US Military Families in the Asia-Pacific Thomas D. Farrell, Farrell & Associates, Honolulu, Hawaii

1. US Military Families in the Asia-Pacific • Thomas D. Farrell, Farrell & Associates, Honolulu, Hawaii • David L. Manz, The Manz Law Firm, Marathon, Florida • Moderators: Russel Murray III, Aurora/Denver, Colorado • Anna Meddin, Orlando, Florida

3. USPACOM FORWARD PRESENCE

5. JAPAN: 50,000 US military (Army – 2K, Navy 20K, USMC 16K, USAF 12K) 9,000 DOD civilians 5,000 dependents

6. KOREA: 28,500 US military 20,000 Army, 8,000 USAF 200,000 US civilians (not all DOD affiliated) (TDF estimate 30,000 dependents)

7. Hey, we’re in the Pacific, too! HAWAII: 50,000 US military 25,000? DOD civilians 64,000 military dependents GUAM 6,000 US military 2,000? DOD civilians 10,000? military dependents (but we’re not foreign countries)

9. Status of Forces Agreements • Binding treaties between US and host nation • Covers US military, DOD civilians, some contractors, and their dependents, • Determines who has criminal jurisdiction, and what protections will be afforded US personnel charged with crimes by host nation • Determines process for claims against US • Determines entry/exit, visa and customs requirements • Determines access to civil court system

10. Command Sponsorship • Not automatic—some tours are “unaccompanied.” • Entitles family members to protection of SOFA. • Can be withdrawn by the command. • May affect family members ability to remain in host nation. • Entitles family to certain benefits, such as family housing, DOD schools, priority for employment on base, transportation and shipment of household goods. • Does not affect certain other benefits, such as medical care, access to PX/Commissary, NEO.

11. Family Law in Japan • SOFA does not address access to courts • No Fault—sort of (other grave reasons) • No Alimony • Minimal child support • Custody usually to mom with no visitation to dad • Premarital property awarded to owner • Other property goes to owner unless obtained thru cooperation of both • Law of Japan applies for “immovables” in Japan • Law of Japan applies of one spouse is Japanese and “habitually resides” there • Adultery is not a crime

12. Family Law in Korea • SOFA civil courts open to US military personnel • No Fault only by mutual consent • No Alimony • Minimal child support, poor enforcement • Parenting plan required, court awards “fostering” according to best interest, with visitation to other parent • Premarital property awarded to owner • Other property in discretion of the court • Law of common nationality applies • Law of Korea applies if one spouse is Korean and “habitually resides” there • Adultery is a crime, and grounds for compensation

13. The “Family Advocacy Program” • Used to deal with child abuse and family violence. • A tool of the commander. • Case Review Committee makes determinations whether allegations of abuse are “substantiated.” • Can require SM to participate in therapy, classes, etc. • Can recommend non member participate in therapy, classes, etc. • No due process.

14. Early Return of Dependents • Humanitarian reasons • Request of member spouse • Request of nonmember spouse • Family violence • Misbehavior by dependents

15. Military Protective Orders

16. Uniform across DoD • Easier and faster than Family Court • No hearing, no trial, no appeal • Can only be used against service member • Violations punishable under UCMJ

19. Military Support RegsRule No. 1:The military will enforce a court order.Rule No. 2:The military will enforce an agreement.Rule No. 3:The military will use its own rules if No. 1 and No. 2 don’t apply.

20. “The Air Force has no authority to arbitrate disputed cases of non support . . .” LEGMAN P.5800.16a primarily based on percentage of housing allowance NAVPERSINT 1715.030 simple, very punitive, based on gross pay per family member AR 608-99 unbelievably complicated, 48 pages of single spaced 8 point type

21. “The Marine Corps will not serve as a haven for personnel who fail to provide adequate and continuous support for their family members.”

