Questions about Military Life (really long, sorry)

MammaBear81 · August 2011

I'm not really sure if this is the right place to post, and I apologize in advance for any stupid questions because I am quite new/naive to the thought of Military life.

Here is the background: DH has been through 3 jobs in 4 years because of the economy, his lack of a college degree is really hurting him and he is unable make a career out of any job that he gets (he was just laid off again last week due to his position being eliminated). I understand that you shouldn't join the Military just to get some school/training but without a job to pay for tuition there is no way he can go back to school. Joining the Military has come up before, he is interested in the Marines or the Army, but since we have kids, my fear of losing him has kept him from enlisting.

Here are the questions: DH spoke with a recruiter (he is only 32, so he isn't too old yet), but he didn't have many answers for the family side of things. How many of you have kids, and how well do they handle dad being away for so long? Do most moms work, or do you stay at home with the kids? Besides DH being gone for long periods of time, what is the hardest thing? What is one of the

I don't mean to crash your board, I don't know anyone who has enlisted with a family. Any advice is welcome, or if you know anywhere I can go/call to speak to someone that might help, it is greatly appreciated.

RunningMom08 · August 2011

Hi! Don't worry, you aren't crashing our board. This is a great place to ask those questions. We just had our LO, so I can't speak for having DH deploying with children. I can say that I love every minute of being an Army wife. It has it's ups and downs, and we face challenges, but they are worth it. I have found that in my social circles, that most wives don't work. It could be the posts we were at, but it was hard finding employment. I'm sure other wives on here will have different experiences. I think the hardest thing for me would be the long hours DH has had to work in the past. Right now we are back in a training environment, so we are lucky to have him working a set schedule for a while.

It looks like some of your questions got cut off, but I'm going to go ahead and say that some of the best things about being a military wife are the resources that are available to us like social activities, and help anytime we need it. The benefits are also great, and I have met some of the coolest people at our installations. They really are friends for life. If you have any more questions feel free to PM me!

ladybugpjb · August 2011

What branch is he considering?

DH hasn't been deployed since before we got married, so I can't answer from personal experience. However, I was talking to some other Navy wives recently whose husbands work on submarines. They talked about it being very difficult now that their kids are old enough to realize that daddy is gone and is rarely able to communicate while he's on the sub. On the other hand, my brother has deployed 3 times since his daughter was born (she's almost 6) and she has been able to cope very well.

All that to say, every situation is going to be different, depending on what branch, where you are stationed, etc. It's not always easy, and there are times that you have to really stretch yourself (to make friends, to cope with separation, to accept that your H can't tell you everything, etc), but I've mostly enjoyed the last couple of years. (Ask me again in a couple of months after H has deployed...I might not be so positive then ;-)

mizzmeg · August 2011

DH is Navy (On Subs).

I have a little girl who is only 3 months old so I am not sure exactly how it will work when he leaves. I am a SAHM and I love it. The hardest thing for me has to be an unpredictable schedule, aside from him leaving. We can never just plan a simple weekend/ week vacation because he might be gone or they might need him. But I do have to say the best thing is that I feel our relationship recharges when he comes home. I feel like we are starting fresh all over again.

Also, my dad was in the military. It was always tough for me to say good bye, but I don't think I ever fully understood what was happening. It made my relationship with my dad strong too because I knew that he could be leaving again.

Being a military spouse is tough, but never impossible. There are so many support systems through a base for you and the kids.

MyHusbandMyHero · August 2011

We havent had our LO yet so I cant answer those questions. DH is Air Force. BUT I do have to say when DH first enlisted -- I HAD to work, or we would not have made it financially. I know people who were SAHMs when there Hs were low in rank but it was difficult financially and they relied heavily on the base churchs food pantry. I would say its hard -- but it is a stable job, with good health care for all your children, and the ability to go to school while your active duty and have your GI bill later on, for him, you, or your kids.

mocknine · August 2011

My DH was prior enlistment, and in the process of going back in as an officer. He had mentioned that there is a cap on the number of dependents you can have when you go in. Not sure if that is dependent on the branch, or maybe your job, or what, but I would make sure you look into that since you guys would be going in with 6 dependents (including you).

