Military Spouses

Are any of the spouses here General Schedule types? I would like information about how one gets hired as a GS-"x" and what kind of jobs are out there. Thanks.

It seems like EVERYONE that goes to UPT is going in with the hopes of flying fighters. I realize that these are pretty neat planes, but also that there are a LOT of other neat planes in the AF. So my question is this - are there people that go into UPT wanting to fly something other than fighters? I'm sure, obviously, there are a few, but I have yet to hear of any. It just seems like everyone is competing to fly fighters and no one's first choice is anything else.

So we have been at McChord for 3 years now and its time to decide what to do next, or its past due depending on who you ask. I know about the usual C-17 contenders for second assignments: Charleston, Travis, Hickam, McGuire, Dover, Elmendorf & Altus as well as primary training bases but I am more interested in the crazy stuff that most people don't know is out there. What are these more rare jobs and how do I find them? I know most of these are probably unattainable based on the odds but thats why its a dream sheet, right? Example: Some friends of ours just got gliders at the academy. Who knew that existed? I didn't. Don't know if my husband would have even bee…

Has anyone ever been in a position whereas their spouse started out as a foreign national (such as without a green card or US naturalization)? What do I need to do first if we are to get hitched? I'm a newly commissioned LT about to EAD in two months. I punched this question off to my Det NCOIC but he needed to research a bit and ask some questions off to others as well. I basically have no idea where to start and would like to look for some additional experiences. The marriage paperwork I understand is straight forward, but everything else, such as the security clearance (I have a current TS) and the fact that she is not a US citizen, is unknown territory for me.…

Last Friday I had the opportunity to go on a Spouse Orientation flight given by my Husbands Squadron. When hubby was AD, I had the opportunity before years ago to go on a flight, but couldn't get the time off of work to do it. Scooter (my hubby) was really encouraging me almost pushing me to go. "It will so cool. . . you'll have a great time . . . You can see what I do". I can honestly say I was going more to please him, than the excitement that was in it for me. I sent the kids to the babysitter and Scooter surprised me by making me a flight lunch, (quite the role reversal). Ths day started early, safety briefings, then we got to see the crew give their brief…

Hi, This seems like the best subforum to post this question. I've been scouring the internet both here and on other sites. I've also tried to use DFAS but I'm DoD so it's only giving me DoD answers. When I head out to UPT, my spouse is not going to come with me. Her job pays too well and someone's gotta watch the dogs. I've heard and seen here that I could collect BAH for the location where my spouse is instead of where I'll be. All I have to do is get a BAH waiver. However, I've also read and seen here that this waiver is only available if my PCS is 30 days or less (or some other such excuse). Could someone please clarify this for me? I cannot seem to get a…

I am new to the military community, recently engaged. I am also a reporter, assigned to look into the issues facing military families, especially spouses, during deployment. It is an attempt to expand media coverage of military families beyond the surface of just deployments and re-deployments and instead, focus on what goes on in-between. With your help, I can gain further insight into some of the civilian issues faced by spouses and families. I'm not looking to find out about missing your husband, fiance, boyfriend, etc. during a deployment. I know those struggles first hand. I also know there are tons of support groups, FRGs, etc within the military community for sp…

Ok women... I need to know... AND I know that this might sound stupid or shallow, but I have to ask... Just how formal do the women need to dress to the parties where the men have to wear their blues? Even tho I grew up in the Air Force I never saw this aspect of things, and I don't want to look way over/under done to these parties. My first offical experience with this will be when my husband graduates from OTS. PLEASE HELP!!! [ 30. January 2007, 05:41: Message edited by: Toro ]

Did a search. Any 'spouses' gather information on how to successfully start and complete a PHD program during an assignment? Looks like 4-7 years on some Doctoral programs. Also, any legit ways to do this for a spouse that is not through Phoenix or other online shady degrees?

An excellent point was brought up in the previous thread For the newly married, and experiencing the craziness of moves and deployments I think it is absolutely essential to make trip to the base legal ofice to have all the proper legal work straigtened out before the moves and deplyemnts come up (even if you don't have kids). As all the seasoned spouses tell you, Murphy's Law always occurs when spouse is deployed. ie. . . cars breakdown, finacial matters, moves, filing paperwork for moves, signing leases on apts, etc. It is so much much easier to take care of those things when you have updated Power of Attorneys (POA). Most larger bases, have walk in hours …

I have one year of a BSN in nursing completed. This will be my 2nd Bachelor's degree, so I probably have about 2-2.5 years left of school, although I would like to get a minor in Spanish, so that might bump it up to 3 years. My husband is going to start at Whiting next week and I have an opportunity to take a class or 2 at a state university in the spring semester. I'm just not sure if I should hold off and try to do all 3 years after he is done with pilot's training or if I should take some classes now. If I do take classes now, I probably won't be able to go back to school until Fall of 2008 because of his training and moving around for it. Does anyone have any…

My girlfriend and I are both going to be going to UPT (6 months staggered) and we're also planning on getting married.. I've heard plenty of advice against it, but it's going to happen. That being said, has anyone even heard of a successful pilot-pilot marriage? What are the factors that would affect us (air frame selection, deployments, etc)? Any info at all would be greatly appreciated.

My Daughter just PCS to Ramstein. Now that I wont be able to help her out with a car. Does anyone know of a decent place she can get hers worked on?

