I am currently stationed in Germany I have been married now for 21 months to a German local national. The army still recognizes me as single and i still live in the barracks, every other month i submit the same paperwork and every month i am told that nothing has happened. In my opinion 21 months is being patient enough and my chain of command has other things to do/doesn't care, its not up to me to make that decision, i would like to know further options that i have in regards to this situation.

There are some of my collegues telling me that i should have called IG 10 months ago, but im not sure if that is a good decisions, any suggestions would be appreciated,

Thanks

Use your chain of command to include the chaplin then as the last resort use the IG, if you use the IG then be prepared to get some flack be cause you may get it.

I take it you didn't gain approval to marry from the Army before you did it anyway?

Have you applied for LPR status for your wife? You should be aware that a full background investigation is very time consuming?

You must work through your chain of command and get it in writting.

Good point gunny I did not even think about that aspect.

I am not so sure what LPR status is, but i think it may be along the lines of command sponsorship. If that is the case, she has been command sponsored for a long time now 17 of the 21 months i think. She had to be screened by the physition here, she is enrolled in deers and in IACS, she has a rations card, so its not like im trying to hide the fact that im married to her. What must i get in writing? The fact that i am married or that i tried to utilize my chain of command?

An off the subject note. Why must i get approval to marry a local national anyway.

You really do need to talk to your command. Had you read or sought out existing Army regulations before you went and got married, you would have found that all this would be behind you long ago. In short, you did not do your homework and are in this position now.

Military marriages to foreign nationals
If you are thinking about getting married to a foreign national, you may need to plan ahead. Under some military regulations, a member of the armed forces planning to marry a foreign national while stationed oversees may need to submit an application requesting permission to marry. This application process includes a background investigation of your anticipated spouse and medical screening.

The foreign national spouse may be best served by attaining Lawful Permanent Resident status. LPR grants your spouse certain rights, such as the rights to live and work in the United States. After a certain number of years, your spouse may apply for citizenship. Due to the new quota system, reaching LPR status may be the most difficult hurdle your spouse will face. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will carefully scrutinize both parties and the marriage itself to ensure legitimacy. You may be asked a range of questions starting with how you met each other, how long you have known each other, whether the marriage was consummated and whether you reside together.


Like I said, ask to speak with your Command Senior enlisted. Always start there. Keep a calm proffessional manner when making these requests, be respectfully, attentive and explain that you are seeking guidence on getting the issue resolved or escalated to resolution. If they cannot or appear unwilling to help, ask them what is next step to take within the chain of command. Rule number one, never go outside of the chain of command. Use the chain of command to your benefit. Failure to do so will result in it being used against you and what you are trying to do. If regulations are being referenced, ask politely to see them or obtain a copy.

As for why one must get approval to marry a foreign national..notice I didn't say local national? Do you have a US security clearance? Do you have access to classified information and or material? If yes, then there's your answer.

If that answer is no, I don't have a security clearance, then you needed to ensure your actions were not breaking existing regulations. Had you at least done that part, you would already know half of these answers to your questions.

I wish you luck. I have limited knowledge in that I did not marry a foreign national, but my brother did in Germany. It was not a pleasant experience for him.

Where did you get married in Germany(G), at a G Standesamt (before the law) in a G city? If yes, by G law you are legally married and even the US Army can't do anything against that. If you married in a church only in G or elsewhere, that doesn't count in G as a lawful marriage, only the Standesamt thing is lawful in G. The church thing is just a pleasant add on. So, if you are legally married you need to see your chaplain and the IG ASAP.

There is another thing that came to my mind on this thread the last few days: Who is that 'German national' that you are married to as you claim. Perhaps the Army knows more about her/him than you think and therefore, the Army in its unending wisdom, is delaying things.... Could that be? Perhaps the Army is doing you a favor?

She is a girl the army knowing more about her is highly doubtful, our S1 shop is just ate the fu** up, everyone who has anykind of paperwork to do is always getting the shaft. people who need orders to leave usually dont get a copy of them till 2 weeks out or so.

I don't know about the rest but none of this makes any sence to me.

What doesn't make any sence to you?

I guess you guys mean 'sense' which means reason, thought or thinking. There is no such thing as 'sence'. What coachman feels (and I indicated also) is that you haven't spoken to your chaplain and when push comes to shove to your IG. You are not telling us the complete story.

Not telling you the whole story? i do not understand this. sorry about my typo. No i haven't spoken to the Chaplin, I've been trying to use my training room and lower chain of command

Well, let us know how that route works for you. You came here seeking advice, and it was given.

Thanks for correcting my spelling Mastertanker, I left my spell checker off that day, LOL no harm done. What I mean is that you say you are already married, last I knew, if you married a local national then the army would be able to tell you things that you wouldn't know. If you have not spoken to the Chaplin then YOU need to, If you get no assistance from him then you have the choice to go see the IG. Also get with your S-1 find out what you need to have to to accomplish what you need to happen. Then if as you said before your S-1 section is F****ed up which I seriously doubt, by that I mean you were disturbed by what you think they said, In the 21 years I served in the army I have NEVER seen the S-1 section that screwed up in any way. You came here and asked us for information and help which we provided as we are want to do to anyone male and female and teenagers that request it. The assistance and helpful advice is free but what you choose to do with it is entirely up to you as is how you use it also is up to you.