Posted on Mar 11, 2015
Should we really get BAH and BAS if we are deployed?
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This will surely be a heated debate. As leaders we are looking for ways to be smart with our money, so why do we all get full BAH and BAS when we are deployed? We are provided with housing and food without any costs to us overseas. So should we be given BAH and BAS while deployed?
BAH
Deployment
Military Pay
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 122
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If you are required to maintain non-government housing, you should receive BAH. Rent doesn't stop because you deployed. BAS should stop whenever you receive meals in kind.
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SGM Erik Marquez
@SP6 Michael Primm "By SP6 Michael Primm about 7 hours ago:
Those entitlements are for your family not you."
An interesting statement, wrong on it's face, yet, a position the Army at least agrees with at times... let me explain.
At its base, BAH and BAS is authorized to the service member... both those with and without family. Yes there is an increased amount based on family,,, yet still the moneys are not per say, for the family.
Yet, should a service member voluntarily or or by order , be removed from the home.. Army Regulation 608–99, Personal Affairs Family Support, Child Custody, and Paternity comes into pay.. and now that same service member who receives BAH and BAS is not obligated to provide some it it to the spouse (BTW Im not advocating a servicemember should NOT be providing for their spouse and children, not at all)
(from Paragraph 1-5-b):
Soldiers are required to manage their personal affairs in a manner that does not bring discredit upon themselves or the U. S. Army. This responsibility includes—
(1) Maintaining reasonable contact with family members so that their financial needs and welfare do not become official matters of concern for the Army (see para 2–1).
(2) Conducting themselves in an honorable manner with regard to parental commitments and responsibilities (see chap 2).
(3) Providing adequate financial support to family members (see paras 2–3 through 2–9)
To answer the OPs question directly .
Yes the service member should be allowed to retain BAH. The service authorized other than government furnished housing,, they should not rescind that authorization upon deployment orders.
BAS.. like it or not, that funding is to provide from the servicemembers substance.. period. Yes that money bundled with other is used collectively to feed the family, but that is a decision of the service member.. If the service is providing sustenance directly (food while deployed or in training) then there is no "right" for BAS, even though budgetary wise there may be a need on the servicemembers part. My only want for this is a standard established, and service members informed, counseled, and acknowledge the loss of BAS well in advance of the benefit being stopped. The patchwork of enforcement is difficult for junior service members to deal with in many cases
Those entitlements are for your family not you."
An interesting statement, wrong on it's face, yet, a position the Army at least agrees with at times... let me explain.
At its base, BAH and BAS is authorized to the service member... both those with and without family. Yes there is an increased amount based on family,,, yet still the moneys are not per say, for the family.
Yet, should a service member voluntarily or or by order , be removed from the home.. Army Regulation 608–99, Personal Affairs Family Support, Child Custody, and Paternity comes into pay.. and now that same service member who receives BAH and BAS is not obligated to provide some it it to the spouse (BTW Im not advocating a servicemember should NOT be providing for their spouse and children, not at all)
(from Paragraph 1-5-b):
Soldiers are required to manage their personal affairs in a manner that does not bring discredit upon themselves or the U. S. Army. This responsibility includes—
(1) Maintaining reasonable contact with family members so that their financial needs and welfare do not become official matters of concern for the Army (see para 2–1).
(2) Conducting themselves in an honorable manner with regard to parental commitments and responsibilities (see chap 2).
(3) Providing adequate financial support to family members (see paras 2–3 through 2–9)
To answer the OPs question directly .
Yes the service member should be allowed to retain BAH. The service authorized other than government furnished housing,, they should not rescind that authorization upon deployment orders.
BAS.. like it or not, that funding is to provide from the servicemembers substance.. period. Yes that money bundled with other is used collectively to feed the family, but that is a decision of the service member.. If the service is providing sustenance directly (food while deployed or in training) then there is no "right" for BAS, even though budgetary wise there may be a need on the servicemembers part. My only want for this is a standard established, and service members informed, counseled, and acknowledge the loss of BAS well in advance of the benefit being stopped. The patchwork of enforcement is difficult for junior service members to deal with in many cases
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PV2 Glen Lewis
I had to look these up to find out what they stood for but my feeling for a long time has been that BAH should be a servicemen's right whether deployed or not. It was in my day but that was 45 years ago and an E-1 was getting $125 a month so you just about had to have it.
