Serving in different military branches as spouses: Is it done?

Imagine a married couple with each partner serving in a different branch of the military. Is this a common occurrence or even possible?

Yes, it's entirely possible and not altogether uncommon for a married couple to serve in different branches of the U.S. Military. This is often referred to as an "inter-service" or "joint-service" marriage. The military recognizes these situations and has mechanisms in place to try to station spouses together, or at least within a reasonable distance, when possible through something called the Joint Spouse Program.

However, there can be challenges due to the differing demands, commitments, and deployment schedules of the various military branches. For instance, one spouse may be in the Army, which has a high deployment frequency, while the other spouse is in the Air Force, which may have a lower deployment frequency, potentially leading to differing schedules. Additionally, specific occupations within each branch might make being co-located more difficult.

One important thing to note is that each military branch has its own version of the Joint Spouse Program and rules can vary, so it's important to consult with a service counselor or personnel office to understand the specifics. It's by no means an easy path, but with communication, understanding, and support, many service members make it work successfully.