Preparing for BCT - Uniform Costs?

[saxman425]

Good Morning All,

I am in the process of applying for and joining the Army National Guard. I hope, after all the training, to become a 2nd LT in the Corp of Engineers.

I was wondering what I should expect as far as uniform, or other significant costs during the first year or so. This will not impact my decision to join in anyway, but I have heard that officers do not receive a uniform allowance and the total for all uniforms can exceed $500. I want to make sure that I set aside appropriate funds to reduce any financial burdens on my family.

These next two questions are off topic, but I figured it can't hurt to ask them here.
- My civilian, full-time job is Project Management/Engineering for a large corporation. If anyone reading this has a similar career, I would love to talk to you to get some pointers on balancing your career and life in the National Guard.

- I need to lose at least 10lbs prior to MEPs (currently at 198 and 5'10"). I currently do Tae Kwon Do, situps, pushups, and running for exercise in addition to generally watching what I eat. I lost 45lbs over the past year and a half, but have been stuck for the past 3 months. I know similar posts exist elsewhere, but if anyone has advice on getting the weight loss moving again, I'd love to hear it.

[Chief Kemosabe]

You will receive your initial issue courtesy of Uncle Sam when you report to basic. Yes, officers do not receive an uniform allowance but at the same token, you will not utilize your uniforms as much to deal with rapid wear and tear. In summarizing, your uniforms could last you longer than expected if you know how to take care of them. Yes, IET training and spending your initial time in the field can cause your uniform to prematurely damage but I have also swapped uniforms with ETSing personnel. That is the only good thing I like about the velcro.

The current ACUs lifespan is considered to be about 10 months. I am on active duty and my uniforms have lasted me an Afghanistan deployment and then some. I wash them inside out and sometimes take them to the cleaners so they can get a nice touch-up. The main concern is the velcro and fading but uniform improvements and changes are happening this fiscal year. I was happy to hear that we could now wear our fire resistant ACUs (the ones we receive free for deploying) in garrison.

I was an analyst/project manager in the civilian world prior to coming on active duty. I never had any issues juggling a Guard career with my civilian job and employers were very supportive of my military service.

I know weight is an issue for some but I have realized the less you put in your mouth and the more calories you burn; you will lose the weight.

[Marine2Guard]

As mentioned you should get everything you need at BCT, but you will get a one time uniform allowance at BOLC, I received $600.

[Mr_Loki]

I will make a sep. thread and sticky it. Shortened to meet requirements.

DoD Financial Management Regulation Volume 7A, Chapter 30
�� September 2009
OFFICERS’ UNIFORM AND EQUIPMENT ALLOWANCE
DoD Financial Management Regulation Volume 7A, Chapter 30
�� September 2009
CHAPTER 30
OFFICERS’ UNIFORM AND EQUIPMENT ALLOWANCE
3001 ENTITLEMENT
300101. Purpose. In accordance with guidance contained in this chapter, officers of the Armed Forces of the United States may be entitled to an initial uniform allowance and/or an additional active-duty uniform allowance as reimbursement for the purchase of required uniforms and equipment.
300102. Increase in Uniform Allowance. Effective December 6, 2000, the initial and additional uniform allowances were increased.
3002 INITIAL UNIFORM ALLOWANCE300201. General. Officers of the Armed Forces of the United States are entitled to an initial uniform allowance as provided in this section.
300202. When Payable. Except as provided in the NOTE in this paragraph, the initial uniform allowance is payable only once to an officer:
A. Upon first reporting for active duty (other than for training) for a period of more than 90 days. A member entering active duty as an officer in a Regular Component, upon Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) graduation after October 12, 1964, is considered to have entered into active duty for more than 90 days.
B. Upon completing at least 14 days of active duty or active duty for training as a member of a Reserve Component.
C. Upon completing 14 periods of inactive-duty training as a member of the Ready Reserve. Each period of inactive-duty training must be of at least 2 hours’ duration.
D. Upon reporting for the first period of active duty required of a member of the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program.
NOTE: Upon transfer to another Reserve Component that requires a different uniform, a Reserve officer may receive another initial uniform allowance.
300203. Amount Payable. All officer personnel commissioned or appointed in the Regular or Reserve Components of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps are authorized $400 as reimbursement for the purchase of uniform and equipment, regardless the source of commission or previous enlisted status.
30-3
DoD Financial Management Regulation Volume 7A, Chapter 30
�� September 2009
300204. RestrictionsA. If a member has received an initial uniform allowance in any amount as an officer under conditions other than those listed in subparagraphs 300202.A, B, C, or D, then the member cannot again be entitled to the initial uniform allowance.
�� B. Regular officers may not receive this allowance when transferring to another Military Service.
C. Only periods of duty that require wearing of the uniform are counted for entitlement to the initial uniform allowance.
D. An officer must be determined physically qualified for active duty before entitlement to an initial uniform allowance accrues.
3003 ADDITIONAL ACTIVE-DUTY UNIFORM ALLOWANCE 300301. General. Officers of Reserve Components, officers of the Army or Air Force of the United States without specification of component, and ROTC graduates appointed in the Regular Components are entitled to an additional active-duty uniform allowance as provided in this section.
300302. When Payable
A. This allowance is payable each instance of entry or reentry into active duty, or active duty for training (including authorized travel time) for more than 90 days. The period served may be under orders specifying active duty for more than 90 days, or under two or more orders requiring a continuous period of more than 90 days’ active duty.
B. An officer commissioned in a Regular Component, upon ROTC graduation after October 12, 1964, accrues entitlement to the allowance on commencement of duty as a Regular officer. The officer is considered then to have entered on active duty for more than 90 days.
300303. Amount Payable. The additional active-duty uniform allowance is payable to qualified officers in the amount of $200 as reimbursement for the purchase of required uniforms and equipment.
300304. RestrictionsA. Effective December 6, 2000, this allowance is not payable if the officer has received an initial uniform allowance of more than $400 during the current tour of active duty, or within 2 years prior to entering the current tour.
B. This allowance is not payable when the tour of duty for which payment is being considered began within 2 years after the end of a previous period of active duty, or active duty for training of more than 90 days. This applies whether or not a uniform allowance was paid for the previous tour of duty. It applies only if the prior service was performed as a Reserve officer, as an officer of the Army or Air Force of the United States, without specification of component, or as a Regular officer commissioned upon ROTC graduation after October 12, 1964.
C. An officer of a Reserve Component or of the Army or Air Force of the United States, without specification of component, is not due this allowance solely because of appointment in or transfer to the Army, Air Force, or another Reserve Component.
D. A Reserve officer ordered to an indefinite tour of active duty, or active duty for training, is not entitled to this allowance until the member completes more than 90 days of that tour.
E. Only periods of duty requiring the wearing of the uniform are counted for entitlement to the allowance prescribed in this paragraph.
F. To be entitled under this paragraph, an officer must be determined physically qualified for active duty.

