Boot Camp Questions + Allowed to bring

[Auridan]

3) Bring a wristwatch, but understand you only get to wear it if you're in a leadership position (and for inspections, RCPO only). But you can keep it in your drawer and use it to wake yourself up for watch, pre-reveille shave, etc.

4) Sending that box home is the only avoidable expense I remember from boot, other than buying divisional pictures at the end. If you want to toss everything you brought that doesn't fit in a sock (your valuables: wallet, watch, and so on), you can do just that. You don't exactly get shopping opportunities at RTC, other than for hygiene supplies as you run out.

5) Bring copies of whatever ID documents you like, and possibly bank info (voided check), but leave it at that. If you have your direct deposit already set up, you should be good to go for pay. I don't remember needing the ID stuff I brought: anything important should be in your enlistment packet, which will also hold all the medical stuff you mentioned. That's why they make a fat folder for you at MEPS. It's your official medical/dental record, and it will follow you wherever you go.

6) You probably don't need a full-on address book, but if you think you do, that'll be a fine size. Especially if you can keep it in your wallet. Nobody will even know about it. Do NOT bring a sleep mask, that'll just get thrown away. Your seabag will include a wool watch cap that serves the purpose admirably, although it is a bit scratchy. If you go in winter and get the extra gear, you'll have a 3-hole balaclava as well that's much softer: that's what I used. Do NOT be wearing it in the morning when an RDC walks in.

7) You can go to boot camp with no money at all and be fine...remember, they are paying you for being there, and you literally cannot spend enough money on toiletries and notecards to run through even a quarter of it. Your uniforms will be covered by the initial issue allowance. For some reason a lot of people find this confusing, but it's very simple: You get paid a set amount of money to cover your seabag, and then they take it away and give you the gear. It works out like they just gave it to you for free. On top of that you'll be getting your base pay, which may be a little wonky for your first few months, but will more than cover a few haircuts. Don't bother paying for a haircut before you ship out, because even if you're flat bald they will charge you, sit you in the chair, slap you over the head, and send you off. If you want to bring a bit of cash, keep it to 20 bucks max: you won't need it anyway.

8) Yes, you can have a laptop, cell phone, and all that crap at A school. There's not much at Great Lakes considered contraband, as far as I remember. I do not recommend you get a lot, though: when you leave, there's no telling where you'll go, and the less you have to pack the better until you know what your more permanent living situation will be.

9) You can submit a chit for whatever you want, but don't hold your breath. I wouldn't count on being able to get that weekend off, duty or no duty. They can't fault you for trying, though, so ask when you get there.

[FutureND]

1. As long as you can provide the correct postage, they sell stamps at the NEX, you can send letters wherever you want.

2. You will be taxed according to your home of record, should be California for you, for your entire time you are enlisted. This will only change if you change your home of record, and that's not that easy. You will still pay state and federal taxes. As far as deductions, you will still choose what you want deducted, it's the same as any other job.

[LT Guppy]

Originally Posted by FutureND

1. As long as you can provide the correct postage, they sell stamps at the NEX, you can send letters wherever you want.

2. You will be taxed according to your home of record, should be California for you, for your entire time you are enlisted. This will only change if you change your home of record, and that's not that easy. You will still pay state and federal taxes. As far as deductions, you will still choose what you want deducted, it's the same as any other job.

Technically, you are taxed on your home of legal residence, which may be different from your home of record.
Home of Record - typically where you enlisted. Nearly impossible to change.
Home of legal residence - anywhere you can claim an address (parents or relatives are allowed). Can change as often as you want
Home of physical residence - where ou are stationed

[Haasino]

2.). You will not be taxed unless you get stationed in California. Active duty military stationed outside the state don't get taxed... nor do they have to file a state tax return.

[Just4Kixs]

Originally Posted by Haasino

2.). You will not be taxed unless you get stationed in California. Active duty military stationed outside the state don't get taxed... nor do they have to file a state tax return.

I was re-visiting fórums about tax exemptions and how this goes into play and was wondering where you got this source? Is this just for California? Other states follow a similar rule if you're not stationed in your home state (where you enlisted)?
Also, how would we be able to apply for state tax exemption? Would they cover this with various state forms in boot camp for us to fill out?

[Haasino]

Originally Posted by Just4Kixs

I was re-visiting fórums about tax exemptions and how this goes into play and was wondering where you got this source? Is this just for California? Other states follow a similar rule if you're not stationed in your home state (where you enlisted)?
Also, how would we be able to apply for state tax exemption? Would they cover this with various state forms in boot camp for us to fill out?

I was a CA resident stationed in IL and FL, and I didn't have to pay CA state taxes. Now I'm a WA resident stationed in WA, and I still don't have to pay state taxes. DFAS knows the rules, and if they see that you're not stationed in CA, they won't set up your pay to be taxed.

[LT Guppy]

I want to say there are about 20 states that won't charge you state taxes (Arizona is another one). Like Haasino mentioned, DFAS will have the list (I ink it's on their website)

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Guppy

Technically, you are taxed on your home of legal residence, which may be different from your home of record.
Home of Record - typically where you enlisted. Nearly impossible to change.
Home of legal residence - anywhere you can claim an address (parents or relatives are allowed). Can change as often as you want
Home of physical residence - where ou are stationed

So is it a no brainer to change home of legal residence to Texas/Florida/state with no state income tax? That would be awesome, especially if you don't have to pay the higher sales tax and property tax that make up for the no state income tax!

