NROTC Commissioning

040726

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Are newly commissioned NROTC Ensigns put on the payroll immediately, or are they sent home (no pay) until they start their respective schools - Flight school, sub school, SWO school etc.?
 
Are newly commissioned NROTC Ensigns put on the payroll immediately, or are they sent home (no pay) until they start their respective schools - Flight school, sub school, SWO school etc.?

The latter. No pay until they start their school. I don't think they insist they go home though. :smile:

I'm sort of dreading it. I cannot afford to feed him, but I will. I expect he can find a part time job if we're still living where we are now, but if we move, as we hope to do, that will present some issues. And finally, I'm not sure how we insure him or if we even need to. And if we need to, how the heck do you do it for just, say, six months? Seems to me you contract for a full year no matter what you do. College insurance, which we have him on now, will carry through to the start of the next school year, but that's only a few months and it could be as long as a year before he reports.
 
If it is like AFROTC, here are some answers.

1. They will not be paid at all during the time they wait for the school, HOWEVER,
~~~ Their pay grade will be their commissioning date. I.E. if They commission May 12, 2013. Come May 12, 2015 they will be an O1 with 2 yrs + pay regardless of when they went active duty.
~~~ Their date of rank will be the avg between commissioning and reporting date. Report Nov. 12, 2103, would make their DOR Aug 12, 2013. In the AF that would be the date they become an O2.

2. Insurance.

Prior to commissioning they will be eligible to join Tri-Care. They will have to pay the monthly payment. With the new insurance laws, I believe they can stay on the folks program until they are 26. However, so many people have received cancellation notices and fines, it might be best that they go onto Tri-Care. It is not expensive at all.
~~~ Tri-Care has a stipulation that they go on base 1st, but if their assigned base (det/unit) is more than 70 miles away (check that) they can go to any doc without a referral.
~~~ Investigate this because Tri-Care has STD and Prime. Deductibles and co-pays vary with the plan.