22. Example: E5 with wife and two kids. Marine Corps Regs: Hawaii Family Court: Assume nonmember spouse is CP Assume CP has 0 income Assume NCP makes $4,700 Assume no day care, SM pays $29 Tricare Dental Assume not in military housing CSGW support = $1,180 Alimony = ? • “BAH with” is $1,794 • Member pays greater of $233 per dependent OR ¾ (¼ per dependent) of “BAH with” • Member pays $1345

23. Same case, CP works and has day care. Marine Corps Regs: Hawaii Family Court: Assume nonmember spouse is CP Assume CP makes $2,500 Assume NCP makes $4,700 Assume $600 day care paid by CP, SM pays $29 Tricare Dental Assume not in family housing CSGW support = $1,660 Alimony? • “BAH with” is $1,794 • Member pays greater of $233 per dependent OR ¾ (¼ per dependent) of “BAH with” • Member pays $1345

24. Same case, NCP is in the Navy Navy Regs: Hawaii Family Court: Assume nonmember spouse is CP Assume CP makes $2,500 Assume NCP makes $4,700 Assume $600 day care paid by CP, SM pays $29 Tricare Dental Assume not in family housing CSGW support = $1,660 Alimony? • Member pays 3/5 of “gross pay” (1/3 for spouse, ½ for spouse +1, 3/5 for spouse plus two or more) • Member pays $2,820

25. Same case, NCP is in the Army Army Regs: Hawaii Family Court: Assume nonmember spouse is CP Assume CP makes $2,500 Assume NCP makes $4,700 Assume $600 day care paid by CP, SM pays $29 Tricare Dental CSGW support = $1,660 But if family resides in military housing, that costs the SM $1,794/mo, will the court treat that as a child support payment? Alimony? • Family Residing in miltary housing – Member pays $0 • Family not residing in military housing - Member pays “BAH-with,” in this case, $1,794

26. No support if: • Payor is victim of substantiated abuse • Income of payee is greater than soldier’s military pay • A court order exists but is silent on support • Payee is in jail • Soldier has paid for 18 months • Child has been kidnapped and soldier is attempting to regain custody • Spouse is guilty of marital infidelity (Navy)

27. The bottom line: Whoever is advantaged by going to Family Court will likely seek relief there promptly.

28. Security Clearances and Marriage to Foreign Nationals (a bad mix)

29. The Adjudicative Guidelines § 147.4 Guideline B—Foreign influence. (a) The concern. A security risk may exist when an individual's immediate family, including cohabitants and other persons to whom he or she may be bound by affection, influence, or obligation are not citizens of the Untied States or may be subject to duress. These situations could create the potential for foreign influence that could result in the compromise of classified information. Contacts with citizens of other countries or financial interests in other countries are also relevant to security determinations if they make an individual potentially vulnerable to coercion, exploitation, or pressure. (b) Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be disqualifying include: (1) An immediate family member, or a person to whom the individual has close ties of affection or obligation, is a citizen of, or resident or present in, a foreign country; (2) Sharing living quarters with a person or persons, regardless of their citizenship status, if the potential for adverse foreign influence or duress exists; (3) Relatives, cohabitants, or associates who are connected with any foreign government; (4) Failing to report, where required, associations with foreign nationals; (5) Unauthorized association with a suspected or known collaborator or employee of a foreign intelligence service; (6) Conduct which may make the individual vulnerable to coercion, exploitation, or pressure by a foreign government; (7) Indications that representatives or nationals from a foreign country are acting to increase the vulnerability of the individual to possible future exploitation, coercion or pressure; (8) A substantial financial interest in a country, or in any foreign owned or operated business that could make the individual vulnerable to foreign influence. (c) Conditions that could mitigate security concerns include: (1) A determination that the immediate family member(s) (spouse, father, mother, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters), cohabitant, or associate(s) in question are not agents of a foreign power or in a position to be exploited by a foreign power in a way that could force the individual to choose between loyalty to the person(s) involved and the United States; (2) Contacts with foreign citizens are the result of official United States Government business; (3) Contact and correspondence with foreign citizens are casual and infrequent; (4) The individual has promptly complied with existing agency requirements regarding the reporting of contacts, requests, or threats from persons or organizations from a foreign country; (5) Foreign financial interests are minimal and not sufficient to affect the individual's security responsibilities.

