<p>Does anyone know what uniforms will be given out at NAPS? im just curious</p>
<p>Khakis
Winter working blues
Service Dress Blues
Coveralls
Pep gear
sweats
Jogging suit</p>
<p>Your bill will be around $1,200 but they take about half of it directly from your paycheck.</p>
<p>What? They make you pay for your uniforms at NAPS? In NROTC, your uniforms are issued to you for free, even to those not on scholarship.</p>
<p>You pay for your uniforms at the academies as well---that's part of what the check is for that you (or your parent) will write when you report---I think you have to start your cadet account with about 2500.00 or so--the uniform allowance is taken out of that if I am not mistaken.</p>
<p>Hey Navygrl, do you know what uniforms are given out for NROTC? Are they the exact same ones as at the Academy?</p>
<p>The bill is about $2500 upfront at the Academy, with a $6000 "loan" paid back monthly via a pay deduction over the four years.
CM</p>
<p>marines4me, in NROTC you're issued the same uniforms as USNA. As far as being exact, I'm not certain, but from what I've seen, they look exactly the same. The PT gear is different because the Academy has USNA printed on them and with NROTC I believe it's just NAVY. And of course the Marines have different uniforms and PT gear than Navy.</p>
<p>Khakis
Dress Blues
Dress Whites (if you're on scholarship)
Cover
Black Military Shoes
Black Military Boots
All-weather Jacket (long)
Short Jacket (sort of like a baseball jacket with tabs on the shoulders)
PT Gear
Sweats</p>
<p>A friend of mine told me the supply officer will give you whatever you need. If you need a second pair of sweats, you've got it. Not a bad deal!</p>
<p>CM, I knew about the $2500 for uniforms at USNA, but not about the $6,000 loan taken out over the 4 years. $1500 a year?</p>
<p>There are several other items that come out of the loan for each mid. For instance, the computer, calculator etc., comes out of the loan in addition to the uniforms. They also receive several other uniform items. In addition to the service dress blues, they receive a mess dress uniform which is for formal occasions--looks more like a tux with bow tie, etc. I know that there are some additional things as well that were not on your list for NROTC. The loan is structured so that plebes receive roughly $100/month in take home pay and it increases so that firsties are closer to $400/month in take home pay. Most of the loan payments are made early in your career at USNA. Additionally, all of their other expenses, hair cuts, dry cleaning, etc come out of their monthly pay allowance as well.</p>
<p>I was under the impression that the 6000 loan was given during your 3rd year at the academy and was paid off while you were on active duty.</p>
<p>At the Academy:
Also the formal dress blues, (I think that's the name, the uniform with the stand-up collarband) formal whites (the uniform with the jacket) summer whites (short sleeved shirt), winter overcoat (long) a shorter overcoat, Eisenhower jacket and lots of other stuff (warm-ups, luggage, suit garment bag, etc). I am not sure how books work; if they are taken out of the pay or out of the loan. There is also a midstore account to cover necessary items not issued (cleaning supplies, for example). I do not know how that works, either. Marine option is not selected until firstie year, effective upon graduation. Marine uniforms would be purchased/issued after graduation.</p>
<p>My mid reiterated what nyminute stated: monthly take home pay for plebes is $100, for youngsters (sophomores) is $200, second class $300, and firsties $400.</p>
<p>We did not know about the $6000 loan either. We found out when the permission to report materials arrived in April or May. We also heard that there was talk of restructuring the $2500 and the loan, but did not hear either the details or the proposed change date.</p>
<p>Realistically, you don't need much money as a plebe. Everything is there: food, lodging, medical, school supplies, computer stuff. Can't listen to music, so don't need to spend money on that. Can't wear civilian clothes, so no expense there, either. Only phone bills (this is the first year that plebes can have a cell phone, but reception is spotty in Bancroft; no long distance calls from room phones unless using a long distance phone card), and entertainment on Saturday afternoons (at the mall??). Parents do lose you as a tax deduction, however.</p>
<p>Sorry for rambling, but thought you would like to know.
CM</p>
<p>shogun:
I think you are referring to an interest-free $20,000 loan through USAA that each midshipman may take (if they so choose) at the beginning of their second-class year. That loan is repaid (I think) starting when they graduate. Mids have the option of taking it (or not).</p>
<p>The $6000 loan is required of all, and signed for as an incoming plebe (with the myriad of other paperwork in the permission to report packet). Deductions begin with the first paycheck (end of July), and it is paid back by the time they graduate. (I do not know the repayment schedule, if it is accelerated for the first two years or not)
CM</p>
<p>Wouldn't you retain them as a tax deduction the first year since you are contributing to their well being and support for 6 months? Also, isn't it advisable to reatin them on health care insurance? Thanks for the input!</p>
<p>Only if you can prove that you spend more than circa $40,000 on them in the first 6 months (a really good graduation party?? ;) ). Otherwise, USMA is contributing more than half, given the inferred cost of the education.</p>
<p>Thanks...good to know this now...</p>
<p>JM
Absolutely keep them on health insurance! If they were to incur a serious injury, or a previously undetected medical condition were discovered, causing separation for medical reasons, it would be near impossible to pick up new civilian coverage that would cover a "pre-existing" condition. (Others have disputed this, but they were getting personal coverage through their employer. I am referring to getting individual coverage for a non-working person. Easier to keep them on, rather than deal with the expense and uncertainty of purchasing an individual policy.)
