How does marriage/stationing of newly commissioned officers work?

Alec Roman — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 19:46:21 -0400

My girlfriend and I have been together for some time now and attend the same university/AROTC program. Due to a change of major, I have tacked an extra year on to my college education and will now (hopefully) commission the same time as my girlfriend does.

I wanted to know how we would go about marriage due to the timeframe of commissioning and then going to BOLC. If it helps, my girlfriend is set on going active MI, while I am happy with active, reserves, or guard as long as I can do Infantry.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 21 at 2018 8:24 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 20:24:25 -0400

Youre lucky going in together, it makes life while in considerably !ore pleasant from all I saw while in, I assure you...

Response by CPT Enrique M. made Mar 21 at 2018 8:41 PM

CPT Enrique M. — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 20:41:26 -0400

so whats your specific question then because I am trying to figure out what your asking..
Are you asking the process of marriage as 2 brand new officers ?
Or are you asking how would you be station if you are both active?
or are you asking if you can get married before commissioning

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2018 8:47 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 20:47:40 -0400

From HRC:

The Married Army Couples Program (MACP) provides Soldiers the opportunity to establish a joint domicile while fulfilling the Army's mission. Service members in the following categories may apply: Regular Army (RA), USAR Active Guard Reserve (AGR) and Title 10 ANGUS AGR Soldiers married to active duty members of the RA, RCs, other active duty U.S. military Services, USAR Active Guard Reserve (AGR) and Title 10 ANGUS,

In accordance with AR 614-200 Section IV, enrollment in the MACP does not guarantee reassignment together but does ensure that both Soldiers will be automatically considered for future joint-domicile assignments. Soldiers should submit a DA Form 4187 requesting enrollment in the MACP, with a copy of their marriage certificate to their Bde S-1/BCT or MPD who will take the necessary action to update to the Total Army Personnel Data Base (TAPDB).

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2018 9:05 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 21:05:50 -0400

Married Army Couple Program. Though you are going into the reserve component it may not help you. Basically, you will have to follow her around. If you go active duty let the MI branch and your branch know you will be getting married. They will coordinate with each other to get you in the same state. That means, Fort Bliss and Fort Hood; Fort Lee and Fort Myer. They try to work with you but sometimes it doesn't work out that great. I was at Hunter Air field and my wife was at Fort Steward. I had to decline an Apache for a Blackhawk in order to be stationed together.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2018 9:24 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 21:24:38 -0400

Marry when you want. There is no impediment there. If one of you is active and the other reserve/Guard there won’t be many conflicts then either. If you’re both active, I don’t care what anyone tells you or what programs the Army has, the possibility of separation is more than possible.
Good luck.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Mar 21 at 2018 10:25 PM

LT Brad McInnis — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 22:25:49 -0400

I was married to another Navy officer. I can provide the 2 cents that I know... The best thing you can do is figure out who your detailers are, and make sure they understand your situation. Most times, unless there are unusual demands, they will try to work with you... The only thing I would say, and I am not trying to force you into anything, if you 2 aren't married it really means nothing to them. The other thing is to plan to spend time apart, it is inevitable.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2018 11:15 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 23:15:34 -0400

https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/Married%20Army%20Couples%20Program

Bottom line is that nothing guarantees you'll end up together for certain, but that the Army will do its best to ensure they try to get you together as much as is feasible.

I've encountered a number of married couples since I've been in who do go from station to station with one another. Granted, they are all MI, so my experience and theirs may be skewed to our career fields.

Good luck.

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Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 21 at 2018 11:33 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 23:33:46 -0400

I assume you will have a better chance to stay together at a large base with many units.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Mar 21 at 2018 11:38 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 23:38:24 -0400

Unless you are married prior to commissioning the military isn't going to care that you have a relationship.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Mar 22 at 2018 11:51 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 11:51:42 -0400

You need to separate the issues: marriage and military. Your decision if or when to marry should be based entirely on your love for and commitment to each other. You need to decide to make the commitment to have a successful marriage regardless of your job or occupation. If you can't make that loving commitment to your spouse, then military Service will stress the relationship to the breaking point fairly quickly.

The Services have policies about "joint spouse" assignments. You need to look those up. Ask for assignment to specialties that are "universally assignable." Consider an Army installation. Ask yourself what MOS are almost always assigned to an installation. Your girlfriend's intelligence specialization looks good for operational posts in CONUS and overseas, e.g., Ft Hood, Ft Lewis, Ft Richardson, Yongsan. For you, the Infantry MOS is equally assignable to installations with infantry units. Many universally assignable MOS are in combat service and combat service support. Almost every installation has personnel, finance, engineering, communications, IT, transportation, and security personnel. If you choose to go into one of these MOS, then you can possibly facilitate a joint spouse assignment almost anywhere. In real-world observation in my Air Force and Army Civilian careers, joint-spouse works best when it's an advantage to the Service. Some "detailers" work harder at finding joint spose assignments than others. Finally, depending on what your learn about joint-spouse policy, you may want to get married before you both commission.