Posted on Feb 4, 2016
Should deployed NG Soldiers receive BAH based on HOR, duty location (armory) or the higher of the two?
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NG Soldiers who live in high cost living areas can receive much higher BAH than Soldiers from small towns. The difference can be hundreds of dollars per month, for my location it is a $500 difference. I didn't question it until I recently read FAQ #26 at http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/faqbah.cfm. What do you think? Please read FAQ # 26 as it is the base of the idea.
BAH
Army National Guard
Deployment
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 10
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I believe it probably has more to do with taking care of the mortgage that still has to be paid during deployment, no? HOR makes sure that the family still living at the home of record can afford to live there and makes up for the loss of income from the job the service member would normally perform as an M-day soldier.
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SFC (Join to see)
You are correct, sir. BAH should be based on where the soldier/ his family physically resides, so that the residence can be maintained in the soldier's absence from regular employment. I have seen units use armories as the basis for BAH, but those were either wrong orders or the soldier was technically homeless.
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It should be HOR, if the residence is maintained throughout.
BUT...
The actual answer is that whatever location by zip code that the Guard establishes on your mobilization order is the one used for BAH.
I have seen this gamed by units and people many times to ensure a bigger BAH and/or CONUS COLA.
BUT...
The actual answer is that whatever location by zip code that the Guard establishes on your mobilization order is the one used for BAH.
I have seen this gamed by units and people many times to ensure a bigger BAH and/or CONUS COLA.
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MAJ (Join to see)
I had a Soldier who legitimately moved to Hawaii right before the mobilization he cleaned up!
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CPT (Join to see)
Should be HoR since BAH is a housing allowance. Would be nice if it was the larger of the two though.
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Unless you do 30 days you get the differential BAH rate anyway. I am not sure about the Army Guard. It should be based on your residence because the housing should offset the cost of living in your area for the mean house market. If I were to drill in LA but lived in podunk Baker CA, It would not make sense to get the higher BAH for LA.
On the other hand I could live in LA but drill in Riverside, so I would hate to get the lower rate. So the current system makes some sense.
On the other hand I could live in LA but drill in Riverside, so I would hate to get the lower rate. So the current system makes some sense.
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SFC (Join to see)
You get the differential with the Guard as well. That was a huge disappointment with my first AT after several years on active orders.
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SFC (Join to see)
Yep, we get differential unless orders are more than 30 days. Then, BAH should be based on where the individual soldier/his family physically resides, not on the drill location. For example, I live in Virginia; If I deployed while I was living in Norfolk but drilling in Rocky Mount (not NC), my mortgage payment in Norfolk would be the basis for my BAH. Rocky Mount is but a fraction of the cost of living of Norfolk.
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SGT (Join to see)
Its called BAH-RC, BAH-DIFF is for SM on active duty who have qualifying child support requirement situations. BAH-RC (what you were receiving) is for SM on active duty for 29 days or less; it is also referred to as Non-Locality BAH or Transient BAH. Non Locality Rates are used across the whole compo-spectrum, for example RA when PCS'ing it is the BAH Type that is paid when a SM departs from a location where he/she was in the barracks.
DIAMONDS ARE FORVER!
-SGT O
DIAMONDS ARE FORVER!
-SGT O
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