<p>Does anybody know if it is allowed for a future officer (a cadet right now) to get married to an NCO? If there is a prior relationship before either of them joined the service/academy?</p>
<p>See Army Reg 600-20, under section 4-14 "Relationships between Soldiers of Different Rank":
<a href="http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/ar600-20.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/ar600-20.pdf</a></p>
<p>Yeah, what WAMom68 said. </p>
<p>And then tell us the answer....</p>
<p>There is a nurse (CPT) at the Cadet clinic at USMA married to one of the TAC NCOs.</p>
<p>The reg has changed since then. It's no longer allowed.</p>
<p>So, in other words, if two kids who were dating while in high school continue to date while one attends the academy and the other chooses to join the army decide to stay together throughout the years at the academy - one will become an officer and the other chooses to become an NCO, they will have no choice but to end their relationship instead of getting married?</p>
<p>Marines4Me, this policy is effective 7 July 2006, is there a newer one? If so, please provide a link if you have it.</p>
<p>From the Army Reg. 600-20 section 4-14:
[quote]
c. Certain types of personal relationships between officers and enlisted personnel are prohibited. Prohibited relationships include (
continued)
(2) Dating, shared living accommodations other than those directed by operational requirements, and intimate or sexual relationships between officers and enlisted personnel. This prohibition does not apply to
(a) Marriages. When evidence of fraternization between an officer and enlisted member prior to their marriage exists, their marriage does not preclude appropriate command action based on the prior fraternization. Commanders have a wide range of responses available including counseling, reprimand, order to cease, reassignment, administrative action or adverse action. Commanders must carefully consider all of the facts and circumstances in reaching a disposition that is appropriate. Generally, the commander should take the minimum action necessary to ensure that the needs of good order and discipline are satisfied.
(b) Situations in which a relationship that complies with this policy would move into non-compliance due to a change in status of one of the members (for instance, a case where two enlisted members are dating and one is subsequently commissioned or selected as a warrant officer). In relationships where one of the enlisted members has entered into a program intended to result in a change in their status from enlisted to officer, the couple must terminate the relationship permanently or marry within either one year of the actual start date of the program, before the change in status occurs, or within one year of the publication date of this regulation, whichever occurs later.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I am not an attorney but I interpret (2)(a) to read that this prohibition does not apply if the couple is married and no evidence of fraternization existed prior to the marriage. So, if you are a cadet and your girlfriend/boyfriend is enlisted but not stationed at West Point, then you get married after graduation I do not see how they can claim fraternization existed prior to the marriage. </p>
<p>Regarding item (b), when you show up at R-day you are entering into a program intending to become an officer but unless you are prior service you are not enlisted either. It seems to me that a cadet is in a special category not enlisted but not an officer either. Since cadets are not allowed to be married the part about marrying within one year of the start date of the program cannot apply. </p>
<p>Honestly this would be a really good question for a military lawyer</p>
<p>Regarding item A--you notice that it is still not approved by the Army. Though they COULD get married, the action still would not go without punishment (though the reg advises the lowest amount of punishment needed for discipline and good order). It still is considered frat, if the individuals in question are dating while one is still a Cadet.</p>
<p>As to Item B, there is no way they can get married within 1 year of the start date of West Point. From everything I've been taught, it doesn't matter if you weren't enlisted before.</p>
<p>Like you said, though, if you wanted a definitive answer you should probably ask someone in JAG.</p>
<p>Interesting...I'll wander down the hall and ask JAG tomorrow. I'll let you all know!</p>
<p>Thanks, I'd really like to know.</p>