Airforce wife has a few questions!?

Question

Well my husband left recently for basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio Tx.Anyways I have a few questions that hopefully either a millitary wife or someone in the millitary can answer.For one how often do they get to call or write? How far thru tech school do they have to be to find out where they will be based?Also when will I get my insurance card in? To the millitary wives....how do you all keep sane? This has been the longest month of my life I have a job and I try to keep busy but I hate not seeing him or talking to him.I havent' received a letter yet so I dont know if he hasn't had time or he just sent one recently and I havent' gotten it yet.I hope someone can give me some insight!!!!

Can someone PLEASE actually answer my question I mean thanks for the support but these are important questions to me and so far no one has really answered any of them.It's not me you should be thanking anyways it should be my husband he's the actual person that will be serving our country.

Answer 1

Hi, I did go through Basic training at Lackland. How often they get to call or write depends on their TI (training instructor), but for me, I got to call home (I wasn't married at the time) within the first week and a half. The first week is really crazy, you're getting yelled at, and you don't get your clothes until the third day you're there.
Letters also depends on his TI, but I recieved and sent about 15-20 letters throughout BT. It's hard, and again, all depends on his TI.
Also, finding out where you'll be stantioned depends on his job, I was a military police (or security forces in the AF), and my tech school at the time was 10 1/2 weeks, and I found out my station during my 5-6th week. He should also be able to trade, but know that it's unlikely he'll get a very good base (again, depending on his AFSC-job title), can you provide that? or did he go through the Open General (that's what I did, and then told I'd become a SF). I wanted to be stationed in the Pacific northwest region, and didn't want to be stationed overseas, and guess where I was put? Lakenheath England, but it was a blast.
You actually won't get a insurance card, you'll get a dependent ID card that will cover you. I don't know how that works, but the base will have a hospital that you have to go to, it's not like a regular insurance card program.
If I could give any advice, write him every day, sometimes twice. I wasn't married, but I had a girlfriend (now my wife), and letters from her made my day, and even made me cry once or twice (and I didn't even cry at my wedding!!!). Tell him you love him, be all mushy, and send him letters, not candy!
Being a dependent/military spouse is one of the toughest jobs out there, but you will be able to visit him very soon, good luck!!!!
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By the way, the first post was only their TI, not all of them, you don't get a set time off (remember, I went there?). You guys will be fine. Oh yeah, and trust me, he misses you a lot.

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First of all, don't be too humble, being a military member's spouse is HARDER than being a member. Going through the training is hard, but staying home and waiting is worse, so again, Thank you. If I can answer anymore of your questions, can you please specify which, I've answered all of them. If you want to be more specific that would help. I know the length of BT, but what job does he have? When did he go to BT, when will he graduate? I've been there, so if you have any more questions, let me know.
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Sorry, one last thing to add. While I was in England, if I had been married at the time, the military would have paid 100% tuition assistance for my wife (and I) to go to college. The programs vary by location (mine was really good b/c I was overseas, it could vary for bases in the US), but there's a lot of programs that are available to you guys, so make sure to take advantage of them

Answer 2

1) it will vary a LOT how much he gets to write or call during his 6 weeks. It's all based on who his instructor is. My husband knew guys who got to call home once a week but, he only got to make two phone calls the whole time he was there (during the 6 weeks). Same thing with the letters.

2) they typically try to get them orders about a month prior to graduating from tech school but, again that will depend on lots of things. Some of the guys knew when they got to tech school (right from basic) where they were going but, most found out 3 to 4 weeks prior to graduating.

3) As for the insurance card, that will depend on which Tricare you have. TriNorth (the area we were just in) did not actually send out insurance cards. Our military id was our insurance card. TriWest (where we are currently) does send out cards. Sometimes you get them within a week or so and sometimes it takes up to a month. Regardless, your military id card should always be enough to get you seen by a doctor. It has all of the information on it that they need to bill Tricare

4) I don't stay sane when my husband is gone....I simply stay busy. I do everything and anything I can to stay out of the loney house and that includes taking a book and going to Starbucks to just sit and be around other people. I HATE it when he is gone, even when it's only for a short TDY (a week or so) forget about it when he's deployed (4 to 6 months)! All I can say is this: stay busy and stay out of the house and around people as much as you can....it'll keep you from feeling too sorry for yourself. When my husband was deployed I swear I used to scare people!! They would ask a simple "how are you today" and I would burst into tears! But, working and being around people helped a lot.

Hope that helps somewhat

Answer 3

When I was at basic we didn't get a whole lot of time to call or write at first. (When we did get to write we would have to "sneak" to write letters, but as the time wore on we got to write a little more, and call a little more.) The best thing you can do for him is to write him everyday. Even if you have nothing to talk about, write him about the weather. This is just as hard on him as it is you, the only difference is he has a lot more on his mind now so you're constantly thinking about being alone.

Second: TECH SCHOOL: When I was at tech school there were some people who were finding out where they were going when they had only been there for 2 months (my techschool was 6 months long) I found out when I had been there 3 months, however some people didn't find out until a little later (Either way he won't get orders til closer to his graudation). So depending on how long his tech school is going to be, he should find out fairly quickly compared to the army. He can check this daily in tech school by going to the vMPF website and going to personnel information, duty station, this is how I found out where I was going, because you won't actually get your orders until its closer to graduation.

