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Command Post What is this?
Posted on Dec 29, 2014
SSG Retiree
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SGT Kristin Wiley
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In addition to the above, many soldiers who never move out of the barracks learn how to live on their own. I think this is a failure to transitioning successfully by the military. They don't know how to rent, lease, or own a house, how to set up utilities, proper vehicle maintence, car registration, safety inspections, taxes, college loans, etc. While most of these aren't the military's direct responsbility, knowing how to get lodging after transitioning is essential. Many troops transition without a job, thinking they are going to use their GI Bill to pay for housing. Your GI Bill stipend covers very few of your actual living expenses, and does not cover the summer months. It's easier to make all the errors with renting in a civilian environment when you have a steady paycheck, and financial assistance resources. Not knowing this prior to getting out, can result in poor budgeting, not being able to make monthly payments, and low credit scores that hinder renting and getting loans in the future. When soldiers get out of the military they should be able to act as independent self-suffiicent adults, not resort to living with their parents again to make ends meet.
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MSgt Electrical Power Production
MSgt (Join to see)
10 y
On some bases there is a pretty long list for base housing so the only alternative is off base. So I agree that sounds very feasible to have a comprehensive counseling about resources for young married couples living on or off base.
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COL Vincent Stoneking
COL Vincent Stoneking
10 y
Just remember, you can lead a man to water, but you can't make him think...
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SGT Team Leader
SGT (Join to see)
10 y
In 2001, in my initial briefing, I heard all the jazz about financial responsibility. I was sent to Ft Hood. I was there about, oh, two weeks, before I realized that a car might be useful. So, I bought one...at at ridiculously inflated interest rate. The program was called MILES. And that little Sunfire, worth about 6K, wound up costing me about 12K.
The briefings warned me, but I didn't listen. The best advice I received came from an NCO after-the-fact:
"If they know you are in the military...bring your own lube, because they won't provide it, and you are about to get..."
Yep. So, it's my policy to be sure that that soldier knows that he or she is no longer in their momma's house. Wolves are kinda cute on the internet, but they will chew on your lips off, in reality.
You're welcome.
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PFC Misti Grant
PFC Misti Grant
7 y
If life skills were important in high school (like 30+ years ago), reality might not be such a shock after graduation.
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SGT Maintenance Management Assistant
8
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I joined when I was 18 almost 19 and I felt old compared to my fellow soliders. I'm sure if I joined at 17 when I graduated and I would of been like one of these very soldiers.....but I got hit with reality when I became a mom at 17. I joined because it was what I wanted to do; I didn't join to learn basic life skills, I already got that crash course along with what my parents had instilled in raising my siblings and I as independent, hard working, self reliant members of society. Unfortunately that type of upbringing has become rare.....
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SFC Mark Merino
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I was a snot nosed kid, but I could wipe my own tush and asked LOTS of questions. Did I run out of money? You bet! Of course, I think we got paid $750 so it was easy. Cartons of cigarettes were $7 and a case of beer was $8.60.......you know, the essentials...lol. When I had a brief stint working at behavioral health, I had a few "kids" who were in way over their heads with being married to a spouse on her 3rd marriage with 4 kids and the new sponsor was 19. I spent 10 minutes trying to get him back on track when all he could concentrate on was the release of Battlefield 2 for PS3. Single child in a one parent family and mom worked 24/7. Of course the Army took him at the height of the surge. We worked on communication problems in his marriage, and budgeting. "Why does most of my pay go towards what her kids need? There is never anything left for me!" It's hard to have "the talk" when they arrive with family in tow. It's hard to be a "dad" when we are at war. Where do we draw he line at mentorship v. child rearing? My stepson was older than some of my Platoon Leaders. I caught one checking out my daughter. No one comes to the military equipped for war. We all work at our levels of expertise to make our leaders shine and our troops to flourish. When basic life skills becomes the focus on some of our troops we have taken a huge step backwards from operational readiness. When they start referring them to mental health because they are so underequipped, it is time to think about separation. Sorry folks. Behavioral health is kicking them right back to you with a note with parenting instructions. It is on you to make the judgement call.
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1LT William Clardy
1LT William Clardy
9 y
SFC Mark Merino, as long as your daughter inherited more of your character and sense than your looks, well, a young man in need of a good spouse would be a fool to overlook her, wouldn't he?
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PFC Misti Grant
PFC Misti Grant
7 y
Lol
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