Can a minor marry a Army soldier?

Answer 1

The laws of marriage are specific to each state. Generally, they coincide with the Age of Consent laws, but there is no security in this either. Essentially, if the laws of the state in which the marriage is going to take place permit a minor of a specific age to marry with parental or judicial consent or if the minor in question is emancipated, then it is legal in that state for the minor to marry anyone. However, it is important to realize that not all states will legally recognize the marriage between a minor and an adult if the laws of a state in which they reside as husband and wife do not permit such marriage to occur, and the soldier can be prosecuted under criminal statutes for Sexual Activity with a Minor in any state in which such activity occurs if that state has such statutes on the books. Also, a soldier in the US Army can be assigned to any Army installation within the US and abroad, but there is no law that states the spouse or their dependents must accompany them; the wife and any children they may have may remain in the state where the marriage occurred, and as long as no sexual contact occurs outside that state, no prosecution can legal proceed in any other state. Additionally, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act nor any other military regulation or legislation will provide any protection from prosecution in these instances.

For example, in 2005, a man and his minor wife, who were married in the state of Texas, and moved to Michigan soon after. Michigan does not recognize the marriage between a minor and an adult, and when she became pregnant, the husband was prosecuted, convicted, and incarcerated (not certain if it was jail or prison) and is now required to register on the internet registry of every state for twenty five years.

You may not believe this to be fair, you may not believe this to be equitable, but it is the nature of the laws of the individual states within the United States.