BAS I think you should be getting if you have a family. Whether you're at home or deployed you still have them to support. Your meals shelter, etc. of course should be covered whenever you're deployed but perhaps not in the States. The Armed Forces are paid almost 10 times what we were paid back in the '70s.
Medical, dental and the like I will always contend that they should be a part of what you are accorded as a member of the Service. I understand that these have to paid for nowadays and I heartily disagree with that policy.
I'm assuming I got the right definition for the acronyms but feel free to correct me if it doesn't look as if I haven't. A lot of what we were accorded has changed since I wore a uniform.
BAS I think you should be getting if you have a family. Whether you're at home or deployed you still have them to support. Your meals shelter, etc. of course should be covered whenever you're deployed but perhaps not in the States. The Armed Forces are paid almost 10 times what we were paid back in the '70s.
Medical, dental and the like I will always contend that they should be a part of what you are accorded as a member of the Service. I understand that these have to paid for nowadays and I heartily disagree with that policy.
I'm assuming I got the right definition for the acronyms but feel free to correct me if it doesn't look as if I haven't. A lot of what we were accorded has changed since I wore a uniform.
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On the active side, BAH is only given to those with qualified dependents. BAH is to provide those dependents with adequate housing. BAS should stop if rations in kind are being provided. Having said that, being deployed I think we should be allowed to get whatever money we can get. Our lives are on the line.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
1SG (Join to see), can you cite a reg? Yes Single SM's in the barrack/dorms would not get BAH while deployed simply because they don't get BAH to begin with. But a single SM that does not have government quarters would still get BAH while deployed. They CAN use their TDY orders to break lease, but are not required to.
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Cpl Lorne Houle
Not entirely true. .. I received BAH as an E4 due to base overcrowding. I didn't have a choice.
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MSgt Hal Weeden, MBA
The Joint Travel Regulations (JTR), known prior to 1 Oct 14 as the Joint Federal Travel Regulations, Vol. 1 (JFTR), cover the rules for BAH in Chapter 10. They are needlessly complicated, currently at 106 pages. There are cultural differences between the services on housing as with many things. In the Air Force, it is more common than other services to have insufficient housing on base for junior enlisted personnel. 1SG (Join to see) cites an example of single E-6 and below being required to live in government quarters. I was forced off base as an E-3 with just 17 months service. Anyone who is receiving BAH for living off the installation should continue to receive BAH while deployed, since that is a temporary situation and one needs to maintain their residence. The rules are different if you are TDY instead of deployed. TDY of over 180 days is actually considered a PCS, and per diem is curtailed.
As with everything else in the finance world, there are plenty of exceptions, and the possibility for some waivers. Your actual mileage may vary....
As with everything else in the finance world, there are plenty of exceptions, and the possibility for some waivers. Your actual mileage may vary....
Effective 1 October 2014, the Joint Federal Travel Regulations, Vol. 1 (JFTR), and the Joint Travel Regulations, Vol. 2 (JTR) are consolidated into one volume titled the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR).This action reduced redundant information and the overall number of pages of travel regulations.All issuances should be updated with the correct JTR name and/or paragraph reference(s). If necessary, issuances may be submitted for review, to...
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CPT Lawrence Cable
1SG (Join to see) - I think you will find that most post restrict CNA's of E5's and below, E6 and above can live on the Economy. Deployment does not cancel your BAH as long as your original base is listed as your PCS location.
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When voting, one should consider Reservists who are married w/kids, etc who really take it on the chin when deployed
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1SG Michael Blount
SSgt (Join to see) - more easily said than done, SSgt, especially for the services not named USMC. Frankly, I'm not sure I want to be on deployment with someone whose focus is not on the mission because he's worried about his family's financial situation. If BAH/BAS scratches that itch, then it's a small price to pay
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SGT (Join to see)
The army pays huge bonuses for most of these soldiers to come back pay millions to private weapon contractors while putting soldiers on the side. This makes a lot of soldiers not want to re-up. The reason why you don't see them coming back of this bullshit the army pulls off, taking benefits away using their broad so called rules, this happened with education benefits for part time soldiers where they were going to take it out entirely by bending broad term rules and now this.
Most of the young ones make more back at home and they can't survive and support themselves making ends meet back home.
