Im am currently planning on enlisting with either the National Guard or the Active First option. If i do the active first it would be for the 4 years. My question is that we are flying my cousin down so she can help watch children while my wife works and while im gone. If I go active and when we get stationed elsewhere will my cousin be able to move with us as well? We would need a 4bdrm house either on base or if the army would allow my family to live off base etc... The cousin in question JUST turned 18. But we will be taking care of her because both my wife and I will be working.


Thanks

Unless your cousin is listed as your dependent she will not be able to live with you in military housing. The military will also not pay for her to move or her belongings to be moved with yours. If you only have 2 children you will be limited to a 2 or 3 bedroom place. You can live off base if you choose. But she will be limited to what base access she has. She will not be able to just drive onto the base or use the facilities unless again she is listed as your dependent.

That process for family members outside your spouse & children is very long and you have to show you are providing more than 51% of her income. Even then it can be denied.

I actually have 4 children not counting her. I dont know if legally she can be claimed as a dependent when she is over 18. She can legally work all she wants except she will be living with us. Only things that she has is 2 suit cases. LOL That wouldnt be a problem to move. Everything else is mine and my wifes. So basicly what your saying is that if she is listed as a dependent and the proper paperwork is filed and granted then she could move with us?

With 4 children that means you have 5 dependents you will have to get a waiver if you go AD. If you have the cousin listed as a dependent as well that would put your total at 6 dependents so it can be harder getting orders to some locations. If it is a CONUS move and you live out in town then it won't be a problem her living with you but again unless she has a military ID card she cant have base access. You will not get Per Diem for her when you PCS. If you are going to a OCONUS location then there is going to be problems and she will have a hard time going if allowed at all.

Also with having that many dependents you might have a hard time getting a 5 bedroom house because there isn't alot of them at all. You will be limited to a 3 or 4 bedroom if you want to move into housing right away. Even 4 bedroom's often have a longer waiting list.

thats one of the reasons or looking at off base housing. lol theres a waiver for everything huh. thank you for your help

quote:

Originally posted by BurnsAZ:
thats one of the reasons or looking at off base housing. lol theres a waiver for everything huh. thank you for your help

You may not be able to afford off base housing, have you actually looked at what BAH is for an E-3 vs. rental costs? That's why many junior enlisted live on base.

quote:

Originally posted by catherine0830:
You may not be able to afford off base housing, have you actually looked at what BAH is for an E-3 vs. rental costs? That's why many junior enlisted live on base.

Where can we find out what BAH is for an E-? vs. rental costs? Is there a certain website that we can go to as military spouses?

Here's the link for BAH and a DoD link for Housing:

You can also go to www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil and use their "Plan my Move" feature to help with a PCS.