When are you supposed to start MACP process?

I am a permanent party member. We've been married for a year and a half. She decided to join the Army, and shipped out last June, so she is in training, and yes, she has been in DEERS. It's just that my Chain of command is telling me that we have to wait until she goes to her actual first duty station, but I'm reading regulations that say that the process has to be done before completion of training.

And your interpretation is correct although it's not your unit that involve per se it's your wife's

her AIT unit is the one that needs to initiate the process you will do the like.
Depending on her status and potential date of completion is what will drive when the initiate the program they don't want to get you into a program that it turns out she's on eligible for

Once your wife's AIT unit starts the process your chain of command will follow suit

Roger that! That sounds better, and more clear. Thank you so much. This whole process can be a real headache...

Just keep in mind married armies couple program is not a complete solution

You could be in the same major command but on different installations
You could both be placed on orders for a single duty station and eight months later what if you get orders to go to a completely different one

The they married army couples program is a system in place that allows couples to be stationed together but it's just a possibility not a guarantee