Cost of Living Concerns...

[toriimarie]

Hello all! I'm shipping out to boot camp on June 6th and I'm currently trying to get as much information as I can about anything and everything! One of the biggest concerns that I'm having at the moment (apart from getting through basic of course) is where my first duty station will be. I understand as a Hospital Corpsman I can go green side or blue side, although it's still unclear to me how that decision is made...

 

Anyway, after my A school in San Antonio I was trying to think about where I'd put on my dream sheet keeping in mind that I'm married and have two young girls that will be accompanying me. Also before someone posts it, I realize that it's the needs of the Navy above all else and I'm perfectly fine with that, however to my understanding I'll still be able to fill out a dream sheet at some point. It says in my DEP guide that E3 and below with dependents are ineligible to serve out of the country which includes Hawaii and that's disappointing because we really wanted Hawaii for obvious reasons coming from Michigan!

 

So I started doing some research on various websites and was reading that depending on where you get stationed you may end up struggling to get by or living lavishly on your military income. We really wanted someplace warm and were leaning toward California, but I don't want to move my family out there so we can struggle to get by because cost of living is so high! So my question to you all is, what has been your own personal experience or that of a loved one as far as cost of living is concerned? I hear twenty-nine palms is popular, however where are those sailors living? On base?

[Sharon P.M.]

Wow - my son is single and stationed in Italy, lives on base and living life like a rock star.  That being said, I truly believe that you need to focus on BC and A-school first.  Your "dream sheet" is based on your class ranking so it will be very important to do your absolute best!  In looking forward, FL has some nice bases, is probably a lot less expensive than CA as far as living expenses and believe me, it gets plenty hot!  Best of luck to you!  I applaud your enthusiasm and the fact that you have enlisted with already have the responsiblity of being a parent :0)

[MomByHeart]

My sailor is in Italy, too.  He's a corpsman...what is your sailor's job?

[toriimarie]

I would have loved to go to Italy :(

 

Yeah, I'm definitely focused on boot camp as well as A school. Also curious if I'll have to attend FMTB since my recruiter had told me it was voluntary for females but I've been seeing posts on this site saying they're trying to get everyone in "just in case" so I suppose we'll see.

[MomByHeart]

I don't know about fmtb anymore...when my sailor was in A school 5 months ago they told him he didn't have to go to fmtb, but then changed their minds and sent him anyway.  Don't know what they are doing about females...

[Chon's mom]

My son is a Corpsman in Okinawa and it is expensive there. But, to advise you about the cost of living....Camp LeJeune (Marines-greenside) is only an hour and half from me. I am very familiar with Jacksonville and Onslow Co.  So, I'd like to recommend Camp LeJeune. It is family friendly, cost of living is quite inexpensive, lots of family fun and attractions, the beautiful Atlantic Ocean and it's warm sandy beaches are within 30 minutes drive, and lots of other military families/wives for support. Greenville (my town) is the home of East Carolina University and offers many undergrad, graduate and PhD programs. Many military wives commute from Jacksonville to take classes. There are other colleges in the area, too. NC is a wonderful state, because of our low cost of living and great amenities (mountains, parks, ocean). Yall come on down.

 

[toriimarie]

North Carolina sounds wonderful! I don't know why I hadn't considered anything on the east coast. Probably because warmth and sunshine is normally associated with the west coast. Does it snow in North Carolina?

[Darsete]

my son was stationed out in 29 Palms for the last 4 years. The first 1 1/2 he and his wife lived off base in a nice 3 bedroom apartment. After our grandson was born they moved to base housing. 29 Palms is in the progress of building several tracts of new housing and a huge Navy exchange. He recently was transfered to Lakehurst, NJ and they just moved into a 4 bedroom on base. 

[toriimarie]

How many children does your son have? That was another concern I had. Our apartment we're in now is subsidized housing and even though we have two children we were only allowed a two bedroom because they're both girls. We were told there are regulations in place where children can room together unless they're the opposite sex. And even that is only after the age of two I believe. Which, every parent knows that new babies are up constantly during the night so we didn't want the baby in with our four year old causing her to wake up. Which of course put the baby in our room which is terribly cramped so we were really hoping for a three bedroom house on base. However, with it somewhat being a government property we're afraid we'll run into the same bedroom regulations... If they're big enough rooms we may consider putting the girls in together since they'll be older by that time, if not we may end up off base.

[TickledTink]

Or you could live off base and get BAH, then you can get however many bedrooms you want.  I'm not real familiar with other areas as both DH and I were born & raised in San Diego, but BAH here for E1-E4 w/ dependants is $1941 which is a nice amount.  Depending on where you live, you could come out ahead.  We rent a 2 bedroom apartment right now in east county and it is $1125 a month rent and utilities is about $60.  You could probably get a 3 bedroom here for much less than $1900 a month.  There are things here that are more expensive (like gas) but San Diego is really beautiful, and it's a big military town with lots of support

[Jean-9 ship07div113]

I believe that it all depends on what is available at the time you graduate from A school.  My son did very well in A school and was first to pick where he would be stationed. He will be going to New Port RI.  I agree with Sharon, getting through BC is your first step and then focus on keeping your grades high in A school so that you can be first to choose where you go.  Keep talking to other sailors, maybe your recruiter can help connect you with other sailors who are already living where you would like to be stationed.

Good Luck!