Posted on Aug 28, 2020
SPC Josh Tharp
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My wife is likely to give birth to our child just a few weeks after completion of my AIT if I am able to ship to basic and ait within a month of my physical on September 3rd. What is my best course of action to prepare to arrive at my duty station and support my wife at the time of birth?

We have discussed waiting until after birth, however my wife and I have agreed that it is better for me to be in training during pregnancy as opposed to post partum.

Thanks for your guidance!
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Responses: 7
SSG Intelligence Analyst
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I would wait. The odds you ship within a month are slim, but the odds you are shipped to your duty station immediately following are smaller.
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SPC Josh Tharp
SPC Josh Tharp
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Thanks for the advise!

Would there be a decent chance of me being shipped home after AIT for secondary caregiver leave before reporting to my duty station?

Assuming I could meet the slim ship soon odds?
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SSG Intelligence Analyst
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SPC Josh Tharp - unfortunately, you must sign in to your unit and they must grant you the leave. You will be able to request the leave at your unit following the birth.
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SPC Josh Tharp
SPC Josh Tharp
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SSG (Join to see) I think from talking with my wife financially and even if I miss the first part of post partum being gone for 5+ months post partum is going to be harder on her than the former.

Is there anything I can do to mitigate the chances of missing the birth or post partum assuming MEPS can get me to a basic training and AIT class wherein the possibility exists to graduate before the expected birth?

I really appreciate your time and advice. Two incredibly difficult and not ideal choices but trying to make the best of the one that seems better for our family on the surface.
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SSG Intelligence Analyst
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SPC Josh Tharp - I understand you are concerned about this, but the unfortunate nature of the situation is MEPS is going to schedule you for training based on when the next AIT starts. For example, if your AIT starts on March 7th, you basic would need to finish on the 5th of March
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SSG Combat Engineer
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Right now during these COVID times, you will sit both at basic training and AIT for a few weeks some times up to a month before you are moved to the next location. So worst case you would spend a month after basic waiting to go to AIT and a month after AIT waiting to ship to your first duty station, where you will likely be under controlled monitoring for about 2 weeks. I personally would wait, just because that could get pushed to the right even farther on either end of it and you will end up missing the birth, but you know what is best for you and your family. To add perspective I have 5 kids and it's the same difficulty for my wife whether I'm present or not.
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SPC Automated Logistical Specialist
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I was in a.i.t 4 months extra because of covid 19
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