30. Domicile • The jurisdictional basis of divorce is domicile. • Three types of domicile: • Domicile by origin • Domicile by operation of law • Domicile by choice

31. Establishing Domicile by Choice • Actual residence with physical presence • Intent to remain for an indefinite period of time • Intention to abandon old domicile • Voluntary • Exists until superseded by a new domicile

32. Importance of Domicile • Servicemembers experience involuntary mobility • The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) allows Servicemembers to retain their domiciles for tax and voting purposes • Servicemembers are permitted to change domicile during service

33. Presumption of Domicile • Physical presence • Evidence of intent (written or oral) • Other affirmative acts • Moving family to state • Declaring residence in state documents and other documents • Paying taxes in that state • Registered to vote in that state

34. State Income Taxes • Many Servicemembers will elect to pay taxes in a state that is not their domicile in order to gain the tax benefits of that state • Simply filing a State of Legal Residence Certificate and opening a PO Box does not mean a change of domicile has taken place

35. Home of Record • Refers to place to which the Defense Department will transport the Servicemember and household goods upon separation from service • Military administrative term and not the same as domicile

36. Residence • Physical location of person • Intent to remain not required • A person may have multiple residences as opposed to a person only having one domicile • Most states, including Florida, have a 6 month residency requirement

37. The Nonmilitary Spouse • The nonmilitary spouse is able to establish a domicile independent of the Servicemember • The nonmilitary may lose benefits upon divorce or dissolution of marriage • Entitlement to live on base • Military ID card • Commissary and post exchange privileges • TRICARE and other health care benefits

38. Servicemembers Civil Relief Act • Provides for the temporary suspension of judicial and administrative proceedings that might adversely affect the Servicemembers during their military service

39. Stay of Proceedings • A stay is defined as a suspension of a civil case until the Servicemember who is a party is available to participate • If no appearance is made: • Determine his/her military status • The court must decide whether to grant a stay of the proceedings • The ability to prosecute or defend must be materially affected

40. Requirements for Application for Stay • A statement as to how the Servicemember’s current military duties materially affect his/her ability to appear • Must state a date when the Servicemember will be available to appear • Statement from Servicmember’s commanding officer that Servicemember’s current military duty prevents his/her appearance • The stay is not automatic of the time of the statement

41. Good Faith Requirement • Servicemember must demonstrate good faith and due diligence in his/her efforts to obtain military leave to appear in court

42. Default Judgments • May not be obtained against a Servicemember in his/her absence unless the court follows the procedures set out in the SCRA • If Servicemember in military and the stay is denied, court must appoint an attorney • If attorney not appointed for Servicemember, the judgment is voidable

43. If Default Judgment is Entered • SCRA provides protection • Allows the Servicemember who has not received notice of the proceeding to move to reopen a default judgment.

44. Support Issues for Servicember’s Spouse • 20/20/20 • Twenty years of service • Twenty years of marriage • Twenty years of overlap • Former spouse entitled to full military medical care

45. Support Issue’s for Servicembmer’s Spouse (cont.) • 20/20/15 (After April 1, 1985) • Twenty years of service • Twenty years of marriage • Fifteen years of overlap • Full medical benefits as long as spouse does not remarry

46. Support Issues for Servicemember’s Spouse (cont.) • 20/20/15 (After April 1, 1985) • Former Spouse entitled to a specific length of time of enrollment.

47. Pension • There are three formulas used to calculate longevity retired pay. • The Date of Initial Entry into Military Service (DIEMS) determines which one will be used.

48. Fifty Percent Formula • For all Servicemembers whose DIEMS date is before Sept. 8, 1980: • 2.5% x years of creditable service x final basic pay of SM = retirement pay, not to exceed 75% of final base pay • Cost of living adjustment (COLA) applied on Dec. 1 of every year

49. High-3 Formula • DIEMS date is between Sept. 8, 1980 and July 31, 1986 • 2.5% x years of credible service x the average of the highest 36 months of basic pay (last 36 months before retirement average) • COLA applied

50. REDUX Formula • If DIEMS is on or after Aug. 1, 1986, 2 options: • Servicemember may choose the High-3 Formula; or • Servicemember may choose the REDUX formula: • Must remain on duty for min. of 20 years and will receive a mid-career bonus of $30,000 • Monthly retired pay is 40% of the average of the highest 3 years of basic pay after 20 years of credible service • Servicemember receives a 3.5% increase per year for additional years up to 30 credible years • COLA calculated at 1% less than inflation • At 62, the REDUX is recalculated and the REDUX retirees receive the equal monthly pension as the High-3 retirees