i am an E-3 stationed on the GW. i just recently got married on dec 16. i am trying to move my wife, she live three hours north of yokosuka, but in order to do that i will need to start getting OHA. I have put in my chits, but i am being told that i need a command sponsor ship or i cant cause im not e-4. thats not fair???!! what am i supposed to do? i dont really care about the command sponsorship i am just trying to get paid for being married and get a house so i can see my wife more than twice a month. it says on the DoDtravel.com that command sponsorship is no longer needed to receive OHA. so y do they say i cant get it? My wife lives here i didnt bring her here. so are they saying the only peoples that can get paid for being married are e-4's? or peoples wives that do not live in the same country as their duty station? if anyone has helpful tips or suggestions on ways i can get around this, please let me know.

I just tried, and there is no website DoDtravel.com. Can you please post the correct URL of the website you looked at? I'm interested to see what it says and what its authority is. I don't know the answer to your question, but if you no longer need command sponsorship to get OHA, I'd bet your chain of command doesn't know it. That's been a rule for many decades & I never heard of the change, so you'll have to prove to them this is really the case.

There used to be a stipulation in the instructions for a locally acquired spouse here in Japan. When I was active I had several E-3's get married and all received Command Sponsorship under the locally acquired spouse clause. You might have your CoC look in to it again...sounds like someone is giving you their answer without doing research. Talk to your LPO, LCPO and let them do their jobs. If you are being ignored then follow the steps of working it up the chain (officially...don't just go start talking to the higher leadership on your own).

Also, FFSC on Yokosuka base is a wealth of information for you... Talk to the people that do the marriage seminars (something you should have been required to do).

This sounds a lot like the other side to the discussion we had last week from the spouse on the same subject, clearly there can't be two people on the GW in that scenario.

Being in the military you have "extra" rules to follow because you are subject to UCMJ and in order for commanders to effectively run their commands they need to make requirements at all rank levels which is really just a dart throw based on perceived maturity and experience from others that have gone before you.

Let me give you an example: I can remember a time when several young female soldiers of a combat arms unit I was in were successful in getting impregnated to avoid a 30 day day rotation to a National Training Center, once they were dropped form the requirement to attend and the unit departed they went out and had abortions. That is really sad and pathetic it doesn't even matter what your beliefs are but it's a true story.  Your weekly DUI briefings are focused on the lower ranks for the same reasons all you have to do is look at the statistics of how many young troopers die every weekend form making poor decisions.

Those are the kind of issues commanders are faced with from troopers, normally they are young and immature in their decision making skills at that rank / age. That's not to say that you are are it's just that those before you have performed in that manner which causes commanders to impose more requirements on the younger less experienced ranks. To further my point, did you notify your chain of command that you were getting married and start the command sponsorship package first or did you just run out and get married on your own merit and disregard that process?

The good news is you can most likely get all of the benefits of marriage to include command sponsorship all you have to do is go through your chain of command and apply for command sponsorship that's the way the military operates. Command sponsorship may also not be authorized for your rank at your location which is why marriage needs to be addressed through the chain of command first.

You do have another option of course if you don't want to follow those rules you can always move your wife on your dime and pay out of pocket for everything if you have the financial means.

By not caring about command sponsorship are you saying that your new wife doesn't deserve the benefits every other wife has while you are stationed in Japan.

I know that sounds a little more like a lecture than a method to "get around" the rules I'm just making a humble attempt to steer you on the right path so that you can enjoy a long career and happy marriage or vice versa.

In the end my best advice is to go through your chain of command all of your issues can easily be resolved if you just give them the opportunity.

As his wife said earlier, the sailor departs Japan in a few months; timing is too short (and he is too junior) to apply for command sponsorship. It has nothing to do with the spouse being "worth it" or not; it's just an honest reflection of reality.

The OP also says (and Wilson seconds this belief) that command sponsorship is not needed in order to draw OHA for a local spouse. That being the case, he simply needs to show chapter & verse to his command and draw the benefits to which he is entitled. He has properly requested this to his chain-of-command and they've turned him down, allegedly due to a misunderstanding of the rules. I think that's the only answer the OP is looking for.

