Air Force Secretary stands up to protect BAH eligibility.

Wow! We really disagree on this point. Possibly because of the different experiences we had as an Army Reserve Officer and an active duty Air Force NCO. Your statement "Cant afford to live off-base, Don't!", just doesn't pass the reality test. Every base I was ever stationed at, had a smaller number of on base housing available then personnel stationed there (i.e. you often couldn't live on base, even if you wanted to). The typical AF base has more than enough junior enlisted (dorms), Senior NCO Quarters, and Officer housing, so the burden is placed on the mid level NCO and the married airman (i.e those with the least amount of disposable income). If the DoD wants to save money on BAH, they should build on base quarters for everyone and make folks live on base. However, we both know that will never happen because the DoD likes to have a level of economic impact and leverage on its communities that comes from having a few thousand people renting and buying houses in the community.

While I agree there's a lot of unnecessary spending, why is DoD fat? Active Force levels are as low as they've ever been and let another major conflict occur, you'll see personnel costs affect these cuts. Too many short sighted personnel decisions have effected readiness on numerous occasions and the AF I know has gone back to career fields they've trimmed and a short time later had to ask prior service personnel to reenlist. Embrace the suck but not the bean counters...

MSgt James Mullis - I agree with you 100%, If the DoD wants to save money on BAH, they should build on base quarters for everyone and make folks live on base.

You are not the first one to say this. I hope it is a genuine effort to protect the force.