There are also rules on who can receive a military ID card and military benefits. To receive a military ID card and benefits, including health care, a military spouse must be legally married to the service member. The military does not recognize common law marriage or engagements.

Do you have to be married to get military benefits?

To receive any military benefits, military family members must be registered in the militarys personnel system, the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), and receive a military ID card. To do that you need to be the service members spouse or child.

Are you allowed to have kids in the military without a marriage?

In general, an applicant who has joint physical custody of a child by court order or agreement, and the applicant does not have a spouse, he/she is considered a single parent. If a local or state court allows modification, if the other parent assumes full custody, the applicant is usually qualified for enlistment.