You are losing out on good soldiers.
Most of the young ones make more back at home and they can't survive and support themselves making ends meet back home.
You are losing out on good soldiers.
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SSG (Join to see)
SSgt (Join to see) - That’s a little narrow minded yes? I’m in the National Guard and still have a family back home to house whilst deployed. Should they just be put out on the street? As mentioned above, the allowance is for the family...not the SM.
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I feel there is no one answer on this sort of question. In that light here is my opinion...
If someone is deployed, maintains their lease or rental agreement where all of their personal household goods are kept then regardless of dependency status they should receive BAH. On the other hand if someone is deployed, breaks their lease or rental agreement and places all of their household goods in storage then they should receive the equivalent of the storage costs not necessarily BAH. The issue that we run into is that unless the service member notifies their PSD (or equivalent) that they have broken their lease/rental agreement then they will continue to get paid BAH, this would also be the case if they sublet their place during deployment.
For BAS, this may be the unpopular opinion but if you are being provided meals then you should not receive BAS. BAS is not awarded for you and your family, it is awarded to you. If you are TAD/TDY and a galley is available your orders are endorsed "messing available" it does not matter if you have a spouse and kids at home because it is an entitlement for you.
If someone is deployed, maintains their lease or rental agreement where all of their personal household goods are kept then regardless of dependency status they should receive BAH. On the other hand if someone is deployed, breaks their lease or rental agreement and places all of their household goods in storage then they should receive the equivalent of the storage costs not necessarily BAH. The issue that we run into is that unless the service member notifies their PSD (or equivalent) that they have broken their lease/rental agreement then they will continue to get paid BAH, this would also be the case if they sublet their place during deployment.
For BAS, this may be the unpopular opinion but if you are being provided meals then you should not receive BAS. BAS is not awarded for you and your family, it is awarded to you. If you are TAD/TDY and a galley is available your orders are endorsed "messing available" it does not matter if you have a spouse and kids at home because it is an entitlement for you.
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LTC (Join to see)
PO1 (Join to see) BOOM! Yes BAS is only for you not for your family. That is the hard truth!
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SGM Mikel Dawson
I never bought any food while in Kuwait/Iraq, maybe a snack or two. It didn't matter to me what the mess hall served, I ate it or MREs. After a while Burger King opened at BIAP, but I never went. As my Dad told me many years ago, "Why by the cow, when you can get the milk for free." I've been places and times when I had nothing to eat, so as long as I had to use the TP the next day, it was fine with me.
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MAJ (Join to see)
I still regret buying food from Iraqis. I was worried it mutated my dna and my daughter might be born with six toes on each foot.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
I got BAS in Iraq with no defendants. Never really understood it, but I'm not upset about the extra pay.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
LTC (Join to see), family sep pay is to offset the additional cost of running two households due to military orders.
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SMSgt (Join to see)
LTC (Join to see) Separation pay is just to offset the cost of two households. Obviously BAH is to cover the housing cost for you dependents.
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Reservists and Guardsmen own homes in their communities. If I wanted to be mandated to change my residency every so often, I'd have stayed active duty.
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SFC Boots Attaway
CW3 (Join to see), they only get them if their orders are for more than 30 CONSECUTIVE days. When I was in the guard and on orders for pre-mobe training which was 30 days we were given TWO sets of orders. The first set was for the first 15 days and the second set was for the last 15 days just to keep from paying BAH.
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CW3 (Join to see)
I'm aware of that, but the question of this thread is about getting BAH/BAS while deployed...so by definition that is more than 30 consecutive days.
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I kept my apartment both times I was deployed. Finding housing is a pain in the ass as it is. Do you really want to do it after you get back from a deployment? Now if you put your stuff into storage and don't have civilian quarters, then yes, you shouldnot get BAH.
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SGT Joseph Jones
Which is why they require us to prove we lease or own homes. We can't just be single and below E-5 and live on base. If you live on base you don't get it so with that said why are the Regulations being questioned? Is it because some of our members own their homes and don't pay anything monthly and they don't get BAH so they make the same as an E-5 with children and house? If so I can see an issue. But that's a pay raise issue. Bah is payed the way it should be. Sure some get by by their wives going to live with mom and dad and they don't pay mortgages but if you own or lease your house you can't just break a lease and change your kids school so your wife can move home.
