I'm planning on marrying someone who has decided to enlist in the Navy. The recruiter said we shouldn't marry until after bootcamp. I did some research and there is no leave after bootcamp, but they do get liberty graduation weekend. Would we be allowed to elope then at the local courthouse? Would he get in trouble? Would more paperwork be needed?
2007-07-25 08:44:45 · 10 answers · asked by sun_flwers_1979 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Whenever you marry into the military there is always a ton of paper work. You could elope, it would be fast and simple, but you wouldnt avoid the paper work. What I did was wait until after tech school was over. My husband took a week of leave and then we had a formal wedding. It gave me 6 months to plan a nice wedding. Its you decision though, but no matter what there is a ton of paper work!
2007-07-25 08:49:09 · answer #1 · answered by Sara K 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The recruiter told my DH and I the same thing. Part of it is that if you can't survive the separation of boot camp (which a lot of relationships can't) you won't survive the separations the Navy sends your way and it's better to find out now. But it's also that the recruiter will have to fill out more paperwork to add you as your DH's dependant.
I'll tell you, DH and I were sure of our relationship and will never regret marrying before boot camp. I was on all his paperwork so I was authorized to move to his A-school when he started. I'd do it that way again in a second if I knew that he'd be authorized to have family at A-school. But DH is a Nuke and that school is 6 months followed by 6 months of Power school at the same place.
If your DH's school is shorter and he won't be able to take you along or if you aren't quite sure about the separations you might want to wait until after boot camp. I'm not sure what your DH's schedule will be but often there is some time for leave between boot camp and schools. Or between schools and the first command.
I wouldn't jump the Navy by presenting them with the marriage certificate and no forewarning, though. The smoothest transitions from single to married that I know of are the ones where the Navy knows this is coming and has time to prepare the sailor for what paperwork he'll need to fill out and where to go to file it. The hardest ones are the guys who come in from leave with a wife and needs to get her in the system as of last week when they had the ceremony.
2007-07-25 21:01:59 · answer #2 · answered by Critter 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're sure you're gonna marry him anyway, you might as well do it before he goes to Basic. That way you'll get the Housing Allowance while he's gone as well as his pay as opposed to just his paycheck. I would never advocate marrying for money but if you're sure you're gonna do it anyway and a big wedding is not important to you, then why not get all that you would be entitled to. The recruiter is telling you to wait cause he wants you and your hubby to have to do the paperwork he would have to do if you got married before. My Husband joined the Air Force this past January and he's still in tech school. We are given $1,500 a month for our rent. That's a lot of money when you add it over the whole time he's gone. We already had our wedding planned when we started working with the recruiter but the paperwork basically consists of you bring copies of your license, social security card, birth certificate and marraige certificate to the recruiter and he does the rest. Good luck to you and congrats on the upcoming wedding, whenever you decide to do it.
2007-07-25 16:22:02 · answer #3 · answered by megfroggie1979 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are going to get married, you should either do it before he goes into the Navy or when he is done with his schooling, that would be after bootcamp and his A school. Personally I would get married now and save yourself some paperwork etc.
2007-07-25 15:54:45 · answer #4 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would wait til he finishes tech school. He will be eligable for leave and have a better chance to finish all the paperwork he will need to do to get you an ID, enrolled for medical benefits, start housing allowances and/or get post housing (be prepared to live off base for a time as most bases have waiting lists) and all the rest. It will also give you time to plan for the wedding. Even if you plan to do something quick and small, you would be able to do it closer to home and have at least your parents or close family there to share it. You would also have a better chance of his having a few days of leave to spend with you on a "honeymoon" even if it was to get you enrolled and take care of some of the things he will need to have you with him to do.
2007-07-25 16:02:03 · answer #5 · answered by Annie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
chances are it won't happen,. since you still have to do all the legal paperwork necessary to get married in Illinois. PLUS he may have duty on one fot he days, or he could be a Grad N Go, which means he would leave for A school immediately after graduating Boot Camp.
Best bet is to wait until he finishes A school.
2007-07-25 16:04:03 · answer #6 · answered by Mrsjvb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Money wise I would do it before he leaves for bootcamp. If you don't care about getting extra money, wait til after A school. Either way, there will be paperwork
2007-07-26 01:33:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He can get married, no problem. Go to the courthouse. When he gets to his next duty station, he needs to bring the marraige license with him, and his admin section will help him fill out the DEERS paperwork. He won't get in any trouble. Trust me, he won't be the first kid to show up married with no warning.
2007-07-25 15:51:45 · answer #8 · answered by joby10095 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The recruiter just doesn't want you on his mind or influencing him not to join. You can marry before he goes to bootcamp. Tell the recruiter to burn and that you'll do what you want.
2007-07-25 16:31:27 · answer #9 · answered by Irish Country Boy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sara Lynn has this one ...getting married is not the problem...you most certainly can...but hang on to your skivvies..the paperwork is overwhelming afterwards..lol
2007-07-25 17:10:33 · answer #10 · answered by Marsh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