Posted on Sep 24, 2019
Should I contact the IG for going TDY en route at BOLC and not being authorized BAH?
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I’m prior enlisted SM and recently commissioned. When attending BOLC at Gordon my BAH stopped, then Gordon started it back up, then stopped when I left Gordon. When I in-processed Belvoir I was given a huge amount of back pay as they said I should have received BAH all along being prior enlisted.
However here I am three months later finding myself with a big indebtedness on my LES. When contacting my finance office, I am told by the director I should have not gotten it and they made a mistake. I never attended any school/TDY not receiving BAH and this back and forth is quite frustrating.
I am told by other officers that went to BOLC (they were single at the time) also prior enlisted I should definitely receive BAH.
I can’t seem to find a regulation to back it up and was wondering if it is advisable to proceed to contact IG at this point.
A few facts of note: Dual military SM (enlisted spouse). During BOLC quarters were provided. Stationed and cleared BRAGG. TDY en route to Gordon and PCS’d to Belvoir.
However here I am three months later finding myself with a big indebtedness on my LES. When contacting my finance office, I am told by the director I should have not gotten it and they made a mistake. I never attended any school/TDY not receiving BAH and this back and forth is quite frustrating.
I am told by other officers that went to BOLC (they were single at the time) also prior enlisted I should definitely receive BAH.
I can’t seem to find a regulation to back it up and was wondering if it is advisable to proceed to contact IG at this point.
A few facts of note: Dual military SM (enlisted spouse). During BOLC quarters were provided. Stationed and cleared BRAGG. TDY en route to Gordon and PCS’d to Belvoir.
BAH
TDY
Enlisted
Officer
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 14
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I think IG, at this point, is jumping the gun. Get your ducks in a row, paperwork together, and then make an appointment with the finance folks and get this all figured out. As THEM for the regs if they say you don't get something. They are the experts and generally they aren't out to screw you. They may be incompetent and sometimes negligent, but they aren't malicious.
If THAT fails, then go through your chain of command to find another level of finance folks to talk to.
If THAT fails, and your Command is putting you off, THEN you can talk about IG.
IG is really there to look into abuses and oversteps by the Command, not to investigate financial pay problems - unless they have something to do with the Command (ie, that whole National Guard deployment where people aren't/weren't getting paid).
If THAT fails, then go through your chain of command to find another level of finance folks to talk to.
If THAT fails, and your Command is putting you off, THEN you can talk about IG.
IG is really there to look into abuses and oversteps by the Command, not to investigate financial pay problems - unless they have something to do with the Command (ie, that whole National Guard deployment where people aren't/weren't getting paid).
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MAJ (Join to see)
MAJ Z you are correct. IG would refer it to the command and provide information to the Soldier.
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I am sure there are some different rules between Navy and Army, but I would caution about going to the IG. Exhaust all other options (Finance, leadership, etc) before being that person that heads right to the IG. This is a big problem you have, and it should never have become a problem. My 2 cents is you would be better dealing with your leadership on this. The plus is that your leadership will see that you had a hardship, and instead of running to the IG, you gave them a chance to solve it. It is better for a problem to come internally, rather than externally. If the leadership doesn't solve it, then by all means, head over to the IG. Hope they fix it for you.
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TSgt David Holman
This is right on the money. Honestly, if I had an airman (or in your case LT) who immediately ran to the IG with a situation that could likely be handled by the chain of command, without giving the chain a chance to handle it, I don't think it would end well for them. They are within their right, but most likely, the IG is going to ask what aveues you have taken to address the problem prior to getting involved.
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At some point someone should have given you a memorandum of indebtedness and that memo should have referenced remission or cancellation of debt which can happen for two reasons. The first is hardship and the second is that the Government made a mistake, you took the money in good faith meaning you did not know you were not entitled to the money. Regulation for remission or cancellation of debt is AR 600-4.
I am not sure why everyone here is against going to the IG. You have already been to Finance with your Chain of Command and they cannot provide you the regulatory guidance. If nothing else, the IG operates as an adviser to Command and the IG will be able to provide the true regulatory guidance on BHA in your situation.
I am not sure why everyone here is against going to the IG. You have already been to Finance with your Chain of Command and they cannot provide you the regulatory guidance. If nothing else, the IG operates as an adviser to Command and the IG will be able to provide the true regulatory guidance on BHA in your situation.
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