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SGT Joseph Jones
Cpt Brian Maurelli I have to say your wrong here this doesn't fuel the tops wife thinking she's the leader. Leaders marry leaders. The tops wife normally is just as successful as he is. The BAH isn't rewarding the family. Do you think an E-4 can afford to keep his family fed while deployed making the base pay for his rank and time? If not for BAH I would have only made 25,000 a year. The military doesn't pay near enough. But to say our spouses don't deserve to have us be able to pay the house payment is crazy. Consider what a senator and congressmen family gets. The presidents family gets all the respect and benefits in the world. He is the LEADER of the military. He is commander in chief they get paid 175,000 a year and up for working in the government if cuts are made it should be at that level the men and women who choose to send us to war and they choose what to pay us. So many guard and reservists make 40k and way better civilian jobs and when deployed they make 25k on average. Without BAH so not paying bah would cause them to lose everything they worked so hard to get. Federal law prohibits us from firing guard members because of deployment but with 12-18 month deployment a police officer or corrections officer isn't guaranteed that his position is still available. Cars have to be filled and patrols must be done. So they can't get their jobs back. They find a position but lose the one they had and its at a low cost. To the government. House payments is the least we can do! That's not for the spouse it's for the 3,5,7 year old at home that would be homeless in a few months if daddy can't make more money.
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SGT Joseph Jones
Cpt Maurelli your a LEADER and to think you agree with hanging your men out to dry and their families is gross. I know officers and single men get stiffed when it comes to BAH but use some logic please. I saw young E-2s deploy and making nothing have newborns at 19-20 years old fact is there's kids coming out of high school getting married because of small town values and they deploy and fight and leave wives for 1,012 dollars bi weekly? I went to bat to get everyone who was eligible a promotion e-2 - E-3 and if they could make E-4 and had time in rank from 3-4. But we had to have the slot available. I just can't see not paying it. It's not for the spouse it's for the livelihood of the service member. You have to always think about them as a leader. The wives normally allow tops wife to be head of the wives clubs. Our unit voted them CO wife and Tops wife did indeed act different but we always at Christmas and other unit functions treat them like we do Top. My wife was a big part of the wives club. They sent boxes to young men who didn't have family. It has to be organized with strong leaders and a woman who has 1-3 children and is suddenly single because daddy is gone is not going to be able to make enough money to cover everything. College kids get paid BAH while attending full time under GI Bill so yeah Simone fighting deserves it.
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SSG (Join to see)
CPT Brian Maurelli, spouses act like they are in charge or need to be saluted because they are TAUGHT that by their military spouse allows it to happen and they are not told otherwise. It is NOT because they receive BAH.
Why should a family be left with no BAH just because their husband/wife is deployed? They still need a roof over their heads. They still need food in their bellies. And that soldier needs to focus on the mission at hand and not whether or not his family is left struggling because they aren't home to receive BAH.
I think the idea that BAH should stop because of a deployment, leaving the family without that needed boost in income, is simply ignorant and short sighted. Taking that away would CERTAINLY create more problems than it solves.
Why should a family be left with no BAH just because their husband/wife is deployed? They still need a roof over their heads. They still need food in their bellies. And that soldier needs to focus on the mission at hand and not whether or not his family is left struggling because they aren't home to receive BAH.
I think the idea that BAH should stop because of a deployment, leaving the family without that needed boost in income, is simply ignorant and short sighted. Taking that away would CERTAINLY create more problems than it solves.
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LTC (Join to see)
LTC Dallas Powell if we trying to make cuts which do you want to make cuts to this or training or positions?
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LTC Dallas Powell
How about neither? Are any senior military officials or civilian leaders even suggesting that cutting BAH/BAS for deployed servicemembers is on the table?
They're nickel-and-diming us enough already. I guarantee in five years we'll be wondering why we can't keep the good ones in (who haven't left already by now).
They're nickel-and-diming us enough already. I guarantee in five years we'll be wondering why we can't keep the good ones in (who haven't left already by now).
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LTC (Join to see)
LTC Dallas Powell with lowered standards to increase the size of the military we are losing good ones as they are subjected to leaders who should have never been in the military let alone be leaders in it....
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Is the DoD going to pay storage for single folks if they cut BAH? What about fees for short selling homes?
