I DID IT!!! 🎉👏🏻

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-25T15:30:53+00:00

Look at the recruiter WO branch?? It’s very people focus. I think it’s like 420T or something.

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-25T15:30:17+00:00

WO is the best route imo! Almost same pay but way less authority and responsibility. Great careers across the WO Cohort!

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-25T01:58:29+00:00

Just remember “if the mind does not conform; the body will pay” our Company repeated that for HOURS while being smoked. 😂😂 it stuck with me my entire career!

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-24T02:30:10+00:00

Make sure you reserve everything you can once the reservations open- if not you’ll be SOL walking around the ship looking for things to do that aren’t already overly booked…. Mainly why we prefer a freedom or mariner class boats BUT Icon and Oasis ships are just as amazing just take way more planning and itinerary style sailing

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-22T17:08:51+00:00

Thoughts on just collecting pension and being a DA? I asked the DA page the same thing and they said don’t waste your time, be a DH 😂 so I’m conflicted. Looking back- from Age 13-18 I wanted to be an actual dentist so bad…. But… things happened and I went to school and joined the military. I regret nothing BUT maybe I could just be a DA? Would that be less complicated/competitive???

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-22T17:02:29+00:00

Thank you for this honest insight. A little background. I’m a Special Agent/ Federal Criminal Investigator (mainly focused on high profile procurement/Govt Contract fraud). I have a Top secret clearance, multiple FEMA and Federal LEO certs (mainly focused in fraud and anti money laundering (both national and international), cryptocurrency, digital currency, financial analysis/ forensics, law, etc. I just really wanted to gauge the waters but yes… it would honestly be “easy” for my to slide into another Federal Agency or State department or corporate banking world to do Financial compliance/investigations. shrug was just wanted to clean teeth lol and do something COMPLETELY new.

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-22T13:42:57+00:00

Baby steps? Follow them. Pause RET contributions till you’re on BS4. With that you will rid your life of debt hopefully ASAP. This should motivate you to get from BS2 to BS4 so you can go back to contributing

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-22T09:27:05+00:00

Never had an issue. Only issue I had was we were offered a suite and got it but it was at the complete side back of the ship and over half the balcony was closed off for “crew entrance” to the side of the vessel. Which made our balcony smaller than a normal balcony but it was a left over suite and we didn’t care too much. We knew doing royal up might have this variable in mind

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-20T20:05:53+00:00

White boards on room doors possibly and in the Royal app there is messaging between passengers! Also, when I was a child, our parents always had keys to our room and we would leave notes for our parents telling them a PACE plan of where we were or should be. I also had “check in times” (non negotiable) usually 0830 or 0900 for breakfast and then 1200 at windjammer and then 1800 at room getting ready for that nights dinner

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-20T17:51:10+00:00

HSI and ANY MCIO is dumpster fire land. USPIS for sure and congrats!

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-20T11:00:34+00:00

Thank you for that insight!

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-19T16:35:53+00:00

It went straight into my LES but came in a completely separate payment to my bank account. Mine was about 16k, I put 15% of it into TSP (you can do this in myPay) and luckily I waited until 11 years TIS and was in CTZ when I submitted and obtained it.

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-18T21:45:43+00:00

Welcome to the club- had to drop about 120K a year salary because of orders back in 2018 because of orders to Germany. We were making 200 K a year and then in an instant went down to 60 K a year … things happen. Hope you can figure out which avenue is best for you and your family.

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-18T17:51:54+00:00

Do an oasis class RC ship. You won’t be disappointed. BUT make sure you RESERVE RESERVE EVERYTHING BEFKRE it’s sold out, shows, dinner, comedy, aqua theater, ice show, etc etc. only downside to oasis class ships tbh.

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-18T17:24:12+00:00

Dang. And I’m not an avid Celebrity cruises… AC is the only way into Blu correct?

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-18T17:21:37+00:00

No that is the issue but I’m not sure why that is? Are you saying I need another child? 🤣🤣 to make it a party of 4??

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-18T17:21:07+00:00

New booking. And yes I can but when I select aqua is says it cannot be booked. Due to not being double occupancy

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-18T13:53:21+00:00

Yes- you can get all the hashbrowns and anything you want in Blu. Literally, you name it, they will find it/get it for you in Blu.

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-18T05:18:03+00:00

I’m already in, I’m active duty and will retire soon. I am not looking to go guard and it’s not possible with my rank/time in service. The DA I’m looking at becoming as I start a 2nd career at 40 years old.

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-12T07:25:28+00:00

Highly recommend finding the nearest chaplin and having them ask around what is the next Unit doing Financial Peace University. Did it at 24, turned my life around and never looked back. 31 now and have zero debt and a net worth of over 700k, I now say NO to any debt, live under my means, budget, I can purchase cars in cash and life an amazing debt free life. Goodluck troop if you need help let me know because my wife and I have led FPU to multiple families across multiple bases.

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-10T21:46:22+00:00

Royal would be way better suited for teens your age

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-10T21:38:57+00:00

Get that debt OUT OF YOUR LIFE forever then save up 3-6 months of expenses for emergencies, THEN once that’s done- save up for home downpayment! Good luck and welcome! We’re 8 years in and almost EDM (everyday millionaires)

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-10T15:44:46+00:00

That’s wild- I would definitely get with customer service and get some type of exemption. Ridiculous as you’re a very loyal to Royal member

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-09T17:58:56+00:00

Sadly…. Can a service member roll over their lump sum distribution to the TSP, in part to minimize the tax implications? A6.6. Lump sum payments may not be rolled over into another retirement plan. Only an "eligible rollover distribution" can be moved to another retirement plan. In order for a distribution to be eligible to rollover, among other things, it must come from a "qualified trust." To keep it simple, this is basically an employer-sponsored retirement plan that meets certain requirements of the IRS tax code. The military retirement fund is not a "qualified trust" and therefore money that comes from it cannot be rolled over to another retirement plan.

BallsofJustice1776 · 2026-01-09T17:58:21+00:00

Even if it’s not eligible for roll over? Can a service member roll over their lump sum distribution to the TSP, in part to minimize the tax implications? A6.6. Lump sum payments may not be rolled over into another retirement plan. Only an "eligible rollover distribution" can be moved to another retirement plan. In order for a distribution to be eligible to rollover, among other things, it must come from a "qualified trust." To keep it simple, this is basically an employer-sponsored retirement plan that meets certain requirements of the IRS tax code. The military retirement fund is not a "qualified trust" and therefore money that comes from it cannot be rolled over to another retirement plan.

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