Sarah Elsea
selsea@Mavs.coloradomesa.edu

“For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health …” This is when my friend made a big decision that would impact her life forever. Ever since I first met her she had always been a hopeless romantic and found it easy to fall in love. But I sometimes wondered if she was ever really in love or just in love with the idea.
Towards the end of March 2011 she met a guy who was completing training camp as an enlisted member of the Army. After less than a year of knowing him and talking to him through texts and Facebook, she announced the shocking news that the two were engaged. There quickly followed an announcement of pregnancy, I decided to take a closer look at the benefits her new husband was gaining from this marriage and growing family.
Meredith Leyva, who wrote “Making Extra Money, Military-Style,” made an observation in her article that you receive more Basic Allowance Housing if you get married but no additional money for having kids. However, you can get other benefits to help support your family such as dental care and health care. They also receive tax-free food and housing allowances and educational benefits. For the educational benefits I found a Military Spouse Scholarship sponsored by the Allied Business Schools stating that “military spouses may qualify for Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) funds, allowing them to spend up to $4,000 for career training.” And even though $4,000 might seem like a substantial amount, it’s really not much at all when you look at the overall cost of advanced schooling.
After doing some research of military benefits, I realized that maybe in the beginning of their relationship their marriage was just for the money knowing the husband would get money for having a wife. Now I realize they will not be receiving any benefits for having a kid. Maybe they really did marry for love.
Even if this is for true love, statistics show that in the Army there are 100,000 more married troops than in any other service. Out of these married troops over the past few years, the divorce rate has steadily increased. Since this was such a rushed marriage and now that they have a soon-to-be newborn, I can see how things could get complicated with their limited BAH benefits. They are going to have to buy baby food, clothes, a crib, stroller, diapers, bibs, a high-chair and so much more. A box of 132 diapers costs at least $25 and will be used in two weeks or less. This could definitely lead to fights over money and potentially a divorce.
Being in the military and gaining certain benefits for being married and having a kid at such a young age is not something that many people face. This is a situation which, I think, must be carefully considered before rushing into.