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Military Families
Bootcamp, how soon will he get paid?
My husband is leaving soon for the Army, for bootcamp. Does anyone know how soon he would get paid? I know they get paid twice a month but does it take a couple of months before he will get any kind of pay? Is this something the recruiter should be able to answer for us? TIA!
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Re: Bootcamp, how soon will he get paid?
I assume it's similar to the AF. My H got paid right away (the first payday he was there) but it was a small check b/c they take money out of it and put it on a card for them to use to purchase things they'll need for BMT/BCT so be aware of that.
We had no complaints but I've heard plenty of horror stories where they don't get paid for a month (you get a big "catch up" check but that could be tough day to day if you don't have savings) or their paperwork is screwed up so it's not the correct amount right away.
Have a back up plan (savings account!) just to be safe.
Before my DH left for boot camp (USMC), we were told by recruiters to have 3 months of living expenses saved up. I worked full time but we did have the money saved up just in case. He had no access to his money until after his graduation when we transferred from PMCU to USAA.
When he was in boot camp, one of his buddies had a wife and baby back home and were not told they would have no access to the money until after graduation so it left them in a rough situation. So, just to be safe, I would make sure you have at least 3 months saved up.
It took me 9 weeks to get a pay check. Thank God I had saved up some money before I left so my mom could pay my bills and have money for my kids.
Really, it all depends on how fast they get his paperwork through.
As long as he uses a direct deposit slip for your bank account, you will have access to his paycheck. The person PP mentioned who had no access to her H's pay had a husband who probably screwed up and didn't bring the right deposit slip. If he doesn't, they will make him open up an account with whatever bank is there on post. Then, you will have no access to it until he can send you the info or until he graduates.
ETA: He has to choose if he wants to be paid once a month or twice a month. It isn't automatically twice a month.In the Army it depends whether or not he is Active Duty or Reserve/National Guard.
If he is a reservist and has already attended drill (battle assembly) then he should be paid after 2-3 weeks (I was paid 2 weeks into training on the 15th, 'cause they pay the 1st and 15th) because I had already gone to drill and all my info. was already in the system.
Active Duty soldiers had to wait at least a month.
But keep in mind the Army does Fck up...and a lot of new soldiers info gets lost or they don't get paid the right amount. Just keep in mind that sh!t happens and it takes awhile for the Army to get their paper work straight.