Announced on Wednesday, the Pentagon will permit members of the military to travel to wed same-sex partners if the community or state where they are based does not permit it.
The Defense Department announced its intention to extended health, housing and other benefits to same-sex spouses of uniformed military personnel and defense civilian employees.
Couples will also get 10 days of marriage leave, says the Department of Defense.The DOD remains committed to ensuring that all men and women who serve in the U.S. military, and their families, are treated fairly and equally as the law directs.
Find out what's happening in Fort Braggfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Entitlements such as TRICARE enrollment, basic allowance for housing and family separation allowance are retroactive to the date of the Supreme Court’s decision. Any claims to entitlements before that date will not be granted. For those members married after June 26, 2013, entitlements begin at the date of marriage.
Ashley Broadway, Fort Bragg's Spouse of the Year, said to the Fort Bragg Patch: "After so many years supporting my soldier, I finally feel as though I am a respected and valued military spouse. My hopes are these new changes will be implemented smoothly and promptly so we, the military community, may be one family."Five single soldiers at Fort Bragg walking around the Post Exchange on Wednesday afternoon did not think the news was a big deal.
"There is so much hype surrounding it, there was bound to be something done about it," said a Specialist in the 4th Combat Brigade. "I guess I was a little surprised since the cutbacks are so serious and it would seem that this would mean more money and benefits to more people."
On the militarypartners.org site they highlighted the following:
Find out what's happening in Fort Braggfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Key parts of this announcement include:
- Extension of Spousal Benefits no later than Sept. 3, 2013
- Entitlements are retroactive back to the date of the Supreme Court’s decision, June 26th, 2013.
- Authorizes non-chargeable marriage leave where a Service member is part of a same-sex couple and is assigned to a duty station located more than 100 miles from a U.S. state (or the District of Columbia) that allows same-sex couples to get married.
- Eligible Service members stationed CONUS: Up to 7 days of leave
- Eligible Service members stationed OCONUS: Up to 10 days of leave
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