I am new here but ran across this post and thought I might have some info for you. My husband just graduated from OSUT on 2/11/2005 and I flew out there for family day and the graduation ceremony. He is processing into airborne school tomorrow and starts on Monday. He has orders to report to Ft. Bragg, NC on 3/28/2005. Anyway, here is what I know...

You are likely not to hear from him for the first 2 weeks as this is total control phase. After this phase, if his platoon is doing everything right, then he will get a chance to call you just about every Sunday when he is not at FTX, Field Training Exercise. My husband carried a notebook and paper with him at all times and wrote me every chance he could get.

I wrote to my husband at least once a day, if not twice. As far as his letters to you, sometimes they will collect the mail and not take it to the post office for 3-4 days so the mail will probably come in spurts. A buncha letters all in one day. The drill instructors will hold your fiance's mail from you, as well. Sometimes for a few days and give him a bunch at once.

I know you probably feel helpless right now, as I did too, however be sure when you write to only write about positive uplifting things as he does not need any negativity at all at this time. Also he does not need you complaining about car problems or anything else that he has absolutely no control over. (our car broke down three times while my man was at OSUT).

Hmm... what else. Oh, he is hardly getting any sleep these days, sometimes getting in bed between 1 and 2 and then getting up at 430-5am. If you don't hear from him, he might just be too dang tired to stand in line to use the phone for an hour. There were times when my husband wrote to me rather than standing in line all that time for a 5 minute phone call (that is how long they get in the beginning).

Once he starts AIT, things will be a little more lax and they will slowly begin earning more priviledges, day passes and such. Well, I hope this helps you, Feel free to let me know if you have any questions.

Also, you can attend his graduation when it comes time, just make sure you get the info from your fiance. It was alot of fun for me, I was so proud of my man when he was out there in his uniform representing our country. It was a great feeling for both of us!

Take Care

I assume this is the way it is...I have been w/ my fiance for 7 yrs now and we have been through a lot of difficult times [u:1ee3a0c9f3][b:1ee3a0c9f3]together[/b:1ee3a0c9f3][/u:1ee3a0c9f3], which built our relationship strong. It is difficult to hear that this "does not exist" to the Army. Engagement is a commitment, service to the country is also a commitment, so I am not sure that I understand the analogy here .

My sister went through this, she was an army girlfriend/fiance for a couple years. She even had a support group going on the web called... goarmygirlfriend.com. There are a ton of them out there. Well, they remedied the situation - they got married! If you guys have been together 7 years, why not just get married... just curious. My husband and I knew within a year we wanted to spend our lives with eachother. He asked me to marry him on a thursday and the following thursday we were married.

Anyway,

Chin up. The army may not acknowledge you but boot camp has a way of bring things out in these soon to be soldiers. It gives you a feeling of wanting a family, a foundation, I wouldnt be surprised if you didnt end up married sometime soon. After bootcamp, my husband decided he wanted to start a family right then, and I think he got his way on February 10th. Have a few more days to wait before I can take a test.

Take Care

Rebecca,

Thank you so much. You made my day

The information you provided made me feel so much better. I know that he is not getting enough sleep and rest, and if he does not call me every week because of that, that is perfectly fine with me. It was his choice to enter the Army, and I am 100% behind him. It is difficult right now, not knowing what is going on, when he will call, I do not have an address for him or anything that can assist me in finding out more on how things are going, so it is just me and my "guessings" Thank God for the Internet...

After your husband reports on 3/28 what happens then? How often do you get to see him? How does this work?

Jenny

Well, apparently the plan is that after he graduates airborne, he will come home for 10 days leave (moving leave or something) and he will collect his family, and the movers will pack up our stuff, then we will probably drive our car out to ft. bragg, from california, woo hoo, fun stuff. He will then go get on the housing list while in the meantime we check into temp lodging. If we cant get into housing right away (which will probably happen because i think the waiting list is 4-5 months) then the housing people will help us find a place to rent off post.

One question I do have... Anyone know? How long after he reports on 3/28 to Ft. Bragg would it be possible for him to deploy. We are prepared for his deployment, I was just hoping the army would give us at least 30 days to settle at Ft. Bragg before sending him.

Rebecca

We did not get married because I wanted to graduate from college first before we did so. When we began dating I was just 18 and I knew that college degree is a must and than everything else to follow. I am working on my Bachelor's Degree at the moment and working full time. Also, there were other issues involved...(of course We wated to get married always...we talk about it all the time...about our unborn kids hehe...he said that he sees us as old people taking care of each other etc. And that he cannot wait to see me pregnant and...we love each other so much. So, yes, we knew also, but there were other things that had to take place before it happened.

Did your husband change a lot while in bootcamp? If so, what changed the most. You said that his family values etc. became stronger...

One of the biggest things that changed about my husband while in bootcamp is that he came to value family more. The Army is like a family, in a way and it made him appreciate even more his wife and our future. I'm not sure how to explain it because its not like he didn't appreciate those things before.

He also is much more disciplined now than he was, which has proven to be a good thing. Going through those weeks just makes some of these guys more aware of what they have to lose, per se. Hard to explain, I'm sorry, lol

I think I understand what you mean. I love the discipline part I am sure that you cannot wait to spend some time together) How long did you husband signed up for, in his contract?

Another question that I have, you may know or anyone who reads, after a soldier is deployed to an assignment, how long before he returns?

[quote:0bfd7dc817="globaltech"] Engagement is a commitment, service to the country is also a commitment, so I am not sure that I understand the analogy here .[/quote:0bfd7dc817]
Marriage is a contract, enlistment is a contract. If it's not documented the Army can't do much with it. It's not that we don't care, but our authority is limited.

Rebecca, your soldier will most likely not deploy withing the first month at his new duty station. He will first have in in-process the post (takes about a week) and if you are with him he may be authorized a week off in order to find suitable housing. Most units have several months advance notice before deploying. The soldiers are locked into until the mission is complete, and much preparation and training takes place before they get on the plane. You should know too that everywhere your soldier PCSs to there is a family support group there to help you when he's away.

Thanks for the info Daddy

Global, mine signed up for a little over 3 years.

I hope it is true that he gets a few days off so we can get settled...

anyone know if he gets to come home for the birth of a baby?

Mine signed up for the same term...almost 4 years.

I went on goarmy.com just to see what jobs are out there for me (just in case hehe) and I took some sort of a pre-test (I cannot recall what it was called at the moment) and I scored 67 on it. It was word knowledge and math. All these options are going through my head now...

Rebecca, here is what I found regarding your question:

How many days are soldiers allowed to take leave after pregnancy and childbirth?
42 Days

Actually, here is the link:
[url]http://www.armystudyguide.com/leaves_and_passes/studyguide.htm[/url]

[quote:1cbfb20ef5="rebecca21904"]
anyone know if he gets to come home for the birth of a baby?[/quote:1cbfb20ef5]
Generaly new fathers are allowed a day or two off (when the mission allows) or may be authorized to take ordinary leave. It's the mothers who can be aproved 42 days of convalescent leave.

I was wondering if you'll be staying in California and you call that home. Are you considering moving to Bragg? He should be able to see the birth of your baby.