Quote:
Originally Posted by Scout007
I saw the pay chart for the service and for a E-1 they pay you $1400 is that a month or every pay check. I have a family of five If i take my family with me how much is it for health care. What are the benefits of allowing my family to move on the base with me. Just give me every input on what I should expect... Is it a good idea to take my family with? Will my family benefit from living on the base and will they go to an school on base or outside in a town school. I have three kids and a wife, can we live off the amount that we get paid. I don't have any college credits only a basic plumbing certificate. How fast can you move up to get more money.
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First, with that many dependents, you would need a waiver (for precisely the reason you ask - how can you support a family on that) and your wife will probably need to prove sufficient income or assets that can support the family in order to get that waiver.
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joini...tandards_2.htm talks about dependents and waivers - go about 2/3 of the way down the page for it.
It depends on the service how fast you move up. AF is slower than Army for instance.
The $1400 is a month's pay. In addition, you will get BAS (food money, theoretically enough to pay for your groceries) and BAH (housing allowance based on the zipcode of your duty assignment and your rank and dependent status).
Taking your family with you: after your basic and your tech school (AIT, A school....) you will get an assignment. Unless it is an unaccompanied assignment (like to Korea), it is expected your family will come with you. Geographical Bachelors are frowned upon, and financially it is more difficult to maintain two households. Your BAH would have to cover your housing and your family's housing. Most CONUS (states ) assignments have your kids attend the district schools - there are a few DoD schools in the states, but for the most part, its whatever district the base is zoned for. Overseas, its a DoD school. You may also find that there is a long waiting list for base housing for the lower enlisted folks, like you would be. Those are the people that really need the more affordable housing and you will have more competition for the base housing. Higher enlisted ranks tend to buy or rent off base more often because their BAH is higher.
Health insurance is paid for 100%. Family dental is $30 per month and optional.
Have you talked to a recruiter about a dependent waiver? That will be a big hurdle for you. Also, there are a few ways you can enter as an E-3 - make sure you really don't qualify for that before you write it off.
editing to add: I just read your other post. Because your wife cannot work, you may not get the waiver. If so, consider the reserves or guard, see if they will let you in. That would be a foot in the door and maybe someone else here can comment as to whether you can go active after some time and rank advancement.
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