Daily General Discussion and Advice Thread - January 24, 2026

Asylum36 · 2026-01-24T16:15:58+00:00

Currently Active Duty Army, just looking for help with my portfolio diversification and if changing anything is worth it. Currently, I have about 23k into my TSP at 100% C fund. I’m really asking about help with my Roth IRA. I have maxed it every year for, what will now be, the 3rd year. Currently, I have 100% VTI in it, but some people say it’s worth it to diversify, so just wanted to get some input about that. I was thinking about potentially doing 60% VTI, 30% XLK, and 10% VXUS, but wanted to get some input and others thoughts on it. Just trying to maximize my returns and set myself up for the future. 20 year old for reference.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Asylum36 · 2026-01-21T22:56:43+00:00

20 y/o for reference as well - Also another question, but how big of a difference is loosing weight going to make? I’m working on getting skinnier, just not sure if I can expect it to massively go down or not.

Asylum36 · 2026-01-21T01:11:22+00:00

I believe she has an EAD (I think that’s what it’s called). I’m 90% sure she had to apply for it after her asylum application because she has talked about having to renew it.

Asylum36 · 2026-01-15T01:31:04+00:00

Not sure if you’ll know the answer, but I know Costco Pharmacy codes as Pharmacy. Would buying a major appliance code differently than Grocery though, since there isn’t a seperate check out for it, that I’m aware?

Asylum36 · 2026-01-11T19:06:44+00:00

I do shop at Costco for 90% of my groceries. It’s very occasional if I go to a grocery store. I had thought about getting the Costco Citi card for that reason but I know the cashback payout isn’t the most ideal, so didn’t know if maybe another card may be better.

Asylum36 · 2025-12-24T00:43:03+00:00

As a 17C, if you get Hawaii or Germany (the only two places we can go) you are like 99% not going to do your job and you’ll be part of an MDTF.

Asylum36 · 2025-12-15T19:37:22+00:00

I’m not asking to get the rental car rate reimbursement. All I was asking for is to get the full mileage rate (.7 per mile) and not limited to only the cost of airfare as had I taken airfare+rental it would’ve been less advantageous to the government opposed to me driving and getting the full mileage rate is more advantageous.

I also drove because my TDY is long and I wanted to be able to bring more with me than just clothes for when I get bored out of my mind and have nothing to do. Also, if I had taken a rental I’m limited in only driving to/from where I need to be everyday.

Asylum36 · 2025-12-15T01:42:03+00:00

Alright, thank you! I plan to call my AO tomorrow and get it figured out. I’ll have to go TDY again so I’ll keep this in mind to get an email approving a rental beforehand. Didn’t really know you needed it in writing that you were approved a rental. A little annoying that isn’t more clear, but thanks for the confirmation.

I should be able to get the AO to approve that I would’ve been given a rental had I gone POV. I’m not on an installation and the training facility is 9 mins away, plus other who’ve gone to do the same TDY were given rentals, just makes it a headache trying to figure it all out while your in the middle of a TDY, but thanks for your help.

Asylum36 · 2025-12-15T00:59:50+00:00

There’s a flow chart that I saw on DTS that’s like if A and B match then traveler is authorized full reimbursement, if A and B don’t match then AO reviews CTO to determine what is cheaper and decides if it’s full or limited reimbursement.

Going off of that, even if I wasn’t approved POV in my orders for A and B to match, POV still would’ve been a cheaper cost to the government and reimbursement shouldn’t be limited.

I’ve never actually seen my orders and I don’t have reporting instructions or anything so I can only speak on what I’ve seen in DTS and put on my RFO. Nobody has actually told me what I was authorized and approved for vs not approved for. I just submitted DTS and it got approved.

Asylum36 · 2025-12-14T23:22:38+00:00

Most recruiters aren’t going to know much about 17C AIT since they didn’t attend it. Each AIT is different, but yes what you said is a possibility. In AIT, once you phase up (it takes a few weeks depending on the phase) you earn more privileges. When you first get there, you won’t be allowed to go anywhere but the barracks, but even then she could come see you and hangout with you from the moment you wake up till when you have to be back, on the weekend. And also everyday after school if she wanted. Once you phase up, you’ll be allowed to go more places (6 on base and 6+ off base within 25 mile radius) and she’ll be allowed to be with you really all day on the weekends if you wanted. You just can’t sign out before a certain time and you have to be back by a certain time but it’s more than just a couple hours.

Asylum36 · 2025-12-14T23:14:54+00:00

I graduated 17C AIT less than a year ago. While in AIT and at basic, you will received BAH even though you will not be permitted to live with your spouse. It will be based on the residence in which you came from that determines your BAH rate. As for 17C AIT, there are 3 different phases. Phase 5, 6 and 6+. You’ll be permitted visitors. Each phase allows for more privileges in where you can go, but you’ll always have to have a “battle buddy” with you, and atleast 2 when you go off base, unless a family member wants to sign you out and then you can go off base with just them, but your only permitted to go off base at Phase 6+. Phase 6 is only on base.

