Not only are Johnathon and I constantly asked numerous questions about our future in the Navy, but we want to keep our friends and family updated on what our plans are. We have answered a few of the main questions for everyone...
Is Johnathon planning on re-enlisting?
Johnathon has been in the Navy for just under 5 1/2 years. He has currently re-enlisted twice already and has every intention on doing so again. His current contract is up on September 11th, 2012. At that time we will evaluate our situation and more than likely sign our lives away, yet again!
Will there be a re-enlistment bonus?
Heck NO! This is kind of a personal question and I find it tacky and rude when friends and even relatives ask about it. Our (or Johnathon's rather) salary is one thing...it can be found on the internet, but anything beyond that isn't anyone's business. Anywho, Johnathon recieved N.O.T.H.I.N.G when he first joined the Navy and that is the way it has remained. It may be a different story with other military branches or even other Naval rates, but as for us, we get nothing. :( bummer!
Explain your orders and when they are up.
Alright, since Johnathon is an AS (Aviation Support Equipment Technician) his ratio of sea duty/shore duty is 3 years sea/4 years shore. He is currently in his 2nd year stationed on the USS Makin Island. He was asked to extend and join them on deployment in 2011 and he has agreed. When he gets home in 2012 he will be cutting it close to 4 years on that particular ship. Then he will be given orders to a Naval base instead of a ship.
Sea duty? Shore duty? Explain!
Johnathon got lucky and was first put on shore duty in San Diego, California. (That is what finishing #1 in your A school will get you. :)) That meant that he reported every morning to a building on base. He is an AS (basically a diesel mechanic) and his shop is located near the runway. He doesn't work on the jets themselvs, but rather on the tractors that people ride when they go to work on them or to haul things. While on shore duty you do NOT go on deployments out to sea. However, you can be asked to serve in Iraq, or the like.
Sea duty is a whole different ball game. Johnathon now reports to a ship every morning. To get to that ship, he must first drive onto base and park. He works, eats, sleeps (while on duty) on that ship. Johnathon got lucky with the fact that his ship wasn't actually finished being built when he first got his orders. Thus resulting in very few underways. (Underway is when the ship goes out to sea, but only for a few days-few weeks.) Obviousy, sea duty includes one (or in the case of many) or multiple deployments. While on sea duty you have longer hours and more duty days.
What are duty days?
Simply put, the men and women are sectioned off into different duty sections. Depending on the number of duty sections, they will have duty on that number of days. ex: Johnathon's ship has X number of duty sections. Therefore, Johnathon has duty every X days. One day for each duty section. On that day the men and women of that duty section have training, drills and stand watches.
Do you live in miltary housing? On base?
We do live in miltary housing, however, we do not live on base. That may be the case with other branches, other families, other rates and ranks...but not for the majority of families here in San Diego. There are several...SEVERAL...military neighborhoods. These neighborhoods house both Sailors and Marines...and I'm assuming any other branch if needed.
How come your rent is FREE? Is the commissary really 50% cheaper than civilian stores?
HAHA...this one makes me laugh every.single.time. Our rent is NOT free. Let me repeat that...
Our rent is NOT FREE!
When a sailor is married or reaches a certain rank they are then given a certain amount of money each month. It may or may not pay all of your rent and utilites. The point of this is to HELP defuse the difference in cost of living. Understand that regardless of where you live, each E-4 or E-5 will make the same exact base pay as any other E-4 or E-5. Now does that sound fair when some people live in Texas and other live in Hawaii? Not to say that Texas is cheap, but the cost of living in Hawaii is substantially higher. Therefore, their BAH (money given to aid in their rent/mortgage costs) varies depending on where you are stationed.
Clearly if you live in an apartment, you are able to put that money towards rent and utilities. Johnathon and I lived in a 2 bedroom apartment when we were first married. It was in a town just south of down town San Diego. Our BAH didn't cover our entire rent...let alone our other costs. We now live in miltary housing and instead of the government giving us our BAH and us paying rent, they just keep our BAH. I can see how to civilians it appears that our rent is free, when in reality we are still paying rent with the money that we would have been recieving otherwise. (Only because I am from a small town in central Illinois and they have no idea what rent is like here in California...we pay 3-4x what the average rent is there. Depending on where you live.)
The commissary...50% cheaper! haha. Yeah right! A lot of the items are cheaper, especially when on sale!! However, if you pay attention to prices, there are some things that you can find at a Walmart or Target at the same price. It varies...plain and simple! It is tax free though.
What will Sarah and the girls do while Johnathon is gone on deployment?
Go home, of course! We will be moving somewhere else shortly after Johnathon gets home anyway. Soooo, I will pack up the kids and move to Illinois while he is gone. When his ship pulls in, we will move as a family to wherever the Navy sends us. Johnathon wants Florida...I want Texas. We'll see!
I've enjoyed clearing everything up and sharing our future plans with you all. If you have any other further questions, please don't hesitate to ask!!
