Navy Nursing while engaged/married

Published

Hello, everyone. This is my first time posting anything on allnurses.com! :) Here's my question: I am a third-year (senior) nursing student in a BSN program, and I graduate June 2014. I am in the application process to become a Navy Nurse, and if accepted, I will serve for 4 years active duty and 4 reserve. I have been with my boyfriend (who is not in the military) for going on 5 years now, and we have been seriously talking about getting married within the next two years, but this is in the middle of my tour. We don't want to wait until I'm done with the 4 years active duty to get married, but I was wondering if you all have any advice about when to get engaged/married and what navy life is like for navy nurses who are married to people who aren't in the military?

Thanks!

Thanks Meriwhen. Does the navy pay for your school and your husbands if he were to go back to school or is it just the person who's in the military who get help with school?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

They'll pay for active duty advanced education but the degree has to apply to his military career: it's not like he could decide to get a masters in art appreciation and expect them to foot the bill. He also has to apply to it--it's not guaranteed. They will not pay for my education.

The GI Bill, on the other hand, can be used for whatever education he wants to pursue after he leaves the service. If he doesn't want to use it, he can sign it over to me or--and this is our current plan--to one of our kids.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
The GI Bill on the other hand, can be used for whatever education he wants to pursue after he leaves the service. If he doesn't want to use it, he can sign it over to me or--and this is our current plan--to one of our kids.[/quote']

There are some minimum time-in-service requirements to be eligible to transfer one's GI Bill benefits to family members. Can't remember how long - six years? Something like that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It's important to keep in mind that while the Department of Defense does not as a rule pay for spouses to go on deployment, it is not uncommon for spouses to relocate themselves to deployment locales on their own dime, which the military has no control over. Such is common for deployments to Korea, stopovers in Panama, Guam, etc... Many spouses will meet up, or actually live on the economy during deployments or remote tours (e.g. Korea). This is popular with many Army/Air Force service embers who serve in units that are/were notorious for getting extended from 12 to 18 month tours in Korea... They bring the spouse and kids over on their own dime.

Someone mentioned the divorce rate... There's credence to that statement; the amount of transgressions in the military is a sub culture in itself that most of you cannot fathom or have never been privy to, with locations such as Korea, Ft. Sam Houston (San Antonio), Germany, et al., being Mini Meccas for large-scale cheating with women of every nationality you can imagine being smuggled onto the base, or "entertained" off base... A smorgasbord of opportunity that any new bride should consider before taking the plunge into military life. Know all aspects of the military culture before you jump in! If you ever have a position where you have to dole out punishment to service members- you'll get a shot of reality as to what goes on underneath the military vail real quick.

Just realize that being in the military is like being a corporate pilot... You simply go where, when, and how you're told to go, and for how long you're told to be there... At least the spouse has the option to follow the service member or not, sometimes maintaining several households (one stateside and one overseas where the service member is stationed) flying back and forth between the two at wish.

The military affords many wonderful opportunities, and twice as many opportunities to get into trouble... You're the captain of your own destiny. ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

To add onto the previous post, it's not just active duty men that stray: active duty women do as well. Yes, adultery is technically a crime in the military and can kill a career. But that doesn't stop it from happening.

And not all the mischief occurs overseas: spouses and SO's left behind at home have been known to play while the cat's away. Or the relationships just fall apart because the spouse/SO couldn't handle the separation. More than one solider or sailor has received a "Dear John/Jane" letter. Or they've come home from deployment to find that their loving spouse isn't waiting at the pier for them anymore.

NOT EVERYONE does this, however: there's many happy relationships and marriages where both parties remain faithful to each other through thick and thin. But one would be a fool not to acknowledge that it's out there and can/does happen.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thanks Meriwhen. Does the navy pay for your school and your husbands if he were to go back to school or is it just the person who's in the military who get help with school?

Are you getting student loan payback? You can earn he GI bill after a certain time which is to only be used by YOU unless you transfer it to your husband but that often requires additional years of service.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm not sure what "student loan payback" is. All I know is that, if accepted, I would get a $20,000 sign on bonus, which I would use to pay off my school loans. In regard to spousal aid from the Navy, I did some research, and although the Navy does not pay for spouses' tuition, they do offer scholarships, grants, and some loans at no interest.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion