How can we keep young service members from getting married just to receive BAH?

SSgt Gregory Guina — Tue, 06 May 2014 11:05:07 -0400

It seems to me that many young service members get married just to get out of the barracks. They see this as a quality of life issue and to be honest I can see their point. What should the DoD do to make barracks life better? I for one would prefer to see barracks that were more like an apt vice a dorm room especially for the more seasoned or higher ranks. Always having another person in your room can be frustrating as sometimes you just want to get away. By keeping young Marines in the barracks could cut down on many of the problems that as leaders have to deal with when a young immature individual tries to live a lifestyle that they are not ready for.

Response by SSG Daniel Deiler made May 7 at 2014 4:34 PM

SSG Daniel Deiler — Wed, 07 May 2014 16:34:28 -0400

Getting married to get out of the barracks is the second dumbest thing I've ever heard. The first being getting pregnant to get out of a deployment. Is this seriously a problem? I've seen this and contract marriages happen here and there but wouldn't call it a legitimate concern due to the infrequency and measures taken to deter it.

Response by SPC Brian Jones made May 7 at 2014 8:02 PM

SPC Brian Jones — Wed, 07 May 2014 20:02:55 -0400

Why do Air Force personal get half of their housing and food allotments while they are stationed on Army bases (80's & 90's)? The reason given to the airmen was that they were living in substandard conditions. There within lays the answer.

Should I (a lower enlisted) be forced to live in a small cubical with everything placed as per regulation OR should I engage in a marriage of convenience and get added income, my own apartment which I can leave in any fashion I feel for that day without having to worry about Top showing up to inspect.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 8 at 2014 11:09 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 08 May 2014 11:09:27 -0400

Make BAH and BAS a part of Basic Pay and have the barracks and DFAC's be optional.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2014 12:43 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 May 2014 12:43:44 -0400

SSgt Guina, do the Marines still have 2 Marines living in the same room? Bunk beds, or beds side by side, or seperated by a wall locker?

If so then that is a major problem. In the Army we have 1+1 barracks (mostly) where you have your own 4 walls and share a common area with someone else. Common area has a sink, fridge sometimes a hotplate, a place for a small table and chairs and a bathroom.

To keep our service members "happy" then I would say when you become a SGT, you get both rooms to yourself. And it creates a bedroom and living room for that Soldier.

Our young Military will always have these issues. getting married to move out of the barracks is not a new thing. I am sure they have been doing it since the first time someone got BAH for being married. It's just our job as NCOs to know that it will happen and try and midigate it as much as possible.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 8 at 2014 5:26 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 May 2014 17:26:14 -0400

Fort Leonardwood has amazing single soldier barracks. I shouldn't even call them barracks, when I first seen them I thought it was housing. They look like an apartment complex. I never had a chance to go inside one though.

Response by SFC Stephen P. made May 12 at 2014 4:23 PM

SFC Stephen P. — Mon, 12 May 2014 16:23:19 -0400

Your options are to either make government housing competitive with the civilian market, or remove the incentive to acquire dependents.

I vote provide BAH to all members based only on grade and market rates (not family status) and transition all billeting to a command independent agency.

Response by Sgt Packy Flickinger made May 12 at 2014 5:34 PM

Sgt Packy Flickinger — Mon, 12 May 2014 17:34:23 -0400

This is an issue that REALLY irked me. When I returned from Aviano, they released all the married to go home. So you have a PFC going to dinner with his wife while NCO's and SNCO's are unloading the plane. One of the reasons I got out. WAY to biased and discriminatory. To answer the question, no marriages privileges to E-3 and below if you get married while already enlisted. E-4's get a barracks room with their wife and mess hall privileges. E-5's, they've earned their privileges. Well, usually.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2014 9:59 PM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 May 2014 21:59:04 -0400

Simple..... don't pay BAH based on dependents. This should not be an incentive. I understand that the military has to have a BASE pay regardless of where in the world you are stationed, but that BASE PAY stretches differently in areas where cost of living is more expensive. Case in point: $45K where I live now is equivalent to $62K in San Diego CA. Therefore, if I lived in the absolute cheapest cost of living area EVER, and was making 45K, and the military uprooted me and moved me to San Deigo, then they need to give me an extra $17K per year for cost of living adjustment..... just to have the same lifestyle as before.

I don't care how many kids you have. Your choice to pop 'em out. You need to find a way to feed them and put a roof over their head on the salary you make. It's complete horsecrap that the military pays more for dependents. In the civilian world, my employer doesn't give two fiddle farts about weather I have dependents or not. They pay me a salary and it's my duty to use that salary wisely. The military makes it entirely too easy for Joe Numbskull to go find a bride and/or a baby, (whether he wants one or not) so he can get more money.

So.... back to the original question, how do you prevent young service members from getting married to receive BAH? Don't make BAH based on dependents. Make BAH based on time in service AND rank. E-4+ over 4 years in the service is when you should become eligible for benefits. By that time, you've had time to grow up, and if you were "really" in love before then, then you were forced to make it work on the base pay. And maybe ol' wifey boo needs to not be a stay at home and go get a job to make things work rather than sitting high on the hog on her E-nothing husband's BAH.

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Response by SSG Daniel Deiler made May 13 at 2014 9:37 PM

SSG Daniel Deiler — Tue, 13 May 2014 21:37:49 -0400

When I first came in I was in a two man room that was maybe 12X15. Large enough for two twin beds with two wall lockers and two desks (one of each for each Soldier) and a community bathroom for the entire floor. I was 19 and my roomate was a 38 y/o ex semi-truck driver. Somehow we both survived without getting married. *insert sarcasm*

Response by Capt Jeff Quinn made Jun 11 at 2014 6:05 PM

Capt Jeff Quinn — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 18:05:18 -0400

Short-term and time tested from personal experience back in the FMF- counsel the SM on their decision and ensure they understand the financial hardship and the strain it will cause their marriage.

I remember E5-E6's that were single living out in town- but do not recollect any E-4's or below living anywhere other than the barracks.

- Long-term and tested at TBS when I was there- BAH (scaled) provided to all service members from private to general.

Response by Cpl Brett Wagner made Jun 11 at 2014 9:01 PM

Cpl Brett Wagner — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 21:01:02 -0400

I may be wrong but are these kids really getting married to get BAH? These are the same young kids sleeping in mud holes and sand in 120+ degrees eating freeze dried crap (personally I think our C rations tasted better) not sleeping for days. I can't believe these are the same kids getting married to get BAH.

I know it can't work for sea going sailors. If this is a problem why would you need to do something special to make them happy in the barracks? If you take away any reason to complain they won't be servicemen & women any more. yes I'm laughing.

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Jun 11 at 2014 9:21 PM

MSG Floyd Williams — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 21:21:54 -0400

SSGT Gregory G.......we can't know for sure if younger military men and women getting married just for the BAH unless they come out and say it. The only thing you can do is to let them know the economy outside of the base can be rough, other than that let them figure it out for themselves when their pockets start getting low fast what you was saying will sink in. It is the same with newly E-2's and E-3's fresh out of their MOS School into their first duty assignment, they go out and buy a brand new automobile not thinking about the high payments and insurance. My son did it in the Marine Corps in Hawaii at 1st MAW, he had learned the hard way by getting a part time night job to supplement his income.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 11 at 2014 9:45 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 21:45:45 -0400

Change the regs back to the way it used to be: you couldn't be married until you were an NCO. Besides, if the Army wanted you to have a spouse and dependents they would have been issued to you at CIF.... ;o)

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2014 2:08 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 02:08:24 -0400

Short answer in all reality is that we can't. We can counsel all we like, but in the end, there's no way to judge a decision for young service members to get married as "bad" or not. Some are legitimate relationships, while others are for this type of "bonus". But the reality is, we cannot keep it from happening, just as we cannot keep some of our Sailors/Soldiers/Airmen from making other bad decisions (DUI, ARI, Credit issues, etc...)

