Expert: MARK A. HOWELL - 7/20/2009

Question
I served 8 years in the navy I was discharged withe a RE code of 6 (higher tenure E-3) is it possible for me to re enter the navy after I complete my degree in December as an Officer? Also my wife is is looking to join the Air Force as an Officer can we both receive BAH? and is it possible for us to stay close to each other?

Answer
Richard,
Sorry if you receive this twice.  I sent you a nice answer a week ago but your question has come back to me as if it were never answered.  So anyway, here it is again.

As I'm sure you're aware a Reentry Eligibility code of RE-6 means exactly, "INELIGIBLE TO REENLIST WITHOUT A COMNAVCRUITCOM WAIVER."  It means you did not make E-5 within 8 years and reached your high year of tenure.  So a waiver is possible.  You must see your local recruiter to have him process an application for a waiver.  There's no guarantee it will be approved, but you can try.

No, when both spouses are military, only one can receive BAH, regardless of whether they're stationed together or not.

Each Branch of the military has a "Join-Spouse program" that does it's best to station you two together WITHIN THE SAME SERVICE.  When it involves multi-Service they don't even try because it's nearly impossible.

My AF boss married a Navy woman when they were both stationed in Italy.  He never saw her again for many years until he retired and joined her in Hawaii.

Colonel H