what are the benefits of being married in the military

^{8 Awesome Military Marriage Benefits You Have as a Spouse}

1. Being able to stand next to your hero. This heart warmer is at the TOP of my list. ...
2. Healthcare is Included. I’ve known a few people who have tolerated physical pain instead of going to the doctor because they didn’t have insurance or couldn’t afford the bill.
3. You Can Get Marriage Counseling and Family Support. MFLC is the Military and Family Life Counseling Program. ...
4. Free education. Based on your spouse’s rank, you may qualify for Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA).
Military Discounts All Year Round. No matter the store or restaurant, there’s a very high chance that they give military families a little extra love in the form of ...
Housing & BAH. We get a house for FREE! Although not everyone chooses to live on base, it’s still AWESOME to know that you can.
World Travel. If you get the chance to be stationed overseas, take it! It will be a unique experience to live abroad.
Joining a community. We didn’t have a great military community as young military newlyweds because my spouse was a recruiter working LONG days and we didn’t live near a ...

Full Answer

Why do people get married before joining the Army?

If you get married before joining the military, this tax-free housing allowance begins on the very first day of active duty (the first day of basic training). If you wait until after joining the military to get married, the housing allowance becomes effective on the date of the marriage.

Why does his new wife have military benefits?

She was not his wife while he was active duty. Current spouses of retirees receive the same benefits the retiree does -- including health care coverage. Military members and retirees are given health care for life for themselves and their qualifying family members. That's the benefit, plain and simple.

Should we get married before we join the Army?

You shouldn't get married solely for military benefits but if you both really love each other and want to be married to one another then I say go for it. It makes things a little easier if you're married before he goes to basic training. It's a hassle for him to change all of his information after he's already gone through training.

What are my benefits for being marry with a soldier?

Relevant Resources:

• Find a chapel at MilitaryINSTALLATIONS
• CREDO Marriage Enrichment
• Air Force MarriageCare retreats – Check with your installation’s chaplain to see what’s available in your area.

Do you get paid more if you are married in the military?

Although not known as "military marriage pay," service members do receive a pay increase as part of their housing and cost-of-living allowances after they get married.

How long do you have to be married to get military spouse benefits?

20/20/20 Benefits To qualify, the couple must have been married for at least 20 years overlapping the member's military career. For more information, see the Military Health Benefits for Divorced Spouses article in the Military Divorce Guide.

How much do military wives get paid?

To answer your question, there is no stipend, no monetary benefits for military spouses. Service members can choose to give a monthly allotment to a spouse or whoever, but the money is deducted from their own pay. It does not come from the Department of the Army or Department of Defense.

How does marriage in the military work?

There are no laws governing military marriage. Military members can marry whomever they want, including same-sex partners.

What is the 20/20 rule for military spouses?

All three criteria must be met for you to have access to the same benefits as your military spouse: Must have been married for at least 20 years. Spouse must have served in the military for at least 20 years. 20 years of the marriage must overlap 20 years of the spouse's military service.

Does my wife get half my military retirement?

The maximum amount of pension income an ex-spouse can receive is 50% of the military retirement pay. Once the order is filed with DFAS, it will take three months (90 days) for the direct payments to begin if the ex-spouse is already receiving their pension.

Do military spouses get free college?

Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Education Assistance Program: The NMCRS Education Assistance Program offers interest-free loans and grants ranging from $500 to $3,000 per academic year to spouses of active-duty and retired service members for undergraduate programs at an accredited two- or four-year institution.

Why do military marry fast?

The military's solution is to incorporate families in their entirety, and it pays the full relocation costs for each family member -- as long as they are married. This policy causes people to marry earlier than they had planned to, and sometimes to people they would not otherwise have married.

Will the army move my wife after we get married?

If you have PCS (Permanent Change of Station) orders and get married before you actually make the move, you can have your spouse added to your orders and the military will pay for the relocation of your spouse and her property (furniture and such).

Do you have to wear your military uniform when you get married?

Some people love their uniforms and are proud to wear it. Others, however, find them uncomfortable and want to wear something else on their wedding day. The service member can choose to wear a civilian tuxedo or wedding dress. It is not an official military event, so a uniform is optional.

Can your wife deploy with you?

