Posted on Aug 16, 2020
My DS said I'm not allowed to talk to S1 while I'm at AIT. Is that true?
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My BHA switched from CA (my spouse's location) to my AIT location (Ft. Sam Houston). For what I was told, I should get BHA based on my home of record while I'm at AIT. Also, DOD FMR 7A, Chapter 26-9 "is newly inducted, enlisted, reenlisted, or an officer candidate then the payable BAH rate is the dependent’s location rate." I want to talk to S1 about this but my DS said I can't talk to S1 as IET.
Your input would be greatly appreciated!
Your input would be greatly appreciated!
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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You are absolutely entitled and required to talk to S1 and Finance. If your DS says no, go over their head and talk to their boss.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
Yes I agree with SFC Boyd. Your DS is part of the problem and you have a right to seek a solution. Your DS should be actively trying to help you. That is a leadership failure.
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No. BAH is based on where you the soldier are. If your AIT is of a length that is 20+ weeks that is considered a PCS move and so you will get BAH on that location. Whoever told you that your BAH is based on your spouses location is wrong or did not ask enough questions before answering you.
Also, no, you DS had no business telling you that you could not see your S1. Go over your DS head and speak to his or her next line supervisor.
Also, no, you DS had no business telling you that you could not see your S1. Go over your DS head and speak to his or her next line supervisor.
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Sgt Jude Eschete
SSG Nathan Stryker - Adding examples to this, in the fleet I was stationed on Camp Pendleton and my wife was in Louisiana. I was a geobachelor and was allowed to live in the barracks (command probably allowed it because I was an LCpl/E3). My BAH was based on my location at the 92058 area code for Oceanside, although my home of record stayed listed as Louisiana (I was able to maintain a Louisiana Driver's License and vehicle registration as well, as well as vote absentee in Louisiana elections).
When I deployed, my BAH stayed at the Pendleton rate. When I took terminal leave, and both my spouse and I were in Louisiana, as BAH on terminal is based on ETS location.
Tldr: The regs change depending on what stage you are in your career. If you believe you are being treated unfairly and you are 100% in accordance with the proper regulations, try to resolve the issue at the lowest level, and if that doesn't work, elevate the situation.
When I deployed, my BAH stayed at the Pendleton rate. When I took terminal leave, and both my spouse and I were in Louisiana, as BAH on terminal is based on ETS location.
Tldr: The regs change depending on what stage you are in your career. If you believe you are being treated unfairly and you are 100% in accordance with the proper regulations, try to resolve the issue at the lowest level, and if that doesn't work, elevate the situation.
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LtCol Robert Quinter
No, the AIT site BAH is appropriate only if the soldier's orders indicated it was and accompanied tour and dependent travel and transport of household effects were authorized.
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The S1 likely told your DS that they don’t want to interact directly with IET. That said, your DS should still be able to complete a pay inquiry with you and submit thru S1 to finance. My guess is that your DA Form 5960 was processed based on duty location, not location of your dependents. You may need to resubmit it to correct your BAH. Keep track of your pay to ensure you get the appropriate back pay. Keep in mind that your PCS orders for phase 2 will likely show dependents: Yes, so your BAH for phase 2 will be your duty station because it is 22 weeks long. If you don’t bring your family to phase 2, you can request a G1 waiver to be paid at the rate where your family is living, but it’s not guaranteed, can take a long time to process, and is not retroactive. Because you are getting BAH, you may not be able to live in the barracks at phase 2 and have to pay rent at your duty location and pay for where your family resides.
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PFC (Join to see)
Thank you Sergeant! Yes, I acknowledged that I can live off-post on Phase II, I'm trying to request a waiver for phase I since I can't live off post or having my dependents here. Do you think I call call directly to S1 for the waiver or I should bring this up to DS?
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MSG (Join to see)
First, your DS and Army Instructors should fall under the same company commander and 1SG. I would voice your concerns to the instructors as well because they have more of an interest in you successfully completing the course. If this financial hardship is impacting your academics, that should be important to them. Second, your commander and 1SG have an open door policy. This usually means your DS notifying the Senior Drill Sergeant of the request. The Senior Drill may be able to resolve your issue. If it comes to the point where you need to interact with S1, use the DS, Senior DS, 1SG, Commander chain to make that happen. S1 may also be largely teleworking because of COVID, so there may not be a means for you to directly interact with them even if you knock on their door. PFC (Join to see)
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MSG (Join to see)
Thank you Sergeant for the information. I will make sure I respect the chain of command. I just filled out DA Form 5960 and have all my support documents. I'm thinking to go to my DS again asking him to submit it to S1 to resolve my issue. Last time I talked to my DS about my concerned, he kept asking me personal questions like how much I made before I joined, what did I do?, why did I afford my rent at that time, but not now.Then he judged me and my spouse that he doesn't understand why we are living in an expensive apartment, things like that. I just want to know what I am eligible to while I'm at AIT and my spouse back home.
Thanks again for your input Sergeant.
Thank you Sergeant for the information. I will make sure I respect the chain of command. I just filled out DA Form 5960 and have all my support documents. I'm thinking to go to my DS again asking him to submit it to S1 to resolve my issue. Last time I talked to my DS about my concerned, he kept asking me personal questions like how much I made before I joined, what did I do?, why did I afford my rent at that time, but not now.Then he judged me and my spouse that he doesn't understand why we are living in an expensive apartment, things like that. I just want to know what I am eligible to while I'm at AIT and my spouse back home.
Thanks again for your input Sergeant.
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