go to their homebase for combat training thou as far as Seabees go.
So...yes...after BC and A school...but I still don't know how it exactly works in the Seabees and/or the Navy for that matter. I know there are eserve units but not the "details" of how they operate...guess I'll find out! It was about time I hauled my cookies over to this group and start asking some questions myself!
Leave -While they are in Boot Camp and A school they are on "orders"...reservists on active duty, so they do earn leave. 2.5 days per month. Your daughter graduates this week from BC,so she will be in A school for the holidays? Each base has stand down time for the holidays and she has to put in a chit...paperwork...to request leave. Holidays are the only time you can apply for leave in A school. So she may only have five days to burn.
Nov 13, 2011
FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW
PLEASE somebody correct me if I got it wrong...here to learn too!
Nov 13, 2011
sonyadw1
FTLW...thanks so much. You were helpful. We'll learn together about the Seabee reserve stuff.
Nov 13, 2011
Shari (FTS ATI) Mom
Nov 14, 2011
mythreesons2011(ship09/div255)
Shari - my son was thinking the same that it would be easier to advance being reserve instead of active but that E4 is just harder to achieve then the ranks before it. My hope is that it is all the same & all our boys(&girls) have every opperturnity to a great navy career.
FTLW - thanks again for the links you know I think I remember reading some of that info after I found out about his reserve FTS status..........but guess I had forgotten with time & everything being so chaotic since he left.
I really hadn't been on this site since bootcamp was finished..........I'm sure that is the case with a lot of people but it is always good to have a place to go when you have questions. I look forward to getting to know all of you better.
Nov 14, 2011
mythreesons2011(ship09/div255)
Judy how long has your son been in the navy?
Nov 14, 2011
Becky, Matt's Mom
The Reserve Advancement list is on www.navytimes.com.
My son has been an E5 for a year. It took him many tries before he advanced. I agree with Judy-Chris' Mom that it is a shame that they work so hard, but not advanced.
Nov 15, 2011
mythreesons2011(ship09/div255)
Becky, Matt's Mom has your son also been in about 3 years?
Nov 15, 2011
Becky, Matt's Mom
My son has been in 6 years on the 30th of this month. He has 2 more years on his contract.
Nov 17, 2011
Terry'saproudmom(Ship02-Div936)
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO EACH OF YOU! THIS IS A NICE LIGHT AND MUSIC DISPLAY TO THANK OUR TROOPS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHwa-Iq1Bx4&sns=fb
ALL BRANCHES OF THE MILITARY THANKED!!!
Dec 5, 2011
Luvn_my_Navy_son(ship 11/div184)
Hi all :) My son is a Reservist & his rate is LS.
Dec 20, 2011
MamaBear kk
Happy Holidays to all ~ I will you and your families a safe and wonderful 2012.
~MamaBear kk : )
Dec 25, 2011
Luvn_my_Navy_son(ship 11/div184)
Merry Christmas to each of you & your families.
Dec 25, 2011
rockwido(S07Div359)
Just asking for some info if anybody knows..my son is a corpsman and graduated C school in May 2011 and has been doing his weekends since then...my question is about his sign on bonus 7months later and he hasn't gotten it. He has talked to everyone at his reserve location and no one seems to be able to help him...any suggestions ??? Thanks in advance for any advice
Dec 27, 2011
rockwido(S07Div359)
Thanks Chris' mom he has signed that paper 4 months ago
Dec 29, 2011
FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW
Hello Reserve Moms!
Jan 1, 2012
NavyMomofOnly1Girl Ship 9 DIV126
Hi, Rockwido, at my daughter's Reserve Unit, she didn't even get her weekend pay for two months. They have a newsletter and there was a commanding officer's name who signed it. He said if anyone had any problems to go to him or send an e-mail. Well, she sent an e-mail to him, and she finally got her weekend pay to come in. The next Reserve weekend, she was ready to go to them with a copy of her sign on bonus. They had found that in her records and proceeded to process it. It is very complicated and they have to be put into their "mypay" account correctly. Have your son go to "mypay" and see what is going on in their. He'll need his military passwords, etc. to get in. She got her sign on bonus and it showed up in there as to when she would receive it. It showed up in her Navy Federal Credit Union account. I suggest going to a commanding officer of the reserve unit.
Jan 2, 2012
rockwido(S07Div359)
Thanks NavyMom he does have his mypay acct and has been checking it everyday..I think he has talked to the commanding officer but I will check to make sure
Jan 2, 2012
emilton
Hi everyone! Just joined. My husband is a Seabee reservist and just left for his/our first deployment. We have 3 boys and my youngest can't really grasp that his dad is gone for 10 months. Does anyone have any great ideas on how to deal with this with my kids? I did look at Navy One Source....great website for help but, nothing on there told me how to help my kids cope. If you have any great ideas or suggestions, please let me know!
Jan 9, 2012
flgirltwo
Hi! My son just signed his contract for the Reserves as a AirCrewman. His ship date is March 21/12 for boot camp. We are very excited for him. In my eyes, the Reserves is a great way to go! Kind of the best of both worlds - am I right?
Jan 20, 2012
FireTeamLeaderWife aka FTLW
earlzagurl*Flip'sMom* - What a great pic!
emilton - There is a bunch of books on Amazon. I have not personally read any of them but the reviews might help OR you could look on Barnes and Noble too. I know that even if you have them order and send to the store...you are not obligated to buy it. Maybe you could browse through it first.
I have read a couple of wives ones...they were given to me when my hubby deployed last year (AF Reserves SFS). My son is a Seabee reservist. They do talk a little bit about Family life more from the moms end. I am sorry I can't remember how much on helping the children but I do know there was some. One was written by a Navy wife.
One book is more focused on deployment...The other is by an AF brat/"married to the Navy" mom.
Here are the books:
Seperated by Duty, United in Love - A Guide to Long Distance Relationships for Military Couples by Shellie Vandevoorde
The Homefront Club - The Hardheaded Woman's Guide to Raising a Military Family by Jacey Eckhart (This is the Navy Wife)
You can probably find them on Amazon.
(Disclaimer, I am not affiliated with either author and receive no monetary gain by suggesting their works)
As with any book I would recommend-take what works for you from it...and toss the rest. Just because SOME of the stuff doesn't work for you doesn't mean it doesn't have stuff that does!
Jan 29, 2012
Amac23
Hello Everyone! Husband is a reservist currently in BT. He will move on to A school in San Antonio in April for Hospital Corpsman.
I am trying to understand how deployment works for him. I know there is a waiting list for active duty where we are, so I had assumed deployment odds to be low, however, the hospital corpsman get deployed with Marines sometimes, I guess that ups it? There is so much to learn! My husband is in the older category (31), so we're starting a little late here!
Feb 22, 2012
Amac23
Hmm. Interesting. He is going to be a hospital corpsman. I understand we are bringing troops home and there is a waiting list for active, so I am thinking odds are low, but it's very helpful to know what others experience.
Feb 25, 2012
MidwestMom
My son is aircrew. For those reservists going into aircrew, his timeline was almost exactly 9 months from the time he left for BC to the time he graduated his final school in Pensacola and returned home. He still has additional training needed, but it has to be scheduled through the reservist hierarchy.
Feb 28, 2012