Other than that, I'm not really much help- sorry! We were just dating when DH was in, and we didn't have any kids at that time. I'll be more help in about 6 months.

Good Luck! I hope everything works out for you guys.

p.s. I live in Carmel!

calliem0213 · August 2011

My H is Army. He has not been deployed yet, but he was gone for 7 months last year for Basic and AIT. Nathan handled it well, but he was only 7-14 months old. It was really hard, but joining was DH's dream.

I SAH with Nathan and we have no problem making ends meet. We also contribute to savings every month. I love the lifestyle and thing we personally live a great life.

NSL · August 2011

We have two kids, and yes it was very hard on my older son (who was three at the time) when my H deployed for a year. This is not a lifestyle I would recommend for couples with children, at least not at the current deployment tempo. I work because I choose to work, though my H is an officer whose MOS receives hefty bonuses every year. If he was junior enlisted (or even a junior officer) my employment wouldn't be optional. I would have to say that the hardest thing about H being in the Army is not getting to have much of a say in where we live, when we relocate, and how close we can be to family and friends.

The Army has been good to us, I won't lie. We have zero student loan debt because they paid for DH's undergrad and his post-graduate education. That said, I would take on that debt in a hot minute if it meant that we could get out, choose where to live, and never again put our family through deployment.

Smudges*Mom · August 2011

mocknine:
My DH was prior enlistment, and in the process of going back in as an officer. He had mentioned that there is a cap on the number of dependents you can have when you go in. Not sure if that is dependent on the branch, or maybe your job, or what, but I would make sure you look into that since you guys would be going in with 6 dependents (including you).
Other than that, I'm not really much help- sorry! We were just dating when DH was in, and we didn't have any kids at that time. I'll be more help in about 6 months.
Good Luck! I hope everything works out for you guys.
p.s. I live in Carmel!

I had not heard about the limit on dependents, but I found Army Regulation 601-210 and it indicates that a waiver from the recruiting battalion commander is required to enlist if one is married and has three or more children. OP, did your DH tell the recruiter how many kids y'all have? My understanding is that waivers are more difficult to get these days.

I have been an Army wife for five years now (my DH has been in for 16 years). The Army has been great for my DH, and our family--but it is not always easy. My DH left for training when I was 20 weeks along and deployed when I was about 32 weeks (on Mother's Day, at that!). He missed the delivery of our son, though, he was able to come home for 18 days (R&R) when LO was two months old. He redeployed when LO was 9 months old. Because he was so little, our son was unaware that his daddy was away. I know that a potential future deployment will be much more challenging. But, my DH loves what he does and I married him knowing the demands that the Army would place on him. We have moved a lot. We celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary earlier this month. We are living in house number six as a married couple.

If your DH is seriously considering enlisting, I would suggest that he spend some time studying for the ASVAB (the test administered that, in large part, will determine what jobs he may qualify for). I worked as a test examiner at an Army Education Center and administered the test regularly. When I was fresh out of high school or college, I would have likely done quite well. Now? I would not do well, at all. He should either go on line or buy a study guide. He will need to refresh himself on math equations and formulas as well as brush up on science and English information too. The better he does, the better his chances are.

Good luck with the decision that is ahead of your family. It is more than just a job, or even a career--it becomes a lifestyle for the entire family.

GreenFlamingo7 · August 2011

Is the recruiter aware that you have 5 children? Nothing wrong with having a big family, but it could potentially mean that your husband is not eligible to join the military. Depending on what the rules are at the time he tries to contract, he may either need a waiver due to his family size or he may simply not qualify. Just thought you might want a heads up so you can check into the current rules.

shanaboo1 · August 2011

Hi, just wanted to say I think it's great that you and your H are considering the military. We don't have children yet, so I can't speak on the kids issue, but I can say that in order to get through deployments you have to be a strong, independent, capable person. You will likely make almost every decision for your household without your H while he is deployed, and you have to be confident in the decisions you make.

I also wanted to point out that although you said your H is interested in either the Marines or the Army, he likely will not be eligible for the Marines based on his age. Cut off for Marine enlistment is 28, Army is 35 (must ship to basic before your 35th bday). There is a great site that gives you almost every detail you would need to know about the military's rules and regulations here: https://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/enlage.htm

For everything else, feel free to post here and we can help out. Good Luck!