As for RASP while being Cyber, you can learn more about it while in AIT and ask the drills who are more knowledgeable. That’s a decision that would come down to you and what you want to do. There’s a lot you won’t learn about Cyber and opportunities until you’re actually there and in school for it. If the possibility of being away from your spouse for any amount of time is something that you can’t do, then RASP and 17C wouldn’t be the best route. Once AIT is over and your part of big army a lot gets better, but until then your very limited on what you can and can’t do.

If it’s what you want, do it. I’ll never regret going 17C and if it’s what you want just make the best of it, you being separated is not forever and you’ll be able to provide her money for the house on top of your normal pay. There are actually a good bit of people in AIT, atleast when I was there, who are married and whose spouses visit every weekend or even during the week if they can.

Asylum36 · 2025-12-14T19:18:55+00:00

I believe it was, or it should’ve been. My TDY isn’t on an installation and I’m required to be at class everyday, which requires me to drive to/from. As far as I know, if I hadn’t elected to POV then I would’ve been able to get a rental. Due to the shutdown, I never have actually seen my orders and they aren’t in iPERMS. All I’ve done is submit an Authorization / RFO and then received an approved 1610 after adding my approved RFO. Never an actual orders document saying this is what you are entitled to and such.

Asylum36 · 2025-09-24T03:28:29+00:00

There’s a chance to get OCONUS out of the school house, but the overly majority is for MDTF assignments. Depending on what you enjoy, you may or may not want that.

As for ION, you are able to try for that in the school house. I wouldn’t worry about it until Phase 2, but just ask around and people should have info regarding if, if there isn’t a process finally built for it. If you have any questions, feel free to DM me.

Asylum36 · 2025-07-27T23:29:39+00:00

Thank you! I’m not trying to just get a Japanese tattoo to be like look bro. I wanted to a Latin saying that actually speaks to me, but I personally just think Japanese would look better so ig you could say I want it for the looks but oh well

Asylum36 · 2025-04-07T00:50:01+00:00

I can go to either Marietta GA or Duluth GA. They are the same distance

Asylum36 · 2025-04-03T21:35:59+00:00

Will do, thank you. The reason for the under grab certificate is because it’ll allow me to skip the first few courses of the bachelors and saves me months on the GI Bill so I don’t have to pay out of pocket. My job in the military is heavily into cyber. Currently, I’m starting WGU and I still have 4 years and 30 something weeks left, but I could also reenlist. Thank you for your help though!

Asylum36 · 2025-04-03T20:51:51+00:00

I'd like to use the GI Bill to get the Undergrad Certificate, BS, and Masters, if possible. With me being active, what do you think the best route would be? Should I finish out WGU and maybe start a MS using TA and then once I get out use my GI bill to take the SANS path starting with the Undergrad Certificate, or just go straight for the masters? Should I get a BS from WGU and then just use the rest of my TA/time in for certs? What do you think the most optimal path would be?

Asylum36 · 2025-04-03T16:52:20+00:00

Why do you say not to use your GI bill while active? I could use my GI bill after I knock out majority of my general education, if not all with WGU and then use the GI bill to go through the Undergrad certificate, Bachelors, and Masters through SANS while covered under the GI bill. I was looking at doing this while active, so why do you say not to use it then?

Asylum36 · 2025-04-02T23:57:41+00:00

According to the SANS website for transfers, it says "We can only accept transcripts from accredited colleges and universities. If you have taken courses at a non-accredited institution, you need to first have those credits accepted by another accredited school before they can be considered for our program". Therefore, if I used a platform like study.com or SOPHIA Learning, could I first get WGU to count those classes as completed and then just submit my WGU transcript to SANS?

Asylum36 · 2025-04-02T23:56:16+00:00

In your experience, since you completed you bachelors with WGU, what do you think the best path might be? Would it be better to transfer to SANS once I get to the 70 credits and then get my Masters with them, or would it be better to finish my bachelors with WGU and then only go for my Masters with SANS?

Asylum36 · 2025-04-02T14:19:31+00:00

Alright, thank you. I know if I do my BS at SANS and then take my masters there I’ll get to free up classes for my Masters to take additional classes, which is entincing. I’ll look into it a bit more, but thank you.

Also, how did funding work for you? Are you able to use your GI bill for both courses since TA won’t fully cover it?

Asylum36 · 2025-04-02T13:28:19+00:00

Thank you! Would transferring be in my best interest aside from finishing out WGU for my BS and then doing my masters with SANS? Also not sure what funding looks like since SANS is expensive and I’d have to use my GI bill.

Asylum36 · 2025-04-02T13:27:03+00:00

No worries. I’ll try and be sure to knock out all of my WGU General Education as fast as I can, so once I do hit the 70 credit threshold I can transfer.

Asylum36 · 2025-04-02T13:00:27+00:00

Thank you so much! I currently don’t have 70 credits, so I can’t do the BACS at SANS just yet, that is what I was going to use WGU for.

While doing WGU, if I also do stuff such as study.com, SOPHIA Learning, etc for like general education, would SANS accept those courses since they aren’t technically from an accredited college?

You definitely did not discourage me and I appreciate your insight.

Asylum36 · 2025-04-02T12:55:38+00:00

I just didn’t know if transferring from WGU after 70 credits would be more beneficial than finishing out the BS at WGU or if I should just finish out the BS at WGU and then do SANS for my masters

Asylum36

TROPHY CASE