CM</p>
<p>We were advised that we "probably" could claim our plebe for the first year. Our tax advisor will be helping with that. We lose him as a deduction for subsequent years.
CM</p>
<p>Thank you...</p>
<p>I know of someone who was diagnosed w/ diabetes his first year at the coast guard academy, and although he was separated for medical reasons he was able to keep the health insurance that he was given by the military. I'm sure there was a lawsuit involved however..</p>
<p>Here's a memo sent last year to West Point cadets. I believe the tax treatment would be the same for USNA cadets. It confirms what others have said previously that unless you spend over $30,000 towards you son/daughter's support, you will not get to claim them as a deduction. Thought it interesting that IRS does not consider appointment a scholarship.</p>
<p>MARM-MA-T (1)
14 October 03 </p>
<p>MEMORANDUM FOR FOURTH CLASS CADETS </p>
<p>SUBJECT: Income Tax Information </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Many of you as fourth class cadets have questions concerning the income tax consequences of cadet pay and allowances. This memo provides information from the standpoint of both your tax return and your parents' return for 2003. It is very important that you share this data with your parents. </p></li>
<li><p>This memo is based on the tax laws and current rulings of treasury officials. It is, however, informative only and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the Internal Revenue Service or the Department of the Army. </p></li>
<li><p>All cadets at the Academy must file their own income tax returns. Each fourth class cadet who entered the Academy on 30 June 2003, and remained through 31 December 2003, has received or had credited to their account during 2003 base pay of $4,586.40. Cadets must report this amount as income from the Army. In addition, each cadet received a $5,060.00 pay advance to assist with the payments of uniforms, textbooks, computer, software and various school fees. </p></li>
<li><p>Your parent(s)/guardian(s) must have contributed more than half of your support for the year in order to claim you as an income tax exemption "More than half the support" refers to dollar value, and not to the length of time support was furnished. Your parent or guardian may properly include the cost of board, clothing, lodging, medical and dental care, education, property and furniture, insurance, etc., they furnished you when they calculated their level of support. If you lived at home during the first six months of 2003, your parent or guardian may include a proportionate amount of the family food bill, utilities, rent or house payments, interest, taxes, etc., as part of your support. If you attended college, prep school, or high school prior to entering the Military Academy, your parents may also include the amount they paid for tuition, books, school supplies, and transportation to and from school as parental support. </p></li>
<li><p>In determining the value of support furnished from sources other than your parents, you must include both taxed and untaxed support amounts. This simply means that the portion of your taxable pay spent on your own support must be included, and in addition, the support provided by the Army in the form of food, lodging, education and other services must also be included. Even though the value of Army support is not taxed as income, the value must be considered when determining who provided more than half of your support. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>The following chart indicates values of support furnished by yourself and by the Army. </p>
<p>MARM-MA-T (1)
SUBJECT: Income Tax Information </p>
<p>Cadet Pay - 6/30 thru 12/31 $ 4,586.40 </p>
<p>Government Pay Advance $ 5,060.00 </p>
<p>Subsistence (food)
(92 days x $5.75 per day) 6/30-9/30 $ 529.00 </p>
<p>(91 days x $5.90 per day) 10/1-12-31 $ 536.90 </p>
<p>Room and Board (Half year per USMA's FY01 Cost of Education Report) $ 1,631.50 </p>
<p>Education (the actual 2002 tuition cost per semester at the USMA) $ 17,405.00 </p>
<p>TOTAL SUPPORT BY THE CADET AND BY THE ARMY $ 29,748.80 </p>
<ol>
<li><p>In our opinion, if your parent has not provided at least $29,748.80 in support, then your parent may not be able to claim you as an exemption. If your parent has provided more than this amount in support, then your parent is entitled to claim you as an exemption. Under IRS regulations, if your parent can claim you, you cannot claim a personal exemption for yourself, and you will have to complete a worksheet to compute your standard deduction. </p></li>
<li><p>The question may arise whether an appointment to the Military Academy can be considered a "scholarship award" within the meaning of the income tax laws. The Internal Revenue Service has ruled that such an appointment is not a scholarship award and that the education provided by the Military Academy must, therefore, be included as an item of support furnished by the
Army. </p></li>
<li><p>I trust that the information provided, although necessarily general in nature, will be of assistance to you and your family. The above information is provided to ensure that you and your parent(s)/guardian(s) have sufficient data to calculate income tax returns. </p></li>
<li><p>Any questions by your parent(s)/guardian(s) concerning the proper methods of calculating dependency should be resolved through independent legal counsel, Publication 17, and/or contact the Internal Revenue Service. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>THOMAS M. REMO
Assistant Treasurer, USMA</p>
<p>OUCH!</p>
<p>CM</p>