MammaBear81 · August 2011

Thanks everyone for the great advice! When we only had two kids I worked PT, and was able to bring the kids with me, I was used to doing most of the childcare and the finances, DH helped around the house when he wasn't working, and loves playing with the kids. As the economy went down (along with our jobs) I found myself having to work more hours, and we eventually got to the point where I was working a full 40 hours per week, and DH was working two 40 hour jobs, just to make the same amount of money when he was working full time, and I was working PT. It's not what we wanted, but we figured things would get better soon. We were so wrong.

Until he got laid off last week we literally saw him from 7pm on Friday to 6pm on Sunday, and part of that he had to spend sleeping to get ready for the night shift.

He did tell the recruiter that he had 5 kids, and they talked about the waiver, and of course it isn't a guarantee that they would accept him. DH's biggest concern is the effect it will have on the kids since our oldest is almost 6 now. They don't see him much now, and he sees how much they miss him. I don't know if them seeing him once per week is better, or having him gone for a while, and then come home, and actually BE HOME with them.

If DH enlisted I would love to be a SAHM if we could afford it, it seems that it would be so much easier to just take care of the kids and finances and not have to juggle work and childcare.

Demersebm- I will definitely PM you when I have a moment!

Mocknine- will your stay in carmel when your DH reenlists, or will you be moving where ever he is sent?

How often do most of you move? I know it probably depends on the branch and job, but is it usually months, or years between moves? Thanks again everyone!

NSL · August 2011

Have you looked at junior enlisted salaries? They may be a lot lower than you think if you're planning to stay home.

To answer your follow-up question, we've moved twice in the last nine years. Moving more often has been an option for the last few years, but we like where we live and H's MOS gives us the luxury to stay put for awhile.

hoping4sticky · August 2011

I think a lot of it was mentioned, but he will have a very difficult time coming into the military at this point in his life. He could literally have a 19 year old outrank him. Also, with the reduction in force that is going on across the board, it will not be easy for him to join at 32 with 6 dependents. The pay will also not be great, but the benefits are fantastic. I also think that I have seen you around the working mom board, and if I remember correctly you are the primary bread winner. Well, you will not be able to live off of his salary for many many years with your family size and I'm not sure how portable your job is. Some of the bases are in the middle of nowhere with very few jobs for spouses. I'm lucky and have the ability to telcommute so I can take my job with me, but I have a JD and took a job 'beneath me' to allow this flexibility.

As to your original question, if he is able to join there are a lot of benefits. I'd say once he hit E-5 you could budget and live off of his salary if necessary (I have no idea what rank he could come in at). He can get tuition assistance which will pay for his school while he is working and he doesn't have to touch his GI Bill, and it is a steady job in this economy. I also don't even need to enroll in my health care plan so I was able to negotiate an extra $10k by opting out. Penisions are nice (if they don't get cut by Congress) after 20 years. Deployments suck but you make a lot of money during them. As far as deployments, DH has been deployed twice in 12 years (which is pretty unheard of in the Marines) and theoretically could possibly avoid beign deployed again if we play our next duty stations correctly. Alot depends on your MOS but even still DH is gone for a lot of training or right now he travels 150 - 200 days a year. You having older kids, it will be tough - Marines 7 months Army 12 away from your DH. Can't sugar coat it. The kids that I know that hated being a military brat were all older when their dads were in. My LO will be 9 when DH gets out, and will have maybe one move she remembers. Your oldest might move 5-6x or more.

I'm not trying to be negative, it has been the best for my DH - he will get out with a Top Secret Clearance, College Degree, Pension, and our LO's college paid for, but we both will have sacrificed to get these benefits. Lord only hope that we do not have to sacrifice as much as others. Now that I have written the great american novel, feel free to PM with Qs.

CravingQueen · August 2011

I love being a Navy wife. Someone mentioned sub families don't see their families much, but I think it's just as much deployment as any other branch/type of ship. The difference is, us sub wives don't get skype or phone calls, and have no clue where our DH's are! We barely get emails. Sigh. Lol.

