Can unmarried couples live together in the military?

Military Couples and Housing

Navigating relationships in the armed forces comes with unique hurdles, especially when couples choose to live together outside of marriage. While legally married service members automatically qualify for on-base housing and extra allowances, unmarried couples face a much stricter set of rules across all branches.

Generally speaking, unmarried partners are not permitted to live in base housing. The primary exception is when a service member is designated as a legal caregiver for dependent children. Because of this policy, most cohabiting couples find themselves renting an apartment or house off base, where both partners often need to sign the lease together and split living expenses independently.