Need advice on Deployment

SD2005Dustin

SD2005Dustin

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So I did my time 4 years, Navy. Said I'd never have to deploy again woohoo. But since I've been out (3.5 yrs), I've been working for General Dynamics, and now HP on military contracts. I have a wife and 2 babies My son is 2 and 1/2 and my daughter is almost 1 year (sept 2.)

General Dynamics (Great company really takes care of its folks) offered me to go to Qatar(not hostile) for 1 year and I would make about 215,000 to 235,000 before taxes. That's around 3+years of salary for me. I would get 30 days out of that year, that I can return home for vacation, which I'd take 2X15 days at 4 month incriments.

I live in San Diego and it's a high cost of living. So do I sacrifice not seeing my kids at the stage they're at and miss all the little moments in order to make sure they're set in the future? i.e. better schools, descent house, etc... or do I tell my wife I can't do it, I guess when the kids go to school, if we can't afford it out here we need to move to another state?

Thanks for the input ahead of time,
Dustin
 
I wouldn't take a million dollars to miss a year of my kids life at that age. If it were a matter of survival, that's one thing. But not unless my back was against the wall.
 
OCBob said:
I wouldn't take a million dollars to miss a year of my kids life at that age. If it were a matter of survival, that's one thing. But not unless my back was against the wall.
Click to expand...

So would you lean towards me talking more about moving out of state?
 
First, How does the wife feel about it? Then, The way things look as far as jobs and stuff, It could be a good time to do a year for that kind of money. It could mean all the difference in getting through these tough times.
 
SD2005Dustin said:
So would you lean towards me talking more about moving out of state?
Click to expand...
Hell yeah. There's lots of nice places to live and raise a family. Think about it, you're talking about maybe an extra 70-80k after taxes. What is that really gonna buy in Dago?

Like I said, if you have a steady gig and your head is above water and you have no financial problems, I wouldn't even consider it. I wasn't around much when my oldest was around that age, now after being around my young ones I realize how much I missed that I can never get back. I wouldn't do it unless it was necessary.
 
I spent 8-10 months out of every year deployed for about 8 years. I missed so much that I will NEVER get back.

If I were still active duty and my country needed me there I wouldn't hesitate to go. If it were a choice (like you seem to have) it would be a different story. Then I would not go. ;)
 
JRSVIPR said:
First, How does the wife feel about it? Then, The way things look as far as jobs and stuff, It could be a good time to do a year for that kind of money. It could mean all the difference in getting through these tough times.
Click to expand...

Wife and I talked, and of that conversation we talked about being a parent involves sacrifices.

I don't have a problem getting a job, but we're a single income household. However, that kind of money could give us the push in life that puts us where
A. we don't rely on loans or credit(car loans, credit cards)
B. we have a savings, and a nice one
C. We don't have to worry about a rough 2 or 3 weeks every 2 months where it seems like we're broke.

If Finances are the number one failure of a marriage, then this could be an investment in our marriage, thus solidifying my kids having a healthy upbringing with parents that are HAPPILY married together.

We're happy right now, but young. I'm 26 and she's 22... We've given up a lot already in life. We don't go out. and I'd say you guys on here are about the only people I have as far as friends go. And for her, what ever moms she see's at the park and one neighbor girl/mom...:dontknow:
 
OCBob said:
Hell yeah. There's lots of nice places to live and raise a family. Think about it, you're talking about maybe an extra 70-80k after taxes. What is that really gonna buy in Dago?

Like I said, if you have a steady gig and your head is above water and you have no financial problems, I wouldn't even consider it. I wasn't around much when my oldest was around that age, now after being around my young ones I realize how much I missed that I can never get back. I wouldn't do it unless it was necessary.
Click to expand...

We don't have financial problems, but it's tight here n there. I've wanted to move out of Cali for a while, but her family is here, and I don't want to tear my wife and I apart just to leave, when she may not be ready.

I do have the option for the VA loan(no Money down) so 80 extra Gs could pay a mortgage payment for a lotta months. On a nice place for quite a while.
 
ViperTruck2933 said:
I spent 8-10 months out of every year deployed for about 8 years. I missed so much that I will NEVER get back.

If I were still active duty and my country needed me there I wouldn't hesitate to go. If it were a choice (like you seem to have) it would be a different story. Then I would not go. ;)
Click to expand...

But would you go for 1 year vs. 8...:confused:
 
I usually don't give advise unless requested. So here goes....

Money can buy a lot, but it can't buy you time.

If she never had you gone longer then a week, it going to be a culture shock to say the least. Granted your just going to Quatar, but your not there to fix the car when it breaks down, or help with the kids when she needs time to herself. uh 22 isn't all that old, and unless she is pretty independant and can handle all the house hold finances, the kids, and day to day chores all by herself for a year, well I can ensure you, you will be dealing with a freaked out wife on the phone after 3 months (been there, done it, and it will happen)

Like ViperTruck2933, I stayed gone for a bunch years. and this was prior to 9/11. (All over Central and South America, Former Yugoslavia, Africa, Korea, Panama, Desert Storm, and now Horn of Africa, Afghanistan, and Iraq)

After a couple of kids and 3 failed marriage, and a half dozen other failed relationships, my past and present team members are pretty much all the family I got now.

Now lets get what it does to your kids. Their attitude towards you will be not as a dad, but a guy that comes and goes, and you will no longer be the guy in charge. They will act up and become hard for her to handle because kids will learn what they can get away with, and know how to push her buttoms, which in turn she going to bitch at you on the phone because JR not doing what she told him to do, and it all your fail because your off playing around in some far off country.

Lost a lot of years with my children growing up, and now before I knew it, they were grown and gone, our relationship to this day is distance at best.



Oh, Have fun, Quatar it's a pretty neat country.
 
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do they pay a per diem? if so and its a reasonable one should be at least $150 a day... This is where you can make your money, Tax free... you live a cheap as humanly possible for that year and spend 50 of that 150 a day on food and stay and your laughing.. We run contracts up here and we send out guys out and they get a 120-150 per diem per day and its gravy... That would be the swing vote right there.... wages plus per diem your lookin at 30k extra .... DO IT..... just make sure you put it all directly into a saving account and continue to spend the exact amount you were spending before you made the money and you will actually save some and be better off.. If not spending goes up and nothing changes...
 
Seen more guys jump on overseas jobs to make the money, but the wife will spend it just as fast as you make it. If you were single, no problem, but try and tell her she has to live the same life style where your away.

You'll come home to find even more bill, new furnture, higher car payments, and a crap load on funny looking purses with weird names.
 
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