Posted on Mar 19, 2019
How to receive BAH at losing installation rate when family stays behind for 180 days after report date per this year's NDAA?
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I have a question that no one seems to be able to answer so far.
In this year's NDAA, Section 604, entitled "HOUSING TREATMENT FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES, AND THEIR SPOUSES AND OTHER DEPENDENTS, UNDERGOING A PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION WITHIN THE UNITED STATES" there is a provision (among other things) for qualifying dependents to either:
PCS up to 180 days prior to the report date on SMs orders and for the SM to then receive BAH at the rate of the gaining installation (the location of the dependents)
or
PCS up to 180 days after the report date on SMs orders and for the SM to then receive BAH at the rate of the losing installation (the location of the dependents)
How can SMs take advantage of this legislation?
For example, I am on orders to report to Fort Leavenworth for ILE in July. My wife (who is eligible due to her full time employment) would like to remain here at Fort Meade for 180 days after my report date. According to the NDAA, I should be able to receive BAH at the Fort Meade rate during this time period, but no one seems to be able to tell me how to do so.
In this year's NDAA, Section 604, entitled "HOUSING TREATMENT FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES, AND THEIR SPOUSES AND OTHER DEPENDENTS, UNDERGOING A PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION WITHIN THE UNITED STATES" there is a provision (among other things) for qualifying dependents to either:
PCS up to 180 days prior to the report date on SMs orders and for the SM to then receive BAH at the rate of the gaining installation (the location of the dependents)
or
PCS up to 180 days after the report date on SMs orders and for the SM to then receive BAH at the rate of the losing installation (the location of the dependents)
How can SMs take advantage of this legislation?
For example, I am on orders to report to Fort Leavenworth for ILE in July. My wife (who is eligible due to her full time employment) would like to remain here at Fort Meade for 180 days after my report date. According to the NDAA, I should be able to receive BAH at the Fort Meade rate during this time period, but no one seems to be able to tell me how to do so.
Posted in these groups: 
PCS
BAH
Battalion Personnel Officer (S1)
Battalion S1 Personnel NCOIC
S1 Personnel NCO
PCS BAH Battalion Personnel Officer (S1) Battalion S1 Personnel NCOIC S1 Personnel NCO
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
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I've seen something similar where branch managers authorize a BAH waiver and that's added to the SMs orders in the special instructions. The spouse remains at the losing station while the SM attends school.
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MAJ (Join to see)
Thanks! SFC Hobbs had some particulars below, and I was able to find out additional info as well (below).
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This is one reason I love RallyPoint -- I read this question in the thread and had no idea what the answer could be. Then I blink and 3 Senior NCOs have already chimed in with great insights. It's stuff like this that you really can't get anywhere else. :-)
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What should happen is the Army Secretary builds policy for implementation within the service after legislation such as this to bridge the gap until a regulation update. Depending on the verbiage of the legislation, it might say that the "Secretaries may implement policies that best allocate resources provided by Congress", which basically means they can spend it if they want to. A rapid change would be announced by MILPER message. That is where to look.
You'll need it in writing, because not every finance shop is up on their MILPERs.
You'll need it in writing, because not every finance shop is up on their MILPERs.
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