Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 6/28/2010

Question
Hello, I'm in a bit of a bind with something. I am currently stationed overseas and am engaged to someone back in the States. We had agreed to wait until I came back from my overseas station to be married, but something has come up. My fiance has had a remission of ovarian cancer -- it has caused the both of us lots of stress. My section chief mentioned to me that if we were married, I could apply for compassionate reassignment.

My question is, do I have to be married to her in order for it to be approved and if so, how soon could apply if I married her while on leave?

Answer
Dear Brion --

To apply for compassionate re-assignment, the person who is ill or injured must be you, or an immediate family member.  So a fiance does not meet this requirement, but a wife does.

Remission means that the cancer is no longer active, so I do not think that your concern is that she entered remission.  I believe your concern would be that she came out of remission and her cancer is active again.

Understand that even if you are married your request for compassionate re-assignment may not be approved.  If you have been overseas for less than one-half of your initial tour length, you will not be allowed to depart until you have completed that time.  So, if your overseas assignment was for 3 years, you must have served at least 18 months.  Further, there must be an installation with a job that you can do near enough to your family member so that your presence there will be beneficial to them.  You will have to have a doctor's statement about her condition and the fact that your presence will help her with treatment or healing in some way.

Please write back, if you have additional questions.  I wish you and your fiance all the best.  Thank you for your service.