According to the Department of Defense, more than 111,000 service members are in dual-military marriages, where both spouses serve in the military. These couples represent just 1% of the Armed Forces and face distinct challenges in balancing their personal and professional lives.
If you are in a dual-military marriage, you might wonder: Do you automatically get stationed together to maintain family unity? Let’s delve into this question.
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Do Married Military Couples Get Stationed Together?
No, dual-military couples are not automatically stationed in the same area. Your duty location depends on your service branch and specific assignment. However, you can explore joint assignment programs designed to help keep your family close, potentially within 100 miles of each other.
What Can You Expect as a Dual Military Couple?
Military families where both spouses serve face unique challenges. Before marrying an active-duty service member, it’s crucial to understand what lies ahead. Here are some realistic expectations for a dual-military marriage:
Possible Deployment and Separation
You and your spouse may not always be stationed together during your military careers, even if you both serve in the same branch, like the Space Force. Remote assignments, military operations, and deployments can result in situations where you return from a long assignment just in time to say goodbye to your spouse as they depart for another.
While you can seek joint assignments, you must entertain the possibility of being stationed separately, especially during times of hostility. Being part of the Armed Forces requires sacrifices, and married couples in the military should anticipate this scenario.
Key Career Choices
Regardless of whether you serve in the same branch, you will face critical career decisions that impact your family and marriage. You might need to consider less-than-ideal career paths to keep your family together or make sacrifices that could hinder your career advancement to support your spouse’s progression.
Extra Support from the Family
If you or your spouse is deployed or on a special assignment, you may need to rely on extended family for support. Fortunately, each military branch provides family care plans to help navigate these challenges. An official family care plan is required to ensure your family is cared for under any circumstances.
Joint Assignment Programs for Dual Military Couples
You can take advantage of branch policies aimed at keeping families together by setting up your ‘join spouse’ preferences. While this doesn’t guarantee you’ll be stationed together, it can increase your chances and, at the very least, keep you within 100 miles of each other.
Married Army Couples Program
The Married Army Couples Program (MACP) allows married service members to establish a joint domicile while fulfilling their duties. It is available to Army members married to someone within the same branch or another service branch.
Your assignment will depend on available positions in the area and whether the move would negatively impact your career progression. The Army prioritizes soldiers’ career advancement, which might influence the outcome of your request. More information is available on the Human Resources Command (HRC) website.
The Navy supports the potential co-location of military couples, particularly those married to other service members. This program helps dual-military couples move together and, when possible, establish a joint household.
Assignments are based on the Navy’s needs, and immediate reassignment or co-location is not guaranteed. The program notes that co-location with spouses from other branches may be challenging. More information can be found through the program link.
Air Force Joint Spouse Program
The Air Force also has a program designed to keep families together. The program permits legally married couples to be stationed at the same installation. If job opportunities that suit their specialties aren’t available at the same location, they’ll be assigned within 50 miles of one other and maintain a joint residence.
Dual-married couples must present their marriage certificates to update their marital status and set up assignment preferences. To learn more, visit the Air Force’s Personnel Center.
Marine Corps Dual Military Household Assignment Policy
According to the policy, married service members are entitled to a dependents-restricted tour or a one-year deployment delay if their spouse recently finished a dependents-restricted tour.
However, the dual-military couple must have been married before the first member was deployed on the tour. The Marine Corps has a unique policy because its service members are usually among the first deployed in action.
Recently, the Dual Military Monitor was established. It ensures efficient coordination between the married couple’s primary military occupational specialty monitors. It empowers active-duty married couples to maintain a healthy balance.
How Couples Can Strengthen Dual Military Marriages?
Regardless of where dual-military couples are stationed, they will encounter many challenges in their military life. A military couple with a civilian spouse is already challenging, but marriages with both spouses in the Armed Forces can be tough. However, you can keep your military marriage strong by following these tips:
Maintain Open Communication
As with any healthy relationship, you must maintain open communication in a military marriage. You must stay connected even if you’re stationed away from your spouse.
You should make an effort to work around each other’s demanding work schedules and make time to talk to each other honestly. You can triumph over challenges together by working as a team.
Respect Each Other’s Goals
Before entering the dual military marriage, you both were individuals with career goals and ambitions. You must take your spouse’s military goals as seriously as yours. You must make joint decisions and align your plans to meet your goals.
Be Prepared for Role Switches
You need to be flexible to accommodate your family and military life. You should be ready to adjust to each other’s career demands and take on tasks like picking the kids up from school, preparing meals, and paying the bills. You should work as a team to take care of the family, and sometimes, you have to take over your spouse’s tasks because of their work obligations.
Have Contingency Plans
Once you’ve accomplished your Family Care Plan, you must develop contingency plans in case of various scenarios. Military life can be unpredictable, and you must be prepared if something comes up and your living arrangements are affected. It would be best if you planned to spare yourself from stress and additional problems.
Seek Support
You need a strong support system to face the challenges of a dual-military marriage. Fortunately, each military branch has resources to help you manage the demands of your unique situation. You shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help, especially if children are involved.
How SCRA Can Support Active Duty Married Couples?
Couples in dual-military marriages can also seek assistance through the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). This federal law stipulates that all pre-service debt must be lowered to a 6% interest rate. This reduction can help married couples manage their finances.
Another helpful SCRA benefit is eviction protection. If a military spouse receives deployment orders, the landlord cannot evict them from their home if they miss payments. This protection extends to personal properties, vehicles, and lodging.
The couple is also allowed to terminate leases without paying penalties. If one or both of them get assigned elsewhere, they won’t have to worry about paying penalties because they broke a contract.
Final Words
Dual-military marriages can be tough, but if you plan for the future and maximize your resources, you can have a successful marriage and lead a happy life together. You can even increase your chances of being assigned to the same base if you play your cards right.
If you intend to activate your SCRA rights, you need proof of your military status. Click here to sign up at SCRAVS and verify the active duty status.
FAQs
Can married couples stay together in the army?
You can request to be stationed at the same location through the MACP. However, there’s no guarantee that you’d be assigned to your base of choice. The worst-case scenario is that you’d be stationed 100 miles apart.
Do married couples get stationed together in the military?
It is possible to request to be assigned at the same place, but this is subject to job availability.
What happens when you get married in the military?
You have to report your marital status to unlock additional benefits, especially if you have a civilian spouse.
Is it hard being married in the military?
Yes, military life can be hard, but it can also be a rewarding experience.