Girlfriends, Fiances,and Wives of Sailors

We don't have bases in Australia, and ships don't make port calls there very often.  You'll see him in those four years, he earns 30 days paid vacation every year, even if he can't take a whole month at once every year.   

Guys don't turn into jerks because they join the Navy, or even alcoholics.  In fact, drinking and the Navy no longer go hand in hand.  The guys who end up as jerks ALWAYS had the potential to be jerks, they just use the military as an excuse to act like an ass.  If he's a good guy, he'll remain a good guy.  If he's a dirtbag, he'll let his true colors show.  If you don't know what he end up like, then start learning more about his true nature.  Some guys hide the bad parts very well, listen to your heart about his bad tendencies.

trentsbaby, after boot camp he'll most likely have an A school before he gets sent to a permanent duty station. Do you know what rate (job) he signed his contract for?

I agree with Anti M... when people say their sailors change after bootcamp they normally mean for the better. Its not like they change personalities its more like they mature. If they are going to be an alcoholic they are going to be based on how they handle it themselves. If they are a jerk they were before just hid it like Anti M said. These are personal issues, they arent reliant on military service. I also have never heard of people getting stationed in Australia.. my husbands friend's ship made a port call in Australia but thats all I have ever heard of. and he will get leave and leave after A school or C school probably.

Hey ladies quick question. My fiance is an E3 but got paid as an E1 through boot. He's in A school now so we're just wondering when he will get his back pay.

From what I have heard everyone gets paid at E1 until after bootcamp. Idk if or when they get backpay. but with anything in the military and your finances if you owe them it can be gone before you even realize it but if they owe you it can take like up to two months.

my husband was also an e-3 out of bootcamp.... meagan is right everyone gets paid as an e-1 but he got his e-3 back pay his second or third paycheck out of bootcamp!

The pay depends on their contract.  Some of the E-3 do get their pay during boot camp, while others get it as back pay afterward, and some don't get it at all.  Read the contract carefully.  

Anyone have moving companies that they've worked with before and would recommend? 

We're in the process of trying to decide if it'd be better for me to drive my car (that I don't completely trust) that already has 125k on it out to Washington with all my stuff and pay for hotels, gas, and a one way plane ticket for someone to ride with me if Aaron can't get leave. Or if it'd be better to just have a moving company move my stuff, buy a one way plane ticket for me, and deal with one car for awhile (which wouldn't be a big deal since we're looking at a 7 month deployment). 

hmm I would say if you dont trust your car to def be VERY careful driving that way. The mountains can be tough on cars. I sold my car before going up there (over 190,000 miles lol!!!) and we bought a new car right before we headed up that way (7 miles! lol woohoo) but depends on a few things what part of WA are you headed too? Everett?? Thats where I went and if you do end up going there.. they used to have a furniture store that was a bankruptcy liquidator place that had cheaper nice furniture. so you might look into doing that if you end up just packing your car and going. If you dont mind dealing with one car for awhile it might be best to sell your car, fly up there and have some other stuff shipped. One thing I do like about deployment is you can save lots of money. You will make prob about 600$ more a month. so thats really nice and helpful so you can save up and buy a new car (WA doesnt have some kind of tax on cars up there so you can save a lot on registration!) you might look into pods? If you go to move.mil I think they have companies that offer military discounts and they have lots of information too.

If you do decide to drive, get AAA.  It isn't expensive considering they will get you out of a jam if you break down.  Have the car serviced, and if it needs new tires, yeah, considering just selling it.  

I don't even drive and I have an AAA card!  It covers any vehicle I am in (or my friend's cars if I an with them).  I'd suggest anyone who has an unreliable car look into Triple A.  Ask for it as a birthday or Christmas gift.

We have had AAA for years and it is worth the money.  They even come out just to change a flat tire or if you lock your keys in the car - and are very reliable.  Driving cross country, you might want to even consider getting the Plus package - they will tow your car up to 120 (or something like that) miles.

We have Plus and it is 100 miles towing.  They have a Premium also, but I can't get it because I live in Utah.  My benefits are different from the California and the Nevada benefits, so you have to look up your state to see what an AAA will provide for you.

Thanks for that link, meagan!

I do have AAA. Had to use it just two months ago when I got a flat on my way back to college in the middle of nowhere. I would just really hate to end up in the middle of nowhere and become carless. It's my dad's christmas present to us all every year.

