Swab Summer Banking/ATM Card

fairwinds

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
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Apr 21, 2009
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I know that at some point during the summer, the swabs will be set up with accounts at NFCU and that they are supposed to bring $200 cash with them.

Here is my question (sorry if it's been answered before, but I am starting to panic as we are leaving home soon and won't be back until after son is delivered to CGA):

Should I give him an ATM card/debit card that he can us in case of emergency, ie. loses $200, etc.? I know they won't have time to really spend the money, I'm just thinking worst possible scenario!! Is the $200 what they use to set up the new account or will they be using it for supplies/incidentals?

If I do send him with a debit card, won't that be in his wallet that they lock away for the summer?

Thanks for any suggestions. I have seen some discussion about banking on the listserv, but I'm still a little confused (or stressed, or both!)

Thanks!
 
^^^
Swabs require very little money during Swab summer. They do make occasional trips to the Exchange, but that is not until they've been there a couple of weeks (usually right before they head off to Eagle). Their NFCU account is set up during the first weeks that they are at CGA and their first paycheck, I believe (unless this has changed in 6 years) is around the 1st of August and around $155.
I would send the $200 per instructions with him on RDay (it is for incidentals, not account setup, and $$ for Eagle when in port); counting on your son to get to an ATM machine puts him in the limelight. Their wallets and watches are in their cadet lock box (which must remain locked when not in use; they do get busted if it is found not locked). I can't imagine that he would lose his wallet. Have him put his ATM card in his wallet for use when he's aboard Eagle.
Hope this answers your question. :thumb:
 
^^^
PS: Don't stress :eek:
It will all work out.
 
^^^
PS: Don't stress :eek:
It will all work out.

True, true. CGA has been doing this a long time....and wonder of wonders, every year they manage to pull together 295 kids, and teach them in 18 hours (minutes, maybe :wink:) what we couldn't teach them in 18 years!

Don't worry...be happy. Your swab will be too...around August 15th, that is. :shake:
 
Last year, I sent my cadet to R-day with an ATM card for his personal bank account and some cash. He was able to withdraw cash at certain times (Mystic Flag ceremony, Eagle, etc.) during Swab Summer without incident. I know he didn't have unrestricted access to an ATM, but funds were never an issue. When in doubt, follow the guidelines in the Parent and Cadet Handbooks.
 
Thanks to everyone for the responses. Yesterday was a really emotional day! Since we are leaving early for the East Coast to visit relatives before R-day, son had to pack up his backpack for CGA. I knew it was coming, but seeing him clean up his room and give a bunch of his belongings/clothes to his younger siblings was really, really hard!! Who is that crazy person (me) who encouraged him to follow his dreams??

Anyway, I'm hoping that maybe I got alot of those emotions out of my system yesterday and maybe it will make R-day easier!

Thanks for all your help!
 
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