Obtaining Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders can sometimes set off a roller coaster of emotions for military families. Excitement, worry, relief, sadness, fear, hope, and resignation are just a few of the common feelings military members and their families feel when facing PCS.
Many military families adjust quickly and can make any new city feel like home. Others would like to avoid the jarring and inevitable uprooting to a new installation at all costs. Some military families deal with the disruption of their established daily lives by considering geo-baching.
While this may not be a perfect solution to a family’s concerns, it is popular among those who prefer not to uproot the entire family. Let’s explore exactly what a geo bachelor is, as well as the pros and cons. This way, you can make an informed decision about whether geo-baching is right for your family.
What is a Geo Bachelor?
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.
Geo Bachelor Pros and Cons
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 duration assignments.
Pros of Geo-Baching
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 there’s no doubt that choosing to split households can be a hardship on the family dynamic, for those who would be devastated or highly inconvenienced by PCSing, it’s a highly welcomed option.
Cons of Geo-Baching
The simple fact of being physically apart is the most prominent and obvious disadvantage many families choose not to 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.
Other Geo Bachelor Factors to Consider
Consider these other important factors when making this complex decision. From geo-bach housing to exemptions, the list of variables is endless.
Geo Bachelor Housing
In the past, geographic 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.
At the few installations that still allow some geographic bachelors to live in barracks, note that those geo bachelors could easily be asked to vacate based on availability and if housing needs for unaccompanied service members are greater. Depending on circumstances, staying in the barracks could incur a small fee per day.
Nowadays, geographic bachelors typically decide to rent an apartment, room, trailer, or other lodging in the local community out of convenience.
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)
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.
Learn more: Military BAH Rates: Everything You Need to Know
Military Exemptions
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.
Embracing the Geo-Baching Lifestyle
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.
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.