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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Yes on the BAH for sure as you most likely still have property stateside that you will need to continue to pay for. As for BAS, they could possibly cut that because like you said you are getting your food at no cost while you are there and you aren't really in need of food to be delivered to an empty home, unless you have dependents of course. So maybe just cut BAS for single members. I would be more than willing to relinquish my BAS on a deployment for the sake of giving it to someone deployed with a family stateside that would need it.
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LTC (Join to see)
SrA Matthew Knight BAS is strictly for those serving, hence why it does not rise if you have dependents. While admirable to give up to those with families they get separation pay that really is close to BAS.
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SrA Matthew Knight
LTC (Join to see) Ah, I am not married so that is something I never knew. Makes sense.
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Single military members in the barracks do not get it anyway. But the rest at least are still paying for an apartment or a home, so the BAH is still needed. Now you could stop the BAS for military members that do not have dependents though. We would get COLA, and Hazardous Duty pay according to where we were deployed.
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LTC (Join to see)
MSgt Allan Vrboncic I do want to point out that I do love our military families and I know from experience and as a company commander that they play a vital role in supporting those who serve and that they make sacrifices. I know that we need to support them and take care of them in order to ensure that the Soldiers downrange do not get distracted from their mission worrying if their families are being taken care of or not. I have the upmost respect for them. This discussion is an open debate on benefits that we currently have. That is all.
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MSgt Allan Vrboncic
I just did a refresher course on BAS and it is intended for the Military members only as you said. Does it go up though if you get married? And no. You should not ever lose your BAS for any reason.
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MSgt Allan Vrboncic
As you can see. I am very rusty on the benefits. So now I think I have it figured out now So, BAH and BAS should never be stopped. Especially BAH because that means you must be paying for some type of off base housing and the payments do not stop just because you deploy.
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LTC (Join to see)
MSgt Allan Vrboncic BAH goes up with dependents or with rank. BAS is in two rates: enlisted or officer.
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Let me ask this.
Was the coffin rack I lived in on ship worth a comparable amount to BAH? What about a tent in the desert? What about those days when I didn't actually receive "housing" at all?
When the government deploys you, whatever previous housing arrangement you had, doesn't cease to exist. Depending on geographic location, that can be sizable.
If they are going to take away BAH, they need to remove dependents from base housing facilities as well. Food for thought.
Was the coffin rack I lived in on ship worth a comparable amount to BAH? What about a tent in the desert? What about those days when I didn't actually receive "housing" at all?
When the government deploys you, whatever previous housing arrangement you had, doesn't cease to exist. Depending on geographic location, that can be sizable.
If they are going to take away BAH, they need to remove dependents from base housing facilities as well. Food for thought.
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LTC (Join to see)
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS I would disagree. I would be working and putting money into social security that would be there when I retire and not being used to put a brand new leather coat on someone who has never worked a day in their life and never will by their choice.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
LTC (Join to see) The governments attempts and its successes are unrelated. I believe they try to write fair (highly subjective) law. Their success in doing so.... "Momma always said if you can't say anything nice..."
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CPT Zachary Brooks
Well 30% of my paycheck goes towards making sure the government can conduct all it's silly projects and studies. Can I claim them as a dependent and get more BAH?
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1LT (Join to see)
Will you help me move my stuff into a storage, pay for my storage, find me a home when a return home, and make sure my household goods get moved back in a timely manner. Overall, would you buy me a bed to sleep on while waiting for my household goods. I really don't think you would.
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Initially, it makes sense to only provide for dependents.
..But then it raises the question of how we discriminate between married and single SMs. The old saying about if the Army wanted you to have a family.. Where are we in that debate?
..But then it raises the question of how we discriminate between married and single SMs. The old saying about if the Army wanted you to have a family.. Where are we in that debate?
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LTC (Join to see)
1LT L S I need time alone to myself before I can start even going out there to look for a wife or start knocking out kids. Though it only takes one to be paid w/ dependents!
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CPT (Join to see)
LTC (Join to see) - "Why are my tax dollars paying for your family? To make a really rough argument what have they done to earn separation pay or the extra BAH? They do not provide a service to the American people more than a police officer's spouse when they go to riots or have to respond to other places....." With you pretty closely on this one.
