Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/Husband is joining the army

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Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 11/10/2009


Question
Hello, thank you in advance for taking the time to answer my question.

My husband is planning to join the Army soon and my parents live with us.  They are both on disability and unable to work.  We would need them to come with us once he joins.  Will we be able to do that?  My father is retired Army so both him and my mother already have ID cards and Tricare.  Will they be able to keep their disablilty/retiree status?  Would it be better to claim them as dependants or for them to remain as they are and just follow us from duty station to duty station on our own dime?  Will it be hard to get base housing if they are not our dependants?  I think that is it but if I forgot something please do not hesitate to include it in you answer.

Thank you again,

Deborah


Answer
Deborah,
Since your father is retired military he and your mother have much better benefits than if you were to declare them dependents.

Having them live with you should not be a problem as long as you say so on your housing application.  Since they both have ID cards there's no problems with getting them into the base.
Check with your local base housing office because they have some strange rules and they change frequently.

Good luck,
Colonel H

PS. Sorry for the delay in answering but I just returned from a no-notice nission.

Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard

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MARK A. HOWELL

Expertise

All military questions, any Service. 30 years experience & two Ph.D.'s. 4 times Base Commander. Worked with Army, Navy, USMC, USCG and several foreign military units. Veteran of Kosovo, Bosnia, Macedonia, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, and 10 civil wars in Africa.

Experience

Air Force Colonel with 30 years experience. Air Force Base Commander 4 times. Highly decorated.

Organizations
Org of Am Historians, Wild West History Assoc., Disabled American Veterans - Life Member, Am Motorcyclist Assoc. - Life Member, North Am Hunt Club - Life Member, NWTF - Life Member

Publications
Numerous book reviews published in the Journal of American History. Two books submitted for publication.

Education/Credentials
Ph.D. in military history, Columbus University (Summa Cum Laude) Ph.D. in history, Northfield University, London, England (Summa Cum Laude) Master of Arts degree in history, Marshall University, WV Bachelors degree, double-major in history and mathematics, Salem College, WV Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL

Awards and Honors
Legion of Merit Defense MSM MSM x 5 Joint Commendation Mdl AF Commendation Medal Army Commendation Mdl Joint Achievement Mdl AF Achievement Medal Outstanding Volunteer Mdl

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