SOON TO BE DUAL MILITARY! PLEASE HELP!

[lilbabygirl305]

I have a few questions I was hoping you guys could answer. I am a Marine and my husband is joining to be a Nuke. I have read posts about wives being able to accompany their husband to South Carolina during their schooling, but how does that work with me being military? Also, I am stationed at Camp Pendleton. Will he get stationed nearby or??? What can I expect with him being a Nuke? I just want to be completely prepared so when he leaves, he will not have any kind of concerns about his family (so he can focus on boot camp and school). How will family life be? How often would he be able to see his family? Your advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks

[KUrunner]

If you are stationed in California, you aren't going to be able to come to SC with him.  Depending on his rate and how long he's on hold, he'll be here around 18 months to 2 years, maybe more.  After he is done with school, if you are still at Pendleton, he might be able to get stationed in San Diego.  In theory, the military tries to station you near each other, but their definition of near each other is if you are in the same quadrant of the country.  There is also a high probability that while he's stationed in SD, you'll be transferred somewhere else.  You aren't specific about what your job is, but there is always that chance that he'll be in Pearl Harbor and you'll be in Quantico.

All that being said, I was part of a dual-military couple (was being the key word).  We were both nukes so we were in Goose Creek together and then both sent to Norfolk on different ships.  We were pretty lucky as far as our duty stations went but with deployments and the general time commitments of the Navy, we couldn't make it work.  It's hard enough to be a Navy wife without also having to deal with being in the military too.  It's possible to make it work, but it's going to be hard. 

[rumrunner]

I served in the Marines and then after discharge I joined the Navy as a nuke.  Granted it's been many years but some things don't change. Offhand I'd say unless the Corps has a billet for you in Charleston (or perhaps Parris Island or MCAS Beaufort) and your current command is willing to transfer you, your husband will be in Charleston and you'll be at Pendleton.  After he completes nuclear power training there is no way to predict which ship he will be assigned to.  Certainly, the Navy will try to work with him in getting assigned to a ship on the west coast but as should know, orders are based on the needs of the service.  What you can expect with him being a nuke is that he'll be at sea a lot and often for big chunks of time.  This doesn't need to be sugar coated...it is going to be damned difficult with you being a Marine and his being a nuke.  It can be a problem with married couples in the same branch.  Being in two different branches just adds another layer or five of difficulty.

[lilbabygirl305]

True. I know it will be hard as hell. Thank you guys for the in sight. I don't want any kind of sugar coating so I appreciate the honesty. My MOS is a maintenance management specialist, so I might be able to see if there is a way that i can get stationed by him... My command would be willing to transfer me. I have a fairly good supportive command. Like where are the places he could get stationed? Would I be able to get orders after he recieves his to be stationed where he would be stationed if it is not at Pendleton?

If not, would my husband get 72's and 96's off during school? Would I be able to visit him? Are there hotels on base that I could stay if I were to take leave to see him when he goes? In between schools, does he get time off? Would he be able to take leave?

How long would he be at sea? Would he be able to at least see his family 3/4 months a year? Not at a time but total? I know its going to be hard as hell, but it is something he really wants to do and I completely support him and his decisions.

[KUrunner]

There are a couple threads on this forum that go into detail about where nukes can be stationed.  You can just do a search or go to http://www.navy.mil/navydata/ships/lists/homeport.asp to see what the options are.  He can be on CVNs, SSBNs, or SSNs.

You'll be able to visit him while he's in school.  There aren't any hotels on base, but there are several out in town.  There are villas on-base that you can rent out, but I'm not sure what the requirements/costs are.  In between schools, he'll usually be able to take 10-14 days of leave.  During NFAS and NPS, he'll maybe get a couple of 3 day weekends, depending on what holidays fall when.  While at prototype, he'll get a couple of 4 day breaks.

How long he'll be at sea depends on what type of ship he's stationed.  Carriers and fast attacks deploy for an average of 6-8 months-ish.  (Someone correct me if I'm wrong on that.)  Of course, fast attacks will often go out for shorter periods of time between deployments.  My ex would call home and let me know that the ship was going out for 3 weeks and he was leaving in a few hours.  Boomers are 3 months in, 3 months out.

[lilbabygirl305]

Thank You KUrunner. That website was really helpful. And that is comforting that I will be able to see him during school. :-) Will he be in the barracks? Or?

Is there anything else that I should prepare myself for? Is there anything that I can do now to make the transition easier for him?