BAS, sure, if you are getting full rations, no need for BAS since that is only for you and specifically for food.
BAS, sure, if you are getting full rations, no need for BAS since that is only for you and specifically for food.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
MAJ (Join to see) , are you sure? I cant find anything in Chapter 10 of the JTR. From a quick search, the tables seem to make it look legal. If you are not assigned government quarters you are authorized BAH for single members it is covered in Table 10E-1 Rule 1 (and specifically note 2). In table Table 10E-2 Rule 5, if you are TDY (not for PCS) BAH continues as long as the PDS doesn't change.
The Fraud section deals only with false dependency claims.
Im not saying that your wrong, I just can't find anything that supports the claim
The Fraud section deals only with false dependency claims.
Im not saying that your wrong, I just can't find anything that supports the claim
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MAJ (Join to see)
My information is about six years removed so it may have changed, but you need to submit a lease agreement, it only needs to be a room, but it must provide you an adequate living quarter. A storage shed does not meet the definition of "housing." Temporary storage of HHG is specifically covered under the JFTR. The FMR 7a Chapter 260101 states "BAH provides members a monthly allowance for housing" for housing not storage of HHG's. Back when I was a finance 73A unless they had certified dependents, we had to check specifically for a lease .
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
I have never had a troop have to produce a lease/rental/mortgage in 16 years. Might be a more restrictive army rule?
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
Everything in the current FMR 7a refers you to the JFTR chapter 10 which I discussed above.
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I have heard many times that the military loves families, this due to the fact that you are more likely to stay in if you have more people you have to support. Why would you take away benefits given to a service member that are used to support their family after you have sent the service member overseas and away from that same family?
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LTC (Join to see)
CPT Zachary Brooks what about single Soldiers? They are already paid different for BAH and do not receive separation pay. How do you retain them?
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I say yes for those with dependents AND if you do not live in government housing. Deployed or not you still have a mortgage or rent to pay back home and if applicable, a family to support.
The system (as it was back in 2005-2006) needed a little updating to make it more real time. The fact that you received multiple LESs and checks per month to receive benefits and deduct taxes was quite burdensome. It should be as easy as pulling up a SMs financial record clicking a check box for taxes, BAH, BAS, HD pay, Jump Pay, etc. and whatever elections are selected/not selected are what drive your pay the next paycheck - SHOULD BE. but we all know in "DoD land" its all but next to impossible.
Sorry this is the logical, software engineer ME speaking and trying to make "fantasy land" sense out of the hopelessly DoD oblivious.
The system (as it was back in 2005-2006) needed a little updating to make it more real time. The fact that you received multiple LESs and checks per month to receive benefits and deduct taxes was quite burdensome. It should be as easy as pulling up a SMs financial record clicking a check box for taxes, BAH, BAS, HD pay, Jump Pay, etc. and whatever elections are selected/not selected are what drive your pay the next paycheck - SHOULD BE. but we all know in "DoD land" its all but next to impossible.
Sorry this is the logical, software engineer ME speaking and trying to make "fantasy land" sense out of the hopelessly DoD oblivious.
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CPT Zachary Brooks
Sir, if you automate this system and make it work intelligently you lose jobs for all those great government workers. Now they can't be paid to look at porn for six hours a day.
Now they won't vote for me!
Now they won't vote for me!
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As a E-4 with 4 years in the military I clear $2100 base pay after taxes (Fed, not state) before entitlements.
An O-3, with 4 years in the military clear over $5K a month, before entitlements.
Really what you are talking about is the difference between the two is a college degree (which a good bit of the force has) and a commission. Now I'm not saying the Military doesn't get their moneys worth out of Officers, tougher promotion, stricter PT standards, level of responsibility.
What I am saying is that when promoting an idea on a military based social media site like Rally point, lets NOT give Congress any more ideas on how they can Nickle and dime us, which they already want to do with Tri-care, retirements etc.
If you want to keep people in the military, in Enlisted positions, taking away more of their entitlements esp. while deployed isn't the way to do it.
Also I would
An O-3, with 4 years in the military clear over $5K a month, before entitlements.
Really what you are talking about is the difference between the two is a college degree (which a good bit of the force has) and a commission. Now I'm not saying the Military doesn't get their moneys worth out of Officers, tougher promotion, stricter PT standards, level of responsibility.