But, I think the military would be a great choice for your family, I highly encourage you to go with your husband to talk to a recruiter. Talk to a recruiter for each branch and then decide. I'm partial to the Navy, of course

Let us know how it goes!

gigismomma · August 2011

I love being a Marine wife myself. I work fulltime and we have a 5 [almost 6] year old. H drove trucks before the military so DD didn't see him a lot from the beginning. Deployment is hard on her but she does get counseling at school free of charge on base [we live on base and she goes to base school]. Also Marine deployments for infantry are only 7 months with the possibility of an extension. H has never been extended and his job is in demand. I have heard other branches have longer deployment periods.

I have other friends who are wives who do not work because child care is not cheap on base or off, we are stationed on Camp Lejeune. Child care is based on income not rank so if you decide to work your income will be factored in to determine your rate to pay for child care. Also if you would like to attend school at the community college only your H's income will be considered and your children can attend fulltime daycare. There are before and after school programs as well but come with a cost again determined by income.

I would have to agree with PP, right now it is hard to join across the board. One of our family friends is a recruiter and is only allowed to bring in one recruit per month. I am not familiar with any limit on dependents but previous post seem to have covered that.

As for you other questions the hardest thing besides deployments is being away from family in my opinion. However, you do meet some awesome military families and they become like family.

I cannot speak for any other branch but in the Marines, depending on your H MOS [his job] will determine how good or bad the deployments will be. For example, I have a friend whose H is deployed and he is some kind of aircraft mechanic so he is stationed in the main area and communication is great there. They have Skype, phones, and computer access almost all the time. My H has a different type of work so while we do get Skype it is not an everyday treat for us. Last deployment H called home about once every two weeks and we would Skype maybe once a month.

mocknine · August 2011

MammaBear81:
Mocknine- will your stay in carmel when your DH reenlists, or will you be moving where ever he is sent?

::Keeping fingers crossed:: If DH is accepted into the pilot program, I believe schooling is a year long. The recruiter said it would be accompanied since it was that long. I have a good job, and we live close to our family, so I don't know if DD and I would go with him for schooling or wait until he was given orders for a permanent base.... I'm taking it one step at a time for the moment.

MammaBear81 · August 2011

mummyofsix:
We also have a large family, and it is literally beyond comprehension to me that you could even CONSIDER raising 5 children on pay that low.
$1600 a month for an E2 under 2. You'll be living in base housing I would imagine because there is so little way your BAH will afford you a 3-4 bedroom home (its not meant to....) which means that after tax you will probably get about $740 every 2 weeks. We coupon and shop smart and our commissary bill is about $340 every 2 weeks. I am really not trying to be horrible to you, I am sure you have thought this through, I just can't imagine how you can't do better in the 'real world'.
Deployments are hard on kids and hard on MM's. With either the USMC or Army he could easily be gone 12 months (DH's last combat dep was 12 months, we are USMC) and not only is that 12 months they are separated, its a year of you being a single Mom to that many kids. Girl, I have BTDT, and comparing it to a sucky work week is pointless. DH works bad hours now (4 days gone, 3 home, every single week) but its about 0.5% as bad as doing it totally alone. Don't just think of him and them, think of you.
As a USMC wife, and a Mom of many, I would really not recommend you do this. JMVHO. Sorry.....

I appreciate your honesty, and I know it wouldn't be easy to live on $1600 per month, but it's not impossible. Taking away our mortgage and childcare (which is what my job basically pays for) would bring our monthly expenses down to $2000 with out sacrificing anything. Right now we spend over $300 per month on gas for our cars (I'd assume that would do down considerably) and there are several other things we could cut out until he made more. As I said, it's a really tough decision, but as it stands now DH is making 9.50 an hour now that he lost his "real job" and lord knows when he will get another job. The "real world" hasn't been very nice to us, and we are looking for some sort of economic stability. I would give anything for DH to work for 4 days and then have 3 days off. I know that wouldn't be forever, he has to deploy at some point, but even just for a little while.

Until the economy tanked we used to be 50/50 in work and at home, it was wonderful! When DH had both jobs I would literally see him from Friday late night-Sunday morning (he wouldn't even have time to sleep at home during the week). Until last week I did all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, preparing etc. AND I worked, so honestly and truly, it would be easier for me to be home all day and have more time to get everything done! I know that having him one day per week is better than none, but I live every day wondering when the next shoe will drop. DH needs a steady job, and an education, the military offers that.

