Posted on Jul 28, 2023
Has the Army ended the GEO BACH program? Do all dual military members CONUS collect BAH?
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My wife and I are dual military MACP enrolled with 1 daughter. She is a SSG I am a SGT. Naturally my daughter is on my wife's deers because she is the higher ranking member. I PCS’ed to Eglin AFB Oct 2022 and now I just completed PCSing to Fort Liberty July 2023. My wife is still stationed at our previous duty station JBLM. (we were both here before I went to Eglin) Finance here is telling me I am not eligible to collect BAH because I am a geo bachelor (and I should be in the barracks) but I have seen other posts on here saying that the Army ended the geo bach. program in 2017 and all dual military members conus should collect BAH. Does anyone have proof of this? Someone mentioned an ALARACT message but I could not find it.
Dual Military
BAH
Fort Bragg
Finance
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
As you stated, dual-military have one servicemember at BAH without-dependents rate (you) and the other (if you have one or more dependents) at the BAH With-dependent rate (her).
When the two of you are maintaining separate households due to military orders, your authorizations are considered separately*. In other words, you are considered as a single E-5.
Looking at Fort Liberty’s policies*, this guidance is also reflected there – “Bona fide single Soldiers in the ranks of private (E-1) through sergeant (E-5) are required to live in the barracks … Unaccompanied Soldiers married to another Service member on separate tours will be assigned to housing on the same basis as unmarried personnel.”
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* DoD 7000.14-R Financial Management Regulation, Vol 7A, Chap 26, Housing Allowance - https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/documents/fmr/current/07a/07a_26.pdf
* Fort Liberty policies - https://home.army.mil/liberty/index.php/about/garrison/directorate-public-works/dpw-ho/unaccompanied-housing
When the two of you are maintaining separate households due to military orders, your authorizations are considered separately*. In other words, you are considered as a single E-5.
Looking at Fort Liberty’s policies*, this guidance is also reflected there – “Bona fide single Soldiers in the ranks of private (E-1) through sergeant (E-5) are required to live in the barracks … Unaccompanied Soldiers married to another Service member on separate tours will be assigned to housing on the same basis as unmarried personnel.”
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* DoD 7000.14-R Financial Management Regulation, Vol 7A, Chap 26, Housing Allowance - https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/documents/fmr/current/07a/07a_26.pdf
* Fort Liberty policies - https://home.army.mil/liberty/index.php/about/garrison/directorate-public-works/dpw-ho/unaccompanied-housing
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Unfortunately, finance is correct. Since you are different bases and you are not a SSG you have to live in the barracks.
I tried to submit an Exception To Policy to this for one of my Soldiers awhile ago saying SM needed a residence family could stay at while visiting but it was denied. Maybe having a child will be enough to get it approved. I suggest talking to housing about an ETP format. The ETP will have to be approved by all commanders all the way up to Garrison to get BAH. It will take time and be frustrating but good luck to you.
I tried to submit an Exception To Policy to this for one of my Soldiers awhile ago saying SM needed a residence family could stay at while visiting but it was denied. Maybe having a child will be enough to get it approved. I suggest talking to housing about an ETP format. The ETP will have to be approved by all commanders all the way up to Garrison to get BAH. It will take time and be frustrating but good luck to you.
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My apologies for the double tap, I failed to add that maintains a household of any size to support your family is way too costly and would likely be a burden on your Family which can lead to problems in the unit. I have never seen it work out in the way that the Soldier intended.
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It is largley grade dependants and in sone cases barracks are not available allowing certain service members access to BAH. All of this, including waivers are established processes within each Garrison Command.
Your unit may, or may not know the policy (as they should). Ask for the Garrison policy from there you will know. It is highly unlikely that you would received a waiver as an E5 outside what currently exists.
Your unit may, or may not know the policy (as they should). Ask for the Garrison policy from there you will know. It is highly unlikely that you would received a waiver as an E5 outside what currently exists.
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Why are barracks considered so bad? As a SGT, he would have a room and not live in the bay. At least that used to be the way it was.
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SGT (Join to see)
Because thats $1750 a month the Army is no longer paying me. Which is apparently a garrison policy not DOD policy because I was just at Eglin AFB where I was paid BAH and not forced to live in the barracks. Not to mention what am I supposed to do with my household goods? Fit it all inside of a barracks room? Pay out of my own pocket to store them until the Army decides to station my wife here? And if I am entitled to that pay when my spouse and I live together how am I no longer entitled to that pay when we are separated by military orders? My financial obligations have not changed I still need to pay for childcare which is not cheap for an E5+E6 dual military.
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COL Randall Cudworth
SGT (Join to see) - I know you're not going to want to hear most of this, but I'll give you the reasons for the questions you asked.
"Which is apparently a garrison policy not DOD policy" - Actually, this IS a DoD statutory regulation (not policy). The services each have an overall policy on the ranks affected as each use a different determination for guidelines in building Unaccompanied Housing (UH) at the installation. This can be further modified by installation specific policies if they have too much or too little UH constructed.
Specific to the Air Force, their general guidance is that E-1 through E-4 (with less than 3 years of service) will be housed in UH. Eglin doesn't have any modifications to that. Specific to the Army, their Barracks Management Program* specifies that CONUS unaccompanied Soldier in the grade of E-5 and below will stay in UH.
