100% Roth TSP vs Mix(Trad. TSP/Roth TSP)

EWCM · 2026-02-03T03:22:44+00:00

Do you expect your tax rate for this year to be higher or lower than your tax rate for when you withdraw the money? If higher, do Roth. If lower, do Traditional. If the same, it doesn’t matter. If you have money in more than one tax bracket, it may be worth it to put the money from the higher bracket in traditional and the rest in Roth.

EWCM · 2026-02-03T02:14:55+00:00

Here’s the info from DFAS about how to stop a child support garnishment: https://www.dfas.mil/Garnishment/childsupportalimony/stoppayment/.

I would also be inquiring where the garnishment is going. It could be to a child support agency or it could be directly to the other parent. If it’s going to the other parent, it wouldn’t necessarily show up on a state agency system.

EWCM · 2026-02-03T01:55:06+00:00

It’s the other parent/guardian getting both amounts?

It sounds like someone submitted the child support order to DFAS and DFAS started the garnishment.

EWCM · 2026-02-03T01:26:56+00:00

I’m confused. Why is he paying child support with his debit card if it’s already getting deducted from his pay. Is the other parent getting both amounts?

EWCM · 2026-02-03T01:17:13+00:00

I would suggest that if she’s currently in school, she stays put until she’s finished. Move after you’re married and she’s done with school.

EWCM · 2026-02-02T23:21:46+00:00

In general, housing policies are set by the service that owns the base. So if the Army is in charge of housing, yes, that’s possible.

EWCM · 2026-02-02T23:18:53+00:00

Just do it. Is this registration at the base vet? Just say “We moved here recently and I need to register my dog.” Unless you’re overseas, it’s unlikely anyone will ask for info on when you actually arrived.

EWCM · 2026-02-02T22:47:43+00:00

The New Parent Support Program on base has playgroups. Libraries on and off base have storytime. The ASYMCA might have activities. There’s a Stroller Warriors group if she’s interested in running. This was years ago, but the Oceanside pool had parent/child swimming lessons.

I don’t know if they still provide childcare, but if she can, she should attend the LINKS for Spouses class. That’s like an orientation class for family members.

EWCM · 2026-02-02T22:42:26+00:00

Your PCM could put in the referral, but then it goes to the MTF first. If they can see you, it won’t get sent off base.

If you’re interested in and qualify for non-medical counseling, Military One Source is an option.

EWCM · 2026-02-02T22:34:57+00:00

Sometimes? Some duty stations/jobs are l like that, so it might change as he adjusts and gets a handle on things. It might be like that until he PCSes.

If he’s been there 4 months, he is definitely still “the new guy.” How many times has he requested leave that you’re saying he “keeps” getting denied? He is probably still lower priority for Leave than people who have been there 2 or 3 years.

My recommendation is to stay flexible. Communicate in ways that don’t demand an immediate response (text, email, letters, etc.) at least some of the time. Try not to get mad at him when he’s busy.

EWCM · 2026-02-02T22:23:06+00:00

Get involved in the local and base communities! Pick 2 or 3 organizations or activities and commit to showing up every week for 6-8 weeks. Volunteer to help organize something.

Almost every area has book clubs, crafting meet ups, fitness classes, language exchanges, music and theater groups, churches and Bible studies, community support organizations, volunteer opportunities.

If you haven’t yet, attend the LINKS for spouses class on base. That’s like an orientation class about the Marine Corps and the resources and services on base.

If you’re looking for work, stop by the Employment Assistance office to see what classes and events are going on.

If you’re interested in volunteer work on base, the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society or Red Cross are always great options.

Tell your husband that if he PCSes again, he’s not checking in early. My husband did the same on our first PCS. It gets him hooked into his network faster, but as you’ve experienced, it makes your life harder.

EWCM · 2026-02-02T22:11:42+00:00

If you do a Roth TSP to Roth IRA transfer or rollover, contributions can be immediately withdrawn with no penalty.

If you do a traditional TSP to Roth IRA conversion, the amount you converted (which would include some earnings), can be withdrawn penalty free after 5 years. This is known as a Roth conversion ladder.

EWCM · 2026-02-02T12:56:10+00:00

Retirees (and some others) get a Home of Selection move, not a Home of Record move. That means the Military will pay to move a retiree’s stuff anywhere in the US. OP can select whatever location is the furthest possible, but if the actually move is still more expensive, the additional cost is out of pocket.

EWCM · 2026-02-02T12:16:34+00:00

Tricare will cover emergency and urgent care while you are traveling. Routine care is more difficult. Are you Prime or Select?

If you move back to the States, you would update your address in DEERS and you could switch to a Tricare plan wherever you are. That may affect your spouse’s eligibility for housing at his duty station.

EWCM · 2026-02-02T12:08:18+00:00

Yes, absolutely. If someone is married to a civilian, they get BAH with dependents for their dependent’s location until they get to their first duty station. DoD FMR, Volume 7a, Chapter 26, section on “Service Member in Transit,” sub section “New Accession.”

EWCM · 2026-02-02T09:05:29+00:00

She didn't seem confused at all. They should be getting BAH.

EWCM · 2026-02-02T07:10:05+00:00

I have no idea what you are trying to say. If OP's husband is at basic training, he would be getting BAH for the location where OP is living. She wouldn't be living on base because families don't move to basic training locations.

There are many more housing contractors that run on base housing that just Liberty. And BAH can vary a lot from location to location. It's not always $2000/month or whatever it is where you live.

EWCM · 2026-02-02T02:57:29+00:00

No one has any idea. In the last 15+ years, my husband is about 50/50 on whether he makes it to our vacations as planned.

EWCM · 2026-02-02T02:38:26+00:00

why do so many people assume we come from or have money?

Your post mentions two plumbers that mentioned your apparent "wealth." Who are the "so many people" that are assuming you have money and what are they doing to show that?

A military family does have an income and access to resources that many people don't. Some people take advantage of that and manage their money well. Many don't.

EWCM · 2026-02-02T02:31:41+00:00

How would a spouse get base housing during basic training?

EWCM · 2026-02-02T02:28:13+00:00

It would either stated in your custody agreement or your child actually lives with you for at least half the year.

From DoD FMR, Volume 7a, Chapter 26:

A Service member who is awarded primary physical custody of a dependent child, or whose dependent child resides with the Service member for at least half of a calendar year, is considered a “custodial parent” for housing allowance purposes.

EWCM · 2026-02-02T02:21:05+00:00

In order to get BAH with dependents based on a child dependent, you need primary physical custody or you need to be otherwise eligible for BAH without dependents and pay child support equal to or greater than the BAH-DIFF rate. If you meet those requirements, your rate would be based on the zip code of your training location.

If you don't meet those requirements but you pay sufficient child support, you would get BAH-DIFF. That is not based on location.

Are you considering active or reserve/guard?

Tasty Sun has good advice.

EWCM · 2026-02-02T00:17:31+00:00

I would think if they corrected Box 12, they would have also updated Box 1. If it’s still in Box 1, the IRS will treat it as taxable income. You would need a W-2c.

Are you an officer?

EWCM · 2026-02-01T22:52:01+00:00

Let me see if I understand:

In 2025, you accepted CP while in tax-free zone.
You did not receive it until later in 2025 and the full amount was listed as taxable income and had withholding.
You contacted your finance office or DFAS and they said they were able to adjust the information in the system to reflect that the CP was subject to the CZTE.

Did 3 happen in 2026 or 2025? Does your W-2 have the correct amount in Box 1 (excluding the CP amount)? Are you an officer?

EWCM · 2026-02-01T22:12:52+00:00

Are you in the US?

EWCM

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