Expert: John L - 9/30/2008

Question
    Mr Lewis,
 My name is Lee. I am 22 years old, I am an eagle scout, a father and a husband. i have always dreamed of persuing a career in the us military particularly the US Army. I have spoken with a few recruiters and it seems every branch gives me a different answer. What rank will i be enlisted as with my eagle scout credential? the marines and navy recruiters said E3. the army told me E2.
    Secondly, during basic traning will i be able to recieve pay to support my family at home?
    Third, when will my wife and daughter join me in our new military life. will they be with me through school after basic?
    Fourth what types of support will be available to my family if and when i am deployed? their quality of life means more to me than anything and i want to be sure i am making the best decission in their interests.
  Thank you very much,  Lee

Answer
Eagle scout alone gets you E2 in the Army.  Not sure of Marines (though I know its not E3) and the navy is also E2.  If you have JROTC or college credits, you can get E3 depending on the amount you have of those.

You will recieve full time pay while in training.  It is direct deposited so your family will have funds.  Check out military pay charts for the rates of E2.  You will also receive a housing allowance since you have dependents, the rates vary on where you live or are stationed.

After training, you will either live in base housing, where you lose your housing allowance, or live in town and receive the housing allowance.  There are positive and negatives to living on base or not.  Its a personal choice, though as a lower enlisted, I recommend living on base.  Its a quality of life issue while pay is still low.

Your family will be able to join you after you report to your fist duty station with a few exceptions.  But they usually do not send married soldiers to these stations for first tour.

If you deploy, you receive extra money, combat pay, family serration pay, and tax free pay.  So basically your wife can shop to help her blues while you are away (just kidding).  Plus there are family support groups out there to help with issues she would like help on.

When you talk to a recruiter about Army, be sure to talk to a National Guard recruiter as well.  They have an Active First program than pays bonuses different than the Army and usually more, and it is an active duty job, just like talking to an active duty recruiter, only better.

Good luck