How can you be eligible to stay in the barracks as a married Soldier?

2020-07-08T22:42:52-04:00

Background info.... Currently I am stationed in Fort Carson and a few months back I had to extended to transfer my GI bill to my wife. After I extended I came down on orders to Fort Irwin. My wife is in a 2 year program here in Colorado and will be staying here to complete it. Am I able to be assigned a barracks room at Fort Irwin in a geographical bachelor status? I know that we are electing to not move together, but if I am unable to get a barracks room there is no way that the $1300 BAH will be able to cover living in California and Colorado.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jul 8 at 2020 10:52 PM

2020-07-08T22:52:43-04:00

If you are a Geographical bachelor, or Army Married Couples Program with a deployed Spouse and no children. This is dependent upon availability of barracks space.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 8 at 2020 11:09 PM

2020-07-08T23:09:21-04:00

You will get a place to sleep. Just have a few grand in savings for a temp. Hotel room. The gaining unit will get you in a barracks or a married house on base.

If it takes more that 3 weeks to get a place to stay submit an IG complaint. However if you wanna stay off post thats on you. My company had a similar problem, a soldier was in a hotel for about 2 weeks. Once the right people found out he had a place in about a day, and was payed back for the cost of the hotel room

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2020 12:18 AM

2020-07-09T00:18:50-04:00

From what I was told at finance when this issue arose with one of my soldiers is 1. There is no more geo bachelor program and 2. You can only stay in the barracks if they have room.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jul 9 at 2020 12:28 AM

2020-07-09T00:28:22-04:00

There is no geobachelor program any more. If a family makes the decision to run two households for whatever reason that is up to you. Irwin shut down their Geo Barracks when I left there in 1998.

This is something that may help: https://www.villagesatfortirwin.com/roommates

The 2014 FSBP Handbook says you may request a space available exception to policy ETP. However, geographical bachelor exception was ended in 2019. I'd call the UPH Manager at Irwin and see if they can support a ETP.

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Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2020 3:01 AM

2020-07-09T03:01:01-04:00

Fort Irwin has apartments there on base mainly for single NCOs E-6 and above.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jul 9 at 2020 5:51 AM

2020-07-09T05:51:11-04:00

If you get barracks space it would be space available and you could be put out. The Army is not obligated to to two households.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2020 11:13 AM

2020-07-09T11:13:35-04:00

You’re only gonna get ft irwin bah anyway. Bah goes off of your duty station you are assigned to. Leaving your spouse in carson is your choice to do. If you get a barracks room they will take your bah as they are giving you quarters

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2020 12:53 PM

2020-07-09T12:53:19-04:00

You can absolutely live in the barracks as a GEO. When you do your 5960, just ensure you have your wife’s lease and they will pay BAH based on wife’s location

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2020 5:00 PM

2020-07-09T17:00:51-04:00

Interesting question. I may be looking to use this type of living situation in the future as my wife is also in school. Keep us updated.

Response by SGT David Shanley Jr. made Jul 9 at 2020 10:34 PM

2020-07-09T22:34:28-04:00

A little unrelated Fort Carson the bah is higher than 1300, if you see that in your paycheck you should see finance. Married E5 bah rate is a little over 1800. Hell for an E4 W/ dependents its 1776. Had to say that because I like the number. Is the BAH rate where you are going 1300? Also BAH is dependent on where the spouse is living. While in Korea, my wife lived in New Orleans (that's where we are from), that was the BAH bracket we were placed in.

Response by SSG Scott Finkelson made Jul 10 at 2020 8:19 AM

2020-07-10T08:19:02-04:00

Not knowing what type of program your wife is enrolled in, I remember Fort Irwin having some excellent educational opportunities. Have you looked into opportunities out there?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2020 6:33 AM

2020-07-11T06:33:16-04:00

I Etsed from fort Irwin and worked in inprocessing office at the end of 2017. If you are E5 and below married to a service member not stationed in Irwin you live in the barracks and do not collect BAH. If you are married to a civilian you get BAH and you don't get to live in the barracks. Some people were collecting BAH and splitting the rent on base if they have a house and no family with them. I hope this help and good luck to you.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Jul 11 at 2020 9:35 PM

2020-07-11T21:35:36-04:00

I thought they got rid of the geo bachelor thing...and I see below an article posted about it. So no.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2020 11:13 PM

2020-07-11T23:13:50-04:00

BAH is based off the duty location of the Soldier. Since your wife is authorized to go with you but you elect to leave her in Colorado, it is at the discretion of the command. If the command allow you to move in the barracks and it reaches 90-95% capacity, you will have to move out of the barracks.
Some commands won’t allow it, it could be looked at as if you caused your own hardship because it was your choice to leave her there. Although I understand why she’s staying, she can also transfer to a school where you’re going to be stationed because you have enough time to research the area to see what schools are available and what programs are offered. Good luck to you...