He never said he's trying to get DOD to pay for the move; simply that he needs OHA in order to afford the move.

So the remaining question is can an E-3, without command sponsorship, get OHA for a wife married overseas, and if so, how? A pretty straightforward and reasonable question.

ThaiGuy,  You have my message's intent close...  He should be able to get the Command Sponsorship easily for the locally acquired spouse.  An E-3 [NAVY](usually) cannot come to Japan with a spouse and therefore there isn't much need for Command Sponsorship for (MOST) E-3's.  But, there are some exceptions to the rules for locally acquired spouses.  At least there were exceptions back when I was an Active Duty guy.

see the thing is i have been here two yrs already. i am here for 1yr more but i am willing to extend but i need to get my pts approved before i can extend or do a COT. I got married dec16, so i got married while i was here and my wife, as it is live three hrs away and i can only see her for three days twice a month. thats why we are trying to get a house down here. i dont really need the navy to pay for the move i just need to be able to recieve OHA so i can use that too pay for a house.
the website i mentioned before is this: http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/si...faqoha.cfm

From that website:

7. I am planning to take my family overseas with me. Will I receive a housing allowance for them?

Yes, command sponsorship is no longer required for a Service member to receive OHA for his accompanying family.

I agree with what you are saying with only a few reservations. The first one is this is a website for general information not regulatory guidance, you will need to get your hands on the actual regulation and make sure it's current this website was last updated 10/21/10.

Here's the thing you have done nothing wrong, it's legal to get married (as long as it was a legal marriage) if you are entitled to OHA or BAH, Separate Rations, and maybe even Dislocation Allowance, COLA, Flight Pay, Sea Pay, Hazardous Duty Pay, Sub Pay, EOD pay etc. etc. then you really need to pursue it through your chain of command. That starts with your supervisor and works it's way up to your commander and finance. Every month your command is required to review everyone receiving their pays and special pays to validate them. Your finance will also do that and send inquiries to your command for review if they see something odd. So at the end of the day whether you realize it or not your command knows exactly who is drawing extra pays and knows why. This is why I strongly recommend you start with your chain of command. They are the people that are supposed to be looking out for your interests and making sure you receive the benefits you are entitled to so that you can support your new family.

It also sounds like if you don't get this resolved soon you could be opening up another huge can of worms such as if you PCS will she be on the orders or remain behind in Japan, what about visas, immigration, medical, etc. all causing new problems.

Just get your supervisor working on it if that doesn't seem to be working respectfully ask him/her to speak with the next one up on the food chain until you can get this resolved.

What is a small problem today may be a huge problem next month.

Have you mentioned this to your supervisor? Just curious.

Who is telling you that you need to be an E-4?  Is that a regulation or policy?

i have submitted a chit to my senior but he doesn't really seem inclined to assist me but im still hoping. the only opnav i found is opnav1059 7220.12 and it only talks about bah. the people telling me i need e4 for command sponsorship are the ps's and they are saying that they cant help me unless im e4. i mean if they kick me out of my barracks room ill have no where to go except the ship and that sucks, but they say that im not entitled to any kind of pay for my wife. y not. my marriage is legal, i had the co's approval.

I would recommend that you take your supervisor with you to your Senior Enlisted adviser and have him walk it through your commander. They are you telling you no to command sponsorship not OHA so by that statement why aren't they paying OHA?

the people telling me i need e4 for command sponsorship are the ps's

Your commander can fix this issue, but you need to let your supervisors do there job first that's why they are supervisors. If your immediate supervisor is dragging his/her feet respectfully ask them if it would be alright for you to see the next person in line with or without them to help you get this resolved. The time to get this fixed is now not after you are out at sea.

so theres no reason e3's shouldnt be allowed to live off base? for now ill wait for my senior to send my chit back to me,

