Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 2/8/2008

Question
Hello sir,
My name is Jen and I'm in the Texas Air National Guard, My fiancee is Air Force Active Duty and He's getting Stationed at Kadena Japan. We are getting married soon and I would like to go with him because he is going to be stationed there for three years. I was wondering how it would work for me to go with him. Will I be able to still stay in the Guard because that's what I would ultimately like to do. How does that work? Can I still be in the Guard and be with him in Japan or do I have to get Discharged?

Answer
Dear Jen --

You have a few options, but they may not align with what you would prefer.

First, if you plan to accompany your Airman to Japan at government expense, and have a sponsored tour, you must be married to him, before he receives his orders.  A sponsored tour means that you will be covered with health care, and he will be afforded government quarters for his family.

If he marries you and gets a sponsored tour, you can leave the National Guard and join him as a non-working spouse.  You could apply for government jobs on the airbase, depending on your skills and experience.

Or, if there are military jobs on Kadena that you are qualified for, you could ask to be activated into one of those jobs.  You would then be a joint domicile military couple, and authorized quarters on post.

Or, you could transfer into the individual ready reserve (IRR) and accompany your husband to Japan, then when he returns to the States, you could join a new National Guard unit near his next duty assignment.  The major trouble with this option is that many IRRs are being called to service as individual replacements to theater.

Good luck to both of you in your marriage and your careers.  Thank you for serving.