Army spouses ... what is the recruiter NOT telling my husband?

Question

He is 36, a firefighter and a medic. He is frustrated with his job / life and now thinks he should enlist. First, it was reserves, now he is being pushed for active duty by the recruiter. I do not trust the recruiter, it sounds like a load of BS to me.
They claim that wages earned in the Army are tax free, moving costs are paid for, medical insurance is free for the family and he would make ~$1050/ month housing allowance to pay our mortgage and ~$1450 a month pay. He thinks this is a good deal. They have told him he could be in Phyc. Ops, then something called 61Whiskey (some sort of medevac) and the latest is that he could get a Phy. Asst. degree in two yrs, with a 4 yr. commitment tto active duty! (Masters in civilian world.)
They want him to be driven to MEPS by a recruiter Friday night, test all day Sat. and sign more papers. I think this stinks and I resent not being given a say in this. I think he is being lied to and will be trapped into something he hates. Insight please???

I am not trying to insult or take anything away from those who are serving in our Military. I am just upset because I have two kids, 3 dogs, a house .... and I am facing having to do everything alone while my husband goes off to find himself. I am working on my teaching certification and would like to have us both settled in careers. I have yet to see the honest financial benefit of enlistment. Is it noble ... yes. I just think that he is looking at this with rose colored glasses. I do not think it is worth my kids loosing their father to put our lives in the hands of some recruiter trying to meet a quota. I also read that the divorce rate is 78%. Is this really worth doing?
Please only answer if you have first hand knowledge.
Thank you!!

Answer 1

I am a soldier, i too was a firefighter for 5 years, you or him email me soon, im going to bed and will email you back tomorrow afternoon after work, i really want to talk to you or your husband about this. This is a big step and turning point in yalls life, get the view from the inside also.

The pay and medical benifets are true but with a catch, I cant explain everything here.

Answer 2

All of the pay is right. The moving expenses are paid for IF you are PCSing (Permanent Change of Station). The insurance is also true, you can check out military.com or tricare.com and look it up and the pay wages. The amount of BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) is based on the base you're at, but since it's not for sure where he'll be stationed until later, it's not helpful. In San Diego (Camp Pendleton) right now it's $1400 a month but obviously smaller in smaller places.
I wouldn't want my husband joining at age 36 though, you guys have kids and the pay is NOT going to be enough to live comfortably as a family. It's barely enough for me and my husband and we're not in the lower ranks which he will probably be at for 2 or 3 years. Especially starting out as an E-1 or E-2. You need to tell him that. I think it's great that he wants to help, but also it's not worth possibly (and more likely) going into debt really fast. As for the divorce rate, lol, you don't know much I guess, but a lot of the marriages aren't real. Some of the guys just have good friends that help them out by getting married so that they get paid more (ghetto, I know).... therefore when the guy wants to REALLY get married to another girl he meets and falls in love with, he has to divorce the "contract marriage". See? Others divorce because of either spouse being unfaitful which is HORRIBLE! Also, hearing about all of the divorces in the military (which is a small community) has a way of going to your head and subconsciencely you grow apart because you almost EXPECT it to happen. If you have a strong relationship, you should be fine.

You need to tell him though, that the money isn't going to get any better with all of you to support.

Answer 3

The wages he earns are NOT tax-free, his wages are tax-free if he is deployed to a combat zone (like Iraq, Afghanistan). We still pay federal and state taxes. Medical insurance is FREE for him and the family. And it's damn good too. Dental insurance is extra but it's only about $20 a month for the family. He will get BAH if you decide not to live in base housing. depending on his rank and the number of dependants it can be more than $1000 a month. $1450 a month sounds just about right for his pay per month. I wonder about the degree thouhg. I've never met anyone Active Duty that finished an associates degree in less than 4 years. You have to take the classes on your own time, and when you are working all the time, it gets hard. but in the new age of on-line classess, I suppose anything is possible. Honestly, sounds like the recruiter is right on (except for the tax-free thing)

The life is good if you can deal with the constant deployments and the constant moving. i love it! We are Air Force not Army but we are all the same!

