Answers provided by: Angela Caban

 Angela Caban has been involved with the military community for 9 years. She is a dedicated writer and advocate for the military life, as she shares her many military life experiences and advice with her readers weekly.

I will be deploying in a few months for 18 months and I do not want to keep the lease for my apartment. I have decided to move my furniture to storage, and when I return I will be living with my parents. How can I get out of this lease?

Yes. Under the Servicemember’s Civil Relief Act (SCRA) you are able to terminate this lease for either your apartment or home. Just remember that there are requirement for this. When you entered your lease you were not on active duty, you have your active duty orders and you have given written notice to your landlord that you wish to terminate the lease.

My husband has recently signed into the Army. He will be returning from basic training soon, and then it is off to Louisiana. Is there anything I should be doing to prepare ourselves?

First, do some research and try to understand your new military life. If you know exactly where you will be stationed, I would consider checking out the post. If you are not close, then the Army Housing site is very helpful in showing you around the base and housing virtually. Getting to know the area in which you will be living in, is a great way to adjust quickly.

Secondly, as I am all about organization, I would also start going through things in the house that you do not need at the moment or use. This will help in the end when packing really starts. Lastly, there are a few books that I would also recommend you read, now that you are a part of this exclusive and glamorous world! I read these starting off, and they were very helpful:

Married to the Military: A Survival Guide for Military Wives, Girlfriends, and Women in Uniform
by Meredith Leyva

The Homefront Club:
The Hardheaded Woman’s Guide to Raising a Military Family
by Jacey Eckhart

Going Overboard : The Misadventures of a Military Wife
by Sarah Smiley

Separated By Duty, United In Love: A Guide To Long Distance Relationships for Military Couples by Shellie Vandevoorde

My boyfriend is currently stationed at a base nearby. He starts a training care course in August and will graduate by October. After graduation he will be stationed in Germany, and I want to go with him. We have talked about marriage but have not yet set a date. My question is, do we need to be married for a certain amount of time in order for me to be included in his orders?

Yes, you will need to be married before his orders are processed. It does not matter how long you have been married as long as you are married. I would definitely get this done soon since once you are married; you need to be entered into DEERS. DEERS will ensure that you are listed as his spouse, get you on his Tricare medical plan and also a military identification card. I know it does not sound so romantic, but I would start looking into making some wedding plans soon if you wish to be on his accompanied orders. If you decide to not get married, your boyfriend will receive unaccompanied orders in which he will relocate alone.

If you would like to see your question answered on “Q&A’s About Military Life”, send me your questions to angela@angelacaban.com, along with your name and branch of service. I look forward to hearing from you.