Until World War II, one adage prevailed above all else: “If the Army wanted you to have a wife, they would have issued you one.”
As a husband or wife of a service member, you get to be an active participant in the military family. You are also eligible for many benefits, including health care, shopping privileges on base and access to base recreation facilities and other programs.
Spouses and children of service members are traditionally called dependents. Being called a “Dependa” implies the military spouse sits at home all day doing nothing while their service member sacrifices everything to keep them comfortable.
Military marriage benefits include housing and living allowances, health insurance, childcare, as well as access to the commissary and exchange. Furthermore, these military benefits can also assist with educational opportunities and finding employment.
One of the perks of being in the military is that you can typically tie the knot at the base chapel for free. This includes a chaplain to perform the wedding ceremony and a variety of choices, including almost any religious denomination, non-religious, military, civilian and casual.
Unfortunately, being stationed together is not guaranteed, but all branches have a form of a Join Spouse program that tries to keep spouses together or within 100 miles of each other. That way you'll actually have the potential to see one another on off-duty days.
Marital problems related to deployment and military service can include struggles related to service-caused PTSD, depression or anxiety, caregiving challenges if their service member returns injured, feelings of isolation and resentment towards their spouse, infidelity related to the long separations, and the roller ...
At least ten years of marriage overlapping at least ten years of military service is needed for direct payment from the retired pay center, usually the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS).
Only Servicemembers are authorized to live in the barracks, and often those room assignments are based on unit of assignment. The only people authorized to live in on-post quarters are the Servicemember and their dependents. As a girlfriend, you are not considered a dependent.
Life as a Military Spouse is a Challenge
The life of a military spouse is undeniably challenging. Being away from your partner for months or years at a time, assuming the role of a single parent, trying to balance a career while moving so often – all of these realities of military life can take its toll.
The military spouse plays a significant role in the life and morale of the service member: The spouse stays home and keeps the family grounded, safe, and functioning while the service member performs their duty. Many spouses also work full time, pursue their education, and help raise the family.
Holding down a job while your spouse is in the military is easier than you might think. While the military often throws a monkey wrench into best-laid plans, your career doesn't have to be one of them. Military spouses have successful careers in all types of industries.
Life changes frequently for military families. We move a lot and our spouses deploy. Many military spouses I know choose to stay home so they can provide consistency for their families in the midst of chaos. "I'm able to stay home with the kids and cart them to and from school, appointments, etc.
Can my family live on base with me? Soldiers' spouses and dependents can live on-base with them in family housing. Parents, extended family, and friends cannot live on base but are welcome to visit.
Yes, the military still enforces the adultery rule
Servicemembers who get caught cheating could face a court-martial. Certain situations make it more likely that they will face consequences for their infidelity.
Being a dual-military couple is one of the few instances where a military member has the chance to deploy with their spouse. With the Married Army Couples Program, which helps place married service members in proximal units, some couples have the chance to spend their time overseas together.
There are no laws governing military marriage. Military members can marry whomever they want, including same-sex partners.
Here's the bottom line: You will be separated from the person you love at some point during their career in the military. If you need physical touch and constant communication so that you won't stray, you need to do some soul-searching. Being apart is hard, but it shouldn't be hard to stay committed.
Military life brings additional challenges to couples, including: Frequent separations. Deployments and temporary duty assignments mean that military members spend more time away from home than the average civilian. Missing important events like anniversaries and birthdays can be hard for both members of the couple.
Military families move, on average, every 2.5 years, every move bringing great change and the need to start anew for each member of the family. Military life has pros and cons, but among the downsides is the stress from these restarts. “It is a substantial setback.
This really depends on the base he is stationed at. At some bases “single” (i.e. unmarried) service members are required to live in the barracks. And if that is the case, spouses cannot stay there. At other bases, single service members are allowed to live off base, and if they are off base, you can live with them.
Compared to male military members, female military members are less likely to be married, more likely to get divorced, and more likely to be married to another military member. Active Duty Members in Dual-Military Marriages Dual-military marriages refer to service members who are married to other service members.