3. The one thing that gives every parent is the sticker shock for uniforms. Yes, they get to keep their ROTC uniform, but that money is deducted from the BAS they are given, and you'd be amazed how much uniforms costs.
~~~ Just the little things like rank, starts to add up quickly, a 2nd set of any uniform will cost some bucks.

If you look in the bowels back in 2012, several of us had kids commissioning in different branches. I believe we had 1 Marine, 1 Army and 1 AF. We all purchased some form of a uniform and our bills ran around 400-500 bucks.

The holidays are around the corner... you might want to gift them a uniform. It saves you the pain come May.

FWIW, we knew he was going to have that option when he was a jr. so we started replacing all of his uniforms that yr. He handed them back.

OBTW, if you don't know already there is a tradition that the newly minted O1 gets their 1st salute from the enlisted member in their ROTC unit, at least it is an AF tradition. Everybody gives a silver dollar for the salute. Some like to use a certain yr. coin. I.E. for 2014, they may hand a 1992 silver dollar(birth), a 2010(ROTC) silver dollar or 2014.
 
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Marine Corps has the same tradition on the first salute. DS is already thinking where he'll get a coin. Not sure about Navy though.

If your child is a Marine Option the uniforms they were given for NROTC will be of no use to them, except perhaps khakis. Everything else will be new. They get an opportunity to get fitted and purchase dress uniforms (at least) when they are at Quantico for OCS their rising senior year. You can peruse prices online. They are very expensive. Sometimes jackets are available on eBay.
 
Marine Corps count on the uniforms running closer to $3k for the full bag of items. Mine were $2k and that did not count the sword (not too long ago, but not really long ago!). The sword was an additional $800 (and is mandatory in the USMC, at the time it was not in the Navy) which my parents bought as my graduation gift. And when I say $2k, that does not include cammies, boots and all the other stuff you need for the field. As kinnem said, ROTC USMC commissioned Lts will get fitted for their Dress Blues at OCS so they can commission in them. They report to TBS in suits if they do not have alphas (most did not unless MECEP or USNA commissioned). So if they do not have a decent suit, recommend getting one. We actually wore suits several times at TBS for events, not sure if they still do that. At TBS they will fit them for all their other uniforms. They generally offer very low interest (might even be no interest) loans for the uniforms that most Lts take and pay off them in about a year.

Great suggestion on the gifts for the holidays and graduations. Covers, insignia stuff, swords, gift cards all make great gifts for those commissioning for those items, especially Marines as our stuff is pricey!
 
Marine Corps count on the uniforms running closer to $3k for the full bag of items. Mine were $2k and that did not count the sword (not too long ago, but not really long ago!). The sword was an additional $800 (and is mandatory in the USMC, at the time it was not in the Navy) which my parents bought as my graduation gift. And when I say $2k, that does not include cammies, boots and all the other stuff you need for the field. As kinnem said, ROTC USMC commissioned Lts will get fitted for their Dress Blues at OCS so they can commission in them. They report to TBS in suits if they do not have alphas (most did not unless MECEP or USNA commissioned). So if they do not have a decent suit, recommend getting one. We actually wore suits several times at TBS for events, not sure if they still do that. At TBS they will fit them for all their other uniforms. They generally offer very low interest (might even be no interest) loans for the uniforms that most Lts take and pay off them in about a year.

Great suggestion on the gifts for the holidays and graduations. Covers, insignia stuff, swords, gift cards all make great gifts for those commissioning for those items, especially Marines as our stuff is pricey!

+1 Navy Hoops

My experience was 33 years ago but remarkably similar. We were commissioned the day before graduation in Dress Whites but then we got all the other uniforms during TBS. I remember many briefings on uniforms, fit, etc as well as who the instructors felt were decent outlets. I would bet 95% of the class got their uniforms from the Marine Shop in Quantico. Yes they had loans available and most guys took them but there was no such thing as a low interest loan in 1981!

I am sure my memory is faulty but I would have said that all in (uniforms, tailoring, covers, shoes, belts, insignia, sword, etc) the total was $4,000 - $5000. Of course we also had the long wool overcoat and Dress Whites. I believe the Dress Whites are long gone and the all weather coat replaced the wool one.

As I remember, the sword was a graduation gift for many of my peers.
 
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+1 Navy Hoops

My experience was 33 years ago but remarkably similar. We were commissioned the day before graduation in Dress Whites but then we got all the other uniforms during TBS. I remember many briefings on uniforms, fit, etc as well as who the instructors felt were decent outlets. I would bet 95% of the class got their uniforms from the Marine Shop in Quantico. Yes they had loans available and most guys took them but there was no such thing as a low interest loan in 1981!

I am sure my memory is faulty but I would have said that all in (uniforms, tailoring, covers, shoes, belts, insignia, sword, etc) the total was $4,000 - $5000. Of course we also had the long wool overcoat and Dress Whites. I believe the Dress Whites are long gone and the all weather coat replaced the wool one.

As I remember, the sword was a graduation gift for many of my peers.

Too bad about the dress whites. That is one sharp looking uniform. And speaking of dress whites, one of DS's favorite stories from freshman year was walking to the CO Dress white inspection across campus. Overheard (as I'm sure was intended) some gal saying "He's hot!". Certainly made his week!
 
Marine Corps count on the uniforms running closer to $3k for the full bag of items. Mine were $2k and that did not count the sword (not too long ago, but not really long ago!). The sword was an additional $800 (and is mandatory in the USMC, at the time it was not in the Navy) which my parents bought as my graduation gift. And when I say $2k, that does not include cammies, boots and all the other stuff you need for the field. As kinnem said, ROTC USMC commissioned Lts will get fitted for their Dress Blues at OCS so they can commission in them. They report to TBS in suits if they do not have alphas (most did not unless MECEP or USNA commissioned). So if they do not have a decent suit, recommend getting one. We actually wore suits several times at TBS for events, not sure if they still do that. At TBS they will fit them for all their other uniforms. They generally offer very low interest (might even be no interest) loans for the uniforms that most Lts take and pay off them in about a year.

Great suggestion on the gifts for the holidays and graduations. Covers, insignia stuff, swords, gift cards all make great gifts for those commissioning for those items, especially Marines as our stuff is pricey!

I got the barebones of the uniform bag (no sweater/tanker jacket/all-weather coat/Sam Browne, blues skirt only...but I had to buy the pants later anyway) and I think I ended up just under $2k. Again, that doesn't include cammies or boots. I bought almost all my cammies from cash sales in Quantico for about $10 a pair, but dropped over $400 on boots....stupid Danners.

And, typically, the most expensive uniform items are ones I've worn once or twice. :rolleyes:


Sidenote: NROTC graduates/commissions that happen in May or so get lumped in with Academy kids for date of commission. So while they'll actually take the oath and pin on bars on a different day, their official date of rank (in MOL or whatever the Navy has) will be the same as the Academy one.
 
I have to be honest, I did not want to scare the OP regarding the cost.

We started buying uniforms end of his soph yr. I am sure we paid close to 2-3K too over 2 yrs.

For his graduation, we got off cheap because we did this every yr for gifts for 2 yrs. All we had to purchase was the cheap stuff at that point. Mess Dress, and blues were paid for by that point.

My only point was there may be sticker shock come commissioning when they realize that they can keep their uniform, but come AD they are going to be out of pocket. AFROTC will charge that uniform to their BAS.

Off topic, but on topic. Take the time to research the career starter loans. USAA will offer a 25K loan at a very low interest rate.
~~~ It is a great deal, but if their career is volatile (Pilot) read the fine print.
~ If they are released the USAA rate goes to @19%.