And Meagan, I'm headed to Silverdale/Bremerton. Not sure exactly where I'll be moving since I'm not sure where he'll be/how soon he'll be leaving. I'm definitely looking forward to saving money. I looked at a few quotes and they're like all over 1000 bucks. I don't think I could get anything for my car to be honest, so I would just leave it at home for us to use when we fly home. But for 1000, it'd be more beneficial to do the drive.

welcome.

well I am sure there is alway some high school student needing to get a cheap car for their first car would possibly give a few hundred up to 500$ depending on how well it runs. TBH gas and hotels will also play into whether you drive or not..For me gas going up there was about 260$ for 32 hours. plus a hotel for one night was $60. but that being said I get almost 38 miles to the gallon. so if you get half of that then double your price for gas. Also depending on how far you will drive everyday. My dad and I drove 16 hours each day. and only stopped once. Then My parents actually paid for my Dads ticket home for a wedding present type thing but that was another $250 Have you looked into PODs? idk how much they are versus renting a uhaul. even if you drive your car are you still going to have furniture shipped up there and whatnot? bc if so it would probably be cheaper to fly and let them take everything. I couldnt fly bc my dog cant get a health clearance and is way too old and has anxiety haha.

Just wanted to throw out some numbers maybe that would help you a little :) for me we had no funiture but needed the car bc he didnt have one so I had my car jammed full of stuff and went that way.

I did the cross-country drive with him and his car full of stuff from South Carolina last Thanksgiving. He drove to Ohio to start his leave. I met him there then we drove down to Missouri, out to Colorado Springs, up to Salt Lake City, and then up to Washington. He wanted to get there early because they already had a plane ticket bought for him to be flown to the ship. 

Aaron seems to think I can do the drive by myself. But I'm not willing to do it. We would pay just as much buying a one way plane ticket for someone back home than paying for more hotels for me because I couldn't do 12 hour + days back to back by myself. 

I don't really have any furniture that I'm moving. Besides a papasan chair which isn't a need, its a want. 

It'd be less of a headache to fly and ship the stuff, but I have a feeling it'll be cheaper to drive even with gas and such.

I live near SLC, right off I-15.  You could stay with me one night if I'm on your route (pretty sure I am).  (I have cats, be warned).  There's a moms helping traveling sailors group... dang if I can remember what it is called.  We surely could find places for you to stay along the way as a spouse in need.  Or look into couchsurfing.  It is pretty darn safe.  I have a good friend or two in Denver area.  In fact, I know people all over the place, although not all military.   Safe places to stay fro free aren't impossible.

Even professional drivers don't drive for more than 11 hours in a day.  

oh ok! I thought you had furniture too! yea driving might be better! that would be great if you could find places to stop! :)

If alone I never drive more than 12 hours for sure. I dont even like to drive more than 8 alone. if I have someone else in the car I will drive up to 14 by myself but only if they will talk to me lol. the worst drive I have done so far is 34 hours straight home with my husband... lol that was rough!!

Thank, ladies!

Anti M- I'm gonna send you a friend request so I can PM you. I'm kind of at a loss to do with this DEERs situation and I'd like your advice if you'd be willing to give it. :)

Okay... I'll try, but sometimes unique situations are hard to handle.

I used ABF U-Pack as well and had a wonderful experience.  

There are Sailors stationed in Australia.  We've had some friends stationed there, and it was one of the places we could have gone instead of here.  They're in Alice Springs. 

lol - sorry, I know that last comment was a bit late to the conversation, but trying to play catch up, it's been pretty busy around here lately so I'm trying to catch up as I can :-)

Interesting... some sort of comm station?  Something specialized?

Googled it ...intelligence,  Ah.  

lol - yeah, small, windowless rooms in the middle of nowhere is pretty par for the course for intel ;-)

My husband was at Sugar Grove, WV, another unexpected place for a Navy base.

wow you learn something new everyday! I didnt know we had anything in Australia. I would have loved to live there! lol oh My husband wanted Tinker AF base in Oklahoma that was our #1 on our wishlist... lol barely any water there.. every single lake there is manmade.. but the AF base has a huge Navy side tons of airplanes. He didnt get it :( but he is going to try to get on there as a civi when we get out.

yea we are from Oklahoma thats why he wanted to get it lol. It would have saved them a lot of money lol. wouldnt have even had to move us 30 miles lol! instead of 1800 haha

I find it odd when people join the Navy and then ask to stay home!  But I was born with a travel bug, I guess.

haha me too. I want to travel he is a homebody :) Idk why he joined the Navy he doesnt like ships too much and he doesnt like being confined lol. but my Mom has told me since I was little she has known I would leave the day I turned 18 and travel and if I came back it would only be for visits! I love getting to travel the country. just hate missing my sisters growing up. I have a sister turning 3 this fall so I really hate missing that.