The reference that you are looking for is MILPERMAN 7220-260 available on the NPC website. That is the Navy specific instruction. The DoD specific instruction is the Joint Federal Travel Regulations (JTFR) Volume 1 Chapter 10, which is available on the defensetravel.dod.mil site. Specifically, paragraph U10020 and U10404. These are the parts that talk about OHA and acquired dependents. This document changes as often as monthly, so review it before you go fight your case. There are additional requirements imposed by COMUSFORJAPAN, COMNAVFORJAPAN, the Navy's housing policy, and your local command. I would approach your PLR again with these documents in hand and ask specifically why you cannot get this allowance if these documents say that you can. If you have routed a chit, it should be back to you within 72 hours. The CO is usually the only person who can say no to a special request. Not your Chief, not your Division Officer, and usually not your Department Head. I hope that this helps and has helped you to learn that you need to know your case in order to fight for it.

ok thank you and i will look it up and i will keep it on hand and wait for my chit to come back. than you very much.

HEY CHIEF,

It is shamefull this Sailor feels compelled to seek assistance on this BLOG for something that CLEARLY his COC should be assisting him with; starting with his CHIEF. If one of my guys/gals came to me with this problem:
1. I would have gotten him the answer (remember that motto ask the CHIEF?).
2. I wouldn't have stopped until this Sailor was being properly assisted.

GW. What happened to "take care of your Sailors"? Why is this Sailor coming to this BLOG for answers to his problem?
Why did I start with GW? because I don't think the goat locker is doing their job on that ship. Not just because of this but many other reasons I don't need to put on here but we all on this base know is true. For example: recently I was on Berth 12 working and watched a Commander exit off the GW, walk down the pier in my direction past 4 khakis with his NWU legs not bloused hanging loosley around his boots. Not one of the Khakis let him know his uniform was unsat. when I stopped him to inform him he simply said "yeah i forgot" and carried on like it was no big deal.

The culture of professionalism at a command starts in the Goat Locker. This situation sucks.

I think it may be time to involve the CMC, chaplain and perhaps even request CO's mast. As a sidebar this is what happens when you promote people with little leadership expereince and waste money on useless junk like diversity and gay rights rather on what sailors really need help with. Your Chief sounds like someone who indocrinated rather than initiatied, the Navy gets what is pays for.

I don't know too much about locally acquired spouses..but I betcha someone is going to fuss at you and say, "hey, you are supposed to get permission to marry first!" But anyway, I hope to goodness you dont need the command sponsorship for her. But from what I have personally gone though, you need that command sponsoship for more than getting OHA.... she probably won't be able to get an ID card so she can be seen at medical, and housing will be a really big issue esp since when I applied, in addition to my husband orders, they needed my command sponsorship letter. It seems like everywhere I go they need that letter! I totally understand you not needing the command sponsorship for a HHG move, plane tickets and all that, but you need it for a lot more. I dont know if she has the option to stay home and not work, but I just applied for a job and you have to be sponsored for that also.

The military is pretty much black and white on rules and regulations, but I wil tell you now, there is ALWAYS some exception to the rules!!!! A few other wives pretty much bashed me saying how the Navy wasn't going to move my things because my husband already used his mobe from when he left VA to Japan. Well, I am non-concurrent sponsored, so guess what??? The Navy most definitly paid for my move! Also, I was shucked and Jived as far as who was supposed to pay for my plane ticket, well, husbands command said it was Norfolf. But we got married after he left Norfolk while he was in school in San Diego! So Norfolk was like, No, she isnt our responsibility! Then Yokouska was like, well, she isnt our responsibility either! (even though they are the ones that wrote and signed my command sponsorship letter). I was beyond frustrated! We played this badmitten game for weeks! Finally once I got my official command sponsor letter, I bought our tickets myself. So husband chief was like, oh y'all are so screwed! The Navy has no obligation to pay for her since she is here now. But guess what? I went down to PSD myself and talked to someone and he told me to bring my husband back, change his page 2 to reflect I am here now and no longer in Texas, then put in a travel claim!

