They sure are. Most of us animals can freely decide where we are going to live.
Members of the military get orders (not suggestions or requests, but orders). Their spouses and families can either follow them, or choose to live away from spouse and parent for the duration of the assignment.
I would prefer we simply repeal the entire, unconstitutional GCA '68. Eliminating provisions one at a time for all of us would be a fine fall-back position. But even in the absence of that, recognizing the unique position of military families is entirely different than treating two otherwise equal things differently. Military spouses are not merely tourists traveling through another State for a few days or weeks.
Charles
didn't serve a bloody moment in the armed forces did ya piper?
first bolded is incorrect statement...in some instances, there is no choosing, e.g., remotes, hostle, service academy, tech school, field exercise, etc.
second bolding, which will prob upset some former/active members, partners, male and female, but accompanying partners are truly nothing but tourists 'accompanying' their military members while they do assigned work!! partners they have always been allowed to 'accompany' their service member, but at service member personal expense!!!
during the 70's it became a kinder gentler armed services, recruitment and pay sucked, so military policy makers changed the 'rules' so junior enlisted and officer members were afforded the benefit of 'creature' comforts when stationed away.
these policy changed served several purposes, 1) cut medical budgets from treating STDs while the member was away from their consort (tongue in cheek); 2) member's were 'happier' (at least the complaining to congressional leaders from their partner they have not heard from the member while they were away went down) as the 'family' was together and service member's life is good ~ just ask em!! 3) of course communities were happier cuz junior housing had to be built in the community since the junior members were initially not allowed to live off base. and other $$$$ flowed to support the kinder services activities.
then single junior members complained so they were granted permission to live off base subsidized and once again the military member's life is balanced.
ipse