On-post housing question

[evidens83]

If I live on post with my family can my mother-in-law live with us? My wife doesn't want to be alone with the kids if I ever get deployed so we were wondering if it's allowed if she lived with us even though she doesn't have a military dependent ID.

Second question. During AIT I will get my orders correct? So will I be able to "reserve" housing arrangements on post or will we have to wait until we actually move there to get on the housing list?

[roll2li]

No unless you can claim your mother-in-law as a dependent and get her a MIL-ID she cannot live on base with you.

Now when you're deployed can your wife escort your mother-in-law on base and have her stay over a couple of nights - or weeks? Probably yes, but if your in-law drives her own POV sans decals or ID that will cause an issue if she's pulled over or is trying to get back on base.

Housing waitlists on bases vary, however, when you have orders in hand that means big Army has funded you to travel there so you should be able to get on the waitlist. For example, I had a friend of mine who was TAD to his new unit (TDY for you), but had an intermediate destination in a "C" school (not on that base) before officially checking in, but the housing office put him on the waitlist as soon as he showed up TAD orders dates. I'd suggest calling the housing office to wherever you're going to confirm.

[thebloodsonthewall]

If you want your MIL to live with you, live off-post.

I tried to get put on the waitlist before I got to my duty station. It didn't really work. But I ended up getting a house pretty quick.

I suggest living off-post.

[CavTrooper]

If you can swing it, live off post. Depending on what duty station you go to the wait list can be days or months. You should travel by yourself to your duty station before you move your family out, its much easier to get everything set up before they come then dealing with all the inprocessing, looking for housing, and dealing with your family.

[Arondos]

I was USN so the rules might be different.

Most bases will issue passes for visiting dependents so they can get through the gate. Can also depend on the base and housing. Not all military housing is inside the base perimeter.

If she is going to be there to help take care of your family for a lengthy period you can probably get her a badge to get on base but it will be a hassle to get.

Advice to live off base is great but if you are getting started at a lower paygrade with dependents the housing allowance never covered the costs of living off base (I was doing it as an E-4 with a wife and two kids). Only costs I had living in base housing were cable and phone...

[evidens83]

My MIL doesn't drive. Only time she would be out and about or shopping is when my wife or I would take her. I have considered living off post but from what I've been told, as a FNG with a family it's best to live on base??