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Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/Becoming a Military Dependent
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Question
I will be marrying an Air Force officer this fall. He will be taking leave from Vance AFB in Enid, OK where he will be on casual status. I will have quit my job (and therefore lost my medical covereage prior to the wedding. Am I covered under military health care while we're on our honeymoon (before we've filled out the paperwork to get me into the military dependent system)?
Laura -
Until you have your marriage certificate in hand, and ID card in your possession, the military does not consider you eligible to partake in any military benefits. When my wife and I got married, we actually did so twice. We had a justice of the peace wedding, that we referred to as our "paper wedding", followed by our church wedding later that fall. The paper wedding did just that ... it got the paperwork started so she could get her dependent ID card, get us our BAH, and reserve us a spot on the base housing list.
Depending on how much you value this medical coverage or the potential need for it, if you have time before heading out on your honeymoon, I would suggest you make a visit to the base personnel office to get your ID card before heading out.
Sincerely,
James Bell
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Answers by Expert:
James Bell
Expertise
I am a retired MSgt (2004) with 24 years experience in the aircrew career field, both as a loadmaster (AFSC 1A2x1) and flight engineer (AFSC 1A1x1). I have been to every continent at one time or another, and regularly flew 300 to 500 hours a year. I have been involved in the operations in Grenada, Panama, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. I can answer most questions you may have about enlisted Air Force life in general, assignments, benefits, and enlisted aircrew operations. NOTE: If you have specific recruiting and/or medical questions about how to get into this career field as a civilian, they have changed since my time, so that is best answered by a recruiter or MEPS. I can answer questions about military personnel wanting to RETRAIN. If you are asking about being an Air Force pilot, please be advised my area of expertise is ENLISTED aircrew operations, NOT OFFICERS.
Experience
Loadmaster (AFSC 1A2x1): 7 years - 2,000 hours - C-5A Galaxy cargo plane. Flight Engineer (AFSC 1A1x1C): 7 years - 2,500 hours - C-141B Starlifter cargo plane, 10 years - 3,800 hours - KC-10A Extender aerial tanker. Served as aircrew Flight Instructor, Flight Evaluator and Training Manager
Education/Credentials
Aircraft Loadmaster Initial Qualification - 1980. Mission Qualification (C-5A) - 1981. Fixed Wing Aircraft Performance Course - 1987. Initial Flight Engineer Qualification (C-141B) - 1987. Mission Qualification (KC-10A) - 1988. KC-10 Initial Qualification Course - 1994. Mission Qualification (KC-10A) - 1995. Instructor Qualficiation (KC-10A) - 1997. Evaluator Qualification (KC-10A) - 2000.
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