Posted on Mar 11, 2015
Should we really get BAH and BAS if we are deployed?
135K
877
341
9
9
0
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
1
1
0
I give that a big yes. Many members are not provided Govt housing and still need to pay for housing for their families while they are on deployment.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
So my kids don't eat when I leave? I don't still have a mortgage payment?
If you want to mobilize a reserve component Soldier, then you have to pay the price.
If you want to mobilize a reserve component Soldier, then you have to pay the price.
(1)
(0)
LTC (Join to see)
CSM David Heidke you do get a bump in BAH, right or wrong, if you have dependents. So I see BAH. However, BAS is strictly for you, the individual and not the family. You have to pay for the food for the family you decided to have. BAS actually is just to help you with your individual needs for food and does not come close to what it costs to pay for food for a month for an individual either.
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
1
1
0
Without a doubt. Your house payments or rent don't go away and your BAS is to support your family as well.
(1)
(0)
LTC (Join to see)
MSgt Carrie Wright the BAS if meant for the individual and not for the family, hence why it does not change if you have dependents. You are being feed, so should it go away?
(1)
(0)
MSgt Carrie Wright
I could go either way on that one. I can see where you're coming from with that though.
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
This shouldn't be a debate. The obvious answer is Soldiers receiving BAH have dependents that still need to get taken care of so they still need to receive BAH.
(1)
(0)
LTC (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) how about BAS? Do those who do not have dependents lose their BAH then, even if some have houses?
(1)
(0)
SGT (Join to see)
Every post has different standards on who receives bah and bas for housing as single soldiers. It depends on the post. If you deploy you still should receive bah but not bas since you eat at a dfac downrange
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
its crazy this is even a discussion considering the benefits the families of government gets. The senators and Congressmen and presidents wife all have drivers and security free house. The president doesn't have to pay for a house or electric or anything he chooses to send us to war. Yet he makes 400k+. A year. He can buy 3 service members a home each year and still live well. The rest of the cabinet can as well. Then he will recieve retirement for life after 4 years of earning the most money anyone does in this country. While we have to do 20+ years to retire. Most presidents retire from other offices to become president. If we make cuts that should be where. Not at the bottom Guard men and Women and Reservists can not afford to leave a job that pays 50k plus a year to earn 30k a year max. Especially a young E-4,5 with a family. That's why so many of us left military after deploying we see the real world makes on average 2x as much as we do to protect the rights. If anything we should be discussing a military pay raise and government cuts. Even Representatives make great money compared.
(1)
(0)
LTC (Join to see)
SGT Joseph Jones I see the need to pay our Soldiers and that BAH goes towards housing, so if food is provided do you need BAS or ?
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
Yes, I still pay rent so my family has a place to stay and they also like to eat from time to time...
(1)
(0)
SFC (Join to see)
I will have to double check my LES from deployment to see if they took it back out each month. I know when I was active duty, they paid me on one line and than charged me the same amount as a debt to cover my meals at the DFAC.
And to reply to he COL as well, entitlements are always non-taxable income, so if they take away BAS and just raise the pay than they will also tax it. Leaving it on as an allowance avoids the tax issue.
And to reply to he COL as well, entitlements are always non-taxable income, so if they take away BAS and just raise the pay than they will also tax it. Leaving it on as an allowance avoids the tax issue.
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
BAH - definitely yes. Soldiers still have to pay for their rent while deployed.
BAS - probably not. BAS is intended for the soldiers to pay for their daily personal meals. For officers the amount is negligible in comparison to the rest of their pay. Even when I was a 2LT I didn't see the point of BAS for officers.
AS it pertains to BAS for enlisted, I'd rather give the enlisted members a pay raise than to pay BAS. Managing BAS is administratively burdensome depending on their status (active vs, reserve, mess availability or none, etc). I am almost sure that if we do a thorough analysis of the costs to manage BAS payments to soldiers, we are better off by eliminating the BAS, and giving the enlisted members a reasonable pay increase commensurate to their rank, and to make up for any additional tax burdens resulting from the pay raise.
BAS - probably not. BAS is intended for the soldiers to pay for their daily personal meals. For officers the amount is negligible in comparison to the rest of their pay. Even when I was a 2LT I didn't see the point of BAS for officers.
AS it pertains to BAS for enlisted, I'd rather give the enlisted members a pay raise than to pay BAS. Managing BAS is administratively burdensome depending on their status (active vs, reserve, mess availability or none, etc). I am almost sure that if we do a thorough analysis of the costs to manage BAS payments to soldiers, we are better off by eliminating the BAS, and giving the enlisted members a reasonable pay increase commensurate to their rank, and to make up for any additional tax burdens resulting from the pay raise.
(1)
(0)
LTC (Join to see)
COL (Join to see) do you think that we should part of our pay should be tax free even when stateside to help the junior enlisted who are close to the poverty line?
(1)
(0)
COL (Join to see)
CPT Brian Maurelli - That is a 'loaded' question with a complex answer. The tax code is already written to give most citizens part of their pay tax free (think of exemptions). Also, the tax tables are fairly generous to people in the lower income brackets, especially soldiers who are married with kids. However, most times that is not enough to get our some of soldiers and families beyond the poverty level.
I firmly believe it is an embarrassment that we have soldiers living near, at or below the poverty line, and that our Government could afford an increase in junior enlisted pay. In contrast, I also believe that every citizen and every soldier must pay their fair share of taxes. Our Congress can redirect un-needed funds from multi billion dollar projects, money that could be used to better soldier's livelihoods, and to help soldiers with money management skills. At the same time, soldiers of every rank should understand that their salaries come from the taxpayer, and as professional members of the military we should exercise our duty to pay our taxes.
I firmly believe it is an embarrassment that we have soldiers living near, at or below the poverty line, and that our Government could afford an increase in junior enlisted pay. In contrast, I also believe that every citizen and every soldier must pay their fair share of taxes. Our Congress can redirect un-needed funds from multi billion dollar projects, money that could be used to better soldier's livelihoods, and to help soldiers with money management skills. At the same time, soldiers of every rank should understand that their salaries come from the taxpayer, and as professional members of the military we should exercise our duty to pay our taxes.
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
If you have a residence, a home or an apartment, you have to pay rent or your mortgage, unless you sell the house or move out of the apartment before you leave. If you have a family, they have to live somewhere while you are gone. BAS is a different matter. Live would be easier if it stopped when deployed, paid when you are buying your own food, but we all know that there is a lot about military compensation that doesn't take the easy way to a solution.
(1)
(0)
LTC (Join to see)
SP5 Richard Maze wait the military doesn't take the smart easy way? I do not believe you!
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
Because some Soldiers still have family to support back home, bottom line.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
-
Ask questionGet expert advice and
tips for your questions. -
Post updatePost pictures, personal updates, plans, or anything you like!
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google 
