Expert: Howard Lorenz - 10/31/2007

Question
Hello, I am a new recruit in DEP program for the Navy. My question is how or if my wife and I will be able to be together while in A school? She wants to move to Chicago while I am in School after Basic.How can I make that happen?

Thank You.

Answer
Mark,

Congratulations on your decision to join the Navy. Military service has been good to me over the past years. Now that you are in the Navy DEP, you need to address these wuestions to you recruiter. Depending on how long your training is (6 months or longer for the Air Force) your family can follow you to the training base at governmnet expense. Now there is nothing that states that she can not move to the area while you are in training, but she must understand that you are in a training environment and that you may not be able to stay with her for that duration and you will have to take on the expenses of the living arrangemnts.

If your school is only a few months, I would ask the recruiter if she can be moved to the base in which you are going to be stationed at. This information is not known at this time and will not be known untill you more than likely finish your A school. Most services will not move dependants untill they know that you will finish the inintial training, including A school.

So I would get with your recruiter and bring your wife with you to ALL meetings, so that she is included in all the information that he provides to you inregards to your new position. Our spouses are the back bone to our success in the field, keep her in the loop. Its key to her happiness and mental well being when things get tough as they most certainly will in the future with deployments and such.

So to recap,
1. get with your recruiter, set up the meeting. After DEP call would be a great time.
2. dont be afraid to ask the hard questions, your recruiter still works for you until you leave out for BMT.

Im sure that after your meeting you will have all the answers you need, if not Hit me again....

HW