[rumrunner]

Just to clarify things, getting special liberty or taking leave is not something that is usual while in nuclear power school or prototype training.  It isn't as though your husband can request a long weekend just to see you and expect it will be approved.  It is training, so the expectation is the students will be in class every day, or will show up for their shift during prototype.  Nuclear power training is quite challenging and requires a great deal of dedication during the training process.  I don't know how it is these days, but in 1979 I spent the whole day in class, took a couple hours to eat and chill out, and then returned to the classroom for another 6 hours of study and homework.  These were 16 hour days easily before I hit the rack.  Study hours were essentially mandatory and you logged in and out so they could track them.  By the end of NP school I was on "mandatory 40's" which meant I had to log at least 40 hours per 7-days in-classroom, off-hours, study time.  I have to think it is pretty much the same way today.  The smart guys only had to do 20 hours or so.

[KUrunner]

Yep, he'll be in the barracks for A school and power school, then he'll have to rent a house for prototype.  The barracks have a very strict 'no members of the opposite sex' rule, so he'll have to see you elsewhere.

I'm not sure what to tell you to help with the transition.  My current husband is going through the pipeline now (I loved being a nuke so much, he just had to try it), and I wasn't able to move until he was in power school.  I'm sure you understand, being military yourself, how hard it is to be separated from your family for any period of time.  We talked every night and he got a chit to come home for a 2-day weekend to pick up his car, clothes, and computer.  Just make sure he knows that you love him/miss him/are thinking about him/etc.

And Rumrunner, it's basically the same thing now except the highest hours you can be put on is 30-5s. 

[lilbabygirl305]

Oh, I know that he would be do training and that he would not be able to take leave. When I was asking I was referring to in between schools. He'll be going to school 7 days a week?? And what are 30-5's?

Would I be able to mail him stuff? Like packages? Would he get single BAH (we have a kid. And I know my son would be "my dependent" because I am higher rank than him so than I would get dependent BAh {please correct me if I am wrong}) while in school? I understand that he would have to rent a house for prototype school, would he still get the single BAH or would we go with out it? Does he graduate from each school or is more of just your here a few weeks and the next your at the next school? Would I be able to attend every graduation (I am going to be as supportive as possible)? Also KUrunner, you said your hubby got a 2 day weekend to pick up his car, clothes and computer.. Would my hubby be able to get more than 2 days? Because he would have to fly from South Carolina to Cali then he would have to drive back (which would take longer than 2 days )

Sorry for so many questions. I just am excited and nervous!

[Neutron_Herder]

He'll be in class monday through Friday.  The 7 days a week comes in with study hours.  The 30-5's mentioned are 30 hours of study a week with 5 hours each night.

You'll be able to mail him whatever you want.  He will probably be in the barracks, so he'll get the BAQ-partial...  a couple of bucks a day.  You would get the BAH with dependents, which is good 'cause it's more money.  Being married, he might get single BAH, I honestly can't remember.

Each school will have a graduation ceremony, except prototype.  I don't think they have one. 

As far as making it out to Cali to get his stuff...  He'll have to wait until he gets leave to go.  He's not going to be able to take time off during school to travel coast to coast.  Don't forget how challenging this program is.  That study program mentioned above means he'll be in the schoolhouse 70 to 80 hours a week, and that's the minimum!  It will probably be more.

[lilbabygirl305]

Okay cool. You guys are so helpful!!! 

Since he probably won't be able to go coast to coast, could I ship the car to him or drive it cross country to him? Would he at least be able to pick it up? I am just trying to plan accordingly so when he does leave I am not SOL finacially.

Is there anything that he should be doing now before he goes in to help make things easier for him at school?

[Neutron_Herder]

I'm not sure what the deal is with leave after boot camp this week...  It changes, but depending on when he classes up for 'A' school he should get some time.  I'm not sure though.

I didn't go to school in Charleston, so I'm not sure what's available in the area around base.  In Orlando no one had a car until we went to power school, but then again there was a whole bunch to do right outside the gate.

As far as getting ready for school, there's really not much you can do.  Maybe make sure that he has enough clothes and stuff to only do laundry once a week.  Sounds silly, but there's really not a lot of time during the week.

Some of the newer people might know, but I remember there being a restriction about having cars the first 8 weeks or so of 'A' school...

[KUrunner]

As Neutron_Herder said, he won't be allowed to fly out to California until he gets leave.  You have to have special permission during the first two phases of school to go more than 75 miles from base, but they won't approve it for more than 400 miles.  Luckily, I was within the 400 mile radius so my husband was able to fly home.

There is a restriction about having cars during Phase 1, which is from the time you make it to Goose Creek until around Week 4 of A school (it depends on how well you are doing in school, on your inspections, etc.)  I think you can have a car on base, but you aren't allowed to drive.  You could ship it to him, or drive it yourself, but having a car during A school isn't a necessity.  Right next to NNPTC there is a bowling alley, a sports bar, a Subway and a convenience store (Mini-Nex).  There isn't much else within walking distance, but there is a bus that takes people into North Charleston where there is a mall, Best Buy, restaurants, etc.

Also, during Phase 1, you aren't authorized civilian clothes and they are limited during Phase 2 so he should be fine laundry wise.