Showing posts with label US Navy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label US Navy. Show all posts
June 2, 2010
June 1, 2010
My thoughts...
{a bit long}
All of this makes me realize that it won't be long before Johnathon, himself, is gone for at least 6 months. In about a year we will be saying our good-byes and I am devastated even now. The thought of him missing such a large gap in our children's' lives makes my heart ache, but it is something that must be done.
I know some of you were hoping that we would be moving in January. We wanted to, we really did. We have prayed about it for what feels like months now and in the end we feel like our lives are being pulled in a different direction. We are no longer trying to get new orders and will endure this deployment. We have a really good feeling about it and what it can do for our family. There will be a "Navy" post coming soon where Johnathon and I will answer the many questions that you are all dying to know.
I know I touched on the subject of being a photographer the other day and left a lot unanswered. I by no means consider myself a professional or "the best". I do, however, love to take pictures and feel like this could right for me. It's an opportunity for me to stay home with my children, homeschool them, do something that I love...AND get paid. Anyone see any problems with that?? :)
I plan on taking a few classes...when the time is right. For now, I just plan on investing on a new camera and building a portfolio of my best work. I'm nervous, intimidated and feel very anxious about this next step. I know it will be an uphill battle and I am up for the challenge. Wish me luck!
The kids? Oh, they are fabulous!
Madelynn is 'semi-crawling'...if you can call it that. haha. She's moving, that's for sure, but I don't know if there is a name for it. She somehow makes her way across the room and gets whatever toy has caught her eye. She can't pull herself into a sitting position, but when placed there, can sit for 30 minutes easily. Most of the time she doesn't even want a toy at all. She is perfectly content on watching her sisters. My favorite moments are those when they all three sit on the floor and play together. The smiles. The laughter. The joy. It's everything I have ever wanted.
She is a champ at eating and devours just about everything you place in front of her...with the exception of sweet peas. haha. We've given her puffs and she seems to do alright. Such a big girl!!
Alyssa & Allison still have a way of amazing me. They are smart and strong...yet gentle and caring. They are everything I always prayed they would be. They are getting closer and closer to counting to 30 on their own. I am only needed on occasion when they skip a random number and get off track. I am so proud. We made butterflies out of coffee filters the other day...I'll post that in the days to come. Allison has started adding eyebrows to her drawings of people. Am I the only one amazed with that?
Nap time is still a struggle. Not so much with them actually napping, more so with the removal of diapers. I just don't understand. I have way too much to say on this subject and will ask for your opinions later. I am seriously in need of some help in this department. *sigh*
My mom went to the doctor today. She seems to have gotten another bug and her electrolytes weren't doing so well because of it. Prayers for her healing would mean so much to me. I just need her to be healthy when we take our trip to Illinois this Summer. :)
Has anyone else noticed the number of followers slowly rising??
Ya'll are so sweet.
Thanks for tuning in everyday to see what new happens in my always blessed, usually chaotic life!!
It was a fabulous, fun and relaxing Memorial Day weekend here in the Stone household. We spent all three days at home, soaking up this glorious California sun and playing games. No grilling out for us...we do that enough on a daily basis anyway.
We did, however, take time to think about all the service men and women that we have had the pleasure of meeting over the years. There have been those who have touched our lives in large momentous ways and of course those others who might have only been in our lives long enough for a short conversation, but whom we will remember forever. Being a military family has done nothing but changed our lives for the better. Johnathon works very hard for this family and we are so blessed for everything that has come our way.
Many of our friends are over seas right now and even on Naval deployments. Our thoughts go out to them and their families.
We did, however, take time to think about all the service men and women that we have had the pleasure of meeting over the years. There have been those who have touched our lives in large momentous ways and of course those others who might have only been in our lives long enough for a short conversation, but whom we will remember forever. Being a military family has done nothing but changed our lives for the better. Johnathon works very hard for this family and we are so blessed for everything that has come our way.
Many of our friends are over seas right now and even on Naval deployments. Our thoughts go out to them and their families.
All of this makes me realize that it won't be long before Johnathon, himself, is gone for at least 6 months. In about a year we will be saying our good-byes and I am devastated even now. The thought of him missing such a large gap in our children's' lives makes my heart ache, but it is something that must be done.
I know some of you were hoping that we would be moving in January. We wanted to, we really did. We have prayed about it for what feels like months now and in the end we feel like our lives are being pulled in a different direction. We are no longer trying to get new orders and will endure this deployment. We have a really good feeling about it and what it can do for our family. There will be a "Navy" post coming soon where Johnathon and I will answer the many questions that you are all dying to know.
I know I touched on the subject of being a photographer the other day and left a lot unanswered. I by no means consider myself a professional or "the best". I do, however, love to take pictures and feel like this could right for me. It's an opportunity for me to stay home with my children, homeschool them, do something that I love...AND get paid. Anyone see any problems with that?? :)
I plan on taking a few classes...when the time is right. For now, I just plan on investing on a new camera and building a portfolio of my best work. I'm nervous, intimidated and feel very anxious about this next step. I know it will be an uphill battle and I am up for the challenge. Wish me luck!
