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. For others, the inevitable uprooting to a new installation is a jarring experience they would like to avoid at all costs. One way some military families deal with the disruption of their established daily lives is to consider geo-baching.
While this may not be a perfect solution to a family’s concerns, it is a popular choice among those who would prefer not to uproot the entire family. Let’s explore what a geo bachelor is exactly, as well as the pros and cons. This way, you can make an informed decision about if 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 that their families show great stretch and sacrifice as well. To ensure they aren’t putting unneeded stress on their family, service members must make an important decision about whether to move their whole household or to 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, it is a decision that is not 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 other downsides of displacing the whole family.
Pros of Geo-Baching
Some of the common reasons, or “pros,” for why 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. There’s no doubt that choosing to split households can be a hardship on the family dynamic.
For those that would be devastated or highly inconvenienced by PCSing, it’s a highly welcomed option.
Cons of Geo-Baching
The most prominent and obvious “con,” or reason many families choose not to separate, is the simple fact of being physically apart. Understandably, many cannot stand the thought of being separated from their families for such a long amount of time.
Families already dealing with deployments and heavy training schedules may feel that a self-imposed separation would mean even less time together. For many, losing even more precious time together to enjoy the special moments in life 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 some military members still need to make the choice to become a geo bachelor, even if being one isn’t officially recognized as a Department of Defense (DOD) status.
Other Geo Bachelor Factors to Consider
To help you make this complex decision, consider these other important factors. 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. Usually, housing for single members is in the barracks, as families are given priority over apartments, condos and houses.
However, in the past few years, all five branches have ruled that there is no official mandate to house geo-bachelors within unaccompanied housing.
At the few installations that do still allow for some geographic bachelors to live in barracks, based on availability, there could be a small fee per day. In addition, those geo bachelors could be easily asked to vacate if housing needs for unaccompanied service members are greater.
Nowadays, geographic bachelors typically decide to rent an apartment, a room, a 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, there is one major aspect to consider.
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 difference in the cost of living 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 to allow 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 a 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, and it’s important to remember that quarters are not guaranteed at 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, there is no guarantee that any exemption will 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 most military families have already been tested by time and distance, 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.