BAH
Recruiter
Family
Spouses
Responses: 3
4
4
0
Don't know, but I do know that being a geographic bachelor is hard on a marriage. Most don't make it.
I don't know the reason you are considering it
_If you have kids, and don't want to disrupt their lives, the moves will give your kids a bigger picture of the America; possibly the world. My kids lived in Africa for two and a half years.
_If your wife's career is that good, support her and develop your own career in the same area.
_If your wife wants to live with Mom and Dad for emotional support, she may not be strong enough to be a military wife. They have to be leaders on their own and independent.
I do know that BAH NEVER covered the actual cost of living off-base. If your wife is going to maintain her own household in your home state, you are going to find out the hard way what a financial strain it is to maintain two households, most cannot.
I don't know the reason you are considering it
_If you have kids, and don't want to disrupt their lives, the moves will give your kids a bigger picture of the America; possibly the world. My kids lived in Africa for two and a half years.
_If your wife's career is that good, support her and develop your own career in the same area.
_If your wife wants to live with Mom and Dad for emotional support, she may not be strong enough to be a military wife. They have to be leaders on their own and independent.
I do know that BAH NEVER covered the actual cost of living off-base. If your wife is going to maintain her own household in your home state, you are going to find out the hard way what a financial strain it is to maintain two households, most cannot.
(4)
(0)
SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA
In OSUT I got BAH for my wife's home town. Then I was still technically in IET at my first duty station as an 18X, dependents not authorized until after SFAS. I decided I had spent enough time without my wife, and moved her at my own expense. At that point BAH moved to her new location.
BAH has always been a substantial source of income for us. It was always more than twice our rent payment, so we still had hundreds of dollars each month to put toward other expenses after paying rent, all utilities, and renter's insurance. Dom Gomez
BAH has always been a substantial source of income for us. It was always more than twice our rent payment, so we still had hundreds of dollars each month to put toward other expenses after paying rent, all utilities, and renter's insurance. Dom Gomez
(2)
(0)
Maj John Bell
SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA - I'll admit my method wasn't scientific. My wife and I have always kept detailed track of expenses. You have to remember things like utilities, trash pick up, gas consumption for commuting, etc. etc. Back in the 80's as a Lieutenant moving on base at Camp Pendleton, was net gain of about $130 a month in expendable income, and we were not living in great neighborhoods off base. Results were comparable at every other duty station I served in CONUS.
(2)
(0)
SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA
Maj John Bell - we never tried living on base, primarily because I believe in having unregistered firearms in the house for defense.
We keep detailed track of our expenses, as well. We use the Every Dollar budget tool from Dave Ramsey. All things considered, I would have had a shorter commute if I'd lived on base, but the dollar difference clearly favored off-base housing. And we were never in bad neighborhoods. But, I've only experienced Bragg (twice, Fayetteville the first time and Spring Lake the second) and Benning (once, in Columbus, as close to the NIM as possible).
We keep detailed track of our expenses, as well. We use the Every Dollar budget tool from Dave Ramsey. All things considered, I would have had a shorter commute if I'd lived on base, but the dollar difference clearly favored off-base housing. And we were never in bad neighborhoods. But, I've only experienced Bragg (twice, Fayetteville the first time and Spring Lake the second) and Benning (once, in Columbus, as close to the NIM as possible).
(1)
(0)
3
3
0
I’m a Finance NCO and I can tell you that no your wife doesn’t have to live with you to get BAH. But as every mentioned below me, it is very hard on a marriage to be separated from your wife. For example my wife and I were separated for a while when I got to my first duty station. Eventually we talked it out and decided it was best for her to move with me. On the same note for your wife to have to uproot and leave everything she’s ever known behind is hard on a marriage as well. Weigh out all of your options and know what you’re getting into. I’m by no m and trying to talk you out of joining, but just know what comes with enlisting. Discuss everything with your wife and come to a sound decision together.
(3)
(0)
LCpl (Join to see)
Can I ask a few questions regarding this topic? So, I know my fiance for almost a whole decade now, we went to school together became best friends and our relationship just keeps developing regardless of where I am. I am confident our relationship will not have any problems by been away from each other. That being said, she can't want to leave the states because as you mentioned, that would be leaving everything behind and mainly her father who also needs her help, he is not US resident yet and he is in the process of getting the paperwork done but because of that he cannot come to live with us since I am stationed in Okinawa so, my plan was to have my fiance settle a home back in the states and her father while I live in the barracks in oki and finish my first contract. My question is how exactly can we make it work, and is it possible for me to live in the barracks on base in Okinawa japan while my future wife lives in the states and gets BAH?
(0)
(0)
2
2
0
If your stationed state side and your spouse lives in there home state you only receive BAH for where your stationed at but you will not be able to maintain a barracks room. You will have to find a place off post.
Or
Like myself I did two years in Germany and I am currently in Korea. My wife and kids went back to California where we are from and I receive BAH from where she’s living.
But I will have to agree being separated is really hard on a marriage. I once receive divorce papers to Afghanistan. It’s really hard on marriages.
Or
Like myself I did two years in Germany and I am currently in Korea. My wife and kids went back to California where we are from and I receive BAH from where she’s living.
But I will have to agree being separated is really hard on a marriage. I once receive divorce papers to Afghanistan. It’s really hard on marriages.
(2)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google