Expert: Rod Powers - 11/22/2009

Question
QUESTION: My wife and I are both active sea duty in the Navy.  I am an E-5 with almost 4 years in and she is an E-4 with almost 4 years in.  We both currently live together with our two children in base housing, one of us with single the other with dependent BAH.  I transfer for shore duty to a different geographical area in Feb 2010, she will remain on sea duty at our current station until her enlistment ends Mar 2011 (our collocation was negated due to the fact she will be separating, that's why our PRD's do not match, and why she has to finish her enlistment at her present command).  She will be deploying around the time I PCS, so I will take the children with me.  My concern is our financial situation when she returns from deployment.  We cannot afford to pay two rents, so she will need to reside in the barracks until she gets out and reunites with us.  Will we both still get BAH, or will we swallow a significant pay cut?  I thought she would be considered a "geo bachelor", but my shipmates are telling me that this is only for Sailor's with civilian spouses.  Thank you for your time and insight.

ANSWER: Hi,

I'm afraid you'll have to swallow a pay cut.

For military-married-to-military, the service treats each spouse as being single, unless there are children. In the case of children, one spouse is treated as single, and the other spouse is treated as "with dependents." Usually, the spouse who is highest-ranking, or physically lives with the children is the one who is treated as "with dependents."

Therefore, if your spouse is authorized to live off base (such as when you two are stationed together), she is entitled to single rate housing allowance, just as is any single member authorized to live off-base. However, when she lives in the barracks, like other single members, she is not entitled to a housing allowance.

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my US Military information site at: http://usmilitary.about.com.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
About.com US Military Guide
http://usmilitary.about.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: What exactly is a "geo bachelor?

Answer
Hi,

A "Geo Bachelor" is one who has military dependents, but does not live with them.

For example, someone who is married to a civilian, and is stationed in Florida, but his/her spouse lives in Washington is a "Geo Bachelor."

I should mention here that a spouse who is also active duty is not a "military dependent." Additionally, children of such a marriage can only be a "military dependent" of one member. When it comes to military-married-to-military situations, the children are dependents of the member they are actually living with.

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my US Military information site at: http://usmilitary.about.com.

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
About.com US Military Guide
http://usmilitary.about.com