Response by Cpl Westin Sandberg made Jun 12 at 2014 6:50 AM

Cpl Westin Sandberg — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 06:50:29 -0400

Well, in my experience, having been stationed in camp Lejeune, would be to say this, most likely, when young Marines first get to their unit or get back from deployment, making them cutting locks off of a condemned barracks and clean black mold off of literally every surface.

In general having to spend around ten hours cleaning a barracks before having a room, in not only unhealthy, and lowers morale, but it also tends to make you want to live out of said building ASAP.

Response by SSG Chris Cherry made Jun 12 at 2014 4:20 PM

SSG Chris Cherry — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 16:20:00 -0400

Honestly, I wouldn't get married to get out of the barracks. However, that doesn't mean that I find barracks life to be substandard.

I miss having carpet, a couch, my dogs, a stove, an oven, a bathtub, a garage...do I need to go on?

I also find it to be EXTREMELY insulting to have to have a fellow E5 come to inspect my barracks. I've stayed in seedy motels in atlantic city that are more accommodating that the barracks I currently live in. Seriously, no stove? No oven? I technically can't even have a coffee maker.

So yeah, fix this crap and I'll have no problem living in the barracks and not getting BAH. E-6 is a $1700 pay raise if you're a single E-5. Think about that one for a second.

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Jul 28 at 2014 12:22 AM

Capt Jeff S. — Mon, 28 Jul 2014 00:22:57 -0400

Used to be you had to get the Commanding Officer's permission to get married. Personally, I can't imagine forbidding someone to get married. You can give them your best counsel but ultimately they're adults and have to live with the choices they make. I can think of a few young Marines and Sailors that could have used counseling before getting married.

TRUE STORY: While a SSgt on instructor duty as an Avionics instructor at NAS Millington, a PO3 student comes up to the desk in the Avionics lab where I and an AT1 fellow instructor were assisting. He looked at me and then looked at the AT1 and I guess figured the AT1 was a little less threatening. So the AT1 looks at him and says, "What?"

Sheepishly, the student asks, "Petty Officer L-------, How long after you are with a girl and get her pregnant does it take for her to have the baby? The AT1 looks at me with this incredulous look as if to ask, "Did I really hear this?" and I just raised my eyebrows back at him and confirmed with a nod, "Yeah, he really said that...?!!" So after we picked our jaws up off the floor the AT1 responds, "Nine months, why?" The student responded, "Well I got married 6 months ago and my wife is expecting any day..." So the AT1 laughs and with a cheeky grin says, "Oh, so you didn't wait till you got married?" And we both looked at each other and laughed.

And then the student, looking a little bit flustered and embarrassed says, "No, we didn't do it before we got married." At that point you could hear a pin drop. My eyes got real wide and I just kept my mouth shut and shook my head in amazement. "Uh oh... Really?!!" Didn't have to say it; it was understood...

Turns out the student's wife of six months was a stripper and married him so she could have the baby on Uncle Sam's dime and help herself to his steady paycheck. At this point I got up and started walking around to the various stations to see if anyone needed help and let the AT1 counsel his junior in private.

It's cases like this that make you think, "Hey, maybe it would be a good idea if young servicemen DID get counseling from their Commanding Officer before tying the knot. It might also be useful for preventing contract marriages, which as far as I'm concerned (while legal) are unethical and constitute fraud, waste and abuse.

