Army Does About-face On Soldier Couples In Iraq

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

Army does about-face

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- When American soldiers get off duty in Iraq, the men usually return to their quarters, the women to theirs. But Staff Sgt. Marvin Frazier gets to go back to a small trailer with two pushed-together single beds that he shares with his wife.

In a historic but little-noticed change in policy, the Army is allowing scores of husband-and-wife soldiers to live and sleep together in the war zone -- a move aimed at preserving marriages, boosting morale and perhaps bolstering re-enlistment rates at a time when the military is struggling to fill its ranks five years into the fighting.

"It makes a lot of things easier," said Frazier, 33, a helicopter maintenance supervisor in the 3rd Infantry Division. "It really adds a lot of stress, being separated. Now you can sit face-to-face and try to work out things and comfort each other."

Long-standing Army rules barred soldiers of the opposite sex from sharing sleeping quarters in war zones. Even married troops lived only in all-male or all-female quarters and had no private living space.

But in May 2006, Army commanders in Iraq, with little fanfare, decided that it is in the military's interest to promote wedded bliss. In other words: What God has joined together, let no manual put asunder.

"It's better for the soldiers, which means overall it's better for the Army," said Command Maj. Mark Thornton of the 3rd Infantry.

[Msterbeau]

Personally, I'd rather have the comfort and peace of mind being together, then not. I'm interested to hear what Odims and Candy have to say about the practicalities of doing so.

[Rayne]

I read that last night. They are limiting the amount of trailers they have available for now, couples have to be married and are being placed by rank.

[CandyQuackenbush]

The unit that replaced the 718th *the unit I was with for my last tour* had 3 married couples.

As long as you are married, you can only live together under the approval of your Commanding Office or CO. If your CO states that you are not allowed to bunk together, then you can be punished under UCMJ for disobeying a lawful order.

However, if you are not the only married couple IN YOUR COMPANY, not Battalion, your CO can let those that are married live in the same barracks.

The AR 600-20 sums up that you can do the "One up/One down." A SGT *Odims* and a SPC *myself* are allowed to be together as long as they are NOT in the same command.

Odims and I are in the same platoon. No biggie.

Odims is an E5, and I am an E4. Perhaps raise an eyebrow.

Odims is in 1st Squad, and I am in 2nd. Erase the 2nd statement because it goes back to no biggie.

See, as long as it "doesn't effect the mission", they will let it slide. Esp. in the Reserves. My Aunt Cheryl is a Lt.Col at Ft. McCoy, and she even told my whole family that it's okay that Odims and I are together because first off, we are reservest, and 2nd, we are not in the same squad.

[Msterbeau]

The unit that replaced the 718th *the unit I was with for my last tour* had 3 married couples.

As long as you are married, you can only live together under the approval of your Commanding Office or CO. If your CO states that you are not allowed to bunk together, then you can be punished under UCMJ for disobeying a lawful order.

However, if you are not the only married couple IN YOUR COMPANY, not Battalion, your CO can let those that are married live in the same barracks.

The AR 600-20 sums up that you can do the "One up/One down." A SGT *Odims* and a SPC *myself* are allowed to be together as long as they are NOT in the same command.

Odims and I are in the same platoon. No biggie.

Odims is an E5, and I am an E4. Perhaps raise an eyebrow.

Odims is in 1st Squad, and I am in 2nd. Erase the 2nd statement because it goes back to no biggie.

See, as long as it "doesn't effect the mission", they will let it slide. Esp. in the Reserves. My Aunt Cheryl is a Lt.Col at Ft. McCoy, and she even told my whole family that it's okay that Odims and I are together because first off, we are reservest, and 2nd, we are not in the same squad.

So... In your opinion... does it affect the mission?

[CandyQuackenbush]

So... In your opinion... does it affect the mission?

It can only effect the mission if their relationship messes up the mind set of being in Iraq.

Do I think that a relationship will effect the mission at hand? Not so much. You are both over there together, and you can bond better. You both see what the other one has seen. Plus, your platoon will be there for you too when the shit hits the fan.

Then again, "Effecting the Mission" can come from Homesickness, which leads to depression right quick.

[jadnifer]

You're mistaken. They don't, not can't. Sanctuary is not a formal law of any sort. It's an old custom that people/churches occasionally use (Largely with respect to illegal immigrants and deportation) in modern times. If police really wanted to arrest someone in a church, there's nothing, not even the priest, that can stop it.

Show us evidence or quit wasting our time.

I think that this is a good idea. I wouldn't even be able to begin to imagine what the depression must be like for the soldier when they get homesick. Man, I get homesick just from being away for a few days. I couldn't even think about for a year or more.

[odims_sphere]

(Msterbeau @ Mar 31 2008, 11:39 PM)

You're mistaken. They don't, not can't. Sanctuary is not a formal law of any sort. It's an old custom that people/churches occasionally use (Largely with respect to illegal immigrants and deportation) in modern times. If police really wanted to arrest someone in a church, there's nothing, not even the priest, that can stop it.

Show us evidence or quit wasting our time.

I think that this is a good idea. I wouldn't even be able to begin to imagine what the depression must be like for the soldier when they get homesick. Man, I get homesick just from being away for a few days. I couldn't even think about for a year or more.

I'm confused, the quote doesn't seem to fit with your response. Did you quote the wrong thing or am I missing something? please explain.

[freydis]

Thats cool. Makes sense.

[Msterbeau]

I'm confused, the quote doesn't seem to fit with your response. Did you quote the wrong thing or am I missing something? please explain.

Me too. totally different thread.

[jadnifer]

My bad. I wonder how I managed that one! I meant to quote Candy's response. Sorry about that guys!

[Rev.Reverence]

I seemed to work for the ancient Celts...