Married during PCS?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 01:41:16 -0400

I have switched from the guard to active duty. I am about to PCS in 8 days. I have orders to go to Ft. Carson. I got married 3 days ago after i received my orders. Currently my orders show no dependants. Now I have my wife. Can I get my orders amended before I get there? Can I enroll her in deers at my last units armory? If I did get my orders amended would that affect my PCS date?

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Oct 22 at 2018 5:28 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 05:28:09 -0400

IMHO, take all paper work needed to show that you were married, a copy of her birth certificate
, and any other papers you believe are of relevance.

Response by PO1 John Johnson made Oct 22 at 2018 5:35 AM

PO1 John Johnson — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 05:35:51 -0400

Next up on deck; a purchase of a 2019 5.0 ltr Mustang at 19% interest.

PS: Relax Zach, I'm pulling your leg and I'm a leg puller from way back!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2018 6:25 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 06:25:24 -0400

You need to get orders amended, you'll be able to do it at any duty station. I did it way back when I was coming from AIT going to my first duty station I get to a base and got the orders amended without any issues. It should affect your pcs date since you are staying stateside.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2018 5:32 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 17:32:14 -0400

If you can get it started in the 8 days shouldn't hurt. MIGHT be able to get amendments cut before but wouldn't count on it.

The down side to that is getting something that was started at one personnel center finished at another, and without issue. Could be a tall order. Nature of the beast and all. So might be easier to get them amended once there.

For reference I got married about 4 months before a PCS. It was still a bit close on a few of the items to include amendments being done in time to be effective.

Unless it's mil to mil or EFMP I can't think of why it should impact your orders/reporting timeframe. If it is those, not sure...

Try to enjoy the Springs. Lot of great things to do. Just be careful of anything baked at parties/events. And watch the drivers, they're almost as bad as California.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2018 10:07 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 22:07:46 -0400

The first thing you NEED to do is get your spouse enrolled into DEERS ASAP!!! You do not have to wait until you get to Carson, do this now!!! If she is not in DEERS the Army won’t recognize her as a dependent. Secondly, getting married has nothing to do with your report date. Next, the installation that produced your orders must do the amendment, so you’ll be better off waiting until you get to your duty station and inform them you got married while you were on leave, so making sure your wife is in DEERS is very important. You can go to any DEERS office on any military base to add your spouse. I repeat, do this ASAP!! If you’re still in the area of the installation in which you received your orders from, you should be able to do everything there. To enroll your wife in DEERS you will need to have the marriage certificate, her birth certificate, social security card, and her drivers license. All must be an original, they will not take a photo copy. Good luck to you, I hope this helps....

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2018 12:09 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 00:09:10 -0400

Thank you to all who commented with advice, even you Mr. Leg puller.

Response by SSG Dale London made Oct 23 at 2018 10:58 PM

SSG Dale London — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 22:58:07 -0400

Man but you do know how to make life difficult for yourself! Do everything you can to get her enrolled in DEERS and to have your orders ammended BEFORE YOU LEAVE. It will be a nightmare to try and sort it out once you've PCS'd. It is highly uinlikely they will retroactively pay for your spouse's travel and it will virtually take an act of God to quickly sort out pay and allowances at the other end. Your gaining unit will almost assuredly NOT do it as part of your inprocessing so you will be stuck in barracks until you've processed all the way -- call it a minimum of one and probably more like two weeks.
Once you've settled in your new unit, then you will be allowed to START applying for BAH/BAS, etc. Meanwhile your wife will be living in a motel (at your expense) while you kick your heels in transient quarters and then in the barracks while the wheels of army admin grinds slowly on.
This does not sound like the most sanguine of honeymoons.