FAQ: What do recruits pay for themselves? What does the Navy pay for?

[Arwen]

Does the Navy pay for uniforms?

Yes, but not for everything they need at boot camp.

Recruits receive an initial uniform allowance of $1,157.21 for men and $1,371.69 for women. The sailor never sees the money, it goes directly to pay for the uniforms and is recorded as a credit and debt on the pay record.

 

The uniform allowance pays for the "sailor's seabag" which consists of four sets of Navy Working Uniforms (aka "digis"), two Navy coveralls, one pair of boots, one set of PT gear (sweats and shorts/t-shirt), two sets of tan and black Navy Service Uniforms (aka "peanut butters"), two sets of dress white uniforms (polyester), one dress blue uniform (wool), one pair of dress shoes, a pea coat, a rain coat with liner, an NSU parka with liner, and a seabag. Women also receive skirts for each service and dress uniform, a "combination cover” (dress hat) and a set of uniform dress pumps (for wear with skirts), which is why they get a higher allowance.

Sailors get a smaller allowance each year to replace worn or damaged uniforms, usually $200 - $400, on the anniversary of the date they shipped out for boot camp.

http://www.dfas.mil/navy2/militarypay/clothingallowance.html

This allowance does NOT cover the many small things they need that are not uniform items, from underwear to shampoo to athletic shoes. These items are considered to be general living expenses and must be paid for by the sailor. The first paycheck is reduced by $400 - $600 (often the entire paycheck) to pay for these items.

During winter months they may also need to purchase specific cold weather gear such as a scarf, gloves and a cold weather mask that may not be part of the basic "sailor's seabag."

What else comes out of my recruit's paycheck?

Later in boot camp sailors will have the option to purchase "yearbooks", PIR DVDs, pictures, division t-shirts, etc. Some of these are deducted from the sailors' paychecks, others may be paid from their accounts. They do have the option to not purchase these items.

However, if they do purchase these items the pictures and t-shirts arrive before PIR. If parents order them at PIR or later, it may take 1-2 months to receive them. DVDs and yearbooks take about 6-8 weeks to arrive.

When does my recruit get his/her first paycheck?

The first paycheck usually arrives in the recruit's bank account about one month to six weeks after his/her arrival at boot camp. Paydays are on the 1st and 15th of each month. No physical checks are issued, sailors must have a bank account ready for direct deposit. If a sailor does not have a bank account, or does not have the correct bank information for an existing account, one will be set up for him/her at either Navy Federal Credit Union or Armed Forces Bank.

 

If the sailor has dependents, the sailor should receive BAH (housing allowance for dependents) in the first paycheck.

Does the Navy pay for food?

Yes. However, the system is confusing to some people, so on paper it looks like sailors pay for their food. The Navy used to just feed all sailors, but for bookkeeping purposes it was difficult to figure out how much they paid for each sailor to eat.

Now the Navy issues a food allowance to every sailor. If that sailor is on shore duty and does not live on a ship or in barracks with access to a mess (cafeteria), the sailor keeps the cash to pay for their own food. However, if the sailor is assigned to a ship or barracks with access to a mess the Navy deducts the food allowance to pay for meals. At first glance on a pay stub this *looks* like the sailor is paying for his/her own food, but in reality the Navy is merely re-claiming the food allowance.

If a sailor does not like the food offered at the mess, finds the hours “inconvenient” for his/her schedule or is annoyed by long lines or little time to eat, and chooses to eat elsewhere, it is up to the sailor to pay for it out of their own money. The Navy will NOT return the money is the sailor declines to eat at Navy facilities.


http://www.dfas.mil/navy2/militarypay/allowances.html

Are there co-pays for sailors' medical care?

No. Medical care for active-duty sailors is free, as are prescriptions.

However, most "elective" medical procedures are not offered or covered unless a Navy-approved medical doctor/dentist determines that it is in the best interest of the sailor and the Navy.

Will the Navy pay for a private apartment for ship-based bachelor sailors to use while in port?

