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Yep, tight is putting it mildly. Living in base approved housing (translation a dump) and not getting enough to cover just the basic expenses (rent and utilities) put us so far in the hole we couldn’t even see daylight. Hubby had the rank to live on base, but you sit on the list.
Which is another thing you have to consider and discuss with the recruiter thunderbear, what will his rank be once he’s finished school? You are not eligible for on base housing until E4 I believe. I could be mistaken, but there used to be a minimum rank. The Army used to be the best to make rank, but we’ve lived on Navy bases, Army bases, and Air Force bases. The Army and Navy could care less about the living quarters for enlisted. They’re dumps, the saying is that the Army builds tanks, the Navy builds ships and then uses what is left over for their housing (nothing). The Air Force builds their housing, then worries about their planes. Living on an AF Base was like a resort compared to the Army and Navy.
My son is planning on joining the Marines. He’s pretty determined, but I would much rather him join the Air Force, they take much better care of their people. He’ll be single, so it won’t be an issue. BUT we PCS’d stateside and they gave us TWO DAYS TLA (temporary living allowance for hotel), even though they knew we were coming and had reached the top of the housing list, it still took them 45 days to get us into on-base housing. Who will rent to you for 45 days? (Overseas is completely different of course).
Also, unless things have drastically changed in the last 20 years, YOU have to agree to let your husband enlist if you’re legally married.
There are many benefits to serving in the military, but each and every one is paid for literally with blood, sweat, and tears. There’s a reason it’s a young man’s game.
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I've been married for 24 years and have four wonderful children.
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