FORT KNOX, KY – In an effort to increase soldiers’ interchangeability and world-wide assignment eligibility, the Army has announced that married individuals will no longer be considered for enlistment, and all active-duty married soldiers must divorce their spouses within thirty days or be subject to administrative separation in accordance with AR 600-8-2.

Dependents must return to their home of record at their own expense.

“What we’re seeing is an awful lot of dependents in the Army community, who – let’s be honest – contribute nothing to military readiness,” said Army Secretary John McHugh to reporters. “They distract our married soldiers from putting the mission first, and they suck up a huge amount of resources.”

McHugh pointed to Army spouse and family wellness programs like the Family Readiness Group, the MyCAA spouse-education program, Army Community Services, and the Army Family Action Plan, which cost the Army roughly $475 million a year to maintain. “In addition, you have the DEERS system and the DoDDS school system, which cost a fortune, plus the massive costs involved in providing healthcare, exchange and commissary services to dependents. There’s also the higher cost-of-living allowances and all the other allotments to which married soldiers are entitled.”