From Marines to Navy

[midgetts]

Hi All!
Thanks for all the info on this site. My husband and I have learned more on here in a few days, than months of talking to recruiters and "google".

My husband is a USMC reservist and is choosing to go active navy for the Nuke program. He doesn't go to boot camp since he's already a Marine, but does anyone know anything about TPU? Also anyone have babies in SC? We're expecting #2 and I'm deciding whether to stay here until the baby comes or not. Good Navy hospital? The one here (Oak Harbor WA) is pretty good but I know not all are (I'm a navy brat myself)

Thanks in advance for what I'm sure will be informative and entertaining replies!

[Preciousblue1965]

There is a Navy Hospital in Charleston but it is awfully far from the nuke base.  It was initially there for the Charleston Naval Base(now a border patrol training facility I believe) but it is still there.  I have known quite a few guys that had kids while they were there(now the question is where do you want your little one to have a Birth Certificate from, SC or WA?).  There is also a huge Air Force base there and a PuddlePirate(USCG) post there.  The TPU unit there 99% deals with nuke students that get dropped for one reason or another, so I don't know if he would really even have to report there.  More than likely if he did, they might just have him work at PSD until all the paperwork got caught up and give him time to get settled into housing or out in town.  Nukes don't get a lot of people that aren't fresh out of boot so you are kinda in uncharted waters in that regard. 

[JsonD13]

We had our two youngest children while in SC, and they sent us to the civilian hospital close to the weapons station in Goose Creek.  I don't remember the name, but I do remember it was a decent hospital.

[Ken_Subnuc]

There are plenty of married couples here in housing with children. So, I'm not sure if that answers your question, but you will not be alone. As far as the hospital goes, the nearest Navy Hospital is in Charleston; but, the Branch medical clinic here in housing is just 5 houses down from me (which covers basic doctors visits for yourself and your children). My wife and I are from Washington state, so if you're a foreigner to the south as we were....it's hot. And humid. The bugs are pretty awful as well. Other than that, it's not so bad . Just make sure he realizes that he is going into a learning environment of 14 hour classroom days with mainly 18-23 year nerds like myself heh. Hope that is somewhat helpful.

Good luck to you both,

~Ken

[Gamecock]

Wife and I had baby #3 while in Charleston.  You will go to the Naval Hospital for Pre-natal care, but you will go to Trident Medical Center

http://trident.icu.ehc.com/CustomPage.asp?guidCustomContentID=1BC3E34B-F91D-11D3-A2CA-00508B1245EF)

to have the baby.  Ours was a planned Csection..everything went well..good nurses....good doctors...all in all a good experience.

[midgetts]

It'll definately be a new world for me, my hubby lived in Virginia as a kid so he's excited. He can't wait for me to experience my first "down south thunder storm". We're prepared for long study days and little time together. We are in a place in our lives now that we're definately doing this for a reason, well two of them.  We're 23 and he's a nerd (though I'm not sure he wants me telling people that) and we need a better financial future. I hate hearing people complain about military pay, but that a whole different can of worms.

Thanks for the answers so far. I'm guessing the Great Lakes TPU question may be one for the recruiter, all we know is he'll get his uniforms, a quick intro to the navy, and his orders.