Expert: Aaron Shifferly - 6/5/2009

Question
Well, I'm getting married to my fiance in a couple months. I currently live in FL and he currently lives in CA, and is living in the barracks in Presidio.

After he ranks up, or whatever it is called (I'm not as familiar with the terms they use as I'd like to be), I'm moving over there. He told me that we'd be able to get a house and everything, and that it may take a few months to get it all settled and everything, but that we would have one for sure and that the utilities would be payed for and that we'd be getting like, monthly BAH checks or something of that sort.

My friend was medically discharged from the airforce a couple years ago and he tells me that this is all untrue, and that in order for us to get a house we have to have a good reason and that they wont pay for utilities and such. But he is Airforce, and each branch has different ways i assume. So i don't know if he's correct or not either.

I've searched and searched for answers on this but I'm completely lost now, and this is very important since I don't really have any back up plans at the moment other than maybe living with a friend and being away from my fiance until he gets BACK from Iraq, or wherever he's being sent.

Any information you could give me would be helpful.

Thanks for your time,
Sarah

Answer
OK Here's how this works:
You two get married.  He needs to bring a certified copy of your marriage license to his personnel and finance sections and he will start getting paid additional money since you become his dependent.  Once he gets you into a system called DEERS you need to then go to a military base near you with a copy of his ID card (scan will work- front and back) and your marriage license so you can be issued an ID card also. He will have to go to the base housing at the Presidio and show them his status has changed to 'married' and inform them that he is planning to bring you to Monterey.  (FYI the first move is at your expense and then all follow-on moves the government pays for).  Once he gets quarters allocated you should then fly out and move in.  If you live in government housing you will get no additional money (well maybe a tiny bit but nothing near the whole allowance) but you wont pay for any utilities - gas, power, water- you will pay for phone and cable and 'extras'. As far as housing goes, all branches are pretty much the same. Remember, though, none of this will happen until he is married, though.. engagements count for zero in the military's book. Hope this helps..