hello all, my name is James, and I'm in a bit of a spot......i haven't had a chance to introduce myself on these boards yet because i'm in quite a rush.....i signed my contract last week, i leave for basic in 4 days then ait for 68w and my training lasts for just under 17 weeks ...since i enlisted i have met the most amazing person in my life, and we are to be wed on Monday....having not anticipated this i have not read up on any of the various issues that go along with being a married soldier...so...here's my questions
1.i was told that i will get a chance to apply for an additional skill identifier class once at ait school, if this pushes my training to over 20 weeks, will my wife be able to come with me? or will my initial contract be the binding statement of what happens...
2.what are the benefits and drawbacks of her moving out there, especially if accompanied ait is denied?
3.will the army ship our pets...3 cats and a bulldog? can we even have pets?(the dog is possibly the only animal we can leave behind, with his former owner)
4.can our roommate come with us if we live off post? how about on post?

any other issues that i may not be aware of would be welcomed as well, thanks for any help, i will appreciate it!

Welcome. [=

1. If your AIT is longer than 20 weeks, you are considered a "permanent resident", and she can, if you CO lets her, come along with you.
2. Only you and her can figure out what the benefits and drawbacks are. Alot of the time, your AIT keeps you so busy. You leave at 5am, come home at 7PM and want to just sleep. To her, that might be a waste of her time. You two have to sit down and figure that out for yourselves.
3. It depends on where you live if you can have pets. My fiance can't have anything other than a fish or very small animal like that. It depends on the base you are on, and if you aren't going to be there long, personally I don't think it's worth the cost of moving the pets and everything else.
4. Your roommate cannot live with you on post. I'm not even sure about off post, but I know they can't on post, only immediate family of you [mother, father, sister, brother]. I know of people who have gotten their housing taken away casue they had someone who wasn't supposed to be living there, staying with them.

Every base is different. And don't forget, every base has a waiting list. Some may actually be longer than your AIT. You also have to be a certain rank in order to live off base. I'm not sure of the actual rank you must be, but I don't think you can be a PVT and live off base.

PM me if you wanna know anything else. My fiance is in AIT for 50 weeks, and I was planning on moving to Florida with him, so I'm very well informed on this sort of thing.

Also, don't let you going away for basic be the ONLY reason you are getting married so soon. If you weren't planning on getting married to this girl before you enlisted [which you said was only a week ago & you met her AFTER you enlisted (so you've only known her a week)] then I';d say wait it out and see how basic and AIT works out. This relationship isn't an easy one and it's not for everyone. Do you really want the first few months of your marriage be spent apart?

hello all, my name is James, and I'm in a bit of a spot......i haven't had a chance to introduce myself on these boards yet because i'm in quite a rush.....i signed my contract last week, i leave for basic in 4 days then ait for 68w and my training lasts for just under 17 weeks ...since i enlisted i have met the most amazing person in my life, and we are to be wed on Monday....having not anticipated this i have not read up on any of the various issues that go along with being a married soldier...so...here's my questions
1.i was told that i will get a chance to apply for an additional skill identifier class once at ait school, if this pushes my training to over 20 weeks, will my wife be able to come with me? or will my initial contract be the binding statement of what happens...
2.what are the benefits and drawbacks of her moving out there, especially if accompanied ait is denied?
3.will the army ship our pets...3 cats and a bulldog? can we even have pets?(the dog is possibly the only animal we can leave behind, with his former owner)
4.can our roommate come with us if we live off post? how about on post?

any other issues that i may not be aware of would be welcomed as well, thanks for any help, i will appreciate it!

Hi, How are you? I can answer some of your questions--

First off--you need to speak with whoever is currently in charge of you--there usually is a DEP prgram coordinator or something? I assume you're DEP or you would've left already.

If you move her out there without orders--you have to pay for everything and you are not entitled to housing benefits for that area unless you submit additional paperwork as to WHY she HAD to move there. Also if it's not authorized for her to be there--the only time to visit is when the army allows you--there will be no going home to her at night. (the army sucks that way) Then you have to pay to move her (and all your stuff) to the next duty station. So really--there are no benefits IMO

The Army will not ship pets. You are responsible for the transit and everything involved with it for pets. (we took our two cats to germany and back -- total costs about $800) Only 2 pets allowed in army housing. certain posts have rules about the type of Dog you can have.

Your roomate, unless a member of your family and an approved dependant will not be moved by the Army--they would have to move their own stuff. Secondly, they are not allowed to live on post in family housing for longer than 30 days. Off post--this is a gray area, but housing money is for housing. The BAH is to pay for YOUR and YOUR family's residence -- not to help anyone else out. Why would you bring your roomate with you anyways?

if you live off post you can have whoever you want live with you, but you will only get BAH for you and your new wife, and congrats ahead of time!!!!