I was the baby of the family, and the only girl.  I wish I'd called mom more often, although I was a very good letter writer when I was overseas.

I am the oldest of 5 girls lol. I just bought my mom a webcam for Mother's Day so now I get to skype my family. lol my baby sister loves it. When she asked where my husband was I said on a ship. She said oh he is playin in the water? lol. :)

lol - that just goes to show it's such a small world!  We were stationed in Sugar Grove, too :-)  It was years ago though - we left there in 2000. 

oh, and I forgot to mention, to make it even smaller, Meagan, our daughter will be going to Oklahoma to college this summer :-) 

Hubby was in Sugar Grove in the 80s.  Lived in a rented trailer and shot deer in the cornfield out his back door.

sailorwifenmom I think I might have talked to you about it before!! Where is she gong again?? OSU... or UCO maybe?? I went to UCO graduated there 2011!!

RAPIDS

http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl

Thanks Anti M! Also, I obviously have the DD Form 1172-2 but all I have is my Drivers' License. He took all of our original documents to boot camp. I do have a SS card that has my maiden name on it. Do you think that would be appropriate? I can go get a certified copy of my birth certificate if I have to. And do you know if I need to take a copy of our marriage license? Sorry for all the questions, but I have to take time off of work to go get this done and don't want to be missing anything when I go. Thanks!

Your maiden name SSN should be fine.  Some places don't require the birth certificate, some do, so call and ask first.  

Britt- If you're already enrolled in DEERs and just trying to get your ID (assuming that's the case since he's in boot camp), then you should not need your birth certificate. You should be able to bring your Driver's License and your old ss card (but I would bring the marriage certificate since the ss card is in your maiden name). 

Definitely call ahead to the facility to double check. I have been given more than the runaround with this crap lately.

Emily, LOL and hugs.  

Meagan,

Yes, she's going to OSU :-)

AntiM, LOL - that sounds about right for Sugar Grove! 

thats what I thought!! Stillwater is very much a college town! Eskimo Joes is heaven! <3 lol

Hello everyone!  I am getting married to my sailor in 12 days and afterwards, he is heading to Mayport.  What do I need to do as far as getting a military ID, enrolling in DEERS/Tricare, and arranging to have my stuff moved!  I am planning on moving sometime this summer so I need to get the ball rolling!  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks!

He has to get you on his page 2 to get you in DEERs. It would be easiest to get your id with him there. Without him you will need a POA, two forms of ID (I think) and a special form. With him you just need two forms of ID. If you google it you can come up with the closest ID office for your area, call them and see what they specifically require. (Yes some actually do have little differences) If you want your last name changed on it go to the social security office and start that process they will give you a reciept showing you are changing it take that with you. Some of the ID ppl wont change your last name unless you have proof you are doing it (mine wouldnt!) There are lots of discussions about it but the RAPIDs website will tell you the closest ID office to get one made. I know that some recruiters offices by where I live can make them but idk all the rules about that. Just google RAPIDS Site Locator. When you get on his page 2 you are enrolled in Tricare Standard so you might also want to google that and look at the differences and decide if you want prime instead. I prefer standard but I like to choose my own doctor.

 If he already has orders you are moving on your own. The Navy wont modify his orders to get you down there. I would suggest looking at all the options and seeing what is the best for you, Uhaul, POD, or sell it all and start over.

Your sailor has to enroll you in DEERS/Tricare.  He will need the marriage license, your driver's license and SSN.  SOme places require a birth certificate.  He fills out a form for you to get your military ID card.  

If he already has orders to Mayport as a single sailor, then the Navy will not move you.  He may be able to get "his" things moved from his home of record, but he needs to talk to the Personal Property Office as soon as possible.

Erin- He will need your Birth Certificate to enroll in DEERs. And he'll also need original copies of everything. Birth Certificate, Driver's License, SS card, and the marriage certificate. 

I do have a friend who got married in Missouri while he was changing duty stations and they were able to enroll her in DEERs and get her ID and then once he got to the ship he added her to his page 2. So it might be worth it to look into doing that. Aaron didn't need anything but my information to add me to his page 2. He just made sure he had my height and weight and other personal info written down and that made it easier when he went in and did it. 

And I hope you have a better experience than I've had! We've been married almost 3 weeks and I'm still not enrolled in DEERs. Waiting (not so patiently) for legal to get him a POA so he can mail it to me and I can enroll myself in DEERs. For anyone who is about to tell me that's not possible, I don't want to hear it so keep it to yourself. I called ahead to the office here and they told me that was acceptable. :)  (Don't mean to sound rude, but we have been given more than the run around and I am on the brink of a break down about the topic).