Why can't Officers and Enlisted get married?

Question

This has to be the dumbest rule I ever heard, since when does the Military dictate who you can and cannot marry? My friend who is a Army Captain fell in love with a SSG who is in the Army also. They are the same age, different Brigade and everything, now the Army is trying to punish her for wanting to marry a Enlisted Soldier.

This has to be the stupidest thing I ever hear of, love is love, does not matter what color, gender, religion. If people are in love why does the Govt have a say so in the matter?

Can anyone in the military please help me understand this rule?

Answer 1

It has to do with RANK structure...An officer, who is higher ranking than enlisted, it would undermind their authority. She knew better...

Answer 2

Officer Dating Enlisted

Answer 3

First of all, oscar is dead wrong. There is a regulation that states officers cannot marry enlisted and it's in AR 600-20 for Army folks, which also prevents us from marrying officers from other services.

Paragraph 4-14 states: c. Certain types of personal relationships between officers and enlisted personnel are prohibited. Prohibited relationships include—
(1) Ongoing business relationships between officers and enlisted personnel.
(2) Dating, shared living accommodations other than those directed by operational requirements, and intimate or
sexual relationships between officers and enlisted personnel.

Oddly enough, there is a loophole. Officers and enlisted can, technically, get married IF they don't date prior. Since the prohibition "does not apply to marriages." So, if you just went up to an officer or enlisted (depending on your rank) and got married on the spot, you're good!!

Answer 4

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If you want to marry him then you have to do it before you join. Once you've joined and become an officer you're not allowed to marry an enlisted person. This is the truth, when I was at OCS (just a few months ago) they asked if anyone was married to an enlisted and then had to document it. This was a notice so that they could not get in trouble after they graduated OCS. After we graduated we where then instructed how we could not marry an enlisted military member.

Answer 5

Good answers so far. While this rule always existed, I was still in when they started to really enforce it. They gave everyone a little grace period of a few months to either break up with the person, or marry them. My understanding is that it is not against regulations for an enlisted person and Officer to BE married, only to date and GET married. After all, if both start out enlisted, one spouse could be in ROTC and get a commission, or go to OCS. The conduct they want to discourage and punish is an officer and enlisted dating and then getting married.

Answer 6

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RE:
Why can't Officers and Enlisted get married?
This has to be the dumbest rule I ever heard, since when does the Military dictate who you can and cannot marry? My friend who is a Army Captain fell in love with a SSG who is in the Army also. They are the same age, different Brigade and everything, now the Army is trying to punish her for wanting...

Answer 7

Because it's an old outdated law based on tradition, of course! (jk)

But for serious. The whole reasoning behind that article of the UCMJ is that officers as a whole are the supervisors of enlisted. The intent is to avoid conflicts of interest and unprofessional relationships. I know it seems ridiculous that even if the officer and the enlisted member are in totally seperate chains of command the rule still applies but it does. That's the law and there's nothing that will change it. Sorry.

Answer 8

When they take the oath and sign the paperwork, they give up many of their rights in deference to the UCMJ.

When one is a soldier, it is a 24 hour a day job, and even if not wearing that uniform, one still is a ranking member of the armed forces, bound by the UCMJ, and therefore, a relationship based on such a fact would undoubtedly have many problems.

Like it or not, the rules that keep order in the military are designed not for individual freedoms of soldiers, but for the cohesion and protecton of the units.

Having fraternization rules keeps the officers from unduly influencing the careers of their lovers and friends and reduces the amount of poor morale that ensues when the fraternizer recieves special perks or assignments because of thier fraternization.

When I was in the Army, there were even rules as to fraternization among NCO's and enlisted.

These rules are necessary to keep even the hint of favoritism from clouding training and mission readiness.

I won't even begin to discuss possible emotional considerations that are negative factors in wartime, where both soldiers would be affected by separation and personal conflicts due to unit orders.

Answer 9

If she is an officer and he is enlisted (which is what I understand from your question) then there are rules. I don't know the exact rationale, but I believe it has something to do with the possibility that she could end up being his commanding officer? Which would of course create a conflict of interest. This is the same policy that many private companies hold, discouraging employees from marrying.

Answer 10

I've had jobs where they say the bosses cannot get into relationships with their employee's. Its stupid, but also common sense in a way I think.

Just think: If you had were XO and your wife was say enlisted Petty officer third class and you were both in the battlefield and she decided to break formation and run after an enemy who was rushing towards the group. Common sense would run amuk and the first thing you would do is say CHARGE! and try saving your wife, regardless of anyones safety.

Now, what would you do? Thats just me saying. Love and relationships get into peoples better sense of judgement when war is abroad. But I am all for it

Answer 11

Uniformed Code of military Justice: Subsection 934, Article 134. General article. Includes offenses that are not specifically listed in the Manual for Courts-Martial and which may "cause disorder and neglect to the prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces, or conduct of a nature to bring discredit upon the armed forces." Offenses include disloyal statements, improper wear of military uniform, abuse of public animals, adultery, bigamy, bribery, fraternization.
The reasoning is that it breeds contempt and dissention in the ranks, in many cases it's an outdated concept that usually is only enforced in the direct chain of command, but the article does leave wiggle room for a speedy marriage if "true love" is the case.