Tuesday, May 11, 2010

The things that got me through my husbands BCT & AIT

in all honesty I shared my story so other new Army wives don't end up with misinformation like we did so by the time your husband is done with AIT and he were to get overseas you'll be so damn prepared you could walk through the process blind folded..
 ..my best advice for BCT is 1. they say reception is 1 week long that is not necessarily true it could be longer before he actually starts Basic training 2. The amount and length of phone calls during BCT are not a representation of calls that you will get during actual BCT 3. It's better to be prepared for no phone calls Sunday or once a week calls are not a guarantee phone calls are a privilege & are earned as a platoon & are completely up to the DS's ..I got 5 four min calls when my husband was in BCT..look at each phone call as a gift cherish it..but don't spend all your time waiting for them..live life, have fun, enjoy your kids, friends, family just keep living ..if you sit around waiting the time goes slower..keep the end goal in sight that is him graduating and seeing you at fam/grad day and AIT is sooo much better lol

actually it is a good thing you asked about pay..you should get his first pay 1 month after leaves so if he leaves home June 20th his first check would be July 1st..
As long as he fills out everything correctly you will get BAH immediately separation pay kicks in after he has been gone 30 days so most likely check number 2 possibly check number 1...He does get a food allowance but the entire amount is deducted while he is in BCT since they are feeding him & during AIT they take all of it but $30 or so...
the first couple checks fluctuate sometimes the first check is bigger don't count on that as being an accurate amount...lol
taxes come off of his base pay they also take out $100 for the GI BILL
make a budget & make sure if you are planning on going to Grad that you set money aside for it...don't know where you bank but while my husband was in BCT I opened a joint account online at USAA it's geared for military families they are great..anyways I then just deposited extra money into it and eventually we will change our direct deposit over to it..I get our car, renters insurance through them...if you decide to open an acct you need to sign up as if you are your husband it makes it easier....
.1 big thing that made my husband super happy while he was in BCT is the day after he left I went to the dollar store and purchased 2 greeting cards for every week he'd be gone for BCT I love you, I miss you, thinking of you, plus any holidays he'd miss ..you get the idea anyways I sent 1 out every monday and friday on top of regular mail...
your husband has to do push ups for mail so your first thought is I will combine mail or not send him as much well that is WRONG the more mail he gets the more push ups he has to do which builds his stamina and endurance my husband was the older guy at 29 he never once failed a physical you can't be there to cheer your husband on or help him physically but you can make sure he is getting all the love, support, encouragement and cheerleading via letters and cards...
BCT is hard emotionally & physically your job is to make sure he knows how proud of him you and the kids are..So you write him, kids write him or draw pics..you can send him a small photo album of pics..also he should take his cell phone they will take it from him at first but then give it back to him when they are allowed phone calls..guys with cell phones are able to call home easier cause they don't have to wait in line for the land line phones..

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