Girlfriends, Fiances,and Wives of Sailors

The official site is move.mil.  I have heard mixed reviews.  You should call the PPO (personal property office) and ask to talk to a PCS counselor.  You can also contact Fleet and Family Services, and they can give you specific numbers to call.  You can do this even if you aren't on or near a base.

If you have a Navy packout, they will provide up to three months free storage before delivery.  Yes, you can pack out from a storage unit, but someone with a POA must be there to sign for the shipment, someone you trust.  This is "packed by owner" so affects the damage insurance, be 100% certain you must do it that way.

http://www.move.mil/documents/DOD/NAVSUP_PUB_490_Rev5.pdf

This one is from WA, but still good:

http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/ccsg11/Documents/Guidelines_For_a...

There is a PCS group here, but it is not very active, and you're pretty much going to get the same people replying.  

Hi, i've been enrolled & approved to be in the EFMP for Category 2.! My husband is suppose to get his orders changed, but Navy is telling him that either their going to take me off his orders or their going to send us anywhere that has an available spot for us. It seems as if their not accommodating to my health needs even though I'm in the program. Do any of you know about why that would happen? Also can my husband request me off his orders? & can he legally abandon me by not providing any of his money to me while were married? Thank you

Category 2 doesn't have many limitations.  But yes, they can send him to a new duty station and not you, others here have posted about that.  As for "anywhere that has a spot available", that is pretty much the way it works.  He doesn't get a preference if there are not a lot of billets to fill.  You may be in the program, but your needs will never trump the needs of the Navy.  

Off his orders?  Do you mean request unaccompanied orders instead of accompanied?  He certainly can ask, especially if he is going overseas.  

As long as you are married to him, he is obligated to send all BAH and FSA to you, plus half his base pay.  The Navy will come down on him hard if he does not support you financially.  

His orders should not be for more than three years, and yes, he can request a hardship transfer.  Orders and his contract are two different things.  

Thank you for the information! @Anti M

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There are good and bad things with both Facebook and NavyForMoms:
On Facebook:
Remember to be very aware of PERSEC and tighten up the Privacy Settings there and also watch what you share since your real name is visible.  These are closed groups.

On NavyForMoms: 
All the Group info is open to viewing by all the public.  Even though your real name is not used, everyone can see what you write.
BOTTOM-LINE:  Always think OPSEC and PERSEC anywhere you go on the internet.

 We've got a lot of admins ready to help you with your questions and lots of cool friendships that you are about to gain.

 We absolutely LOVE having fun and teaching you guys about the Navy.

Yes, except for cable.  Lincoln Housing also covers renter's insurance.

@Kelsie ... they can hear the weirdest things in A school, usually from people who don't know much more than they do.

Civilian landlords in a military area know how much BAH is, that it public information, so they charge as much as they know you can pay.  

Looks like a company called Hunt has taken over Forest City properties.  

http://www.northwestmilitaryhousing.com/

Kelsi, my son and DIL live in base housing at Whidbey. They absolutely love it. The housing areas are "off base" but are fairly large communities. There are several so if you are offered a choice I can ask them which is preferable. Civilian housing is fairly expensive so the BAH doesn't go very far if you chose that. Some people live up to an hour away and commute to get affordable civilian housing. Also several squadrons are relocating to Whidbey in the next year so the housing market will only get tighter. They advise military housing if there is an opening. 

I went to visit in early July and it is a very beautiful place to be stationed. Temperate climate and they are in the rain shadow of the Olympia mountains so not as much rain as you would expect for the Pacific northwest.

I am pretty sure you can stay in your hometown as long as he is deployed.  Will he be on a ship or an unaccompanied OCONUS (no need to be specific about where)?  Your BAH will be based on where you live - not where he is based - or so I understand. :).  Here is a link to calculated the BAH amounts based on zip code

http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bahCalc.cfm

sorry - I don't know how to make this a clickable link

Actually, if he is on a ship you might get the lower of his assigned base location or your location - I'm not sure. If he is unaccompanied OCONUS then you get the amount for yor hometown.

If things go well, two pay cycles, about a month.  If someone screws up the paperwork, then a couple months.  Sailor should be checking after a month, stay on top of it.  Be annoying.

They are both very good.  NFCU has more overseas locations.  We have been using NFCU a very long time, and have kept it for our Navy retired pay and VA.  Easy online banking, good credit rates.  
Lots of people also like USAA, and they carry decent insurance too.

No, he cannot switch to reserves, although he might be able to re-enlist for a reserves contract.  The health benefits go away for dependents of reserves, except for a paid plan through Tricare (monthly premiums required).  The VA picks up benefits for active duty who have served over a certain amount of time, and have a medical or honorable discharge. As far as I know, dependents get nothing unless the serve member retires with 20 years of service.
There is COBRA to cover the medical insurance gap, but it is expensive.