Is living on a military base free?

Members who have dependents usually have the option of living on-base in the military family housing for free, or off-base and receive a monthly housing allowance.

Is rent free on a military base?

If you choose to live on base and the housing is government owned, the Department of Defense owns and manages the property and the service member doesn't pay rent.

Is it cheaper to live on or off base?

It may sound like a no-brainer, but if you are going to get less house off base for the same amount you would forfeit for a large place on base, living on base is going to be cheaper.

Can normal people live on a military base?

The short answer is YES! Most people can visit a military base with no issue. However, it's not like visiting grandma where you can just pull up and walk in. You must bring all required documents and be willing to submit to a background check.

Can a girlfriend live on Army base?

If one of those people falls ill or injured, he can come home for them. If a girlfriend or boyfriend falls ill or injured, the soldier cannot come home for them. Others marry so they can live with their partner — without marriage, the soldier must live in the barracks without their partner.

Can a civilian get on base?

TLDR – Civilians can get on military bases if they are a spouse or dependent of a service member or sponsored by a service member. However, the policies vary from base to base. Many bases also have visitor centers that are open to the public or require a special visitor pass.

Can you drink alcohol on military base?

Now they're taking on the U.S. military. The Defense Department this summer began allowing military commissaries—the equivalent of grocery stores on bases—to sell beer and wine for the first time but not vodka, whiskey and other types of liquor.

Do soldiers pay for housing?

In addition to salary and bonuses, the Army provides military allowances to offset the cost of living. Soldiers who live on an Army post receive military housing and meals for free. If your situation calls for you to live off post, the Army provides allowances for your housing and meals.

Do military bases have curfews?

Many military bases have instituted base-wide curfews for children and teens under a certain age. Be sure to ask about your military installation curfew procedures.

Do you have to be married to live off base?

Navy policy allows E-5 and above and E-4s with more than four years of service who are still single to reside off base and receive a housing allowance. Marine Corps allow E-6s and above who are single to live off base at government expense.

How does living on a military base work?

On base family quarters are issued to them as a priority. Lower ranking enlisted will need permission from their units, to have family members with them. Single members are assigned to live in base housing like dormitories. Single officers and higher ranking enlisted members often live in separate quarters on base.

Can my parents live on base with me?

To live in military family housing, you must be living in the house with your dependent(s). There are exceptions for those who are temporarily deployed, or who are serving a remote overseas tour. In these cases, the family members can continue to live in military family housing, while the member is away.

Do kids live on military base?

Not just anyone can live on base. That includes some military members and their families themselves–space is often limited, demand is usually high, and the needs of the mission can dictate who gets to live closest to it.

Is going to the military worth it?

Some of the most popular benefits of joining the US military is the job training, educational assistance, steady paycheck, health coverage, and housing benefits. See a full list of the benefits here.

Does the military pay for cars?

Military personnel, stationed in California are exempt from payment of the vehicle license fee (VLF) on any vehicle owned or leased and registered in California provided: The nonresident military owner is shown as a lessee or registered owner of the vehicle.

Can you leave base on weekends?

The answer is, “It depends.” Army Regulation 600-8-10 defines a regular pass as a short, non-chargeable, authorized absence from post or place of duty during normal off-duty hours. A regular weekend is considered a regular pass. There are two types of special passes, which are known as three-day and four-day weekends.

Do male and female Soldiers sleep in the same barracks?

In the U.S., nearly all barracks are coed, though individual bedrooms are still segregated. Once you are deployed, however, men and women often share the same quarters, especially if the base is in a remote location like Afghanistan.

Who can go on a military base?

To enter a military base, you must show your dependent ID card (if you are a military spouse) or have a military sponsor (your service member.) A service member can sponsor non-military guests on base. But they will need to either fill out a sponsorship form in advance or meet you in person at the gate.

Is food free in the military?

Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) pays for the cost of a military member's meals when dining at their permanent duty station. Although BAS is meant to offset the cost of a member's meals, it doesn't cover the costs of meals for family members.

How do you know if a soldier is real?

Verification of Military Service

Please use the Defense Manpower Data Center's (DMDC) Military Verification service to verify if someone is in the military. The website will tell you if the person is currently serving in the military. The site is available 24-hours a day.

What does the military pay for?

Military allowances include money for housing, uniforms, and meals, depending on rank. The housing allowance is determined in part based on zip code and the rental averages calculated for that area. Uniform allowances are paid annually in most cases.

Can you drink at 18 on a military base?

Before 1982, soldiers consumed alcohol legally on U.S. bases, regardless of age. By 1988, the military established policies to discourage underage and problem drinking and, along with the civilian population, fully transitioned to a 21-year minimum legal drinking age.

Can you smoke at 18 in the military?

You must be 21 years of age or older to purchase tobacco or tobacco related products (i.e. cigarette papers, tobacco paraphernalia, instruments designed for the smoking or ingestion of tobacco products) in the State of California. The exception is for active duty military personnel who are 18 years of age or older.

Can you smoke in the military?

This instruction became effective on March 7, 1994 and prohibits smoking worldwide in all DoD workplaces. This ban includes all buildings and vehicles owned by the DoD.