A friend of ours got deployed just after the birth of his daughter and got back when she was 5 or 6 months. They seem to have coped well, but that's just from the outside. He got to skype quite a bit I think. Don't know if it's different for airforce though and if it's a different area. This was army.

edited- just noticed you said navy- no idea bout that sorry

They will have it cos they still need to be able to access emails.

I will ask my friend what she knows about the boats. Her hubby is currently in Afghan (in a bubble well away from anything happening as far as we are concerned) and will call every couple of weeks and skypes often too.

We're hoping to get Whenuapai but won't know till closer to the time - they're trying to move people out of Hobsonville don't know where they're supposed to go. Don't want to be paying market rent in Akl.

Thanks for the congrats ladies - its all getting a lot closer.

DH is going to be away with this post too as he's been assigned to 6 SQN which is seasprites - he gets to go away with the Navy - he doesn't like boats so not sure how he'll get on.  My family is in Akl so I'll be ok.

Chonni I replied to your other thread to give you some ideas PM if you need anything else.

Trying to decide whether I should go to the funeral or not, DH will be busy with the honour guard etc, and doesn't think I need to be there.

Just spotted this thread.  I spent eight years in the Air Force - so know the lifestyle pretty well.   If anyone needs any info or support just PM me. 

That one was sad too Emz, and another one died last weekend in Auckland in a car accident she was on her way to Timor and her DH was in Afgan .

Found out the FS wan't meant to mark that blind, one of our Ammo Tech's was meant to do it, but he told her not to worry and he would do it for her. She is counting her blessings at the moment. The other person was in the MTC on Thursday night, was talking to someone that saw him and he was in shock big time, she said it was like he was stunned.

Hopefully the next few weeks pass well at all places.

I know the house. I can totally imagine, we have lost 2 soldiers this year here in Waiouru - but they weren't from work and we were "waiting" for them to pass on as they had cancer and had it for a while - nothing like what the airforce is going through right now.

We were a little worried when told someone had died out there this morning. I was with a friend and she got a call from her DH who was out there (they all got called in from the training area and it was closed for a bit) but in a different zone. We were preparing for the worst to think it was one of our instructors from TAD.

Fleur did your DH know him???

The one who was injured is a local boy from Waiouru, he is currently in the MTC here. A little more injuried than what the CAF said on the news.

We have VCP's on the main gate at the moment due to the media and things wanting to come into camp, hoping that will leave soon.

Special Hugs going out to the wives and families that have been effected by today's accident at Waiouru, thoughts are with you.

Haha road tripping to "Kune or Taihape or if they are really lucky Taupo.

Only stuff we have to do with Combat school is the Mortar course that is happening now. He will have so much fun up here (not - after the fun week the camp has had with the civie police being in at camp), I am just hoping hat things will have settled down by the time we go back tomorrow.

OK with combat school Emz???

I am going out into the field next month and getting to press the magic button and blow something up!!! I told them I ain't staying out there thou.

T, I would check but I don't think they get to go home during basic (well they don't in the army) unless their is a family death.

Andrew was a real pain the the arse when Nigel left, but he has just lost his other favourite male in his life so we think they made have been the reason too.

I was all set for the unaccompanied posting too (him back to Linton), as that was going to work for us. You never know it can work. Free Travel Warrant, NZIA and Fringe tax benefits  do make a big difference.

Haha yeah I did mean $6K. Yeah he would get the basic pay. Be aware that even thou he will get a "total package" that includes his super contribution from the military.

T, I can only say what I know, but for that first 12 weeks they prefer the recruits to be in the barracks and not with their family to get them into the military ways. So you guys probably won't be able to go with him.

You won't get UAC either as he will be paying barrack and meal charges and that is covered by UAC. But once he graduates and is back at home (so long as it s Ohakea) then you would get UAC (approx $6 over the year).

We got to move to Waiouru because he was the only Officer Cadet in that year that had dependants - special case that went to the camp commander to approve and as he was away for the year it was approved half way through the year.

Nigel is just waiting to get his ankle right again and then doing an RFL up here, once that is done then we will call Wellington to reinlist!!! might not happen till next year but it is still something that can happen.

Emz come up here for 2 months!!!  Do you know what course he may be doing up here??? Did your DH know that pte that passed away from the surgery???

Strange stuff has gone down at camp this week - everything is all hush hush but cops, detectives and ERS have been here.

But I am still working up here, going to sort out a payrise in the next few weeks!!!

We are all good. Nigel still hasn't signed the papers yet, so is still in the army. We are just waiting for it to be confirmed now. Considering they spent over $100K on his last year I too think it sucks as well. So still waiting to se eif he can go be a solider.

My jobs are coming up soon here, but the catering guys keep teaching me new stuff that the person who gets the job will be doing. It is looking really good there for me thou.

A decision has been made and I am no longer an army wife at this stage. Still has to be confirmed by the camp commander but he will probably be discharged on Monday. There may be the option to go in as an OR and he does want to be a medic so that could be an option.

No, and I am still not sure what is happening yet.

No he was trying to keep the family together rather than split us apart. I am happy here and Nigel is happy for us to be here. I have work and friends here and the work is important for us at the moment.

He thinks he is going to pass it. I told him I don't care if he throws up at the end of it just pass the god damn thing.

I am a little pi$$ed at his sargie thou. Telling him that he shouldn't leave the family here, and telling him I would have no problem getting a job in Linton. , there are no admin job in Linton as people are staying put there. Why do I want to uproot the boys every 6 months because Nigel is going somewhere else. No thanks I am happy staying here in Waiouru where I have a good paying job.

Well it is do or die for us next week. DH has to pass his RFL or he is out. He is geting a lot of help to pass it so it shouldn't be a problem. I have told him to stay in barracks till it is done.

Fleur any news of Auckland??

Danaj wrote: Thought this was interesting.... Whenuapai Who knows when they'll make up their minds on this one.

DH and his work mates, don't think this will happen in during their careers, and he's got a few years left to go.  The cost to build the infrastructure at Ohakea was going to cost more than keeping Whenuapai running.

As for the super scheme, Dh is thinking of stopping his contributions all together, as they keep losing his money, he'd prefer to manage it himself.  I really think the Defence Force shouldn't be in the money management business, they're not very good at it.

Yeah the army will put forward a certain amount depending on if I choose 4 or 6 %.

Nope I still go into the "new" super scheme that isn't kiwisaver as the Army doesn't have to do it at all.

The reason for the army wanting to get people out of the old scheme is that it is losing so much money, so I was told my a Sgt here at camp.