Why do you have to be unmarried?

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armypanda_

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This is just a question out of curiosity, but why do you have to be unmarried at time of appointment to attend West Point? Don't people get married while they're already there?
 
armypanda_ said:
Don't people get married while they're already there?
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No, they don't.

The Code of Federal Regulations establishes requirements for applicant eligibility at all of the uniformed service academies that require them to be and remain unmarried and without dependents prior to commissioning (or leaving the Academy). There’s a general provision of this type affecting all of the academies at 32 CFR 217.6(c)(5). It’s reiterated for individual academies in the respective sections for USMA (32 CFR 575.5(d)) and USAFA (32 CFR 901.4(e)).

I believe that ROTC rules are different because as a cadet/mid, you are not yet active duty. (All Service Academy cadets and mids are Active Duty and therefore subject to the UCMJ.
 
AROTC-dad said:
I believe that ROTC rules are different because as a cadet/mid, you are not yet active duty. (All Service Academy cadets and mids are Active Duty and therefore subject to the UCMJ.
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This changes during wartime though, right? Or wait, then how are so many husbands and wives always away on Active Duty? Does this only apply to the academies?
 
armypanda_ said:
This changes during wartime though, right? Or wait, then how are so many husbands and wives always away on Active Duty? Does this only apply to the academies?
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I think you are confused.

Officers are not monks!

Cadets and mids are restricted from marrying while at the academy, but as they gain seniority, they can date and attend social events (e.g. the military ball).

AFTER commissioning from an SA, you CAN get married, However the UMCJ is strict about NOT fraternizing with enlisted or down your chain of command.
 
AROTC-dad said:
I think you are confused.

Officers are not monks!

Cadets and mids are restricted from marrying while at the academy.

AFTER commissioning from an SA, you CAN get married, However the UMCJ is strict about NOT fraternizing with enlisted or down your chain of command.
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Ohhh, ok. Thank you for the clarification.
 
After commissioning, MANY weddings are held at WP and Annapolis and Colorado Springs!

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You have to be unmarried at the time of induction and throughout your four years at USMA. As @AROTC-dad said, people don't get married as cadets. People getting engaged is a regular occurrence, however. West Point sweethearts and 2%ers also tend to get married right after graduations. I'm assuming USMA is similar to USNA in that the chapel is a common wedding venue. So while it looks like people are getting married there a lot, they are, just not as cadets.

Outside of cadets having to tend to family affairs (as anyone would), the military has to deal with that as well. Military members get higher allowances when they have dependents and dependents use military resources like health care, housing, etc. Additionally, a fair amount of military development happens in the barracks and outside normal business hours. If someone is married, you can't force them to not be with their spouse (i.e. not in the barracks). USMA doesn't have the resources or infrastructure, nor does the military want to spend the extra money for dependents for someone who might not end up commissioning.

TL;DR: SA life is incompatible with married life and combined with the lack of infrastructure/funds, it is not in the best interest of the cadets/mids or the services to have SA cadets/mids be married.
 
Usnavy2019 said:
You have to be unmarried at the time of induction and throughout your four years at USMA. As @AROTC-dad said, people don't get married as cadets. People getting engaged is a regular occurrence, however. West Point sweethearts and 2%ers also tend to get married right after graduations. I'm assuming USMA is similar to USNA in that the chapel is a common wedding venue. So while it looks like people are getting married there a lot, they are, just not as cadets.

Outside of cadets having to tend to family affairs (as anyone would), the military has to deal with that as well. Military members get higher allowances when they have dependents and dependents use military resources like health care, housing, etc. Additionally, a fair amount of military development happens in the barracks and outside normal business hours. If someone is married, you can't force them to not be with their spouse (i.e. not in the barracks). USMA doesn't have the resources or infrastructure, nor does the military want to spend the extra money for dependents for someone who might not end up commissioning.

TL;DR: SA life is incompatible with married life and combined with the lack of infrastructure/funds, it is not in the best interest of the cadets/mids or the services to have SA cadets/mids be married.
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That makes sense. I didn't think about the extra resources it would require. Thank you!
 
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