Posted on Aug 22, 2018
Johnathon Greer
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So lets say my BAH is 1200. I'm aware you have to be married. Do we pay for housing or is housing free and the 1200 is for like furniture and food and stuff.
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SGM Bill Frazer
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1. BAH is Basic Allowance for Housing. 2. If you live on Post in quarters, then they will charge you 1200 to stay there. If you live off post, then whatever is left after you pay your rent is your to spend. Damn little is free in the world.
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SFC Intelligence Analyst
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You do not have to be married to get BAH. Usually in the Army you get BAH once you make SSG (sometimes a SGT can get it if there's not enough room in the barracks). That's why there is the with and without dependent rate. Single soldiers SSG and above get the without dependent rate. If you have a dependent (spouse, kid or family member declared a dependent) you get the dependent rate.

Example: once I got promoted to SSG I got BAH at the w/o dependents rate when I PCSed to Ft Meade. After I got married in 2014, I got the with dependent rate. I still get the w/ dependent after my divorce because I have a child.

Now whenever you get BAH - that is your basic allowance for housing. Most people use it for rent/utilities. Also most people try to find an apartment lower than their BAH and then you have some money left over and you can use that for whatever.

Honestly you can use your BAH for whatever you want but it would benefit you to budget it for your rent/utilities.

BAS is for food.

Are you planning to get married? Are you in the military yet? I would recommend don't get married if you haven't yet especially if you're young and just joining.
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SFC(P) Drill Sergeant
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Johnathon Greer - Yes ive never lived on base housing without them taking your BAH. But it covers everything the rent, the electric, the water, trash, ect. There are Pro's and Cons to living on Post though so it all depends.
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SFC Intelligence Analyst
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SFC(P) (Join to see) - I thought that's what they did is just took it all. I'm considering living on post when I PCS to Lewis solely because I don't want to deal with traffic in the morning and getting up any earlier than I know I will have to especially with a 4 year old.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CPT Lawrence Cable
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Johnathon Greer - And no, you don't get to pick your housing on post, it will be assigned to you according to your rank. Unless you are married, expect that you will be living in the barracks most places, that those facilities can vary a lot.
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SFC Intelligence Analyst
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Johnathon Greer - Are you even in the military yet? Or thinking about it? Are you married right now or thinking about it? Why the concern with BAH?
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PVT (Non-Rated)
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If you live on base housing is free, but you don‘t get BAH is my understanding. If you live off base your housing is relative to your regional cost of living.
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