Our main concern is the children, how they will adjust, what kind of life they will have (they play soccer, and gymnastics etc. now).. I hate the term "army brat", but is there truth to it? Not trying to be snarky, but am I going to "screw up" my kids by living a military life? I have a lot more questions, but I would feel bad wasting someones time if DH can't get the waiver, we are waiting for the recruiters (navy and army) to call us back.

Thanks everyone for your honest opinions! If DH gets the waiver I will PM those of you who offered!

mocknine · August 2011

I sent you a PM

MammaBear81 · August 2011

mocknine:
I sent you a PM

Sent you a PM!

GreenFlamingo7 · August 2011

MammaBear81:
I appreciate your honesty, and I know it wouldn't be easy to live on $1600 per month, but it's not impossible. Taking away our mortgage and childcare (which is what my job basically pays for) would bring our monthly expenses down to $2000 with out sacrificing anything.

No, but it can be damn hard. Are you okay with public assistance? Many lower enlisted families recieve public assistance to help feed their families.

MammaBear81:
I know that wouldn't be forever, he has to deploy at some point, but even just for a little while.

Yes, but what about when he is gone for a straight year? You won't get a break at all. All the cooking, cleaning, childcare- it's alllllll you. Can you handle that?

MammaBear81:
DH needs a steady job, and an education, the military offers that.

Yes and no. Steady job, yes, because he can't just quit or get fired easily. An education means that he will be training in a job, but that job may not translate into a civilian job later. Example: Army tankers. That really doesn't help a resume much. He will get GI Bill benefits, but to get full benefits he needs to serve for a while first. Will he actually attend and complete college courses while in the military and with a large family? The educational benefits will be handed to him, but the education itself won't be.

MammaBear81:
Our main concern is the children, how they will adjust, what kind of life they will have (they play soccer, and gymnastics etc. now).. I hate the term "army brat", but is there truth to it? Not trying to be snarky, but am I going to "screw up" my kids by living a military life? I have a lot more questions, but I would feel bad wasting someones time if DH can't get the waiver, we are waiting for the recruiters (navy and army) to call us back.

I'm going to pretend that you asked this a little nicer. I mean really...do you honestly expect any of us to say "yes, my child is a brat and I am screwing him up royally while DH and I are in the military". The real answer to your questions is that they will have whatever type of life that you provide for them. Some duty assignments will have more options than others for classes, sports, and activites.

Overall you want general answers to questions that just don't have general answers. I'll give you an example. Last duty assignment, DH worked 80 hours a week, went in on weekends all the time, hated his job, his unit, was frustrated all the time, and was really worked into the dirt. A few months later he is working about 35 hours a week, loves his job and unit. He is in the exact same position doing the exact same work that he was previously, but it is with another command. You never know. You will never know the hours or days until he starts working them. You will never really know if this is a good fit for your family until you are in the middle of it. There are a thousand and two variables for question.

MammaBear81 · August 2011

GreenFlamingo7:
MammaBear81:
I appreciate your honesty, and I know it wouldn't be easy to live on $1600 per month, but it's not impossible. Taking away our mortgage and childcare (which is what my job basically pays for) would bring our monthly expenses down to $2000 with out sacrificing anything.

No, but it can be damn hard. Are you okay with public assistance? Many lower enlisted families recieve public assistance to help feed their families.

MammaBear81:
I know that wouldn't be forever, he has to deploy at some point, but even just for a little while.

Yes, but what about when he is gone for a straight year? You won't get a break at all. All the cooking, cleaning, childcare- it's alllllll you. Can you handle that?

MammaBear81:
DH needs a steady job, and an education, the military offers that.

Yes and no. Steady job, yes, because he can't just quit or get fired easily. An education means that he will be training in a job, but that job may not translate into a civilian job later. Example: Army tankers. That really doesn't help a resume much. He will get GI Bill benefits, but to get full benefits he needs to serve for a while first. Will he actually attend and complete college courses while in the military and with a large family? The educational benefits will be handed to him, but the education itself won't be.

