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mamom1- Have you thought about the Air Force? He will be deployed at lost less (most likely- depends on specific job).
I am in the military, and love it, but know it is not for everyone.
If you don't like the schools or the rules on base, you can move off base and live in the local community. They will give him a housing allowance to offset the costs.
What kind of benefits do you have now? Do you know if he take the GI Bill and serves for 8 years, he can give it to your kids ($50k in an automatic college fund)....all of your health care will be taken care of, it's great!
I agree with Barb. Military "brats" as they are called, are very accepting, and sometimes don't even understand what "racism" is, as an example, because they are exposed to so many cultures on base and moving around.
Also, most bases have "Spouses" clubs or "wives" clubs to help the spouses of those who are deployed. My base is an AF base, but I'm sure the Army is similar. They have monthly spouses get togethers, free childcare (I think 4 hours a month) to give you a break, free oil changes once a quarter on base to help you maintain the car, and many other great things. The base has video phones that you can use to link up and see your deployed spouses (in some deployed locations). His chain of command will likely check on you with phone calls/visits, and they even have classes to help the spouses understand deployments and to help with "reintegration" (the process of him coming hom and feeling as if his life went on without him for 6 months)....
Anyway, hope that helps!
It always depends on the specialty but it is ENTIRELY UNTRUE about lesser deployments in the Air Force.I was deployed during the first war in Iraq,the midwestern floods,Homestead Florida,and a few issues in Europe as a security specialist(police).My friends who are still in have done 3 straight tours.2 guys from McGuire in NJ a friend from MacDill in Florida, and an old friend from Whiteman in Missouri.
Don't worry about the long hair.Even the conservative schools have all types and the only way he would most likely be bullied is based on his own merit,more likely then his appearance.Alot of times you do have choices to live off base and you'll receive BAQ for off base housing and BAS (food allowance).
Lancet- I said it depends on the jobs. Special Forces types (tac-p, pararescue), security forces, serrvices, and vehicle opps will probably deploy often. However, the Army does 15 month rotation. We do some 12 month rotations, but are still doing 4-6 month rotations primarily. I have been in ten years, and have never deployed. I have never been on a medical profile, non-deployable, or dodged deployments. I work with someone that has been in long enough to retire....never deployed and is a different career field. I have students from all other career fields, averaging 4-7 years time in service....from the 100 or so that I've polled, more than half have never seen a deployment. I truly believe our deployment rates are much lower for the AVERAGE Airman.... but like I said, depends on your career field. Most security police are on a regular 6-months out, 6 months in, continual schedule. But many careers have low, and even some have non-existent, deployment schedules.
It always depends on the specialty but it is ENTIRELY UNTRUE about lesser deployments in the Air Force.
False information, unless you define deployments by number of times you outprocessed. Statistics are not hard to find showing the number of the of deployments for each of the branches. On about dot com, it even broke it down by jobs, or AFSCs and MOSs...
The general standard for the air force is 120 days where as the army is 365 days. I know people who do four or five 60-day deployments to Qatar within an one year time frame. Do you think it fair to compare five 60-dayers is deploying more than the soldier who deployed for one 365 dayer?
As you did mention, as I'm sure you're aware the USAF even went to bands to forecast your deployment future.
There is the JET program (formerly ILO), where you an airman become a soldier for a year. Haven't seen '09 #s, but '08 #'s are 2000 and half were volunteer. Like everything else when it comes to the air force deploying, this is the exception to the rule.
The Army deploys more than we do in the Air Force, please do not wrongfully take that away from them.
False information, unless you define deployments by number of times you outprocessed. Statistics are not hard to find showing the number of the of deployments for each of the branches. On about dot com, it even broke it down by jobs, or AFSCs and MOSs...
The general standard for the air force is 120 days where as the army is 365 days. I know people who do four or five 60-day deployments to Qatar within an one year time frame. Do you think it fair to compare five 60-dayers is deploying more than the soldier who deployed for one 365 dayer?
As you did mention, as I'm sure you're aware the USAF even went to bands to forecast your deployment future.
There is the JET program (formerly ILO), where you an airman become a soldier for a year. Haven't seen '09 #s, but '08 #'s are 2000 and half were volunteer. Like everything else when it comes to the air force deploying, this is the exception to the rule.
The Army deploys more than we do in the Air Force, please do not wrongfully take that away from them.
My Iraq tour was 9 months straight.My friend Ray currently from McGuire has been away 2 straight years(also sec spec).Another friend Joe from Whiteman currently gone 6 months(he's a cook).On paper is one thing, reality is another.Do you realize when the issue with homestead florida happened,I was sent to florida for 6 months.The first month in modified tents while the marines were in hotels.I know alot of people view the air force like the luxury branch or that we have the easiest basic training,etc...but it's just that;perception.
dmarie, my husband will be 34 in a couple of months. He's too old for the air force.