Answer 4

first, his pay is not tax free unless he is deployed. 2nd he will get BAH (Housing allowance) for the zip code in which you live and his rank, so it will depend on where you live for the amount. The pay 1450.00 should be about right, before taxes for E1 or E2. I think you both need to sit down and discuss this, as you should have as much say in it as he. Are you ready to be supportive of his decision even if you don't agree with it? Majority of moving costs are paid for, medical is free even with pre-existing conditions, as are some over the counter meds and regular prescriptions. I also would have your husband choose whatever MOS (job in the military) he wants that he can have according to his ASVAB score. He can even go in as a combat medic and go into the PA program that way. I would also tell you as a reservist he will probably be deployed more and longer than if he were active duty. I have been a military spouse for 18 years and while there have been times of struggle, I really have enjoyed being part of the organization and have gotten alot out of it and learned alot about myself. If you have any other questions about being a military spouse you can I'm me on yahoo :)

Answer 5

Actually most of the stuff is true with exception that our wages are taxed while we are at home. Moving costs are paid for as well as your families health care, that's true. The housing allowance is also correct and the term is BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing). If he lives off Base he will also receive BAS (Basic allowance for Sustenance). The pay seems about right for a private to. I'm not sure on the the education side of it because medical is not my job field. HOWEVER, all of the aforementioned subjects are only applicable if he is active duty. I also think that it is wrong that your husband is not giving you a say in this. When someone joins the army, so does their family. A different lifestyle for everybody. Anyway hope I helped!

Answer 6

The base pay (wages) are only tax free if he's deployed.

Moving costs are paid for - and if you do a partial dity(do it yourself) you make money. Insurance is free (medical), the life insurance for spouses is $7.00 for 100,000, life insurance for the children is free. Dental for spouse/family is 26.27 a month.

There is a housing allowance - it depends on where you are however.

He should be taking your concerns and speaking with you about them. Can you go to the recruiter's office with him?

They don't all lie - only some of them.

I've lived a 'civilian life' till I was 26. When I married my hubby who is military (he was in AIT when we married), it was a shock, however having lived both ways, I don't want to go back to the other way.

You do NOT get more money for more kids by the way - it's either housing allowance without dependents or with dependents.

The constant moving thing - he's been in 10 yrs and we've moved once. Hubby told me they are trying to have everyone stay a little longer at their duty stations.

Answer 7

well MEPS is the last stage to signing up, so maybe its too late already?!?....and for someone who is not told much you know a lot. I'm actually wondering if this isn't actually a recruiting sheme set up by the army. If he goes reserves it's pretty much active duty with all the troop shortages. The allowances sound about right, and you don't pay taxes only when serving overseas. I personally hate the military now that I got all I could from it, and its really tuff on family's. I don't know anything about the degree, sounds a little fishy. Good luck

Answer 8

Yes, moving costs are paid up to the weight limit for his rank. Anything more and it's up to you to pay. His weight limits are going to be low for years until he makes rank.

Pay is tax free as long as he's in a combat zone, otherwise it's just like anyone else.

Insurance is free, but you have to understand the base clinic is not what you're used to as a civilian.

Personally, at his age, married with a family, I think he's insane.

You should have a say in this too. After all, you're going to be the one home alone for months on end while he's deployed or out in the field doing training. I consulted my wife on every move we made. If she wasn't onboard we didn't do it. Period.

Finally, and this is important, anything that's not written on his enlistment contract, in plain English, is pure.... well it's the stuff that drops out of the southern end of a bull facing due north.

Answer 9

I am a vet and military spouse. I served 3yrs in the Army and my hubby is going on his 6th. He's been deployed 5 times, and has yet to earn his associates degree, he's been actively going after going on 6yrs. I got out so we both wouldn't be away from our 2 kids. Recruiters are simple salesman with some basic knowledge. You and your husband must do thorough research before he signs or raises his right hand to anything. Read the fine print....ask questions demand proof, demand incentives and promises be clarified and clearly documented. Compare and entry level ranks such as e-1, -e-3 with Bah against your husband current gross income. combat pay is non taxable. Medical care is excellent. My husband and I have been together for 4yrs and have been separated every year due to his deployments to the war and other missions. It takes a hell of a womanand mother to find her way. It takes major communication and dedication as a couple and a family to progress in times of separation. It take the glory of God to bring our men of honor back home to us.

Answer 10

The Army does have good deals, and can provide a good source of support for a lot of education.

If you live through the term of your enlistment.

President Bush is sending a whole lot more troops into battle zones - and your husband is a trained firefighter and a medic. Do you think he is going to end up in North Carolina?

If he is willing to go to Iraq, in a current system where enlistments and periods of service in hostile areas are being extended wholesale - he will get a lot of benefits. But that's the trade off - I would think it very likely he is going into the war zone.

If he - and you - do it with your eyes open, that's one thing. But make sure you read carefully everything you are asked to sign, and if you want to take it away for a day and get more advice, have others look at it, think about it - that is absolutely your right, and you should NOT let a recuiter pressure you.

Postponing signing up can be a nuisance. Dying is permanent.