Our DS took only 10K. He is at UPT. He purchased a new car (Toyota Corolla) for 15K using new college grad discount, and military discount at a 0% interest. The 10K was placed into a savings account earning interest.
~ USAA was 2.74%

That 25K is great, but if they take it to buy a car, they can find trouble quickly,
~~~ Our DS reported to his 1st base Oct 1st. His 1st paycheck was Nov.1st. He got money placed into his account for the travel that he paid out of pocket, BUT he needed to buy things and live before that back pay showed up. He was able to access money with no problem.

I know many will use it to pay off debt. Just remember when they report to their 1st post/base it is out of pocket to travel there. Our DS was traveling from VA to TX. Can you imagine the cost if you travel from WA to FL? Lots of gas, hotels and food, out of pocket.

FWIW, when all was settled (Dec) he put 5K in an IRA, and in Jan. he put 5K in the IRA again. (Max)
 
Aw heck... my memory must be off regarding the total. It probably seemed like $10,000 at the time!!

Hurricane: Just for the sake of my curiosity, did the minimum seabag include a sword?
 
The less uniforms in a sea bag the better! You should see the costs of Mess Dress for the USMC when you reach Major. As a female we had to purchase even more unforms due to skirts. I never once wore my green skirt! It still had the tags on them when I got out of the USMC. I think I wore my green garrison cover once also. I wore the white and black skirt many times for weddings. White uniforms are the worst to keep clean. Luckily the price of all the tailoring was included in the uniforms so the 2-3 fittings we did for each was already factored in. Now that I am a civilian and wear suits nearly 5 days a week I can appreciate how much tailoring really costs. The Marine Shop does a great job. They will keep your measurements on file in case you need to order more uniforms. The smaller costs of cammies, boots, socks, green shirts, pt gear, jogging suits, field gear, MREs, etc start to add up quickly at TBS.
 
I got the sword separately from the rest of my stuff because my friends and I found a vendor that did a group discount ($450 vs. $600+). It ended up being a commissioning gift from my parents anyway, so I didn't include it in my total.
 
I think mine was just under $2k but did not include the sword, but was mandatory. Not sure what swords run now. Alot of them were handed down from parents or other family members. Like Hurricane12 said, cash sales is a good spot to pick up things like cammies, shirts, pt gear, tanker jackets, sweater, rain coat etc. Much cheaper to get and can be purchased on main side in Quantico. Sam Browne's were also mandatory. We actually had to wear them at graduation. Agree with Hurricane, seems like the pricey it is the less its used. I think I actually went for a 2 year period in the USMC without ever once wearing a uniform other than cammies! Hurricane, once you get to the fleet, you will be glad you bought the green pants. So much better than the skirt for alot of that stuff.

Wait, the USAF has a uniform other than flight suits? :wink:
 
Wait, the USAF has a uniform other than flight suits? :thumb:

Polos and golf shorts, too difficult to swing a club in a flight suit:thumb:
 
Marine Corps has the same tradition on the first salute. DS is already thinking where he'll get a coin. Not sure about Navy though.

Navy has the silver dollar exchange for the first salute as well. We attended the commissioning ceremony at DS unit in May and witnessed this ceremony - yes, I had a few tears and didn't even know any of the newly commissioned officers!

DS told us on the way home that he plans to ask my DF to be his first salute. DF plans to get a new uniform for the occasion. I am going to be a MESS! :eek:
 
Do the Academy grads start their pay at commissioning date or do they also wait until they start their school?
 
Academy grads are paid starting the day they commission.
 
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