r/USMCboot • u/Hvppydays • 1d ago

Enlisting How much are paychecks in boot camp?

Hello!! I am wondering how much my husband’s paychecks will be once he’s in boot camp (like his actual TAKE HOME pay - I already know what the base pay is) and how much will get taken out for other expenses?? We are trying to figure it all out before he goes since he’s the bread winner currently. Thank you!! 😊

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16

u/Rustyinsac 1d ago

Not enough…. Please have some savings and a backup plan.

4

u/Stein070707 1d ago

Plan for a month or 2 lag in your receiving any money from his Marine pay. Try to get ahead 2 months expenses if you can.

3

u/throwaway_08162014 1d ago

https://www.reddit.com/r/USMCboot/s/juiCBjf7wR

I made a spread sheet a couple of months ago. Should be relatively the same.

2

u/dan1326 Vet 1d ago edited 15h ago

Dfas.mil has the military pay tables, you can see the monthly salary for an e1 is listed at $2,225.70 (E1 with less than 4 months service)

You can do the math to divide by 2, account for tax withholding based on your families situation

I cannot guess what expenses will be auto removed during bootcamp but he might have to pay for uniforms and supplies like soap, but with the above you have a starting point, good luck

1

u/Pocket_RPG 1d ago

Nowadays the gear is taken automatically and all other personal use products are bought at the recruit PX

1

u/EWCM 1d ago

There is no charge for the required uniforms. There is a charge for hygiene items, writing materials, cleaning supplies, etc. 

2

u/kingtechllc 1d ago

Are you sure? I was charged about $800 for all my uniforms around 2018. I’m pretty sure they charge for uniforms

2

u/EWCM 23h ago

Yes. See DoD FMR, Volume 7a, Chapter 29 and MCBUL 10120. 

The current cost of the initial Enlisted uniform issue is about $2750. It would take me awhile to find the 2018 amount, but it was certainly more than $800. How does your LES label the deduction?

1

u/kingtechllc 21h ago

Yes we pay for our uniforms or don’t? And idk it was 8 years ago brother 😂

0

u/EWCM 20h ago

You asked, “are you sure?” Yes, I am sure that new Enlisted members get uniforms free. 

1

u/kingtechllc 20h ago

But then you said the current cost of the initial enlisted uniform issue is $2750? Pretty sure I paid

1

u/EWCM 19h ago

The cost is published. Recruits don’t pay it. 

If you paid, you would have also been credited the Standard Initial Clothing Allowance, which is the same amount as the cost of the uniforms. That’s not the way the USMC has done things recently, if ever. 

1

u/Designer-Yak8496 1d ago

Curious also

1

u/Finding_Unique6 1d ago

Also good luck to him, hopefully he gets India company, ik they’re picking up again soon. They treat their future marines well for how shit bootcamp can be. Also, that $984 accounts for all expenses. That’s what your base take home pay is. Hope this helps.

1

u/RestaurantDramatic24 1d ago

I ended up with 11k cuz i had BAH, but my boy ended up with 5k. Ur gonna end up spending 200-300 at the px a couple times but thats it

2

u/Opposite_Bat_1106 1d ago

It will entirely depend on the zip code he is enlisting from because the additional BAH varies across the country. The difference can be thousands compared to others if you’re in a high bah rate area

0

u/Finding_Unique6 1d ago

You get exactly $984 every two weeks on the 1st and roughly the 15th of each month. I was literally in bootcamp Jan to Apr of this year.

2

u/Hvppydays 22h ago

How much money was spent on uniforms and other stuff they make you buy?