Geo-Bachelor—The Pros & Cons of Geo-Baching

Although it is important to recognize our military members for their service, it’s also essential to acknowledge their families’ great sacrifice as well. To ensure service members aren’t putting unneeded stress on their families, they must decide whether to move their whole household or become a geo-bachelor.

Also referred to as a geographic bachelor, a “geo-bach” chooses to depart for their new installation while their family stays at their previous home or moves to an alternative location.

It’s important to note that this is considered a different type of move than, let’s say, a hardship tour where the orders do not include a military member’s dependents.

Choosing to live apart from your family during active-duty service can be a difficult decision. In fact, geo-baching is not a decision made lightly, as it means living apart for an extended amount of time. However, many come to the conclusion that the time apart outweighs the downsides of displacing the whole family, especially for shorter temporary duty (TDY) assignments.

Some of the common reasons a family may choose to geographically separate include:

• A service member’s assignment of less than a year
• A spouse’s job stability or progression
• Owning a home in the previous location
• Preparing for imminent retirement
• School/environment stability for children
• Medical care consistency
• Specialized healthcare providers in the current area

Whether your wife needs special treatment from a local healthcare provider or your oldest son is just one year away from graduating high school with his best friends, geo-baching is a viable option for many.

Though splitting households can undoubtedly be a hardship on the family dynamic, it’s a highly welcomed option for those who would be devastated or highly inconvenienced by conducting a PCS.

The simple fact of being physically apart is the most prominent and obvious disadvantage that many families choose to not separate. Understandably, many cannot stand the thought of being separated from their families for such a long time.

Families already dealing with deployments and heavy training schedules may feel that a self-imposed separation means even less time together. For many, losing even more precious time together to enjoy life’s special moments is not an option.

The Defense Travel Management Office has even said that “a fundamental philosophy of military service is that members, with their families, create a better work environment and esprit de corps when they can be active participants in the local base and community.”

At the same time, the department understands that some military members still need to choose to become geo-bachelors, even if the Department of Defense (DoD) doesn’t recognize this as an official status.

Consider these other important factors when making this complex decision. From geo-bach housing to exemptions, the list of variables is endless.

In the past, geo-bachelors could easily find single accommodations at their new duty installation. Housing for single members is usually in the barracks, as families are given priority for apartments, condos, and houses.

However, in the past few years, all five branches ruled that there is no official mandate to house geo-bachelors in unaccompanied housing, meaning they could be eligible for other housing options besides barracks.

You may easily be asked to vacate based on availability or if housing needs for unaccompanied service members are greater at the few installations that still allow some geo-bachelors to live in barracks. Depending on circumstances, staying in the barracks could incur a small fee per day.

Nowadays, geo-bachelors typically decide to rent in the local community out of convenience.

Do military members who are geo-baching still get a BAH? The simple answer is yes. However, you must consider one major aspect.

Geographically separated families are usually eligible only for a BAH based on the member’s duty station, not the location of the family’s residence. Depending on the cost of living difference between the geo bachelor’s new city and the family’s city, this could be either a pro or con. Unless the military spouse has a job, the family should expect to support two households with one housing allowance.

In rare cases, such as when a dependent requires healthcare not available at the new installation, an exemption for geo-baching status will be added to the service member’s orders. Exemptions require paperwork and the following processes:

• Geo-Bachelor Air Force: Submit AF form 594 to request a waiver in BAH due to geo-baching. Waivers may be granted for hardships such as deployment, medical needs, or school lasting less than one year.
• Geo-Bachelor Army: Request geo-baching paperwork from Army Human Resources Command by submitting an email request with DA Form 4187.
• Geo-Bachelor Navy/Marine Corps: A sailor, Marine officer, or enlisted (ranked E-6 and above) can submit a Geographical Bachelor Quarters Application through their chain of command’s admin office. Those ranking E-1 through E-5 may be assigned to empty barracks. Remember, quarters are not guaranteed on all bases.

As a heads up, exemptions for reasons such as a spouse’s job or other personal choices are unlikely to be met with sympathy. Remember, no exemption is guaranteed to be approved, but it doesn’t hurt to try.

It’s a common and understandable question: If you’re serving as a geo-bachelor, separated from your family by choice, shouldn’t you receive Family Separation Allowance (FSA)?

The short answer is: No.

FSA is designed specifically for involuntary separations. This typically means situations where the service member is assigned to a duty station—temporary or permanent—that does not allow the family to accompany them. For example, the location might be restricted or overseas, and dependents are not permitted to travel there.

On the other hand, choosing to be a geo-bachelor is considered a voluntary decision. Whether for financial, educational, or personal reasons, if a service member elects to leave their family behind when they could bring them along, FSA does not apply.

The distinction lies in whether the separation is due to the family’s choice or the military’s needs.

For a military spouse, there’s nothing romantic about their partner choosing to be a geo-bachelor during their next PCS. As time and distance have already tested most military families, geo-baching is just one more hurdle to overcome.

It’s up to you to decide whether the pros and cons of geo-baching make such a separation worth the potential inter-familial challenges. With adequate education, communication, and dedication, this temporary way of life could potentially strengthen the bonds between service members and their families.