Response by CDR Soraya Villacis made Aug 6 at 2014 3:44 PM

CDR Soraya Villacis — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 15:44:06 -0400

AMEN! My Corpsmen had to live in the USMC barracks (E5 and below) unless they were married or had dependents (kids). It was so unfair for a grown man of 30+ to have room inspections, etc...I say, model barracks off the fine USAF, but then again, I know the USMC sees QOL as secondary to mission too often.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2014 12:35 PM

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Response by Cpl Matthew Wall made Aug 13 at 2014 2:38 PM

Cpl Matthew Wall — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:38:57 -0400

Normally what I saw was a contract marriage. This is where the kid got married before deployment to make the extra pay tax free and then they would separate once they returned from deployment. The girl would get a slice of the pie, but ultimately the guy was getting more money.

I think in order for people to want to stay in the their barracks they will need to be upgraded. Just having a bunk bed and two wall lockers is not enough. Sure they can get their own TV and XBOX, but what about a stove or oven. These kids get tired of eating chow hall food and usually end up ordering pizza. Now you can have them going to the commissary and buying food and they can make their own food and it will feel more like home versus having to go somewhere for food all the time. I think it is more of a self sufficient/do it yourself feel that these people need.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 4 at 2014 8:31 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Sep 2014 08:31:48 -0400

I did not take the time to scroll through every response so I apologize if I am restating the obvious. I think that if the quality of life was upgraded, then it would solve at least 85% of the problem. Speaking only for the Marine Corps, you take 2-4 grown (wo)men and put them in a room the size of a walk-in closet. You give them metal racks, a wall locker, a "secretary," and a head to share. Add on top of that Thursday night field day, Thursday night room inspections, Friday morning room inspections, constant dropping in, and general complete lack of privacy, and you have a recipe for disaster. I get the concept of close quarters living. It "promotes" esprit de corps and bonds the young men and women together by constantly being around each other. What I do not get is why the conditions have to be so shitty? For example, the Marine barracks in Germany are all one to a room... They come with full size govt. issued racks, a closet, a medium sized fridge, a pantry area, a couch, a desk, and a ceiling fan. I can tell you that if I weren't married, I would not have a problem at all living in the barracks with those conditions. Or.... why not do it semi-dorm style? 4-5 small bedrooms with a common living room/small kitchenette?

Response by PO2 Tony Casler made Sep 8 at 2014 1:00 PM

PO2 Tony Casler — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 13:00:04 -0400

The services incentivize marriage because it is a powerful retention tool. Social and financial pressures within military culture push young SMs to marry and have kids in order to escape the QOL issues involved in barracks/shipboard life and to supplement their pay. What they don't realize is that the extra pay is insufficient to fully cover the extra costs of family life, especially with a spouse that more often than not stays at home and does not make a financial contribution to the family. Over the course of an enlistment the young SM is likely to amass debts for vehicles, credit cards, personal loans, etc. in an attempt to make ends meet and maintain a comfortable lifestyle. Separating is a recipe for instant poverty in such cases, leaving reenlistment as their only viable option. If they are lucky enough to be in a rating/MOS that qualifies they get a bonus that helps to wipe out the last four years of debt, only to start the cycle anew when the bills start piling up and the next kid comes along.

Why would the services want to fix a system that meets their needs so perfectly?

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 2:41 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 14:41:10 -0500

We can't, and we shouldn't try to prevent young service members from getting married. Most of the processes used to "cut down on many of the problems" are among the reasons people are so desperate to escape the dorms.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2015 4:36 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 16:36:06 -0500

Well, my daughter is currently in the USN and this very subject came up, it appears there were about a dozen Sailors that ran out and got married right before deployment, some of rhe couples were gay, and some actually found men to marry them in exchange for a little money, so they could move out into town with someone else, sounds like fraud to me. But I digress.....
My daughter mentioned it to me sort of asking my opinion, I asked about her sutuation, her bf is going on deployment soon, and when he comes back, she goes on deployment, so it will be a true test....I told her if she is still dating after the one year, they are probably destined to be together, but to never marry for the extra money. A fee extra dollars and being able to live out in town is hard to argue with...when you are an E3....But the heart ache and headache isn't worth it if you don't love them, or if they turn you in for fraud. So PO2 William Allen Crowder it does happen and is happening....right under our noses.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Feb 2 at 2015 6:48 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 18:48:03 -0500

Whatever happened to the axiom that if the military wanted you to have a spouse, they'd issue you one?