Right now he works as a correctional officer and he HATES it. He has been doing it for four years and he doesn't want to do it anymore. He hates the monotony of "babysitting" inmates all day long. Especially since the inmates have more rights than he does. The pay is decent and we have ok health insurance and he gets bonuses every year. But right now he wants to do something he enjoys doing. He was going to sware in to be 68W and was looking forward to it since he is also a certified EMT.
I am used to him not being here since he works second shift. I'm not too worried about him being gone, just where we will end up. The recruiter wanted me to meet with his wife but I originally declined. I think I might take him up on that offer now.
Now that I am writing this, I am starting to feel like a jerk for telling him not to do it
If the OP is correct, the Air Force is a moot point.
---"my husband will be 34 in a couple of months. He's too old for the air force. "
My Iraq tour was 9 months straight.My friend Ray currently from McGuire has been away 2 straight years(also sec spec).Another friend Joe from Whiteman currently gone 6 months(he's a cook).On paper is one thing, reality is another.Do you realize when the issue with homestead florida happened,I was sent to florida for 6 months.The first month in modified tents while the marines were in hotels.I know alot of people view the air force like the luxury branch or that we have the easiest basic training,etc...but it's just that;perception.
I fully understand the "chair force" misconception. We work hard and generally do not get any recognition. You apparently have it tougher than most in the Air Force, which make you an exception not the rule. I work with the Army. To compare apples to apples, the worst "exception" I've heard in the Army is the highlight of their MONTH is getting peanut butter M&Ms in their 10 MREs. The average Airman has it easier than you and the average soldier has it better. I appreciate a fellow Airman that can step up and spearhead a challenge. Thank you for that your service.
Last edited by TheJagMan; 01-08-2010 at 05:06 PM..
Reason: To clairfy
I fully understand the "chair force" misconception. We work hard and generally do not get any recognition. You apparently have it tougher than most in the Air Force, which make you an exception not the rule. I work with the Army. To compare apples to apples, the worst "exception" I've heard in the Army is the highlight of their MONTH is getting peanut butter M&Ms in their 10 MREs. The average Airman has it easier than you and the average soldier has it better. I appreciate a fellow Airman that can step up and spearhead a challenge. Thank you for that your service.
Thank you for the kind words.I was discharged a few years ago but have about 12 friends that stayed in, that i'm still in contact with.Many people don't realize that air force tech school(security specialist) is at ft.dix and is partially instructed by the army as well.During tech school at both lackland and mcguire we had our fair share of mre's.I do find it amusing when I hear how much easier basic is nowadays including the timeout (walkaway) option.
The OP can also use this link www.allmilitary.com to ask further questions including benefits for all branches.
Something else I figure I'd throw in - while your husband's pay is lower, you will most likely qualify for Earned Income Credit which will add $ to your pocket. My son is an E-4 in the Marine Corps with 2 kids. He had less than $500 Federal withholding in 2009, yet they are getting back somewhere in the vicinity of $7,500 on their tax return!
Not sure if anyone has ever given these numbers to you so just in case:
1889.70 basic pay E4
323.87 BAS (nontaxable - food allowance)
and lets call the BAH a wash b/c if you live on base its gone and if you don't lets just assume you can find something equivalent for the sake of simplicity.
gives you about $2212/mo to work with including the assumption your housing has already been paid for. You still need to pay all utilities (except electric on base - even in privatized housing its covered as long as you don't have excessive use) on the housing.
There will be deductions for: SGLI (I think its about $25?), FICA, spouse life insurance (unless you elect to opt out) - its about $10/mo or so), and Dental insurance if you elect it ($30/mo). The income is so low you probably won't have any federal taxes deducted.
I don't think I am forgetting anything but someone will surely correct me if I am.
Getting an overseas assignment was probably one of the best things that happened to our finances when my husband was an E4. There was COLA, we lived on base (prior to that we had to rent an apartment t b/c the wait list for E-4s 2 bdrs was over 2 yrs long), we had one vehicle for most of the time we were there, and there was not a whole lot to spend things on anyway.
Dont forget if you are residents of a state that has Income taxes, that you will have that added too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheJagMan
I've heard in the Army is the highlight of their MONTH is getting peanut butter M&Ms in their 10 MREs.
lol! The highlight of my husbands week right now is Ice Cream on one specific day. He turns into a big kid when they are serving it.
Something else I figure I'd throw in - while your husband's pay is lower, you will most likely qualify for Earned Income Credit which will add $ to your pocket. My son is an E-4 in the Marine Corps with 2 kids. He had less than $500 Federal withholding in 2009, yet they are getting back somewhere in the vicinity of $7,500 on their tax return!
Claiming your children on your taxes is a SIGNIFICANT thing especially nowadays for returns.
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