USAFCENT commander updates General Order Number 1B Published Jan. 24, 2012 By Staff Sgt. Kirsten Wicker U.S. Air Forces Central SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Lt. Gen. David L. Goldfein, U.S. Air Forces Central commander, recently updated the U.S. Air Forces Central Command General Order Number 1B to allow for limited visitation and cohabitation of married personnel co-located within the area of responsibility. The change from the July 14, 2010 edition is to paragraph 2.n., regarding the prohibition on opposite sex quarters visitation. With the change: · Married personnel co-located in the AOR may visit their spouse's quarters if the spouse resides in a single-resident room (i.e., a female spouse may not enter a males-only tent or dormitory) · Married service members assigned to the same location may be assigned to approved married quarters · Married Air Force members assigned to a location not controlled by an AFCENT commander will comply with the local rules regarding billeting and cohabitation Airmen not co-located with their spouse are still prohibited from crossing the opposite gender's room threshold, except for official purposes or as approved by the commander. "It's tough being separated for long periods, especially if one spouse is deployed while the other is at home and then they have to switch places for another six months," said Lt. Col. Douglas Crabtree, AFCENT deputy judge advocate forward. "The idea is to try to get that family unit together more often over a time when the operations tempo is so high." According to GO-1B, overnight visits for a married couple are still up to the installation commander to allow and should be accommodated where living conditions permit. "Each location in the AOR has different living arrangements and some are not able to accommodate overnight visits," Crabtree said. "However, commanders now have more freedom to grant permission as best they can." Additionally, the update addresses off base morale travel, depending on the location. "Where off base morale travel is authorized, married couples should be allowed to go off-installation and obtain overnight hotel accommodation at their own expense," said Crabtree. "Approval is at the same level as required for routine off-base travel." The general urges commanders to account for mission and force protection measures when granting permission for couples to stay off base overnight. The last update concerns quarters approved for married billeting. If available, installation commanders will determine the number of units that can be made available to married couples. "Once again, this is dependent upon the location and the conditions at that location," Crabtree said. Commanders also have the authority to allow for temporary married quarters. "Installation commanders may also consider the provision of temporary quarters for married personnel on a space-available basis, particularly in locations that do not allow off base morale trips or have approved married quarters," said Crabtree. If handled properly, Goldfein said, the waiver for married personnel will enhance morale and not affect good order and discipline. "The general's intent is to not preclude lawfully married personnel in transit or assigned together from crossing the threshold of their spouse's room if the spouse is living in a room by themselves," Crabtree said. "The provision still does not allow spouses to enter a tent or dormitory reserved for only one gender; but when living conditions permit, they should be able to visit."