Can Dependents Travel Overseas with Active Duty Soldiers in the U.S. Army?

The U.S. Army has two primary types of overseas assignments for active-duty soldiers: deployments and permanent change of station (PCS) assignments. Understanding the difference is crucial for soldiers and their families considering a move overseas.

Deployments vs. PCS Assignments

A deployment typically involves a short-term movement of an entire unit, possibly into a combat zone or a location where the unit may be exposed to hostile fire. Dependent family members are generally not allowed in such zones for obvious safety reasons.

A PCS assignment, on the other hand, involves a single soldier moving to a foreign base or unit for an extended period, often lasting over a year. In this case, dependents may sometimes be allowed to accompany the soldier.

Special Cases: Permission to Bring Families

While deployments are almost exclusively for short-term assignments, there are instances where military members can gain permission to bring their families. This is often the case when the destination is recognized as a location where families are allowed to deploy with the servicemember or shortly after the move.

Real-World Experiences

One interesting real-world example of a one-year deployment was to Israel. During this mission, my unit was under a State Department mission. It was not a combat deployment, but rather a training mission. The Army classified it as a deployment, and I lived in Jerusalem, moving around the region to various training areas.

Despite the usual restrictions, in this non-command-sponsored deployment, my family stayed with me for a couple of months. My predecessor had his wife with him for almost the entire year, and my deputy had his wife and children for about half of our year. This arrangement was made possible because the housing was sufficient for a family.

However, it's important to note that not all deployments allow for family members to travel. Without command sponsorship, there is no support, no programs, no medical facilities, no schools, and no diplomatic credentials or car services provided by the military. Everything was on us to ensure.

But this is quite an exception. For 99.99% of deployments, the answer is a definitive "no."

Stationing and Family Support

Additionally, it's crucial to distinguish between deployments and PCS assignments in terms of family support. If a soldier is stationed in a location where the Army provides command-sponsored housing and family support, such as in Germany, their situation is quite different from a non-command-sponsored location like the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Korea.

In non-command-sponsored areas, soldiers are expected to take care of everything themselves, including housing. The military may expect them to stay in barracks and on their own.

Therefore, the key is to determine whether the assignment is a deployment or a PCS and to check if the location offers command-sponsored family support. This can greatly affect the ability to bring dependents along on an overseas assignment.

When planning a move overseas with the U.S. Army, it's essential to understand the specific requirements and support available for both deployments and PCS assignments. This will help ensure that both the soldier and their family are prepared for the transition.