Ah yes, that was only true in those halcyon days before the all-volunteer force.

The simple truth is that no matter how carefully you craft the rules, someone will always find a way to "game the system". Look at welfare.

I suppose that $20,000 (E2 <2 years) per year looks like a lot of money to a kid just 18 and barely out of high school. Most of his civilian peers back home aren't earning that much flipping burgers.

I wonder if some of these junior personnel would be getting married and having kids if they see what I see. We are delivering food and diapers to their young wives and babies while they're deployed because $20,000 just isn't cutting it. Maybe they need to see this before they start their families.

We trust these young men and women to make some serious life and death decisions in the military service. Of course, we provide them with the best training we can so that they'll be prepared. Maybe we need to spend a little time educating them about the "real world" of family responsibilities. I bet they would be making much better decisions if they had something more to base them on.

I'd trust them. Would you?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2015 1:51 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 01:51:25 -0500

If we could figure this out , most of the fraud waste and abuse in the military would come to a stop and we could spend money on something more important rather than two soldiers that just want to get out of the barracks cause they think they are better than that.

Response by SGT Alicia Brenneis made Feb 3 at 2015 5:48 AM

SGT Alicia Brenneis — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 05:48:20 -0500

The honest answer is you can't stop it. The best you can do is report the situation if KNOW with proof (like witnesses) that the soldier is committing fraud. It can be persecuted but is unbelievably hard to prove. I had two soldiers be charged with adultery because they were living together but also with their girlfriend/boyfriend. They threw a new years party and I guess didn't think anyone would say anything. I remember they couldn't be charged with fraud because they claimed they were just swingers. Adultery was the only other option. I don't understand the thought process that would make them think "marring for money" was ok.

Response by SSgt Randy Saulsberry made Feb 6 at 2015 12:02 AM

SSgt Randy Saulsberry — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 00:02:34 -0500

This is an easy one to solve and it has nothing to do with DOD. We need to quit treating Marines that live in the barracks like trash. Yeah the barracks are government property but when u live in them you view your room as your home. So how would u like it if someone just came to your house or apt lookin through your stuff multiple times a week. Barging in your room just to do random quality of life checks. Having you stay at work late because they're married: so their off time is more important than yours? Punishing every marine at the barracks because a few did somethin stupid over the weekend.
All this does is create animosity towards your unit and the Corps. The Marines, in their own ways, will rebel against it. This typically means behavioral issues.
There are many ways to get through to your Marines but disturbing their home life as way to get though is probably the most unproductive way of going about it. I've been in since 1999, and been in 5 different units in 3 different states. I have never done a quality of life check on my Marines, I have never punished them by messing with their home life, but the most important thing I HAVE NEVER HAD A MARINE FAIL A ROOM INSPECTION, AND I HAVE NEVER HAD TO CHARGE A MARINE!
Explain clearly to your subordinates what you expect out of them and hold them to that standard.
Everybody needs a place of relaxation and generally that's your home. So a junior Marine will be stressed at work, it's a part of life, but then they can't even go home and relax because you mess with them there as well. So what's the easiest way to get that relaxation, CONTRACT MARRIAGE. And with that comes $300+ for food and $800+ for housing extra a month. Every contract marriage I heard of or knew of (we all did when we were at the bottom of the totem pole) was for one of two reasons 1. To get away from the craziness of the barracks or 2. They were homosexual, and that was the only way to get privacy with their loved one.
all we have to do is stop messing with them at the barracks And I bet there would b a drastic drop in contract marriages

Response by Cpl Robert Passerelle Jr. made Feb 6 at 2015 12:20 AM

Cpl Robert Passerelle Jr. — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 00:20:06 -0500

I lived in open barracks. 40 men one head. Plus we had to ask permission to get married, Back then.