[LT Guppy]

Originally Posted by Matt

So is it a no brainer to change home of legal residence to Texas/Florida/state with no state income tax? That would be awesome, especially if you don't have to pay the higher sales tax and property tax that make up for the no state income tax!

You have to have an address you can use there.

[Just4Kixs]

Haasino,

I wasn't sure if it was you or someone else I read on this website about sending transcripts directly to the Navy College, but I read on here somewhere to send physical transcripts to the Navy College so that they have records of it. My question is, even if we sent official copies of our college transcripts to our recruiters and that they have copies in our "enlistement folder" that travels to us/gets sent to boot camp, won't the Navy College have copies of those anyway? Why do we need to send another round of official college transcripts to the Navy College anyway if we have records of it in our folder? Unless they never see those records lol. My recruiter said that they'll get copies of it anyway, unless they're lying too lol.
Also, if we were to send these offical transcript copies to the Navy College, when should we do so? During A school?

thanks in advance

[YN2(AW)Williams]

The thought with transcripts is that the Navy is a large organization with just as much bureaucratic action as any other government division. Namely, things get lost. Often.

So sending your transcripts directly is really more of an insurance measure to make sure that they have them. They may have them, they may not. I would see if I can find out whether or not they have them on record while in A-school if you are that concerned.

I always consider it a good idea to keep a couple extra copies of any transcripts still sealed and in my important file drawer. Then if something comes up and they go "Oh well, we don't have this file" you can go home, get it, and give it to them in the same day.

[Haasino]

Originally Posted by Just4Kixs

Haasino,

I wasn't sure if it was you or someone else I read on this website about sending transcripts directly to the Navy College, but I read on here somewhere to send physical transcripts to the Navy College so that they have records of it. My question is, even if we sent official copies of our college transcripts to our recruiters and that they have copies in our "enlistement folder" that travels to us/gets sent to boot camp, won't the Navy College have copies of those anyway? Why do we need to send another round of official college transcripts to the Navy College anyway if we have records of it in our folder? Unless they never see those records lol. My recruiter said that they'll get copies of it anyway, unless they're lying too lol.
Also, if we were to send these offical transcript copies to the Navy College, when should we do so? During A school?

thanks in advance

That's correct. Here's the info I posted about it a while back...

Originally Posted by Haasino

I wanted to throw up some information for all of the Future Sailors and junior enlisted personnel who may not know the basic procedures for earning advancement points with your college degree. The specifics are outlines in NAVADMIN 301/07, albeit with some outdated info...

The basics are this: even though you gave your recruiter your college transcript and got E2 or E3 out of RTC, the Navy has not officially recognized your education for the purpose of advancement. In order to have your degree officially entered and recognized for advancement, you're going to need to arrange to have an offical sealed transcript sent from your college to the Virtual Education Center, which is part of the Navy College Program.

I'm not going to go too far into the details of it because most of your are a ways away from worrying about advancement to Petty Officer... but I just want to put the basics out there so that you remember to ask once you get through "A" School and are looking at competing for advancement. I wouldn't have known about the process myself if one of the guys on my crew hadn't just gone through the verification process himself.

To summarize, the transcripts you give to your recruiter only got recorded by MEPS for the purpose of giving you a higher paygrade... they need to be sent to the Virtual Education Center directly from your college in order to be properly and officially recorded. Photocopies of opened transcripts are apparently good enough to give you more money, but not good enough to be officially recorded. Once you get to A School and have access to NMCI computers, you can check your Electronic Training Jacket and NSIPS profile to double-check your education status... unless it specifically lists your degree, major, and college, then you'll need to have a sealed transcript sent to VEC.

[Just4Kixs]

Originally Posted by Auridan

4) If you want to toss everything you brought that doesn't fit in a sock (your valuables: wallet, watch, and so on), you can do just that. You don't exactly get shopping opportunities at RTC, other than for hygiene supplies as you run out.
7) You can go to boot camp with no money at all and be fine...remember, they are paying you for being there, and you literally cannot spend enough money on toiletries and notecards to run through even a quarter of it.

Thanks! I plan on not bringing a lot anyway since I travel so much in my civy life, so I'll end up donating my unwated civy clothes worn there but keep things that can fit in my wallet (ID, voided check, cash, etc...). I don't plan on shopping anyway, but I forgot about pictures they take. Are there solo pics that you can buy too? I wonder how much those would be around. It seems from what you're telling me that the expenses in boot camp come mostly from hygiene products and letters/notecards, which is all perfect.

Thanks again, this was very helpful!

[WarriorQueen]

Originally Posted by Auridan

3) Bring a wristwatch, but understand you only get to wear it if you're in a leadership position (and for inspections, RCPO only). But you can keep it in your drawer and use it to wake yourself up for watch, pre-reveille shave, etc.

So we won't be issued or be able to purchase wrist watches? I don't know where I got this but somehow I was under the impression it would be part of our uniform. I feel dumb. I also need to buy one now. Lol.