I'm becoming a Navy wife!?

Question

I was just wondering what living on base is like and what I can expect? My husband leaves Jan. 26th 2009 for boot-camp and I would just like some in-site on the whole Military life?

Answer 1

When he leaves for Boot Camp you will not see him until graduation.  It can take up to 8 weeks before the first pay will be deposited into your account so make sure you have contacted the creditors and have money saved for this.  He will get Basic Pay, BAH (housing allowance based on your zip code while on unaccompanied orders) and Family Separation.  There will be regular deductions that you have to take into account for as well as the basics.  Like SGLI ($29 for life insurance on him), $100 for GI Bill, etc...

After graduation he will be going to school, how long that is going to b will depend on what he is doing.  It can be a few weeks or almost 2 years.  If his schooling is less than 6 months you will not be able to be with him.  You can go up there but it will be done all on your own dime and when he does get orders to the first command the military will pay to move you from the location you are to be at.

Once he gets the orders it could be good news or it could be bad news.  Good news is you go together and he is home for awhile.  Bad news has several options like he could be deploying right away when he reports or he could be sent overseas unaccompanied.    You will qualify for military housing if he has accompanied orders.  With just the 2 of you, qualify for a 2 bedroom. It could be various styles.  But in some areas there can be a wait for housing so you must find a place to live in while waiting.  this wait can be up to 2 years in length in some locations.  Other places you will get in right away.  

With him going to a Sea command he can be out during the week and home on weekends, he can be out for a few weeks on work ups, out for a few months on exercises or deployed for over 6 months to various locations.  This are difficult but you can work through them.  If he is on a surface command then you will have emails and phone calls which help.  Plus the good old snail mail which should always happen.

There are support groups out there if you need more information or just someone to talk to.  Like yahoo groups, http://www.cinchouse.com (forums) and http://forums.military.com/eve/forums/a/...  (military.com)

Answer 2

Good luck with that.  My boyfriend is at USMC boot camp and we've talked about marriage.  The only thing that I can say is to stay strong, and cherish the time that y'all have together when he's not at sea.  I'd imagine that it'd be easier to live on base than off, because you're surrounded by people who either have been in your position, or currently are, when he's at sea.  Good luck with your Sailor. :)

And technically the Marines are a sub-division of the Navy...not an actual part of it..

Answer 3

So is my sister I fell srry 4 u !

Answer 4

Be proud of your husband! He is giving a great service to our Nation. And Devil Cat, you do realize that out of all the other branches, the Marines is the most connected with the Navy, right?

Answer 5

All I can said is, get used to not seeing him very much. They're out to sea 6-9 months at a time, home for 3 weeks and back out to sea again. Other then that its not bad.

p.s

whats so funny devil cat your hubby is part of the navy too.

hehehehehehehe

Answer 6

Congrats hun.

My words of advise is to keep busy busy busy. Get a job , volunteer , etc. Your husband will be gone on float alot. That's the thing about being with somebody in the Navy. My Dad was in the Navy all i remember was the fact that he was gone all the time.

As a wife you will have alot of time alone and your job is to keep house and home while he is gone, that also includes your sanity. Too many wives I know sit by the phone causing themselves grief waiting for that next phone call.

Time goes by better when you are out doing stuff as well.

You husband is busy, so you should be too.

And Devil Cat I highly doubt you are a Marine wife with a comments so ignorant and immature that the one you made. The Marine Corps is a department of the Navy. If you were smart you'd know that and not go branch bashing.

Answer 7

it really depends on what base you are at. Oceana is nice. its big. compared to where i live on a Army base. the biggest store we have is Wal-mart 20 minutes away.

but you really have to wait and see. housing is sometimes iffy. a lot of bases got some money and are redoing their housing which hasnt been renovated since it was first built in the 60's.

there will be a grocery store (comissary), a px (has a bunch of little stores, like a beauty shop, baber shop, small places to eat like subway, a clothing section and a hardware section. they will also have  uniform shops). there will be a post office and a bank or three. there could be a library, school, a few gyms and ect.

basically it is like your own little confined city. you have to show id to get on base every time you come home.

its hard, being a military wife. you have to decide how you are going to handle it.

a lot of women are content and some are not. the way i see it is i stand beside my husband, not behind him. we are in this together.

for navy he will be gone on 6-9 month med cruises. so you will be alone. you need to find something to do with yourself if you arent going to work. find a club to join, get a hobby. otherwise you will get depressed. you need to find some other women to talk to.

there is a site i recommend online. the home site is

www.militarywives.com

but they have support groups off that site called

www.navywives.com

they have one for every branch. it is a great way to find a support network. i live on a small base in the middle of no where. and i realized it is hard for me to make friends. especially since we live on a transit base. most people are only there for a month to a few years for training and are not stationed there.

if you are going to work, try to set up a job now. normally if you move to a military area employers understand the lifestyle. you can also get a job on base as a civilian. its a great way to maintain a job from base to base.

i wont lie, it is hard. harder than i thought it would be and i am a strong and independent woman.