So here are my most recent questions (oh, and all of these apply to FULL TIME ACTIVE Army):
- Becoming an Officer
* If I go "straight" to OCS and I have already signed a 3 year enlistment from the beginning, do I have to do a total of 4 years? Because after my officer commissioning I have to serve three years, correct?
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- How soon can I become an officer? Is there a fast track program? Do I go to BCT then AIT then OCS? Can you explain that more?
- When can I become an Officer?
- Does becoming an officer remove any of the other bonuses?
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- What bonuses do I qualify for? Here are the bonuses that I see available with the ones that I qualify for in bold.
- High School Senior Deferred Enlistment Bonus
- Active Army Seasonal/Quick-ship Bonus (?)
* A seasonal bonus of up to $20,000 is available for qualified recruits in certain MOSs who enlist for at least two years and agree to report for training within 30 days. Seasonal bonus levels are $20,000 and $6,000, depending on the selected MOS.
- Active Army Education Bonus (2 years or more enlistment)
* Bachelors degree - $8,000
- Active Army Bonus for Civilian Skills (ACASP)
- Army Airborne Bonus
- Officer Candidate School (?) (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0OXU/is_2_61/ai_n26776231/pg_2?tag=artBody;col1)
* $8,000 (question, is this amount correct?)
* Must serve 3 years after comissioning
- Army Reserve OCS Bonus
- Warrant Officer Flight Training Bonus
- Middle Eastern Translator Aid Bonus
- Army Ranger Bonus
- The National Call to Service (explain)
- The Montgomery GI Bill (either/or Student Loan Repayment Program)
- The Army College Fund (either/or Student Loan Repayment Program)
- Student Loan Repayment Program (3 years or more enlistment)
* Up to $65,000
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- 2008 Basic Allowance for Housing Rates
I checked the latest info for zip code 22314
DC053 - Washington DC
E4 with dependents - $1718
E4 w/out dependents - $1304
Question: Does this sound correct? You said it was $1555.00.
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Cost of Living (doesn't apply for our location)
- Based on base Zip code
- Ex. Los Angeles, CA w/dependent @ E4 = $138
http://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/cost-of-living-allowance#1
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2008 Pay Charts
E4 <2>
E4 >2 - $1848.90 (22,186.80)
O1 <2>
O1 >2 - $2659.80 (31,917.60)
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Basic Allowance of Subsistence (food only for service members)
Enlisted: $294.43
Officers: $202.76
Q. Do you just get a check every month or do you have to submit an expense report?
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- Clothing Allowances: Can you explain that?
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Here are the OFFICER jobs that I am interested in:
[most interested are in bold]
Officer Careers
- Military Intelligence Officer (35)
* Imagery Intelligence Officer
* All-Source Intelligence Officer
* Counterintelligence Officer
* Human Intelligence Officer
* Signals Intelligence/Electronic Warfare Officer
* All Source Intelligence Aviator
- Personnel Systems Management Officer (42B)
* Human Resources
- Quartermaster Officer (92A)
* Equipment, materials, systems... general managing
QUESTION: What info do you have on those jobs, specifically the ones in bold? What do I have to do to attain those jobs; a specific ASVAB score...? QUESTION: Also, are those Military Intelligence usually overseas or here in the states?
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Here are the ENLISTED jobs that I am interested in:
[most interested are in bold]
- UAV Operator (15W)
- Intelligence Analyst (35F)
- Human Resources Specialist (42A)
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- Overall: From what I found out, to get maximum benefits (all that I, personally, qualify for) I only need to enlist for 3 years. Does that make sense?
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Random Questions
- What are the Critical MOS's currently?
- Can I pick my first duty station? (Guaranteed First Duty Assignment)
- According to FSR2, is it possible to see what jobs are available with my ASVAB score of 77? (That's just from the sample test, I have yet to take the full test)
- Sergeant Ly told me to ask you about MOS's and units that haven't or aren't usually mobilized. I understand it's a big possibility but I prefer to stay with my family as much as possible unless absolutely needed.
- I really am interested in becoming a recruiter too, so info on steps to attaining that is greatly appreciated.
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* About the Student Loan Repayment...
- Total, it looks like I have approx. $80,000 in qualifying loans (I'm checking on this)
- Can I give you my loan information and get a written verification saying that my loans indeed to qualify for being repaid?
- From what I understand, I don't get any money for it until my first year is complete (which will then be 33 1/3 or $1500 whichever greater, correct?) is there a way to file for "forbearance" to postpone my paying the loans until the Army starts as well?
- How hard is it to rank up from an E4 to an E5 (is it based on points and/or time?)
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This is what I have discovered as to the steps when enlisting, plese correct me if I am wrong:
Steps to enlisting
- Talk to recruiter
- Have the recruiter pull up FSR2 (and look at bonuses), look at the jobs just to see what it available, don't reserve a job yet
- Take the ASVAB
- Talk to recruiter and see if what I qualify for on FSR2; check enlistment bonuses and ship date
- Reserve/Request MOS and pick first station
- Go to MEPS & once pass all tests, swear in
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My current main concern is being able to "survive." Hah, not physically, but financially as a family. I currently make $65,000 (I don't know if I should tell you that so please keep it between us). My wife works as a nanny currently but she spent almost a year as a teacher before that.
I want to make sure that either we can qualify for living off base and receiving money for that OR that we can live on base and bring our one dog and one cat.
Other than that, we just have car insurance, food (which the Army can help with?), and some other miscellaneous expenses. So if the Army covers: rent, food, and loans we should be ok.
Becoming an officer is a goal of mine for a few reasons; I feel that I already have the ability to lead but with the proper instruction I can really make a difference; I want to put my college degree to good work; getting paid more will help me to provide for my family better.
