Pay at COT

[jmaverick101]

From my understanding the military pay days are every 1st and 15th. COT starts March 6th or 9th, I can't remember. I know it'll probably take 2 weeks or longer to set up direct deposit, but when I do get paid is it a full pay check for being there from beginning march to the 15th or is it a partial sum. Also i read somewhere your base pay is that of an E-5. Are you only paid the base pay or did it also include allowances.

[jmaverick101]

I was planning on putting my belongings in a climate controlled facility due to a lot of my electronics being very sensitive to humidity. That was one of the reasons I was thinking of not using the Pods company. As far as I know the government will store my stuff, but I'm not sure if they will keep my stuff in an air conditioned humidity controlled area.

http://www.studentloanborrowerassistance.org/repayment/postponing-repayment/deferments/

According to that website there is no time limit on military deferment. Also you only accrue interest from non subsidized loans, whereas on subsidized loans the government will pay the interest.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

As far as I know there is a time limit on the deferment, because obviously they want to be paid back at some point. When I deferred mine it was four years. You need to talk to the lender because there's a lot of things that are in gray areas on their website. They don't put a time limit in black and white because it changes and is dependent on who actually holds the note and what Congress (these are Federal loans, remember) actually says. The subsidized/unsubsidized thing to me seemed obvious. I've had student loans since 1991 and deferred my old loans once during my first enlistment (when the time limit was actually only three years) and my Duke loans are in deferment now because at some point they'll get paid off - so I'm letting the Air Force pay the bill.

Our stuff was in storage about forty-five days in Texas in ninety-degree weather (yes, it was in the nineties here in Texas) - and we have two widescreen televisions, a smaller LCD TV, a computer, there was a laptop in there, our treadmill, an antique set of Noritake china that my parents gave me as a wedding present, two DVD players, a Playstation 3, my entire American Girl doll collection (yes, I collect AG, and I have fifteen of them) - we've had no problems - no mold, no damage due to humidity or dampness. Trust me - the last thing the Feds want to do is pay out for a bunch of stuff that no longer works.

(And be sure you take pictures of all your stuff actually working - never mind the climate control.)

Also, you're going to want to check to see what the procedure is for the Feds to come and pick your stuff up from a storage facility. If you pack the stuff, someone has to sign a waiver absolving the carrier from all responsibility from damage - which means if you pack it poorly and everything is destroyed, you can't file a claim and get money back for your stuff. If they pack it and screw it up (and they did in my case - the crew in Durham really wasn't the swiftest bunch of folks), the carrier pays the claim and the Feds back you up.

Once stuff is packed, they will NOT repack it. You're better off letting someone stand as your representative - they will need a copy of your orders and a special power of attorney (you can get this for free from JAG). Then the movers pack your stuff over a day or two, and then they come and crate it up and move it to wherever it is you're going.

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

Carolinapooh,

Thanks so much for all your posts! You have been of soooo much help to me as I try to navigate through all this stuff! I think I read the one about the pay about 4 times.

You're welcome. I thought it stunk that no one was told this up front. I'm still debating about filing an IG complaint about it, because as far as I'm concerned it's inexcusable.

[mt_nurse]

i'm just wondering whether or not i should do the move myself or not. i don't have much stuff to begin with. just one bed, a drawer, a computer desk, a bookshelf, and clothes... i live in san francisco. i have NTP at scottsdale and my duty station at travis AFB in fairfield, ca which is only an hour away from sf.

suggestions?

[carolinapooh, BSN, RN]

That's a judgement call on your part. I'd find out how much they're going to pay you for a DITY (do it yourself) move and then determine if the amount is worth your trouble. Sometimes you can make money on a DITY.