What are the options for living arrangements when you enlist in the military?

I'm considering enlisting in the military after high school, but I'm unsure where I'll be living. Do you get assigned a place to stay, like barracks, or can you choose your accommodation?

When you enlist in the military, your living arrangements can vary quite a bit depending on factors such as your specific branch of service, your rank, and whether your service assignment is domestic or overseas.

Typically, recruits who are in training (such as Basic Training or "boot camp") are housed in barracks. These are similar to dorms, and individuals share a room with one or more roommates. Barracks are provided by the military and have no extra cost to service members.

Once you advance from initial training, it's common for service members to continue living in barracks if they're single and in the lower ranks. Some branches of the military have a policy that unmarried service members who are E-4 (in the Army and Marine Corps) or below must live in the barracks.

As you advance in rank, or if you get married or have a family, you may be given Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). BAH is monthly compensation that can be used for off-base housing, and it varies based on location, rank, and dependent status. Often, higher-ranked or married service members live in on-base housing (similar to housing developments but on military property), or off-base in civilian housing.

For those who live off-base, there are various supports in place to help find housing. Military installations have housing offices that offer assistance, and there are also online resources to help service members connect with appropriate housing options in their assigned areas.

Lastly, keep in mind when serving overseas, the options might look a bit different, often military personnel are accommodated in on-base housing or communal living quarters.