Expert: Rod Powers - 7/26/2006

Question
I am currently dating an army officer. We are serious about each other but not in any hurry to get married. Can we live on base together without being married? If not, what are our options? Thanks so much!

Answer
Hi Danyelle,

I'm afraid not.  Military housing is only available to members with dependents.  To be a "dependent," you would have to be a spouse or a child of the military member.

One thing you have to remember is that the military operates on tax-payer's money, authorized by Congress.  If the military allowed single people to live "in sin" on military bases (i.e., via tax-payer money), many tax payers would be complaining big-time to Congress.  One can agree with it, or not, but what matters is what the general population (who vote for our Congress-Critters) think.

Usually (not always), and mostly depending on assignment, commissioned officers are authorized to live off-base, and receive a monthly housing allowance.  Because you are not married, he would have to receive a housing allowance at the "single" rate (see our housing allowance charts at: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/militarypaycharts/a/06bah.htm).

Again, whether or not (as a single officer) he is authorized to live off-base and receive a housing allowance depends (in large part) to where he is assigned.

If he is allowed to live off-base, then (as long as no laws are broken), then he can pretty much live with anyone he wants (he won't get any extra housing allowance for it).

For more information about the United States Military, feel free to visit my military information website at:  http://usmilitary.about.com

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com