[Mr_Loki]

300305. Com****tion of 2-Year Period. Compute the 2-year period during which no active duty or active duty for training was performed as follows:
A. When an officer is ordered to active duty, or active duty for training, for a period of more than 90 days, the 2-year period begins on the day following the day of release from active duty or active duty for training.
Example 1: A Reserve officer was ordered to active duty for training under orders specifying a 92-day tour of duty to begin March 1, 2005, and to end May 31, 2005. The officer actually was released from active duty for training May 31, 2005. The 2-year period began on June 1, 2005. Entitlement to the next additional active-duty uniform allowance accrues if the officer is called to active duty, or active duty for training, for a period of more than 90 days on or after June 1, 2007.
Example 2: If the officer in Example 1 served 35 days of a tour of active duty under orders specifying duty of more than 90 days, and was released from active duty for training April 4, 2005, then the 2-year period started April 5, 2005. Entitlement to the next additional active-duty uniform allowance accrues if the officer is called to active duty, or active duty for training for a period of more than 90 days, on or after April 5, 2007. Refund of allowance or any portion thereof is not required since entitlement was based on reporting for active duty for a period of more than 90 days.
B. When an officer is ordered to active duty for training for an indefinite period, and serves more than 90 days, the 2-year period begins on the day following the day of release from active duty.
Example 1: A Reserve officer was ordered to active duty for training for an indefinite period to begin March 1, 2005. The officer was released from active duty July 1, 2005. On the 91st day of duty (May 30, 2005), the officer was entitled to the allowance as of the first day of duty (March 1, 2005) if other conditions of entitlement were met. The 2-year period starts July 2, 2005. Entitlement to the next additional active-duty uniform allowance accrues if the officer is called to active duty, or active duty for training, for a period of more than 90 days on or after July 2, 2007.
Example 2: If the Reserve officer in Example 1 (this subparagraph) was released from active duty on April 4, 2005 after serving only 35 days, then he or she would not be entitled to the additional active-duty uniform allowance for that period of active duty for training.
C. When an officer is separated from a Regular Component and is later appointed an officer in a Reserve Component and ordered to active duty, or active duty for training, for more than 90 days, the 2-year period restriction in subparagraph 300304.B does not apply. Exception: Regular officers appointed upon completion of ROTC training after October 12, 1994, are subject to the 2-year restriction.
Example: An officer was separated from a Regular Component on June 30, 2005, and was appointed an officer in a Reserve Component on July 1, 2005. The member reported for active duty for more than 90 days on May 1, 2007. The member was entitled to the additional active-duty uniform allowance when reporting on the present tour of active duty, since the previous tour was as a Regular officer.
3004 DETERMINATIONS
300401. First-Time Reporting for Active Duty and Allowances. An officer reporting for active duty for the first time, who meets the requirements for entitlement to the initial uniform allowance and the additional active-duty uniform allowance, is entitled to receive both allowances subject to the restrictions of paragraphs 300204 and 300304
300402. Received Initial Uniform Allowance. An officer who receives, or has previously received, an initial uniform allowance as an officer under any conditions other than those listed in subparagraphs 300202.A, B, C, or D is not eligible to receive the initial uniform allowance upon transfer to, or appointment in, another Reserve Component or the Army or Air Force of the United States, without specification of component.
300403. Reserve Officers’ Uniform Allowance Entitlements. A Reserve officer who receives, or has previously received, an initial uniform allowance under the conditions listed in subparagraphs 300202.A, B, C, or D, and again qualifies for the initial uniform allowance and/or the additional active-duty uniform allowance by meeting the basic requirements of this chapter, is eligible to receive the initial and/or the additional allowance upon transfer to, or appointment in, another Reserve Component or the Army or Air Force of the United States, without specification of component, if the wearing of a different uniform is required.
300404. Reserve Officers’ Additional Allowance Entitlement. If otherwise eligible, a Reserve officer is entitled to be paid the additional active-duty uniform allowance even if the member has not received an initial uniform allowance.
3005 CIVILIAN CLOTHING MONETARY ALLOWANCE
300501. Officers’ Civilian Clothing Allowance. Officers assigned to a permanent duty station outside the United States, who are required to wear civilian clothing all or a substantial portion of the time in the performance of official duty, may be authorized an allowance for civilian clothing.
300502. Entitlement and Rate for Civilian Clothing Allowance. Entitlement criteria and allowance rates for civilian clothing allowances are specified in Chapter 29, paragraph 290403.

[saxman425]

Thanks for the responses. That helps out alot!