MammaBear81:
Our main concern is the children, how they will adjust, what kind of life they will have (they play soccer, and gymnastics etc. now).. I hate the term "army brat", but is there truth to it? Not trying to be snarky, but am I going to "screw up" my kids by living a military life? I have a lot more questions, but I would feel bad wasting someones time if DH can't get the waiver, we are waiting for the recruiters (navy and army) to call us back.

I'm going to pretend that you asked this a little nicer. I mean really...do you honestly expect any of us to say "yes, my child is a brat and I am screwing him up royally while DH and I are in the military". The real answer to your questions is that they will have whatever type of life that you provide for them. Some duty assignments will have more options than others for classes, sports, and activites.

Overall you want general answers to questions that just don't have general answers. I'll give you an example. Last duty assignment, DH worked 80 hours a week, went in on weekends all the time, hated his job, his unit, was frustrated all the time, and was really worked into the dirt. A few months later he is working about 35 hours a week, loves his job and unit. He is in the exact same position doing the exact same work that he was previously, but it is with another command. You never know. You will never know the hours or days until he starts working them. You will never really know if this is a good fit for your family until you are in the middle of it. There are a thousand and two variables for question.

Thank you for your answers. I am sorry I couldn't find a way to phrase "army brat" any better. That is all I keep hearing from people "do you really want to do that to your kids?", but of course none of them have actually served in the military (except my father, but that was before he had kids) which really makes their comments null. That is why I wanted to ask families that have real input, and honest answers. I'm sure things are a little different now, communication is much better (skype, phone calls etc. weren't available 40 years ago) but video with dad once in a while isn't the same as having him around. I guess it would be better to say, if you had a choice would you do it again?

I haven't gotten very far on the GI bill, if classes are offered on base, or are they more online? If you can be deployed at any time, and he starts a class while on base and then gets deployed is he able to finish a class while he is deployed, or will it have to wait until he is back?

To Mummyofsix- I'm sorry for the confusion, working an 8-12 hour day and being able to come home at night and sleep in a real bed is considered a "day off" for DH, I should have phrased that better. It's good to know that different training's and jobs have different schedules.

The army recruiter had DH come in, said the waiver shouldn't be a problem and gave DH a practice test on the spot. DH got a 61 and they showed him a list of jobs that he would qualify for if he got the same score on the real test. All of the jobs are listed on YouTube so we are going to check them out together tonight. He was working IT so they gave him a few jobs that are in that area to look at. Thank you everyone.

GreenFlamingo7 · August 2011

Thank you for your answers. I am sorry I couldn't find a way to phrase "army brat" any better. That is all I keep hearing from people "do you really want to do that to your kids?", but of course none of them have actually served in the military (except my father, but that was before he had kids) which really makes their comments null. That is why I wanted to ask families that have real input, and honest answers. I'm sure things are a little different now, communication is much better (skype, phone calls etc. weren't available 40 years ago) but video with dad once in a while isn't the same as having him around. I guess it would be better to say, if you had a choice would you do it again?

I would do it again. I loved being AD, DH loves being AD, and I like that we will be raising our child in different states and potentially different countries. We love to travel, we love the pay (just being honest here), love the benefits (100% free healthcare is fantastic), love being around other military families. It's hard as hell at times, but we still love it.

I haven't gotten very far on the GI bill, if classes are offered on base, or are they more online? If you can be deployed at any time, and he starts a class while on base and then gets deployed is he able to finish a class while he is deployed, or will it have to wait until he is back?

Completely depends on the school and the situation. I know people that have completed 30 hours of college while deployed. I know people that had to drop or postpone their classes and couldn't even complete one during their year gone. It depends on how much time off the mission allows and the communications. When I was deployed it even depended on the location- I was in two different towns but with the same unit and the same job. If I was in location B the entire deployment instead of location A, I would have been 1/4 done with my masters by the time the deployment was over. It didn't work that way in location A. My BIL is deployed now and doesn't have time to write a letter, much less take a class.

