Posted on Nov 4, 2015
My BAH was lowered while I'm in AIT and my wife resides in another state, help!
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Hey Soldiers,
So I'm currently at Ft Gordon, GA for AIT on my 3rd week. I'm here for 25b IT Specialist(22 weeks), I'm married, no children and my spouse is currently in CA. The VHA zip code on my LES changed from CA(where my wife currently resides, working, with a 1-year lease) to here in Augusta, GA. I met with the NG Liaison and he said there was a policy that came out a few months ago that states if a Soldier in training's MOS is 20 weeks or longer, the zip code changes to where the soldier is currently at. Doesn't make any sense to me since it won't cover my rent alone. From LA to Augusta, the rate difference is huge. He said all I can do is file a complaint. He told me to google NGB and read up on it but I haven't seen anything about it. As far as I know speaking to other NCOs here that it shouldn't be like that. I should be receiving the rate based on where my spouse is residing. Is the liaison just jerking my chain?
I'm making an appt with my S1(Finance) to see if he can help. Should I go to JAG?
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
Thank you
So I'm currently at Ft Gordon, GA for AIT on my 3rd week. I'm here for 25b IT Specialist(22 weeks), I'm married, no children and my spouse is currently in CA. The VHA zip code on my LES changed from CA(where my wife currently resides, working, with a 1-year lease) to here in Augusta, GA. I met with the NG Liaison and he said there was a policy that came out a few months ago that states if a Soldier in training's MOS is 20 weeks or longer, the zip code changes to where the soldier is currently at. Doesn't make any sense to me since it won't cover my rent alone. From LA to Augusta, the rate difference is huge. He said all I can do is file a complaint. He told me to google NGB and read up on it but I haven't seen anything about it. As far as I know speaking to other NCOs here that it shouldn't be like that. I should be receiving the rate based on where my spouse is residing. Is the liaison just jerking my chain?
I'm making an appt with my S1(Finance) to see if he can help. Should I go to JAG?
WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
Thank you
Army National Guard
BAH
Fort Eisenhower
Military Pay
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 85
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We have the same rules in the Navy. Over 22 weeks is considered a PCS and your wife may join you. If this is the case, you will be entitled to a household move and your contract with your apartment complex will fall under the Relief act. There is a way however, if your wife is enrolled in a major university, or has a solid foundation in a career that can be deemed as a result to stay, then they will allow it. However, keep in mind that those are hard to get because the Army will be paying twice for two separate households if you maintain a barracks room as well.
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That same situation happened to me. I am in the reserves married living in florida. I was at ft sam school back in 07. My orders did not authorize family and my Zip code stayed in florida along with my family. BLUF i got IG to help me. You are entitled to have your BAH for where your family resides along with fam sep. If your orders authorize family to pcs with you then your BAH will be at your duty station. As for how your les zip code changed. Put in a pay inquiry and change it back to your HOR. As a reservist or Nat Guard you are allowed to maintain your full time residence where you live.
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Hm that's funny, just got out of bravo school a few months ago and it's 19 weeks and 4 days so they could avoid things like living off post on bah, getting a pov while in tradoc, etc etc
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The first thing to not do is lose your cool. Go to your chain of command and let them help you sort it out, and quickly by the sound of things. You are at AIT and on active duty so all those resources are at your disposal. Your chain of command has a lot more influence talking to NG liaasons or finance folks. It's their job and what they are there for. Hope things work out for you.
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There should be a rule for geographical bachelors; of which AIT puts you in that situation; therefore based on the spouses location. An unaccompanied tour (of which most schools are), would normally give you the BAH of where your family is. If that rules been changes, it certainly unfair. As people have said, go to finance; if they cant work it out go to the IG. In the mean time go to Army Emergency Relief. The Army wants you focus on your training and on mission accomplishment, that's why we have organizations like AER and why the commanders should be motivated to get this resolved for you; . Good luck. follow up with my and others' suggestions, but stay focused and soldier on. On this Veterans Day, thank you for your service and good luck with your Army Career!
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LTC (Join to see)
PS-I looked at the profile-i noticed you are National Guard-are you going to be on drill status as opposed to active duty? They do seem to have some unfair rules for the reserve components. For example, when I went on annual training, I was single, but did not get even the single rate BAS. I just got basic pay BAS, no BAH because we were in govt quarters) Married people got the full married BAH. But both single and married soldiers had to maintain their homes so it unfair to single people. In your case, you are married and would get BAH for sure; I would think that the same geographical bachelor should apply, but the reserve components can have some weird rules. Same advise I gave above still applies. Also if you have a civilian job that pays more, mention that to AER as well. In any case, you are learning an MOS that has great payoff later on. Be sure you use your educational benefits along with the military training you will be in good position for well-paying jobs down the road. Hang in there and good luck.
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How were you not grandfathered in? Does AIT dictate your duty station or does it not start properly until you get to your unit?
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It doesn't matter how long you're in ait for, your bah is based off of where your spouse resides while you're in training.
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SFC (Join to see)
You might want to check with finance because that's what I thought too but was told differently by finance last week...
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You should fill out another 5960 and submit it to finance... I haven't heard of that policy but it could be correct... My biggest question is what happens when you graduate AIT? You know that once you are released from active duty and you go back to your National Guard unit, the BAH goes away, right?
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Quite honestly, you are lucky that you are receiving BAH. When I went to Basic and AIT back in 2001, if you are in the Guard or Reserves, you did not get BAH even if you have dependents. But things have changed since then.... What you need to do is submit an ETP (exception to policy) through your chain of command to send up to HRC/USARC (I have to double check to be sure). I had several Soldiers that were in a similar situation as yours. If your ETP is approved, your BAH rate will change to where your wife is currently, but it will only be effective starting on the approval date. It is not retroactive. Good luck to you!
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He is not jerking your chain. You are authorized to PCS per the JTR. Since the PCS is authorized you draw the BAH rate of your current location. A complaint won't do you any good, but as another Soldier mentioned try AER to help cover your loses. You will have to pay it back, but without interest. Good luck at school.
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