The kids? Oh, they are fabulous!
Madelynn is 'semi-crawling'...if you can call it that. haha. She's moving, that's for sure, but I don't know if there is a name for it. She somehow makes her way across the room and gets whatever toy has caught her eye. She can't pull herself into a sitting position, but when placed there, can sit for 30 minutes easily. Most of the time she doesn't even want a toy at all. She is perfectly content on watching her sisters. My favorite moments are those when they all three sit on the floor and play together. The smiles. The laughter. The joy. It's everything I have ever wanted.
She is a champ at eating and devours just about everything you place in front of her...with the exception of sweet peas. haha. We've given her puffs and she seems to do alright. Such a big girl!!
Alyssa & Allison still have a way of amazing me. They are smart and strong...yet gentle and caring. They are everything I always prayed they would be. They are getting closer and closer to counting to 30 on their own. I am only needed on occasion when they skip a random number and get off track. I am so proud. We made butterflies out of coffee filters the other day...I'll post that in the days to come. Allison has started adding eyebrows to her drawings of people. Am I the only one amazed with that?
Nap time is still a struggle. Not so much with them actually napping, more so with the removal of diapers. I just don't understand. I have way too much to say on this subject and will ask for your opinions later. I am seriously in need of some help in this department. *sigh*
My mom went to the doctor today. She seems to have gotten another bug and her electrolytes weren't doing so well because of it. Prayers for her healing would mean so much to me. I just need her to be healthy when we take our trip to Illinois this Summer. :)
Has anyone else noticed the number of followers slowly rising??
Ya'll are so sweet.
Thanks for tuning in everyday to see what new happens in my always blessed, usually chaotic life!!
May 30, 2010
Where oh where...
It's no new information when I say that we are a military family {US Navy to be exact} and we live in sunny San Diego, California. That's not a big deal to most of you, but when you come from a small town in central Illinois...it IS! For obvious reasons, most of our family has never been out to visit us in the 4 years that we have lived here {5 for Johnathon}.
I thought it would be fun to show them a little of where we live.
So....here ya go.
Clearly we live in military housing. It's a very nice subdivision and we are very lucky. However, all of the houses look exactly alike {which is why the twins are always trying to open someone else's front door} and even though we each have our own 2 car garage, the houses are set up in a townhouse style. We were lucky enough to get an end unit and have extra windows!! :)
Here is our view from our front 'yard'.
I say 'yard' because it is literally a few square feet!
The building to the right is our district office and the buildings to the left are historical houses...also military housing.
This is would be our mailbox! It's set up a little like an apartment complex would be. Most everyone's mailbox is within walking distance from their house...except ours! It is at least a block away. For those of you will children, you will understand what I mean when I say that it is too far to walk without your children and it is too close to be worth loading them all up in the stroller.
*sigh*
Oh, and Joey, this would be why we are ALWAYS losing our mail key...so inconvenient
I thought it would be fun to show them a little of where we live.
So....here ya go.
Clearly we live in military housing. It's a very nice subdivision and we are very lucky. However, all of the houses look exactly alike {which is why the twins are always trying to open someone else's front door} and even though we each have our own 2 car garage, the houses are set up in a townhouse style. We were lucky enough to get an end unit and have extra windows!! :)
Here is our view from our front 'yard'.
I say 'yard' because it is literally a few square feet!
The building to the right is our district office and the buildings to the left are historical houses...also military housing.
This is would be our mailbox! It's set up a little like an apartment complex would be. Most everyone's mailbox is within walking distance from their house...except ours! It is at least a block away. For those of you will children, you will understand what I mean when I say that it is too far to walk without your children and it is too close to be worth loading them all up in the stroller.*sigh*
Oh, and Joey, this would be why we are ALWAYS losing our mail key...so inconvenient
This is just a shot of our street. You can't actually see our house from this view, but you get the idea.
We are within walking distance to a small lake {it's literally in our back yard...but fenced in, of course}.It has a neat little trail around it, a few jungle gym areas for the kids and thousands of squirrels. THOUSANDS!
*It reminds me of Weldon Springs...but a lot smaller!
I wasn't comfortable putting a photo of my actual house on here, so I was a little sneaky.Do you see the small window that he arrow is pointing to?
Yep! We live back there!
There are literally speed bumps every few yards. It is a relief to know that people have to drive slow, but I tell you what!! Those speed bumps were NOT fun when I was pregnant with the twins! Even if I didn't have to go pee, my bladder was shot after a few of those puppies!
And just for fun I had to throw in a picture of a palm tree. This is one from in front of our district office. I know I am short, but this baby is TALL!
It wasn't anything too crazy, but I hope you all enjoyed this small glimpse into my life.{Joey, this was mainly for you!}
. . .
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