Unfortunately, the whole idea of visiting your spouse during deployment is highly unlikely. There's a reason the military isn't sending you with them! If you were to be truly flexible enough to jump on a plane whenever your spouse says “Go,” you would still have a horribly priced plane ticket.

Is it hard being a military wife?

The life of a military spouse is undeniably challenging. Being away from your partner for months or years at a time, assuming the role of a single parent, trying to balance a career while moving so often – all of these realities of military life can take its toll.

What are the benefits of being a military spouse?

3. Insurance . Military spouses get to enjoy many insurance benefits. They can obtain life insurance starting at 10,000$ and going as far as 100,000$ in coverage. To this, they also enjoy healthcare benefits that cover for their surgeries, scans, medicine that is received on base, and even births.

How to take advantage of military spouse benefits?

To take advantage of the military spouse benefits, first of all, you will have to register yourself with the DEERS – Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System – the personnel system of the military. Registration can be done by most of the service member’s family.

What is the military spouse counseling program?

6. Counseling and support. Being a military spouse can be difficult. Because of that, the MFLC (Military and Family Life Counseling Program) has made it their priority to offer military and military spouses on and off base counseling, without having any of it go on your record.

How much does a military spouse get from the MyCAA scholarship?

If you are looking to advance in your career and you want to get yourself a license, a certification, or an Associate’s degree, then this military spouse benefit is perfect for you. Military spouses can receive up to 4,000$ from the MyCAA Scholarship to pursue their education.

What is the marriage.com course?

If you feel disconnected or frustrated about the state of your marriage but want to avoid separation and/or divorce, the marriage.com course meant for married couples is an excellent resource to help you overcome the most challenging aspects of being married.

Can GI Bill benefits be transferred to spouse?

The transfer of the GI bill benefits. If your spouse has reached the needed time in his or her service, the GI Bill benefits obtained, can be transferred partially or totally to the spouse or the children. Children can use these benefits until they reach the age of 26.

Is it easy to get married to a spouse who works in the military?

Being married to a spouse who works in the military is by no means easy . On the contrary, this lifestyle comes with many challenges that one has to learn to overcome.

Why do civilian companies give preference to military wives?

Some civilian companies will even give a hiring preference to military wives because they know how challenging it can be sometimes to find employment as a spouse. Don’t be afraid to ask when you’re applying for a job if you’ll get a hiring preference as a military spouse. 8. Tidy House.

Can a military wife be physically fit?

If you’re not into working out, you might not be as interested in this perk, but it will definitely be easy to maintain a physically fit lifestyle as a military wife. Your husband’s job requires him to stay in good physical shape, so you can too.

Is meat cheaper than commissary?

Plus the price of meat is way cheaper than anything you’ll see out in town. Military wives have access to commissary. Image: Defense.gov. Similarly, you can find anything that you’ll need like shoes, clothing, electronics, and so forth at the PX (or equivalent), and you won’t have to pay any tax on what you buy.

Can military wives travel?

Opportunities to Travel. Military wives get discounts on travel and other perks. Image: Pxhere.com. Throughout your husband’s time in the military, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to travel. Depending on the deployment, you may be able to visit them overseas during a holiday like 4th of July for example.

1. Being able to stand next to your hero

Yes! This heart warmer is at the TOP of my list. Our spouses have committed their lives to serving their country and then they come home to love on us. Having my personal hero for myself and our kids to look up to (especially in that uniform) is golden!

2. Healthcare is Included

I’ve known a few people who have tolerated physical pain instead of going to the doctor because they didn’t have insurance or couldn’t afford the bill. We don’t have that fear or concern. Just as healthcare is provided for the military members, their dependants are covered too.

3. You Can Get Marriage Counseling and Family Support

MFLC is the Military and Family Life Counseling Program. A couple of great things they offer are individual and/or marriage counseling without any of it going on your record. They don’t take notes and they can also meet you at an off base location if you choose to.

4. Free education

Based on your spouse’s rank, you may qualify for Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA). And then there is the GI Bill which if our spouse hasn’t or isn’t planning to use they can transfer it to you or your children. But there are some timing restrictions that you will need to be aware of.

5. Military Discounts All Year Round

No matter the store or restaurant, there’s a very high chance that they give military families a little extra love in the form of a discount.