What I am saying is that when promoting an idea on a military based social media site like Rally point, lets NOT give Congress any more ideas on how they can Nickle and dime us, which they already want to do with Tri-care, retirements etc.
If you want to keep people in the military, in Enlisted positions, taking away more of their entitlements esp. while deployed isn't the way to do it.
Also I would
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LTC (Join to see)
Let's just hope they are too busy doing their jobs instead of being on Rally Point then ;-)
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SGT Joseph Jones
So right. Officers are fewer between too so they can be paid more. They are leaders and have to prep more. They aren't typically 18 year old boys trying to become men. They have the college or enlisted time before OCS the army gets their money's worth out of them. But I don't think I ever made 5k a month while deployed maybe but it was 6 years in service E-5 with entitlements.
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I definitely think BAH should be given to all members while deployed! I disagree with it only being allotted to individual with dependents... I'm single... When I deployed, my rent didn't stop. Yes, I could of moved my belongings out and paid for storage and then upon return move my belongings again... That shouldn't be the case. Just because I lack dependents does not mean I don't have the same bills! The cost just might not be as high (hence the difference in BAH to begin with).
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LTC (Join to see)
SSgt (Join to see) great point about bills being same if not more as you have smaller BAH.
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No soldier gets payed enough to go to war to potentially sacrifice their lives and if anyone suffers more than the soldiers in battle, it is their family. BAH and BAS should not stop for those holding the homefront down for when they return.
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I actually agree with PO1 (Join to see) who said there are variations to this. What is sad is the fraud in the system. Seems even values-based services have greedy people in their ranks (common practice when I was enlisted...marrying another soldier for the benefits, mainly BHA).
Single soldiers, no dependents, okay, maybe no BHA. But this is slightly misplaced as a solution as it applies to this trend of cutting benefits to ease the financial burden on the Army (in our case). We can cut other areas and be more efficient with our spending against our mission and PROBABLE threats (quit spending for the big open desert tank war while non-standard conflicts that quickly devolve into insurgencies seem to be our 50m targets).
Single soldiers, no dependents, okay, maybe no BHA. But this is slightly misplaced as a solution as it applies to this trend of cutting benefits to ease the financial burden on the Army (in our case). We can cut other areas and be more efficient with our spending against our mission and PROBABLE threats (quit spending for the big open desert tank war while non-standard conflicts that quickly devolve into insurgencies seem to be our 50m targets).
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SGT Joseph Jones
Only one service member can recieve BAH. If they are married so that's not fraud. I know single mothers who deployed. Your right about spending smarter but it's not greed it's trying to get a little extra. LTC Griggs I don't think you remember how little enlisted pay is. Even an E-7 with 10 years doesn't make much money. Not until you get 12+ years and e-8 is the money good but there's civilian jobs that pay double that. Blackwater paid 120k a year for what I did for 55
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LTC (Join to see)
SGT Joseph Jones , I've only been out since October. My first gross pay for the MONTH as an E1 was $658...dad was a retired E8 and his retirement was peanuts. No chance I'll ever forget the disparity in pay, especially for our junior enlisted.
That said, we as leaders can do better helping those we lead manage their money and make the most of benefits. But my stance on this topic in the end is that we should not be cutting personnel bay and benefits and say that this is the best way to make up for budget cuts. We've cut enough.
As for BHA specifically, as I said and others have said as well, it is what is provided for my family and they need a place to live when I am deployed. I expect to be housed when deployed without impact to my family situation.
Wasn't someone talking about good RP discussions? This is a good RP discussion in my opinion.
That said, we as leaders can do better helping those we lead manage their money and make the most of benefits. But my stance on this topic in the end is that we should not be cutting personnel bay and benefits and say that this is the best way to make up for budget cuts. We've cut enough.
As for BHA specifically, as I said and others have said as well, it is what is provided for my family and they need a place to live when I am deployed. I expect to be housed when deployed without impact to my family situation.
Wasn't someone talking about good RP discussions? This is a good RP discussion in my opinion.
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LTC Robert McKenna
BAH is a sham. Its a method to keep servicemembers base pay lower for retirement purposes.
USG civilians receive a wage that is calculated to include the cost of housing in their CONUS local area. When they are deployed or serve oversea, they receive pay based upon the DC locality rate and then receive an OCONUS housing allowance.