The army recruiter had DH come in, said the waiver shouldn't be a problem and gave DH a practice test on the spot. DH got a 61 and they showed him a list of jobs that he would qualify for if he got the same score on the real test. All of the jobs are listed on YouTube so we are going to check them out together tonight. He was working IT so they gave him a few jobs that are in that area to look at. Thank you everyone.

He needs to study and take the test again. A 61 is going to keep from from a lot of good jobs.

MammaBear81 · August 2011

GreenFlamingo7:
He needs to study and take the test again. A 61 is going to keep from from a lot of good jobs.

What is the highest you can get? The recruiter said that you need a 30 to get in, and they like to see at least a 50, but he didn't tell him what it would take to get the top jobs. It was just a practice test, DH has to go back to take the real one.

GreenFlamingo7 · August 2011

99 I believe.

Different jobs have a minimum ASVAB score they can accept. The higher his score, the more job options he will have. He can buy a study guide or use one of the free ones online.

MammaBear81 · August 2011

GreenFlamingo7:
99 I believe.

Different jobs have a minimum ASVAB score they can accept. The higher his score, the more job options he will have. He can buy a study guide or use one of the free ones online.

Thanks again!

norvelln · August 2011

OK. This is from the Army point of view.

1-he will need a waiver. too many dependents.
2-asvab score is important, individual lines scores more so. i have seen people who scored under 50 on the asvab be offered jobs that just blew me away. line scores are super important. brush up on english and math. google math for morons and that web site will help out A LOT. it is a perishable skill. the rest of the test, either you know it or you don't.
3-he can ship to BTT as a PVT/E1 or E2 or E3 depending on how he qualifies (education level, JROTC in HS or basic training task list) or how hard he wants to work for it. bach degree=E4.
4-qualificaitons are the key. we go by age, physical condition, prior service, law, education, marital status, dependents, test (ASVAB). for example, color blind knocks him out of most commo and a lot of combat arms jobs.
5-not everyone is guaranteed housing, but you are guaranteed housing allowance if not in gov quarters. gov housing is not to everyone's perfect standards. i live in quarters, my BAH (housing allowance) is pretty high, but I looked for convenience more than anything. I live and work on the same side of post. i do not like 30 min and higher commutes.
6-at 32 he will have some knowledge and experience that no 25 year old could fathom. but...like others have stated...there is a serious possibility that he could be a subordinate to that same 25 year old who has deployed a couple of times at a minimum. he will need to put some pride aside and realize we are a different world. i am 35 and I have subordinates who are older than me. that is just the way it is.
7- JR enl pay is NOT awesome, however, there are some benefits that you will not get on the "outside". being JR enlisted is not forever. if he is motivatedand demonstrates leadership potential and proficiency, he could move through the ranks a little quicker than some. that will take sacrifice on YOUR part as well. he may need to come home and get on the computer to do correspondence courses or college. LET HIM DO IT. don't whine and complain "you never..." He is trying to progress for YOU and your children. Few things pi$$ me off more than watching one of my troops' spouse complain that he never spends time with her because he is always going to college. seriously?
8-there are late nights, early mornings, weekends, FSX, FTX, NTC, deployments, CQ, SD etc that will take him physically away. there are ways to make this successful or a major hassle. you will be the determining factor. Yup, I work late A LOT (even as the boss). If is needs to get done, it will be done. In my squad I am directly responsible for 5 NCOs, 8 JR ENL. I answer to a 1SG, CO Commander, BN Commander, XO and CSM. I get phone calls. "Well just don't answer your phone" <not an option>. I answer them, I work it out and make things happen. That is how I am able to provide so very well for my family. ANd I do.
9-As far as being a stay at home...depends on the ages of the kids. If they are all in school, a little part time work at the PX won't kill you. If you have to juggle day care and school...look into being an at home provider for child care. He could qualify for an extra allowance but not until he gets to the first duty station.

I have a write up that I did for my nephew while he was making his choice. Not pushing a service, I actually showed him all five ((yes, 5)). Going to post it below, you are welcome to talk to me should you desire. I have been the daughter of active duty, wife of active duty, dual military, sole provider AD status with an AWESOME SAHD and yup I have a kid and one on the way. So I think I have some experience on the subject. I am also HR.

norvelln · August 2011

All branches of the military have pros and cons depending on what you are looking for. The most common interests (no specific order) are money, travel, job training, college benefits, adventure (like jumping out of planes and other blood rush activities) and service to country. No matter what, there is no such thing as a ?safe? service. Every branch deploys. Some go longer than others and some go more often. It just depends on the mission of the unit you are in at the time.

