Sorry to bring up another question, but are there any benefits of USAA over other banks? I'm 18 and already have an existing checking account back home. I just want to save the trouble of opening an entirely new account somewhere else. Thanks
The banks and credit unions who cater to the military - USAA, NFCU, PenFedCU and similar - understand deployments and the very mobile lifestyle of active duty people. With a USAA ATM card, you can use any ATM, get the fees rebated back to you up to a certain amount each month - more than covers a normal number of ATM visits. Since many military folks use these institutions, it's easy with their apps to transfer many money around. USAA offers pre-deployment checklists and phone counseling which help you get set up for deployment, ensures bills are auto-paid, helps you determine who can get access to your account, puts security alerts and updates on your account when you are deployed OCONUS in strange places, and so on.
These companies have had decades of dealing with the military lifestyle, and have been trendsetters in building powerful mobile apps, reducing or eliminating various fees, and offering away-on-deployment services.
The credit unions are known for offering excellent low-interest auto loans.
It's up to you - see how you do, with the home bank, observe and talk to others who use one of the ones who focus on the military market.
And, to open a new bank account at one of these, it can usually be done online or over the phone. You apply for an account; you get assigned an account number. You are asked for, say, a $25 deposit, and whether you want that done electronically. You say yes, and you supply your other bank account number, that bank's routing number (it's on your checks) and confirm you authorize the new bank or CU to go get that $25 electronically. They get it and deposit it in your new account. You then request paper checks, ATM card, whatever else. You are up and running. You will download their mobile app. You set up your alerts, profile and security settings. You can set up your military pay from DFAS to go to new account and new bank/cu routing number. You can set up web bill pay as needed. You can keep your old account, and even set up recurring transfers from old to new, or clear it out entirely and close it.
See one of the related USAA threads for how to set up initial membership. They are an Association with eligibility rules.