Expert: James Bell - 8/8/2008

Question
So, my fiance just enlisted in the Army, he leaves for Basic in September. I on the other hand have been considering the Air Force for over a year now, and since he will be gone, figured this might be a good time to actually go through with it.My question is this, say I do full time AF, he is full time Army, we get married..how does the living arrangements work? Can I live with him on his army base? Can he live with me? (Of course this is assuming we are in the same state,etc. Which for the most part I am hoping I get put at Pope AFB as he is doing airborne and will be going to Ft.Bragg). Or the other scenario, I go reserves in my state that I am in right now (New Hampshire), the nearest reserves station is in massachusetts, if we get married, and once he is out of tech school and receives his post assignment, will I be able to transfer to where he is so I can live with him??

Thanks!

Answer
Danielle -

This is a really tricky question.  The Air Force has a "Join Spouse" program, where husband and wife can be stationed together, but that is Air Force married to Air Force.  With both of you in different branches, and your assignments being handled by different military departments, getting assignments together can be difficult at best, impossible at the worst.

I was stationed at McGuire AFB, NJ, which is adjacent to Fort Dix.  As a military member, I was able to apply for base housing at both locations.  If you and your husband were stationed at Pope/Bragg, you could apply for housing at either location, but could only accept one house.  Yes, you could obviously live together.

I fear your greatest reality would be that you would be stationed nowhere near each other, and you can imagine the strain that would put on ANY relationship.

I can't give you any advice on the Reserve side, as I was always active duty and have no idea how the Reserves work things.

I hope I was of some help to you.

Good luck.

Sincerely,
James Bell