“There are no specific restrictions on the MACP, but some programs and situations are much more difficult to accommodate a (joint domicile) assignment,” said Sedlack. For assignments such as Drill Sergeant and Recruiter, selectees enrolled in MACP are required to provide a written statement saying he or she understands a joint-domicile assignment may not be possible due to restrictions pertaining to the duty.
“The assignments managers will still consider (joint domicile) for those couples, but want to make sure the Soldiers understand that it is very difficult to provide (it) due to the demands and locations of those assignments,” said Sedlack.
“If it meant being separated for a long period of time, I don’t think either one of us could (provide) such a (written statement),” said Herold. “Our branch manager has worked very hard to ensure we stay together and I think signing a (written statement) wouldn’t stop our branch from working just as hard to keep our family together.”
While some, like Herold, place a lot of faith in their branch managers, others recommend that couples take a more proactive hand in their careers.
“You have to plan properly and manage your own career,” said Sgt. Maj. Henry Garrett. Garrett is the Human Resources sergeant major for Fort Bliss, Texas. His wife, Sgt. Maj. Shirley Garrett is a student in Sergeants Major Course Class 54 at USASMA.
For example, Garrett said when he knew he was due for an assignment outside CONUS, he volunteered for duty in Korea with the hope that his wife would be able to follow.
When Shirley became the tactical NCO at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. Henry called his branch manager to find out what was available for him at the same location.
The Choates’s have made similar sacrifices. “When we moved here from the (Washington) D.C. area, (Yolanda) had only one position available here,” said Sgt. 1st Class Choates. “If she had to choose a position, this probably wouldn’t be it, but she made that choice for the family.”
“I would rather have been a first sergeant in Korea, but that’s not what was best for my family,” said Master Sgt. Choates. “We do these things because, being in the Army, you don’t always have a choice.”
Unfortunately, this strategy also has some drawbacks.
“We had to decline appointments to command sergeant major for the last five years because as command sergeants major it would be harder to station us together,” Garrett said. He added, the key to a successful dual-military marriage is consideration for each other’s career goals.
“I really didn’t want to go to West Point, but I knew Shirley needed something that would help her stand apart from her peers,” he said.
“If a couple is not in the same career management field, I recommend they learn as much as they can so they know what it takes to advance each other’s careers.”
Communication, said the Choates, is another important factor in maintaining a successful dualmilitary marriage.
“You have to communicate,” said Sgt. 1st Class Choates. “If you don’t let each other know what’s going on or how you feel, you’re not going to succeed.”
“You have to talk about schedule requirements and needs,” added Master Sgt. Choates. She said it’s important to coordinate things like picking up children from school, parent/teacher conferences and medical and dental appointments.
Another challenge dual-military couples must tackle are family care plans– written instructions for the care of family members in the event of deployments, temporary duty or field exercises. Dual-military couples have 30 days after arriving at a new unit to produce a valid family care plan, which includes naming both a short-term and longterm care provider.