"If I am entitled to that pay when my spouse and I live together how am I no longer entitled to that pay when we are separated by military orders?" - BAH is an allowance to offset the cost of housing when you do not receive government-provided housing. Government quarters are being provided to you, so no BAH (actually, you should receive Partial BAH, but that's an insignificant amount ($8.70/month)).
"My financial obligations have not changed I still need to pay for childcare..." - again, BAH is an entitlement to offset housing. I understand most see it as another entitlement that is lumped in with the rest of the
"What am I supposed to do with my household goods?" - Your HHG allowance can be split into multiple shipments that go to multiple locations. The guiding factor is that the cost to the government cannot exceed what it would cost if one shipment went by 'best rate available' to your PDS location. This means you can designate a shipment to your wife's location back at JBLM. Talk to your transportation office about this. (I just reread your original post saying that you've already completed your PCS to Liberty. As such, there might not be a lot of wiggle room). You may also be able to put off paying for storage for a certain amount of time. Your transportation office will confirm how long you can keep it in temporary storage (I think 90 days and you can get it extended is approved).
Now, here are the things that may affect you in order to get an exception to policy about your BAH.
1) Change who your daughter stays with. This means you would no longer the a "unaccompanied Soldier" and would receive BAH at the with rate and your wife would get BAH without rate. It will be likely a slight decrease, but you would not longer be required to stay in the UH (where ARE you staying? If you're off-post, just keep in mind you're violating a number of regulations) and since your wife is an E-6, she won't be subjected to the UH requirement as an "unaccompanied Soldier".
2) Depending on when your wife is up for a change in her PDS can determine if any exceptions apply. It's a longshot, but if there is a projected move timeframe, this may be enough for an ETP from the Garrison Commander.
Finally, contact Military OneSource*. They have a number of experts available that you can access to discuss options regarding storage, childcare, and other options.
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* ABMP - https://home.army.mil/gordon/application/files/2416/7839/4940/ABMP_Handbook_V2_12_January_2021.pdf
* Military OneSource (https://www.militaryonesource.mil/) is both a call center [login to see] ) and a website, which provides comprehensive information, referral and assistance on every aspect of military life 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to all component members of the Armed Forces, their Family members, and survivors.
"Which is apparently a garrison policy not DOD policy" - Actually, this IS a DoD statutory regulation (not policy). The services each have an overall policy on the ranks affected as each use a different determination for guidelines in building Unaccompanied Housing (UH) at the installation. This can be further modified by installation specific policies if they have too much or too little UH constructed.
Specific to the Air Force, their general guidance is that E-1 through E-4 (with less than 3 years of service) will be housed in UH. Eglin doesn't have any modifications to that. Specific to the Army, their Barracks Management Program* specifies that CONUS unaccompanied Soldier in the grade of E-5 and below will stay in UH.
"If I am entitled to that pay when my spouse and I live together how am I no longer entitled to that pay when we are separated by military orders?" - BAH is an allowance to offset the cost of housing when you do not receive government-provided housing. Government quarters are being provided to you, so no BAH (actually, you should receive Partial BAH, but that's an insignificant amount ($8.70/month)).
"My financial obligations have not changed I still need to pay for childcare..." - again, BAH is an entitlement to offset housing. I understand most see it as another entitlement that is lumped in with the rest of the
"What am I supposed to do with my household goods?" - Your HHG allowance can be split into multiple shipments that go to multiple locations. The guiding factor is that the cost to the government cannot exceed what it would cost if one shipment went by 'best rate available' to your PDS location. This means you can designate a shipment to your wife's location back at JBLM. Talk to your transportation office about this. (I just reread your original post saying that you've already completed your PCS to Liberty. As such, there might not be a lot of wiggle room). You may also be able to put off paying for storage for a certain amount of time. Your transportation office will confirm how long you can keep it in temporary storage (I think 90 days and you can get it extended is approved).
Now, here are the things that may affect you in order to get an exception to policy about your BAH.
1) Change who your daughter stays with. This means you would no longer the a "unaccompanied Soldier" and would receive BAH at the with rate and your wife would get BAH without rate. It will be likely a slight decrease, but you would not longer be required to stay in the UH (where ARE you staying? If you're off-post, just keep in mind you're violating a number of regulations) and since your wife is an E-6, she won't be subjected to the UH requirement as an "unaccompanied Soldier".
2) Depending on when your wife is up for a change in her PDS can determine if any exceptions apply. It's a longshot, but if there is a projected move timeframe, this may be enough for an ETP from the Garrison Commander.
Finally, contact Military OneSource*. They have a number of experts available that you can access to discuss options regarding storage, childcare, and other options.
--------------------------
* ABMP - https://home.army.mil/gordon/application/files/2416/7839/4940/ABMP_Handbook_V2_12_January_2021.pdf
* Military OneSource (https://www.militaryonesource.mil/) is both a call center [login to see] ) and a website, which provides comprehensive information, referral and assistance on every aspect of military life 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to all component members of the Armed Forces, their Family members, and survivors.
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My recruiter talked to me about Geo-Bach when I switched from the Marines, and I ended up in the same scenario. No Geo-Bach so I lived out of a hotel for the first part of my checking in.
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