6. Housing & BAH

We get a house for FREE! Although not everyone chooses to live on base, it’s still AWESOME to know that you can. Most military bases offer housing.

7. World Travel

If you get the chance to be stationed overseas, take it! It will be a unique experience to live abroad. It’s pretty cool to be able to say my kids were born in Japan! Also there’s Overseas Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) that’s an additional compensation given to our spouses. Mo’ money!

What to do with MWR?

No matter what season it is, it’s always time to check out your Morale, Welfare and Recreation program. Get tickets to an amusement park, participate in a fitness program or check out one of the libraries. Those are just a few benefits of MWR.

Is divorce a military divorce?

While divorce is large ly governed by state law and local procedures, there may be unique legal issues to navigate during a divorce due to military service. You can ease the time, expense and emotional strain of divorce by learning what to consider as you move through this process.

Do military spouse benefits add up?

Employee benefits can really add up when you look beyond the paycheck. As a military spouse, some benefits might be extremely attractive, and some might be useful for negotiating a little more. Visit the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities website for help navigating the world of employee benefits.

What are the benefits of the military?

Military health care plans typically include routine preventive care, maternity care, prescription drug coverage and coverage for hospital stays and surgical procedures. If you are married to a member of the military, you and your children can also have access to medical care.

What is military separation allowance?

The military offers a financial benefit to married service members who are forcibly separated due to deployment or other military duties. The benefit is known as a family separation allowance. Militaryhub.com notes the family separation allowance is issued to the spouse of a military member who is separated from his dependents because of military duties, and married couples who are separated because of basic training or technical school are also eligible for the family separation allowance. The benefit is tax-free, and proxymarriages.net indicates the separation allowance may be a minimum of $250 per month.

Do military members get housing allowance?

According to militaryhub.com, married service members are entitled to receive a basic housing allowance even if they are currently residing in government housing without mortgage or rent payments. The housing allowance is designed to provide additional income to help support a spouse and children. The total housing allowance a married military member receives could be as much as $1,000 or more in additional military pay each month. Married service members who are currently stationed with their families may also have access to preferred housing options and larger accommodations.

Why is the military divorce rate so high?

The military divorce rate is traditionally a little higher, because of the difficulty of a military life brings its challenges to the family. Frequent moves and trips, unaccompanied assignments, long working hours, combat deployments, and potentially dangerous work can add to the stresses of married life.

What happens if your spouse complains to your commander?

If your spouse makes an official complaint to your commander that you are failing or refusing to provide financial support, you could be disciplined or at least called into the Commander's office . While one doesn't want to think about divorce when they are anxious to get married, divorce is a real possibility.

What is a military dependent ID card?

The ID Card paperwork is mailed to the spouse who can then take it to any military installation and obtain a military dependent ID Card.

Do military members have to provide housing?

All of the services have regulations which require military members to provide adequate support to their dependents. While in basic training and job school, you're being provided a housing allowance for the sole purpose of providing a place to live for your dependent family members.

Is marriage in the military good?

Advantages of Military Marriage. The military is a good employer to those with families as there are many programs and benefits for the family and spouses of the military member . Here is a list of many of them:

Can a married military member move dependents?

The married military member is entitled to move their dependents (and personal property) to the next duty station at government expense. Travel entitlements end when one signs in at their new duty station, so whether or not one can be reimbursed for dependent travel depends on the date of the marriage.

Benefits as a Married Service Member

Those who are in the military certainly grow up fast, and the same is true when it comes to marriage. In fact, over half (56.1%) of those on active duty are married. The Army also has the highest percentage of married members, at almost 60%.

Benefits as a Spouse of a Service Member

In addition to being able to be married to their hero on active duty, there are quite a few benefits that spouses of military members receive as well. For one, healthcare is included. Healthcare is provided for military members as well as their dependents.

BAH and COLA: Military Marriage Pay

Troops receive different pay levels based on whether they are married or have what is known in the military as "dependents."

Is There Military Wife Pay or Military Husband Pay?

One myth among new or potential military spouses is that there is military wife pay. One Military.com reader even went so far as to ask advice columnist Ms. Vicki how to get her Army wife pay.

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