If you were authorized BAH prior to deployment, then a service member should be authorized the allowance while deployed. Deployment is a temporary state (despite the fact that its been a 1 year steady state for most Army folks the last decade) that can change at any time.
This is a great discussion point for the revamp of military compensation. If we are going to go with a 401K type plan, why don't we have the base BAH (without the locality bump formerly called VHA) rolled into base pay; deduct BAH for government housing and use the new base pay figure as the base for 401K contributions.
USG civilians receive a wage that is calculated to include the cost of housing in their CONUS local area. When they are deployed or serve oversea, they receive pay based upon the DC locality rate and then receive an OCONUS housing allowance.
If you were authorized BAH prior to deployment, then a service member should be authorized the allowance while deployed. Deployment is a temporary state (despite the fact that its been a 1 year steady state for most Army folks the last decade) that can change at any time.
This is a great discussion point for the revamp of military compensation. If we are going to go with a 401K type plan, why don't we have the base BAH (without the locality bump formerly called VHA) rolled into base pay; deduct BAH for government housing and use the new base pay figure as the base for 401K contributions.
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While I understand why someone would state that we should not due to being provided food and housing for free, it does not alleviate the need for someone to still maintain their home.
This is particularly true for those with dependents. They still have to be able to provide adequate housing for their dependents. The reduction in BAH would obviously have a tremendous impact on this.
However, I don't think it should exempt single members either. Think about a Reservist with a mortgage. You can not assume that they could or want to sell their home just because they are deploying for 6 months to a year. That would place an undue hardship on them.
I know that if my BAH were eliminated while I am deployed, that the cost of housing where I live would eat up considerably more than half of my base pay. That would be problematic to say the least.
BAS could be something that I could see being eliminated or reduced while deployed since it is for feeding the service member.
This is particularly true for those with dependents. They still have to be able to provide adequate housing for their dependents. The reduction in BAH would obviously have a tremendous impact on this.
However, I don't think it should exempt single members either. Think about a Reservist with a mortgage. You can not assume that they could or want to sell their home just because they are deploying for 6 months to a year. That would place an undue hardship on them.
I know that if my BAH were eliminated while I am deployed, that the cost of housing where I live would eat up considerably more than half of my base pay. That would be problematic to say the least.
BAS could be something that I could see being eliminated or reduced while deployed since it is for feeding the service member.
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LTC (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) you currently do not have mortgage payments on your house in NY correct? So if you were single should the Army force you to put your stuff in storage? Or maybe give you partial per diem? Also, with being overseas you have less bills and get more money being tax free etc....that can pay for it (just being a dime picker here).
I agree about the BAS as PO1 (Join to see) said...BAS is for you....
Now I will let you in on a little secret....I love my BAH and BAS...please don't take it away!
I agree about the BAS as PO1 (Join to see) said...BAS is for you....
Now I will let you in on a little secret....I love my BAH and BAS...please don't take it away!
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I find this question a little silly, regarding BAH anyway. Consider the families living on post. When the Soldier deploys, are they to move out? Or are we to start charging them rent? Of course not. NEXT.
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I didn't get BAS both times I went to NTC. Makes sense. When I deployed I got it, but I also received HDP/IDP and Fam Sep, so if I did not receive BAS it would make sense since my meals were provided. Now, if the question was should a SINGLE soldier get BAH while deployed and not maintaining a residence, then I would say no, because there is nothing to maintain. Am I making sense? Also, for the single soldiers with mortages or residences to maintain, the SCRA covers them for either termination of the contract or derferment of payment until the SM returns.
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Whether you have a family or a house/apartment back in the states, when you deploy your payments back home do not stop.
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Who is out there collecting BAH while deployed without the proper qualifying guidelines? Of course if a person has dependent a and gets deployed they should keep their BAH. The BAS i'm not sure if I agree or disagree with removing or keeping that either. I was deployed before and divorced to a location where I received government housing and I lost my BAH even though I had court orders giving me custody. However o was given BAH differential for that entire period until I returned state side. But seriously If SM's are out there getting BAH/BAS without meeting the guidelines please let me know who the finance clerk because I need that type of hook up. Lol
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LTC (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) it is all in who you know and what you do to show you have rent....
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