Why would junior enlisted Soldiers get into contract marriages?

When I was in the barracks, soldiers getting married so that they could move out was the thing to do. I was even propositioned by a friend and female soldier who also lived in the barracks. Even though now I realize that it's a terrible and am quick to talk a soldier out of doing it, back then I was seriously considering it.

Everyone here has pretty well said it.  Soldiers have leaders up their rear ends at all times, and they get sick of it.  I understand that leadership needs to maintain a healthy standard of cleanliness, but one of the few things I will still hate when I get back to Carson is having an NCO that rides me for having things out of place.  Please, just let me have my books in peace.  I'm getting too old to keep up with other Jr enlisted a decade younger than me, and a white glove test when the 1SG or CSM isn't coming through is ridiculous.

If the soldiers in the barracks weren’t stuffed two to a room and constantly forced to move and we’re also treated like first class citizens than maybe they wouldn’t rush into getting married

I've seen it happen more often than not, I actually have a soldier that did this before he deployed. I've been in long enough to know what a contract marriage looks like, but as these are grown people, you cant stop them. You can only hope that they know what the are doing. My question has always been, what happens when you finally do find that one special person that you want to be with?

I learned of a few instances where Soldiers got into contract marriages immediately prior to deployment -- for financial reasons. Though I would caution that doing so is fraud (I believe), and you can get crushed for it.

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Not a new thing at all.  First time I heard of contract marriages was while stationed at Ft. Campbell in 1985.. it was a VERY popular way of getting out of the barracks and drawing BAH and BAS.  

This is a great topic and I think we as a community need to do better at giving people who ask/give great questions/discussion topics positive feedback not just in the form of posts but also by "LIKING" their question/topic.

This is a very common thing that is happening here at FT Wainwright. I've seen some go smoothly, however, some backfire right in their faces. I had an NCO in my platoon who decided to do a contract marriage and he lost his stripes quickly because of this. At Wainwright, the barracks have a no kitchen appliance policy i.e. rice cookers, skillets, etc.) on top of having no stoves, there is absolutely no drinking in the barracks, and then for a while, you couldn't even bring females into the barracks. Most of my Soldiers feel they really have no rights living in the barracks and I can see the vision they're picturing. I would be frustrated as well. However, a contract marriage; In my opinion I believe you as a Soldier are not only violating Army Values but many other Values people use as well. This is just my two sense.