What is Join Spouse? Join Spouse is the Air Force program for trying to coordinate assignments for spouses when both are serving on active duty in any branch. You may see this also referred to as a "Mil-to-Mil" couple to member to member marriage.
I thought it was Joint Spouse? Nope... it's Join... like your want a new assignment so that you can go join your wife in Hawaii.
Does it work for my girlfriend or fiancee? No. You have to be legally married to be considered for a join spouse assignment.
Are there certain career fields that pair up better than others? Officially, not necessarily, but remember the "needs of the Air Force" override any dreamsheet. Let's say you're a biochemist, and your husband is in Marine Recon. I would say that those would not be a good match. Each job will have limited base options which will make it hard to line up. Now, let's say you're a pilot and your husband is a cop. Those will line up pretty well. Another popular combo is pilot/nurse. However, I do know that first assignment nurses have limited base options. After that, it's pretty much wide open to any base with a clinic.
Is getting stationed together guaranteed? Nope. Reference the "needs of the Air Force."
What can I do to ensure we maximize our chances? 1) Get on the same page- make sure your dreamsheets line up, and as a couple your priorities are in line. 2) Make sure your personnel records are coded properly. There's a specific code they assign to you if you are join spouse desiring to be stationed together. 3) Communicate with your commanders early and often- make sure they know what you're wanting to do. 4) Communicate directly with your functional manger (assignment officer) at AFPC (AF Personnel Center). Make sure they know what you're wanting. 5) Get the two commanders and the two functionals in contact with each other. 6) Word hard and do your job well- your commander will be more likely to fight for a good assignment for his #1 guy than for his #20 of 25.
How will our pay and benefits work? You will both get your normal base pay and BAS based on your grade and years of service. For BAH, if you have no children, you will both receive the BAH rate for without dependents. You cannot claim another active duty service member as a dependent for BAH purposes. If you have children, the higher grade will normally take BAH with dependents (will get you more money), and the other member will continue to receive the BAH without dependents rate. There is a lot of controversy on this online, so just be careful before you believe anything you read. Your main source of information is Joint Federal Travel Regulations (JTFR). See chapter 10 on BAH.
My fiance is in the Army, and I'm in the Air Force... will it work? My experience is Air Force couple, but I can tell you that it will be very tough to do. Especially depending on your career fields- each job has its list of bases... plan carefully and figure out whose career is going to be more important. In most cases, for your marriage to last, one of you will have to get out after 1 or 2 tours.
Where can I read more about Join Spouse assignments? AFI36-2110 22 September 2009
Attachment 8 is Join Spouse section (starts on p. 306) is main place for AF folk.
Other questions? Ask me!