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2015 11:00 PM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Jul 2015 23:00:06 -0400

BAH is a privilege. Don't sign off on the soldier getting BAH.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 14 at 2015 9:34 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 21:34:22 -0400

The best thing is to provide BAH to all single unmarried at the single rate. Many commands are already privatizing housing on base both for families and singles. (IF these choose the on-base, I believe they all get the BAH then pay their it to the company) Camp Parks RFTA Calif has built housing for military in the bay area (including full-time Army at Parks and Coast Guard) Naval Station San Diego (32nd) has built apartments run by a private company for sailors there (single or married) Some bases, if they cant fill that housing are even letting civilian employees and retired military live there. The obvious exceptions would be basic, AIT/Tech/A schools, unaccompanied tours, deployments, etc

Response by LCpl Hilton Hoskins made Oct 19 at 2016 8:17 PM

LCpl Hilton Hoskins — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 20:17:58 -0400

SSGT, I see your point. When I served, and lived in the barracks, two of the biggest problems I've seen are rooming assignments and higher ranks going inside your room without you being there. Plus, feeling like you're under the microscope 24 hours of the day. The point is that you're dealing with Marines that have more than likely never been on their own. The Corps is pretty much their first experience of being out there in the world, so they don't want to feel like they are back at their parents house, if you know what I mean. A lot of times this causes young Marines living in the barracks to rush to get married because in their eyes they see it as them having their own place where they call the shots and don't have to worry about "field day" or "inspections" every week. They don't have to be afraid to open their door or come up with an elaborate plan to avoid being put on someone else's "duty" when they can't find the scheduled "Duty NCO" or "OOD". Long story short these things can make getting married to get out of the barracks look very tempting.

That being said it could be a difficult task trying to convince a young boot that's still wet behind the ears that they are not exactly ready to be married. One of the best things that I could think of is emphasizing the benefits of barracks life because there are many. Like for instance not really having a curfew (except during emergency situations): The only real curfew you have in the barracks is that you don't have to be back until time for formation. That means you could hang out as long as you want just as long as you're there in time for formation. When you're married your spouse is going to expect you home at a certain time to deal with what's going on there. You're not going to be able to hang out like you want and if you do it's going to cause big problems between you and your spouse. Being married is not playing house. You should emphasize that marriage is not for somebody with a bachelor's mind.

Another benefit is that you don't have to pay bills except for the one that you make for yourself and you're only responsible for yourself. Being married, you have more than yourself to be responsible for and to add if you're in charge of troops, it adds more to your plate. The only difference between being responsible for your troops and being responsible for a family is that the Corps provides all the gear you need, when you're married with a family, you might get more money but you have to use that money to buy everything that you and your family need. It's something that you have to have the mindset for or it's not going to work.

Another benefit is that you don't have to worry about where your next meal is coming from. Living in the barracks, you get 3 hots and a cot. Sure chow hall food might not be the best sometimes but at least you have the option of eating in the chow hall when you don't have any cash. You don't have to worry about going hungry or where your next meal is coming from. You have the benefit of knowing that you have somewhere to go when you're hungry and don't have to pay for it. Married Marines have to pay to eat in the chow hall.

Another benefit is that they have complete control over there money. If there's something I've seen and I'm sure you might have seen too SSgt are Married Marines on payday at the ATM. I'm sure you were able to tell what Marine was married standing in line because you could hear them yell "that bitch" loud enough to shake the whole building because the money they thought they had got spent by their spouse. Then them having to try to get a loan from a single Marine to get something until they could pay them back. It could be very embarrassing to go to the ATM to pull out some money to get something only to get pissed off because your money's not there because your spouse decided to go on a spending spree with the money. I've seen it many times during my tour. Some military spouses are irresponsible with money and they could end up getting a Marine in trouble not only with debtors but their command as well. Plus, a hard hit to their credit when they go to apply for a home or auto loan.

