My daughter is in Pensacola in a combined A and C school program at Correy Station. She is to graduate in mid-December. She told us (without getting a commitment from command) that she would fly home for Thanksgiving, and fly back after the weekend. Today we learned she was told by a petty officer that she may not be able to travel the 900 miles back to Virginia after all.
Problem is, she set a wedding date for November 28, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. In July we went to Pensacola and bought her a wedding gown, then booked a church and reception hall, etc. She said she MUST go through the petty officer to be OK'd to go. She is not sure about getting leave OK'd for after graduating December 17, so we are skeptical of changing wedding plans to December.
Another issue is related to her fiancé's marital status: we heard it could take 3 months to get for the new husband to be properly entered into the Navy's benefits system, so if she gets orders to ship out, the Navy would not pay for moving his stuff, family housing, etc. (of course he would not step foot on a ship or go on deployment if that would occur). A friend suggested he go to Pensacola ASAP and tie the knot so by graduation time, he would get benefits and get a better chance of going with her. Plan the wedding celebration for when she gets leave.
Any comments or advice would be appreciated!
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Thanks, guys, for your advice. UPDATE: my daughter got a commitment from command that she COULD come home for Thanksgiving after all, so plans are ON for the wedding on the Thanksgiving weekend. It is not a shotgun-type wedding or anything hurried; she has known her young man for 8 years and they have been engaged for over a year. Thanks again for the help.
I'm with Jim on this one it would be best once her orders are final and when she's physically situated at her duty station and then get the ball rolling on her wedding plans. Though all hope is not lost, these planned dates can be changed in advanced given ample time. When she has that approved leave chit on hand, that would be the green light...