As for Insurance card: I really am not entirely sure, however I know that Tricare are sometimes idiots and we've had to fight with them to get my stepdaughters card sent. You may just want to call your local Tricare chapter and ask them the status of your insurance card. Or see if maybe they can fax you a temporary one, just so you have one just in case until you receive yours.

Good luck on being an Air Force wife! I am both Active Duty and married to an Active Duty so I see your view point from both sides. It is hard at first, but it will get better!! Good luck and God Bless!

Answer 4

during basic: expect no phone calls. he MIGHT earn a few later on, but it's best not to expect them or drive yourself crazy waiting for one. as for writing, they do have free time, typically Sunday evenings, if he chooses to spend that time writing to you, great. most use it to catch up on boot polishing, ironing and sleep. I never got a single letter in 9 weeks of Navy Boot camp.. and 2 phone calls the last week. that was it.

finding out the duty station: could be a month prior, could be a week after he graduates.

Insurance: no cards. You will geta packet inthe mail withina few weeks of him arriving at Basic. It will have all th epasperwork you need to get your ID card.. which doubles as your insurance card. You are automatically enrolled in Tricare Standard, you will need to enroll into Prime if that's what you prefer. This can be done online. Dental also needs a seperate enrollment, and has a monthly fee. again, this can be done online as well.

best advice: do NOT put your life on hold during training and the eventual deployments. keep busy.. start a new hobby, go back to school, volunteer.. anything but sit around the house moping.

Answer 5

during basic training you will get very very few calls from him . they are and need to be very focused on there training so they don't let them call very much. you can write back and forth. my husband and i wrote so much i have piles of letters.

as for schooling your loved one should know at least 3 weeks into training. school last on average about 2 to 3 months depending on his job it can last up to a year if he has a high security job.

as for the insurance card you actually have to in process which your husband will have to be with you. it wont be an insurance card its your id card is all you need. you will have to go on post for health if you don't want to pay for it. as for a regular Dr you will have to pay a percentage as normal.

after he went though basic training you get used to it all i had a full time job while he is gone to keep busy and earn money i have a couple good Friends and we try to go out at least once a month. i try to keep to myself esp when everyone is deployed because rumors can get bad on post.

Answer 6

My husband, boyfriend at the time, wrote me everyday. I would get letters about once a week. He didn't pick orders until he was about to graduate from his school after boot camp. About your card. Your insurance card is your ID card, which hopefully, you already have. If you signed up for Prime, which I hate.....you'll get one in the mail. Keep in mind, that if you didn't send in paperwork to be on Prime, you are on Standard, and can go to any doctor who takes Tricare Standard. You just give them your ID. If you are on Prime, you have to fight with a local base to get care. See why I hate prime? Hope this helps.

Answer 7

well as far as a letter your husband has one hour of free time each weekday 2 on saturday and 4 on sunday so he does have enough time but maybe for him writing would make him miss being home that much more.

Answer 8

Good day, ma'am.

First off, before I answer your question, just like to thank you for your service to this country. Behind every servicemen and women there are more people serving at home and you are one of them, thank you for doing what you do, everyday. (and of course, on the side note, thank you to your husband)

Now as far as basic in Lackland go, depending on how busy he is and the amount of drills they are going to be doing, that determines when he can call or write. Most of the time, people don't even have time to write so they decide they will write it all in a journal and when basic is over, s/he shares that with everyone in the family. So again, depending on your husband's schedule, it determines if he is willing to write or call.

Now as far as tech school, each airmen will be filling out 3 top choices (meaning either state or the base itself) of where they would like to be assigned to, now depending on what he wants to do (again he will be filling out a top 3 job choices and also depending on his ASVAB score) he would be assigned to different kind of base and yes, sometimes he does gets his choice but of course, nothing is guaranteed. Just say in general terms, he should know after tech school say about...a month or so, but again, it all depends on the situation.

As far as the insurance card...if you have the time, first let it wait a couple weeks before rushing it in. Sometimes, they get so busy they don't get to everyone's in time so once you think you've wait to your limit, rush it a little or at least push on it so they feel the pressure in getting it in to you.

Now I'm not a military wife, but my family calls military the "family business" if you know what I mean. My father is currently deployed overseas right now (he's also in the AF) along with many friends and family. It is never easy to see them go out and come back after a couple months even a year and then go out to do their job again. It's also not easy to see them go out and come back with full honor. Of course, as being in this family, we all know what this job can take and although we do not think it, we know if it does show up, we will honor those for what they do. My father's been gone for 20 days now and I haven't heard from him, but let me suggest you something, when your husband is out like now, think of him and of coruse, keep yourself busy. Think of what he is doing and the love between you and your husband and in the same time, feel the love of him serving his country.

It's also nice to be talking to people around you that is in the same situation, it might not seem like it now, but later on when you do decide to live on base, there will be family support groups around you with wives and even husbands that is in your situation. So look for people around you that can give you support and look for that day when he is done with basic and start planning if you have time now, trust me, it will make your days easier.

If you need someone to talk to, to vent or just talk while your husband is away (or anymore questions I can help you with) feel free to email me at [e-mail] and I would be glad to talk to you and even share some more insights with you.

Hope that was helpful
Have a good day

Answer 9

if you meen a.i.t ,you wont know any thing till you grad.but you will be going to war.

Answer 10

good luck. : )