Hi guys, currently an ANG STUD in the UPT pipeline slated for the TH-1 track based off of my final MDS, so I'll be headed to rucker in the fall (September). Currently unmarried, but will be traveling with the significant other and dog (husky). For those that have recently gone, currently there, or just have something to add, please chime in! Looking for living recommendations around the area and general lifestyle (pace of training) to get a better idea of the future. Obviously still a couple months out, but any advice is appreciated. If anyone knows of pet friendly apartments or housing rentals within the BAH limit, that would be great too. Thanks!

Just wondering if anyone knew if there was a supplemental dental insurance for the TDP/United Concordia. I was stupid to not buy dental insurance through my job, thinking the TDP would be more than enough for my 2 cleanings a year, now I have to wait until October of '09 when annual enrollment comes around and I need several thousand dollars worth of dental stuff done in the mean time. I've already past my $1200 maximum that the TDP will cover annually with 2 cleanings, some minor periodontic work, a root canal, and a crown. It's looking like I'm going to need some periodontic bone grafts and going back into orthodontics so we're looking at something around $5-6k out o…

It's the holiday season, I'm finding myself in a familiar situation, still not quite knowing what to say. I'm sure you've all been there: Of course friends and family that we don't see often always ask when/if my husband deploys again. Acquaintances that I run into wonder where I live and what I'm doing these days. Inevitably, it comes up that my husband is going to miss another Christmas. Here comes the response: "Oh, that's so awful. I'm so sorry," or "That must be terrible. I feel so bad for you." That is the same response I'd get if I said that my husband is dying of cancer or that we lost our home in a fire. It never crosses their mind that he is doing EXACT…

My husband was recently hired to an ANG unit and I will be moving with him for UPT/B-Course etc. We aren't sure what location we are headed to yet as he doesn't have orders (and will probably be receiving them later rather than sooner) so I am trying to cover all my bases on employment opportunities. I am an A&P with military aviation experience (not Air Force) and would like to get on a contract for the trainers. I've heard that L-3 and M1 conduct all of the maintenance at the various UPT locations but would like to see if anyone here has additional information about these jobs and who is the best POC. I'd like to talk to someone over the phone rather than go through…

My fiance (wife-to-be on 14 May 05) is getting her secondary ed (English) degree at the same time I'm commissioning. We're going to Sheppard AFB for ENJJPT (my medical came back qualified last week! woohoo!!!), and we're wondering what we should do to try to get her a job there. She has her teaching certification here in AZ. Does she need to get recertified in TX? Also, should she look for a job now in Wichita Falls or should we wait till we have our orders? This if off the subject, but when should we start looking for a place to live in Wichita Falls? I've been told I should wait for my orders to start looking. Also, she really wants to work on her masters degree,…

Hi everyone, I had a question about significant others and them going to med school. Has anyone gone through this? I'm commissioning in about a year, and I really don't know how this is going to work after graduation. Thanks for your help.

Does anyone have experience moving on a TDY en route to Little Rock? We are at Vance and my husband will be going TDY to school in Little Rock before we PCS to ABQ, NM and then we will be off to Kadena. I want to be able to go to Little Rock with my husband because even though they say the training is only 4 months, people have told us to expect him to be there at least 6 months. If I do go with him, what will be the pros and cons? What is the best possible way to work it to our advantage? I am not at all familiar with moving with the military, so if anyone can give me information about their experience, it would be SO incredibly helpful. Thanks!

Hi all! I'm new on here. My husband is a pilot applicant and is considering going into the USAF Reserves or Guard this year. We're both trying to figure this decision out as this wasn't something we were expecting until the past year. I've seen other posts that ask about other people's experiences and I was wondering if there are any folks who are completely outside the military and have gone through this process with their spouse? Military lifestyle is pretty new to me so I wanted to hear from others who have been in a similar position. At this point, I'm not fully comfortable with this change for us. (Some background: we're both in our early 30s and might be considering…

Hello! Heading over to Europe for a 3 year tour. For the spouses out there, what job opportunities did you find? Keeping it broad for a reason.

when i started upt, the wives were very friendly to the 2 of us (female pilots in my upt class). i was invited to dinner when the married folks invited other single pilots over, we all hung out and had fun. when i got to my first base, the unit was small, and though i wasn't invited to the spouses' club meetings, when the wives came to the squadron they were all real nice and friendly too. adn we still went out to dinner in groups and what not. i'd say that the wives in my current squadron are not as nice or friendly. my personal opinion is that the spouse club "leader" should invite female pilots to their group - at least once. why not? i'd love to meet more w…

Hello, all. I wasn't sure what Discussion Group this fell best into, but this one seemed to have more family-specific questions. Barring any unforeseen issues, I'll be heading to Kelly for PIQ here in a few months and I'm looking to bring my family with me. I was wondering if you folks might have some pointers on helping to make that happen. I gather they won't put any family provisions on my orders for a TDY, but I'm trying to figure out the best way to go about it all since they are coming with me. As of now, I'll likely have to have a TDY en route or TDY from UPT because I've got a tight turn between UPT graduation and my first day of PIQ class. There likely won'…

My hubby of 7 yrs. will be leaving me to go to OTS in 2 weeks and we have never been separated for that long. I am happy for him, but at the same time feel sad that I will be without him and alone with our newborn who is now 6 weeks old. The whole situation is bittersweet. We just moved to this new area and so I don't really know anyone and now my only support is leaving. Anyone have any advice? I have read the threads about UPT and I get the impression things can get pretty lonely for spouses there too. So I guess the family gets put on the back burner just by default? That's okay I suppose, but how does one like me cope? By the way I am using his profile to write this.