Graduated, welcome to the Army!

[DD214_DOC]

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So, school is done. Now my family and I get to experience the, "real" military. We PCS to Hawaii June 06. We have to stay in the Navy Lodge for two weeks. (we have to pay up front, apparently) Then we move into the house we put a $2500 deposit down on. Oh yeah, and we have to do all of this and live in Hawaii for an entire month before I get paid. Most of our savings has already been exhausted since my stipend has stopped.

It looks like we're in for some fun!

On a more humorous note, my father in law received orders while he is in Afghanistan to PCS to another base. After his wife moved their stuff out of the current base housing to save money since they were moving anyway, they received notification that there was a mix-up and that he would not be PCSing at all. Good times.

 

[GMO2003]

So, school is done. Now my family and I get to experience the, "real" military. We PCS to Hawaii June 06. We have to stay in the Navy Lodge for two weeks. (we have to pay up front, apparently) Then we move into the house we put a $2500 deposit down on. Oh yeah, and we have to do all of this and live in Hawaii for an entire month before I get paid. Most of our savings has already been exhausted since my stipend has stopped.

It looks like we're in for some fun!

On a more humorous note, my father in law received orders while he is in Afghanistan to PCS to another base. After his wife moved their stuff out of the current base housing to save money since they were moving anyway, they received notification that there was a mix-up and that he would not be PCSing at all. Good times.

I'd request advance pay...it will of course be deducted monthly from your subsequent LES statements...welcome to the military...life cannot be all that bad if you're gonna be a resident at Tripler...which specialty?

 

[Corpsman Up]

Man, you mean to tell me you have to live in hawaii....like all the time? the military sure screwed you over!

 

[DD214_DOC]

I'd request advance pay...it will of course be deducted monthly from your subsequent LES statements...welcome to the military...life cannot be all that bad if you're gonna be a resident at Tripler...which specialty?

Psychiatry.

I received an updated email with approved hotels that offer Promissary Notes, but are more expensive and in the touristy areas. I'm wondering if I should just keep the room at the Navy Lodge? It should only be for about 12 days. The room I did get at a different place is a nice deluxe suite with a separate living room and kitchen, and still less than the per diem for the area. (I do have a wife and kid)

It's not bad, I know, it just seems a bit silly I'm expected to do all of this without any money. From my understanding, the advance pay is still significantly less than a normal paycheck? I have no idea how it really works.

 

[eagledriver]

Always get the one month advance anytime you PCS. It's basically a 0% interest loan that you're guaranteed to pay off in one year.

 

[pgg]

You should look into the TAD family housing at Hickam AFB instead of the Navy Lodge.

I did a 12 week med student rotation at Tripler in 2001, and stayed in the BOQ for most of it. For a couple weeks my family came out for a visit and they gave us a 3 br townhouse for something ridiculous like $17/night.

Just found the thread for last time we talked about this issue, and DrMetal did the same in 2008. It's probably still an option.

 

[pgg]

Always get the one month advance anytime you PCS. It's basically a 0% interest loan that you're guaranteed to pay off in one year.

Might not be possible for the first PCS coming on to active duty, but every other time you should get the 3 month advance. You need a signature from your CO but no one's ever said no to me.

 

[DD214_DOC]

Might not be possible for the first PCS coming on to active duty, but every other time you should get the 3 month advance. You need a signature from your CO but no one's ever said no to me.

I think the issue is that none of us have a finance or personnel record or anything. They did mention we could get a pay advance which takes about a week or two to get.

With these advances, do they include a full check with BAH? My assumption for the payback was that you basically don't get your first check. Do they actually take out 12 equal payments or something?

Also, I can't find any information about Hickam's TAD online. What does TAD even mean? Any help is appreciated. I would much rather have a house than a little 300 sq ft hotel room for a month.

 

[J-Rad]

TAD (Navy parlance)=TDY (AF/Army parlance)

http://www2.hickam.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5138 Would probably be a good start-point (~1/2 way down page under "PCS Reservations")

 

[pgg]

With these advances, do they include a full check with BAH? My assumption for the payback was that you basically don't get your first check. Do they actually take out 12 equal payments or something?

It's base pay only. You can specify the repayment period - I think it's up to a max of 1 year, unless the CO signs off on a longer time.

 

[colbgw02]

As I recall, my advance pay came through about 3 days after my request.

Is there some reason why you can't just put things on your credit card? That's what I did, and with USAA, at least, the statement wasn't due until the end of July. By that time I was being paid, even if it was the incorrect amount.

The irony is that, in time, you'll wish you could have stayed in the hotel/lodge even longer to make more money off of TLA (which I assume they still give out). I know this is a stressful time, but try to enjoy yourself. In a few weeks you'll be looking back on these weeks with some nostalgia. And remember, you're doing something (PCS to OCONUS) that thousands upon thousands of people have done before you, and most of them didn't have the education and wherewithal that you do.

 

[DD214_DOC]

As I recall, my advance pay came through about 3 days after my request.

Is there some reason why you can't just put things on your credit card? That's what I did, and with USAA, at least, the statement wasn't due until the end of July. By that time I was being paid, even if it was the incorrect amount.

The irony is that, in time, you'll wish you could have stayed in the hotel/lodge even longer to make more money off of TLA (which I assume they still give out). I know this is a stressful time, but try to enjoy yourself. In a few weeks you'll be looking back on these weeks with some nostalgia. And remember, you're doing something (PCS to OCONUS) that thousands upon thousands of people have done before you, and most of them didn't have the education and wherewithal that you do.

I'm definitely taking advantage of TLA. I had originally booked a room at the Navy Lodge for $94/night hoping to pocket the difference in my per diem. I got an email telling me we don't get the difference, so I got a place to max out my lodging per diem. 😀

 

[mac61]

.

 

[Gunner1960]

You can ask your command to get you a GOVT Travel Card prior to PCS. I've seen commands that make sure everyone is taken care of and gotten them cards and other commands you have to insist that they get them for you. No need to float the government.