Qualifications are based on your law history (tickets, court records to include sealed/expunged), education status (high school senior/hs graduate/ged), physical status (some prescreening can be done with the recruiter), dependent status (single parent/married with or without kids and # of deps) and finally the ASVAB score.
You will sign TWO contracts. The first contract you sign is the ?DEP? or Delayed Entry Program contract. You will sign a second contract the day you ship to basic training. READ YOUR CONTRACT. If a recruiter or guidance counselor has promised something MAKE SURE it is in the contract BEFORE you sign it. If it isn?t there, it does not exist.
Everyone is contracted for EIGHT years. DEP time does NOT count. The amount of active duty and individual ready reserve time is combined to equal eight. If you do 4 years active and do not reenlist, you will have 4 years of IRR commitment. You can be recalled to active status or involuntarily placed in a reserve status or they may never talk to you during the IRR time.
BUDDY PROGRAM: If the service offers it, you BOTH must be qualified and remain so. If one loses eligibility or changes his mind, the other may still be obligated.

Air Force
Job: Called ?Air Force Specialty Code? or AFSC. Most AFSCs are offered in basic training. You will find out what your job will be about week 5 of basic. It is not uncommon for a recruit to go to MEPS and come home without a ship date. You should remain flexible as far as preferences and ship dates.
Basic training: 8.5 weeks
School: ?Tech? School ? length depends on AFSC
Deploys: Yes ?average 6 months (frequency determined by assigned band)
Travel opportunity: 62 CONUS bases, 15 locations OCONUS
Pay: Same as other services
https://usmilitary.about.com/od/airforcejoin/a/chooseaf.htm
https://www.airforce.com

Army
Job: Called ?Military Occupational Specialty? or MOS. Determined by qualifications and availability. Can be chosen BEFORE basic training, must remain qualified
Basic training: 10 weeks
School: AIT (Advanced Individual Training) ? length depends on MOS
Deploys: Yes-average 12 months (frequency determined by unit mission)
Travel opportunity: 60 CONUS bases, 11 locations OCONUS
Pay: Same as other services
https://usmilitary.about.com/od/armyjoin/a/choosearmy.htm
https://www.goarmy.com/

Coast Guard (fall under Dept of Homeland Security as of 2003)
Job: Called ?Ratings?. Low number of jobs, but all relate to civilian sector.
Basic training: 7.5 weeks
School: ?A? School ? length depends on rating, normally attend a year after basic
Deploys: Yes ? varies from a few days to several months depending on the mission
Travel opportunity: 53 CONUS bases/air stations, 4 locations OCONUS
Pay: Same as other services
https://usmilitary.about.com/od/coastguard/United_States_Coast_Guard.htm
https://www.gocoastguard.com/get-the-answers/get-more-information

Marines (fall under the USN)
Job: Called ?Military Occupational Specialty? or MOS. Most enlist through a general field, rarely offered a guaranteed job.
Basic training: 12.5 weeks
School: Infantry field 51 days, all others depending on job plus 22 days
Deploys: Yes ?average 8 months
Travel opportunity: 15 CONUS bases, 3 locations OCONUS
Pay: Same as other services
https://usmilitary.about.com/od/marinejoin/a/choosemarine.htm
https://www.marines.mil/Pages/Default.aspx

Navy
Job: Called ?Ratings?. Some guaranteed jobs, not all. You can enlist for specific areas without promise of specific job.
Basic training: 9 weeks (swimming required)
School: ?A? School ? length depends on rating; possibly ?C? school as well
Deploys: Yes- 6 to 12 months, most are ships, some are on ground in joint service situations
Travel opportunity: 51 CONUS bases, 10 locations OCONUS; many assignments to ships not bases
Pay: Same as other services
https://usmilitary.about.com/od/navyjoin/a/choosenavy.htm
https://www.navy.mil/swf/index.asp

MammaBear81 · August 2011

Thanks for all of the info norvelln!

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