Not sure how it will work now

[Jodie]

Hello Everyone,

My first post was a couple months back, my husband and I decided to take the advice from the women here and other sources to get married before he joins. So we got married and he went through MEPS. Then they messed up our paperwork so we had to resend everything in, and then he was scheduled to do a final interview where he had to get approval from someone higher up. We he has been accepted and is waiting on the phone call to actually go swear in.

We started this journey with MEPS in September. He is just now getting his approval and still has to swear in. When we started he was told more than likely that he would leave in March for boot camp. I guess I have some guestions now because I am not entirely sure how everything works and the timelines to go get certain things or apply for other things.

I plan to go with him after boot camp because he will be in school for two years, and we were told that myself and our children were able to join him because it's longer than six months. Is this true?

Also, when do we apply for BAH, and how long does that take?

What about medical?

I also read somewhere that I had to get a military I.D?

 

There are just so many questions. I like to plan and know what I am supposed to do when I am supposed to do it. I just feel clueless. If anyone knows the process or at least has gone through it I would love to know how it all works. I am pregnant and due while he is intended to be in boot camp as well. So that makes  it a little difficult because I am under his insurance through his current job, once he leaves that job for boot camp I will no longer be covered and Im not sure how that will work out with giving birth and those expenses :/

 

Help please!

[Anti M]

When he arrives at boot camp, part of his in processing is to provide the information which will enroll you and the children in DEERS, which is how the military keeps track of dependents.  At the same time, he enrolls you in Tricare (prime or standard), which will cover your pregnancy and delivery entirely (perhaps a few copays, but they are reasonable).  The folks at Tricare are very good at helping new dependents with information, feel free to call them once you're enrolled.

He fills out the paperwork for BAH at this time, to takes a few pay cycles to kick in, but you should see it by the time he is done with basic.  You will get a lump sum back to day one, then it arrives half in each pay (1at and 15th or business day before). 

He will send you a form from boot camp for your ID card.  Your ID also acts as your health insurance card.  You use the RAPIDS locator to find the closest place to get an ID, does not need to be Navy. You can usually make an appointment and they will tell you what ID you need with the form.  Get a POA from your husband before he leaves, just to make life simpler.

Most of this is on him, not you.  It can be a bit frustrating, but the Navy deals with the service member more than the dependent, especially initially.  You'll get the hang of that.

Two years?  Nukem huh?  Yes, you qualify for a move to SC, although it takes a couple weeks to arrange.  

Good luck, and welcome!

[Jodie]

Thank you so much for the response.

Once he gets the call to come and swear in we will know more of a time line. I just was afraid that we would have the baby in the grey area between him quitting his job and getting things set up in boot camp.

You said that we should get a POA? What would this be used for?

Yes he is joining the Nuke program. I guess he scored as high as you can on the entry test and they reall pushed for him to join the Nuke program because of it. He is to smart for his own good.

I am open to any sugesstions, information and everything! I hope to make friends while my husband is serving. I have heard of the amazing relationships that have formed over military personnel and their families alike. :)

 

 

Thanks again

[Anti M]

The POA is handy in case someone wants to give you a bad time about him not being there to sign any sort of paperwork.  You may not need it, but it will be priceless if you do.

My nephew is a nuke, on his first boat.  He made 1st (E-6), re-enlisted for a chunk of change, is recently married and they are expecting.  Very happy family!

[Sailorswife2716]

Once he gets to bootcamp he'll have you all set as far as insurance and bah goes :) expect for him not to get paid until he's been there for a month, if it comes earlier than that then it's a nice surprise lol. Also when you find out your husbands pir date join the group on here and they will let you know the Facebook page for that group. Both helped me extensively! My husband graduated this past November and is now in a school. He scored high enough to go into the Nuke program and ended up going with aviation instead so his a school is right at 6 months which is not enough for us to move out there :( lol. I used to be a planner too but you kind of get used to a new "normal" when your in navy life lol. It's an emotional rollercoaster and it's easy to feel lost in the beginning but I have met amazing people who have helped me tremendously and bootcamp wasn't so bad, even with a 2 year old to help transition here at home without daddy

[Jodie]

Thanks for all the information! It's comforting knowing that other people have gone through this! We have a five year old, a two year old and one on the way. It will be hard juggling three kiss but it's worth it to support my husband!

I feel so lost right now and I hope I adjust to the navy life easily. Planning is my thing haha. Guess we will see!

[Sailorswife2716]

your amazing for supporting your husband through this! It's such a wonderful feeling when you truly support them with this, and they feel it too. This has been my husbands dream since we were in high school and he appreciates our family so much for supporting him in leading our family on this new journey. I know your husband appreciates you for this too :).

Congratulations to you and your family!

[Emily-aaronsgirl11]

Looks like Anti M answered everything for you! I just wanted to say welcome! My husband is also a Nuke, just about to hit his 5 year mark. If you ever have any questions or just need someone to talk to, you are more than welcome to message me! :)

[Jodie]

Awesome thank you!

Does your husband like nuke? There is just so much to learn! (:

[Emily-aaronsgirl11]

I won't lie, he's not the biggest fan of his job. Very few Nukes do enjoy their job. There's a reason that the enlistment and reenlistment come with big bonuses. They work very long hours.. they're always the first ones on and the last ones off the ship because of what their job entails. Some days are better than others, but overall, my husband will be getting out as soon as his reenlistment is up. The only reason he took the reenlistment was so that I had time to get my career started and could support him while he went back to college and changed careers. 

However, the Navy is the only reason we are where we are, so it's not all bad. The training the Nukes receive set them up for a very large variety of careers post Navy. My husband has friends who now work at Google using the qualifications and skills he gained in the Nuke field.  Once I was at a career fair to find myself a job, and after asking an energy company if they were hiring any software developers and receiving a no, I then made the off hand remark that they'd probably be more interested in my husband. He asked what my husband did and when I responded "he's a Nuke" he immediately was asking how long he has left in his enlistment and ended up taking down his name and contact information and giving me a 6-figure salary number even though he still has years left of his enlistment. And if they don't want one of those careers they still have the GI bill they can take to go back to school. My husband also has a friend who is attending an art institute in San Francisco.  

About a year and a half ago when all his high school friends were graduating from College, I asked him if it bothered him that he never finished and his answer surprised me... He said he used to regret his decision to join, but now when he looks at where he is in life and even though he doesn't like his job, he doesn't regret it anymore. He knows that without joining, he and I would not be married now, we wouldn't be living in our own home with our two cats that are our babies, and we most definitely wouldn't own two cars. 

So there's good and there's bad. But you'll have to form your opinion and your husband is after you've experienced it all. Everyone has a different experience. Just take it day by day and support him in whatever he wants to do. I've learned that "Happy wife, happy life" doesn't apply to most in this lifestyle. Usually it's "Happy Husband, happy life." ;)