Can a spouse go to AIT if the AIT is longer than 20 weeks?

Alicia Calligan — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 16:01:10 -0400

My husband is getting ready to go to AIT at Fort Huachuca and he’ll be there for 42 weeks. We know that in the past dependents could go if AIT was longer than 20 weeks but we’ve heard this recently changed. I’ve looked all up and down the internet but I’m not able to find anything that supports this or that is up to date.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2023 4:46 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 16:46:24 -0400

Alicia Calligan Colonel Cudworth will have the correct answer.

Response by COL Randall C. made Mar 13 at 2023 5:14 PM

COL Randall C. — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 17:14:09 -0400

I think what you're asking is "Will the government pay for me to accompany my husband" if I'm correct. You can always travel out to his AIT location on your dime and rent an apartment/house on your dime. Nothing will stop you from doing that and your husband won't get into trouble over it (BTW, short question about the military funding your being there .. it all depends on if he has PCS orders or not).

However, your husband isn't going to be spending the nights with you and it won't be until probably two months or so have gone by before he's even going to be allow any 'blanket pass policies'. Even then, the 'pass privileges' will likely be conditional on performance and only on weekends, holidays, etc.

Having said that, he STILL won't be spending the night off-post unless the Brigade Commander signs off on it (and he's only going to do it for something like "my wife is having a baby and I want to be there", "I need to be away for three days to attend my father's funeral", etc.)

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Mar 13 at 2023 6:34 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 18:34:13 -0400

The Col. Is spot on as always.

I will add that I have seen multiple times where the Family joined the service meber only to be let down when the service member could not come to the spouses home after hours and in many weekends. There are also issues related to the visiting spouses running into issues where the service meber tries everything to be there for them including by violating policies and orders. This ultimatkey leeds to disciplinary action and even separation.

Unless everything is fully sanctioned too much can go wrong. I always recommend that the spouses stay at home, with family until they are added to the service members orders.

It is to easy to end a career before it gets started. Plus this is good practice for when he deploys later. You will learn coping measures that will be invaluable later. The Glass is always half full.

You are obviously both adults, you will make the decision that is right for you, hopefully that is for both of you.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Mar 13 at 2023 6:52 PM

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 18:52:18 -0400

I feel like that would be in his orders...

Is he prior service or IET (initial entry) soldier? That makes a difference I think.

Did he try to call the school house and ask them?

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2023 8:23 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 08:23:53 -0400

If your husband is still Initial Entry Training (IET), in other words, if he just joined and is finishing BCT soon, no.
If this is a reclass, and his orders say PCS and accompanied, then yes..

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 20 at 2023 12:49 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 00:49:10 -0400

So if permitted, and you go to Ft Apache nowhere, Do you really want to have to move twice in 1 year?

Response by SSG David Curran made May 23 at 2023 3:30 PM

SSG David Curran — Tue, 23 May 2023 15:30:58 -0400

"We know that in the past dependents could go if AIT was longer than 20 weeks but we’ve heard this recently changed."
The only time when a Soldier is authorized to move their dependents to the AIT Location is allowed when it is longer than 20 weeks, for when a Soldier is reclassified or reenlists for a new MOS but not for Initial Entry Training (IET).

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2023 1:42 AM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 01:42:18 -0400

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Jun 7 at 2024 9:46 AM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 09:46:19 -0400

Reminds me of the often ignored wisdom of Drill Sergeants, when they tell their trainees that if the Army wanted you to have a spouse, family, etc. you would have been issued one. So many forget that pearl of wisdom.

It seems these days that COs are too quick to approve marriages.