I could go on and on. As far as making the barracks life better I'm not sure there's really much you could do besides making it more comfortable by letting ranks come off after Libo, which is kind hard when you've got the Duty NCO and OOD walking around. As you know, we are Marines 24/7 and sometimes that could get in the way of down time. It could be rough living in the barracks because you end up feeling like your higher ups are breathing down your neck and having to catch hell if you or your roommate are not squared away. You end up feeling like you've always got to be on your toes. I think one of the best ways to make barracks life better is to pick the brains of your young Marines. Here what they've got to say. One of the best ways to get an answer to a question is from the horses mouth. Plus, add in the pros and cons of getting married to get out of the barracks, you could find a way to cut down on young Marines jumping into something they are not ready for. You're a Marine and one of the things us Marines are good at is being able to come up with a good solution to a problem. Good luck SSGT and Semper Fi.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Jan 2 at 2017 3:53 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 03:53:54 -0500

Maybe this may be a solution, USAF Dorms for single Airmen, they have central air conditioning, wall to wall carpeting, two double closets per private room for one person, drapes. Your own vanity sink and share the toilet and shower with one other person. Civilian type furniture,dressers, night stands, chairs and You could add things. There are also kitchens and laundry facilities. The decks off the back are common area but any Airman living there can use them. These Airman Dorms are at Hanscom AFB, MA As a First Sergeant at one point We even had meetings with the Command Chief Master Sergeant for identifying things that the Airmen residents would like to see added to the dorms to improve living conditions. These suggestions were taken seriously and if adopted were funded.

Response by SGT(P) Jennifer Brande made Jan 5 at 2017 4:48 PM

SGT(P) Jennifer Brande — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 16:48:39 -0500

Between service members marrying their fellow troops right after Basic Training/AIT because they are so madly and deeply in love (but also being told about how they will get housing and subsistence for their families) or they are trying to do the "noble" thing and marry their Drinky/Juicy Girls in Korea or other Foreign National from elsewhere because they are living their lives in servitude (and a lot of times being the mistress to a married man/woman) but as soon as they get their free ticket to the US they promptly dump them and then get jobs on base/post and still get benefits for being the spouse of a service member disgusts me.

Then you have the service members who are sick and tired of living in a shared space and having no privacy, being subject to inspections and barracks maintenance and in reality having to live on dining out every night since cooking is never allowed in your room. Also being married should be an incentive for later on in a service members career since (especially in the case of junior enlisted) the first enlistment should be the time you learn everything that is required to be a good Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine or Coastie. Prove that you took your oath of enlistment seriously and want to be an asset to your branch, pay your dues, live in communal living, eat with your fellow people, work out together, train together and not be distracted by any of the outside temptations that present themselves.

Playing video games at home with a spouse and child takes away the ability to bond with your fellow service members. Constantly having to be out of the loop with appointments for the family are just not helpful to anyone and truthfully I would have reservations about trusting the person on my left or right because I know nothing about them since we rarely if ever get to work/socialize together.

If I ever had the chance to run the DoD for a day I would impose policy that forbids service members from staying in the military if they get married or start a family during their first enlistment period of 4 years. In the end this will make a sure fire way to only recruit the most serious and truly quality people to serve.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2017 10:31 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 10:31:54 -0400

Another big point that hasnt been mentioned is the VA loan. Its absolutely criminal that someone can use a VA loan to buy a house, then use BAS to pay it off while living in it. You're talking literally hundreds of thousands of net worth difference between two soldiers upon ets/retirement.

Response by MSgt Stephen Bloch made Sep 25 at 2019 4:16 PM

MSgt Stephen Bloch — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 16:16:03 -0400

The military seems to have too many immsture members! I do not think the military has programs to deal with this problem in an efficient manner.