Then the admin guy on the ship told my husband that we are not elgible for TLA (we stayed in the Navy Lodge for 14 days) since he hadn't changed his page 2 and we were getting BAH still. Well, guess who was wrong AGAIN!!!??? Yep! Another joker on the ship! Once he changed the page 2, they took back the BAH, but replaced it with the dependent amount for COLA, and it averages out to be the same! I told my husband no way in heck are we gonna skip out on $900+ just becuase that guy (whom never really works) said not to!

So, I gave you my experience to show you that no 2 circumstances are the same....unless its another E3 that married a local woman and wants to get command sponsorship. There is usually some kind of exception for different circumstances. I will tell you this, I dont know the rules exactly about locally acquired spouses, but I will say, you need to talk directly with PSD in the admin command sponsorship area. I hate to say it, but normally the ship doesn't know. The only way you have hit a brick wall is if the rule specifically says locally acquired or not, you cannot and will not get command sponsor unless you are an E4.

I do have a question for you... is she on your page 2? Because if she isnt,. you can have a marriage license all day long, but if the military doesnt have her down as a spouse in the DEERS system, then you are still single in the Navy world. Therefore, you wont get OHA becuase in the Navy, you have to be an E4 to live off the ship. So I understand the whole concept of saying you should be able to get OHA, but the guys that have spouses that arent CS, they may all be E4's, they are married on paper, but not according to the military. I assure you that no E3 gets it. In the meantime, Im going to play around with the computer and see if I can find something, I'm curious as well!

E3 CAN get CS as my husband and I are. The Commands on the ship only have so many E3's the Command can sponsor, so it is dependant on each Command.

This is down to my personal experience. On the paper you sign when you put in for CS it states: "I understand that as an E-3 I may not be eligible for Command Sponsorship and therefore having a spouse here will cause financial burden should we go ahead without CS."

Thanks

Beth, did you guys get married prior to him coming to Japan?

No we got married here in Japan.

So you're saying that there is a disclaimer that basically says you can bring your spouse over but just be aware that its going to be tough financially? That seems like a huge liability for the Navy...esp since you won't be here under SOFA status and you have to leave the country every 6 months....actually there was another post on here how this one wife was here without the command sponsorship and her husbands ship kept asking when she was leaving...they didn't give her the option to stay at their own expense. When you are comman sponsored the Navy is pretty much vouching for you while being here for your husbands tour. So are you a dual mil couple? From what I was told and have seen happen, when you come before command sponsorship, they deny you just because you came before the process was complete. Thats why during the run around I was getting, I din't move until I actually was approved and got my letter. So do you have to leave the country every 6 months?

The Navy can't stop Americans with a visa from visiting. Also, if they were dual-mil, no sopnsorhip would be necessary.

I was asking because she said she got command sponsorship. No the Navy cant stop you from visiting, but they wont let you stay here longer than 6 months if you aren't able to leave the country for whatever reason, and they also dont have to allow you to use medical facilities (which you cant use if you come with no sponsorship)....also I heard of people not being able to re-enter...Im sure its an isolated case, but they dont have to let you re-enter and dont have to give you a reason...

and as far as being dual mil, you still get a sponsor before you come here....so I wasnt sure if she had a sponsor when she got over here and then married another sailor that had a sponsor too...like if she meant a sponsor that all sailors gets when they come over, or command sponsor for your spouse with family approval.

OK, I was wrong about medical care when youn are overseas...command sponsored or not, if you are overseas and a dependent you can get medical care.... also Im see in this artical that foreign born spouses are not considered command sponsored, but you should receive the COLA rate and housing at the with dependent rate.... look under E4.6.3

http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/...31518p.pdf

The Commodore really enjoys reading these stories about the "New Navy" and how the Navy has changed over the centuries. What I've learned is this. Sailors do whatever it takes to get the job done, that includes circumventing rules that appear arbitrary to take care of their loved ones. I seriously doubt your Captain will be taking you to Mast for getting married without permission, but you will find some privileges being taken away from you as you have already been informed of. Good luck with your quest and fair winds and following seas to you and the mrs.

That is all ...