No, but they may get to live in a barracks. Even for extended port stays, some ships require unmarried sailors (E-1 through E-4) to continue to live on-board the ship. However, the Navy is trying to change this. In many places, sailors are assigned a dorm-like barracks (similar to A-school) room with one or two of their shipmates while their ship is in port. Sailors will also receive a barracks room if their ship goes into dry docks for extended repairs.

Occasionally, if there aren't enough barracks rooms to go around for ship-based sailors and the Navy wants sailors to live off-ship, sailors may be assigned a room in a non-Navy apartment building rented by the Navy, or be given a special allowance to find an apartment with other sailors. This is not common.

Shore-based sailors are assigned dorm-barracks. There is no charge for the barracks room.

An unmarried sailor (without dependents) who wants to live independently off-base must get permission from his/her command, pay for the apartment from his/her paycheck and must still sleep on board their ship on duty days. There is no allowance to assist the single sailor in paying for rent or utilities.

Will the Navy pay for airline tickets?

It depends on the purpose of the travel.

If the sailor is traveling on orders, the Navy will pay. Sometimes the Navy will issue tickets or assign a sailor to a military flight. At other times the sailor must pay for his/her own ticket and the Navy will reimburse the sailor for travel expenses after s/he submits all receipts with her order on arrival. Again, the reimbursement may take some time to be processed, so sailors should keep a savings account to cover such expenses.

The Navy does not cover travel for sailors to go home on leave. The only exception to this is for leave between A school and their first duty station. The Navy determines the cost of travel between the two points, and the sailor pays the difference for a stop at home.

Travel home after being discharged from the Navy (for any reason) is based on bus travel. Sailors
have the choice of taking a bus ticket home, or accept the cash value of a bus ticket and make their way home on their own. The amount is based on returning the sailor to the location they lived when they enlisted. If airline tickets happen to be cheaper than bus tickets, the Navy may pay for a discharged sailor's airfare.

[Michelle (Craigs Mom)]

Wonderful information! I am featuring this discussion. :) I hope that the members find it helpful :) I know I did...Some of this I knew already like the one about travel and medical but the other I had no clue :) Thanks again!

[Lynn]

Thank you for this information.Does the recruit go directly from BC to A school or will he be able to come home inbetween?

[Arwen]

Almost all new sailors go straight from boot camp to A school (some don't even get a weekend visit with their parents in Chicago), but are *almost* guaranteed a week's leave between A school and their first duty station. Even that leave can be canceled if their new duty station is a ship that is leaving on deployment and they have to meet the ship immediately, but that doesn't happen often.

The exception is those who graduate immediately before Christmas. They can take leave because there are no classes during the winter stand-down, not even orientation. However, by taking leave they go "in the hole" with their leave, and often don't have enough leave built-up again to visit family after A-school.

[Lynn]

Thank you.

[smiles4di]

Question: After BC, my son has A-school, and C-school, with C-school ending sometime in Dec. 2010. What can he expect for any possible leave after or between these classes?

[MsMaria68]

I think my son will finish w/ BC right before xsmas. When in January A school will start? Thanks

[Arwen]

A school begins again on Jan. 3, but that is no guarantee your son will start school. First he will need to do his school's orientation, which can last a day or a week, depending on the school. Two to six weeks in holding is common, but I've seen sailors in Pensacola wait for as long as four months.

However, they still have to be there when school resumes. They can't take leave until their school begins, even if they had enough leave built up to take that much.

[nikosmom ( CVN 70, Seaman )]

I would like to join this group.

 

Kathy, Niko's Mom

 

[TinaT28]

Thanks for this information, my Daughter will be graduating in Dec. so hopefully we will get to see her for a little while.

[mariag Ship 03 Div 230]

Can someone tell me when a recruit is covered under the Navy's medical insurance? Is it before they complete BC or after? Thanks.

[Arwen]

Recruits are covered by Navy medical and dental as soon as they swear in and leave for boot camp.

[Shef's Mom]

thank