Hello,

1. You can rent or sell your home. Thats up to you. Its your home to do with as you please. Realize though, that until the sale is final, it is still your home and counts as debt. If you rent it, the rental income becomes part of your income on your debt to income calculation.

2.Where your wife stays is up to the both of you. We rented our house before I shipped off to boot camp and ended up staying with my wife's parents at the beach. It was great. Once you get out of boot camp and head to your first station, you will either live in government housing if available or you will most likely get 10 days to find a house with the BAH provided.

3. You still have to wait 4 months to put your name on a list. Coming out as an E-3 vs an E-2 doesn't mean all too much in the grand scheme of things. You'll make a little extra money which is nice. A little extra.

4. Your wife will come and live with you after Basic. The Military will move you both to where you need to be and she will actually get a dislocation allowance....A little extra money for having to move. If you are stationed on a cutter, since you are married, you will still get BAH or government housing for your wife and you. You'll have to sleep on the cutter some nights while your wife is at home. Each cutter and command has different rules about where their people sleep while breaking in but you will sleep on the cutter while on duty. If the cutter is out on a patrol when you get out of boot camp, they may fly you out to meet them at their next port and your wife will head to the cutters home port. A lot of different options but your wife will move with you.

The process is stressful. If your recruiter says you qualify for E3 then you will be paid as an E3 at Boot Camp. I believe you will be paid a E3's with dependents housing allowance. When you leave Boot Camp then you and your wife will live either in govt housing if they have any or on the economy. One concern I've always had about renting out my house is can I afford the payment if some one is not renting it!

Good Luck,

I went in as an E2 even with an associates. Haven't seen an update to an E3 alcoast. Anyone seen different?

I haven't seen an update but recruiting incentives are not always updated by ALCOAST. The recruiters would have received a message by now outlining the incentives for fiscal year 17. Only way to find out what is currently offered is to call them.

Thank you all for the responses. I think we have decided to just try and sell the house and my wife will live with her parents,