General Information on me:
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Married but no children
1 dog & 1 cat
Have bachelors degree
Scored 77 on sample ASVAB (taken on GoArmy.com)
Feel free to ask me anything! I'm looking for a recruiter who wants to help me and answer my questions and I promise to be honest with you as well, thanks again!
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http://usmilitary.about.com/od/armyjoin/ss/armyjoin_3.htm
Recruiters have access to FSR2 - Future Soldier Remote Reservations System
- Just pre-qualify for enlistment
- Pick job off the request system
- Get to MEPS within 7 days, take the physical and sign for the job
* FSR2 also provides the shipping date, enlistment bonus
* Of course the job isn't "guaranteed" at this point. The applicant has to meet the qualifications for the job (ASVAB, physical profile, security clearance requirements, ect.), which will be determined during the MEPS trip
Guaranteed First Duty Assignment. The Army and the Navy are the only active duty services which can offer a guaranteed first duty assignment. However, since the invasion of Iraq, the Army rarely offers this incentive anymore. When authorized, under the Army Program, you can get a written guarantee in your enlistment contract for your first duty assignment following basic training and job training (of course, there must be open positions for your particular job on the base before the Army will give it to you). This option is only available for certain, hard-to-fill Army Jobs. Additionally, the guarantee is only good for 12 months. After that, the Army can move you anywhere it wants.
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Student Loan Repayment Info
$$$$$$$$$$
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Qualifying Loans
The loan must be entered into before going joining the military. The following loans qualify for the College Loan Repayment Program:
* Auxiliary Loan Assistance for Students (ALAS)
* Stafford Student Loan, formerly know as the Guaranteed Student Loan (GSL)
* Parents Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS). Must be incurred for the use of the individual contracting for the program (not others such as relatives)
* Consolidated Loan Program. Only covers the member's education expenses
* Federally Insured Student Loans (FISL)
* Perkins Loan, formerly known as the National Direct Student Loan (NDSL)
* Supplemental Loans for Students (SLS)
Army Eligibility
To be eligible for the Army LRP you must:
* Decline enrollment in the Montgomery GI Bill in writing, using DD Form 2366
* Have LRP guaranteed in writing in the enlistment contract (DA Form 3286-66).
* Be a non-prior service accession.
* Enlist with a high school diploma.
* Have an Armed Forces Qualification Test score of 50, or higher on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).
* Enlist in one of the critical military occupational specialties (MOS). These MOS change quarterly. The local Army recruiter will have the current list.
* Possess a loan that was made, insured, or guaranteed under the Higher Education Act of 1965, Title IV, Part B, D, or E prior to entering active duty.
Here is how it works:
After each completed year of active duty your service branch will make a payment of 33-1/3 percent or $1,500, whichever is greater, on the total remaining original unpaid principal balance.
Forbearance:
Forbearance is an arrangement to postpone or reduce your monthly payment amount for a limited and specific period during which you are charged interest.
If you are temporarily unable, but willing to repay the loan(s), you may ask for a forbearance. The interest will accrue during a forbearance and it is the your responsibility. When you reenter repayment at the end of the forbearance period, any unpaid interest is added to the principal balance.
Unlike deferment most servicemembers qualify for forbearance. You must apply and qualify for a forbearance and the U.S. Department of Education must approve the request in order for a forbearance to be in effect. The process is quite simple.
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Hello Mike,
I am from fl. I've been in for 16 yrs. I been an Finance Specialist for
all of my yrs in the service except for the last three yrs. I have
always been state side. Single, no kids.
Becoming an Officer:
You will enlist for 3 yrs. Your time start after you complete Basic
training and Officer Candidate school (OCS). You will submit a packet
and do an interview with my battalion. Once your packet is a approved
you will go to the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS). This
when you will find out when you will depart for Basic Training. While
you are at basic training, you will get paid as an E4. When you go to
OCS you will being to get paid as an E5. Once you graduate from OCS you
will be a 2LT. If you fail out of OCS, the Army will pick your Job
Skill training. Bonus for Officers are dependent on the Area of Concern.
We do not know what the area of concern is. You will not find that out
until you find out what type of officer you are going to be.
Enlisted:
You can enlist for 2,3,4,5,6 yrs...It is dependent on the job you
choose. Some jobs take a long time to train which means you enlistment
obiligation will increase. You will go to Basic Training and Advance
Individual Training (AIT). You will enlist as an E4. Bonus are dependent
on the Job you select at the time. The most you can get is a total of
40,000.
Basic Housing Allowance is dependent on the area that you get station
at. While you are in training you will receive the following:
E4 E5
Base Pay 1758.90 1918.80 taxable
BAH 1718 1855 non-taxable
Family Sep 250 250 (after 30 days) taxable
After training:
E4 O1
Base Pay: 1758.90 2,555.70 taxable
BAH 1718 1855 (If in this area...) non-taxable
BAS 294.43 202.76 non-taxable
As long as there is room for you and your family, housing will be
provided to you whether you are an officer or enlisted. If there is no
room for you then we will give you BAH to off set the cost.
Clothing allowance is give to enlisted members annually to pay for new
uniforms as needed. Officers do not get clothing allowance.
Steps for enlisting:
Speak with a recruiter
Take the ASVAB
See what jobs you qualify for
Pick a job
Go to meps to complete the process.
OCS or Enlisted the most you will get for Loan Repayment is 65,000. You
will need to provide all of your promissory notes.
To be a Recruiter:
You have be in for two years. This option is only available to
Enlisted.
Critical MOS changes every month.... The MOS that you listed none of
them came in bold so I don't know which one you are actually interested
in.
All of these answers are for Regular Army. I hope this helps..... Let
me know if there is anything else I can help you with.
US Army Reserve Recruiter.
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