I'm not anti-family support (am an Army brat who was 'never going to join the military' come hell or high water - and therefore some kind of a product of it. This, in itself, could argue that the support of families has a level of tangible value when you consider the percentage of SMs who are brats make up a huge majority of those who go on to serve in the future ... but I digress), but I have found myself wresting with these inconsistencies throughout command of how to treat SMs (married and unmarried) equitably.
Hypothetical: you have two E4s: one's married and chooses to live off-post, the other is unmarried and required to live in the barracks. Both Soldiers commit the same offense - and say everything else is equal - how do you equitably administer NJP? If you restrict the unmarried Soldier to the BDE footprint, would it be fair for the married Soldier to have to live on-post for the duration of his punishment phase? What if you took pay - would you treat the married Soldier differently because the pay might impact his family?
Know I'm digressing from the central topic here, but it taps a strong vein I like hearing others' opinions on because I'm not completely satisfied with where I am with it. It's complex. And you're right.. there is a total discrepancy in how married/unmarried Soldiers are treated, though not sure it'd fall under an EO protected category.. What if it did? Almost a base post for another discussion.
I'm not anti-family support (am an Army brat who was 'never going to join the military' come hell or high water - and therefore some kind of a product of it. This, in itself, could argue that the support of families has a level of tangible value when you consider the percentage of SMs who are brats make up a huge majority of those who go on to serve in the future ... but I digress), but I have found myself wresting with these inconsistencies throughout command of how to treat SMs (married and unmarried) equitably.
Hypothetical: you have two E4s: one's married and chooses to live off-post, the other is unmarried and required to live in the barracks. Both Soldiers commit the same offense - and say everything else is equal - how do you equitably administer NJP? If you restrict the unmarried Soldier to the BDE footprint, would it be fair for the married Soldier to have to live on-post for the duration of his punishment phase? What if you took pay - would you treat the married Soldier differently because the pay might impact his family?
Know I'm digressing from the central topic here, but it taps a strong vein I like hearing others' opinions on because I'm not completely satisfied with where I am with it. It's complex. And you're right.. there is a total discrepancy in how married/unmarried Soldiers are treated, though not sure it'd fall under an EO protected category.. What if it did? Almost a base post for another discussion.
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LTC (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see) if they want the extra pay they have to pay the time if they mess up (family or Soldier). I heard of wives who got sent home from Germany after being disruptive and making it hard for the command to keep good order and discipline. I always think keep this fair, but you always have to treat Soldiers on an individual basis. So if you mess up you get punished, but it may not be the same punishment for each Soldier. Fair does not mean equal.
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CPT (Join to see)
LTC (Join to see) - fair doesn't mean equal. Absolutely. But if that's the case, we take things into an increasingly subjective realm where the leaders handling the issues may or may not do this effectively (and how do we really train - or receive training - to do this effectively? For me, it was standing in my CDR's office watching him administer FG ART 15s but I was lucky to have an extraordinary boss).
In your opinion, is there a way to keep this more objective?
In your opinion, is there a way to keep this more objective?
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I never got both full- full BAH, yes, because my family had to have a roof over their head- got NO, 0, BAS because the Army was feeding me.
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Yes if your Married and Deployed you definitely should receive BAH and BAS along with Family Separation Allowance.
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BAH is for your dependents. BAS is for you. If you are receiving food overseas, then you shouldn't be getting BAS.
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Most mobilized Soldiers have a house "back home" whether it is a mortgage or rental. I think for those that have families, this is a no-brainer. It might get trickier with single Soldiers but I mobilized three times as a divorced Officer with no dependents living with me. I had a mortgage to pay while I was deployed and used my BAH for that. I do think that BAS should stop if meals are provided in kind just like it used to be when I was on active duty and went to the field.
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I believe that those living in the barracks, to include young officers in the on-base barracks should not receive any more money than they are in garrison. Those with dependents count on that money to take care of their residence for their dependents, even the SM's BAS is counted into that income. When they go to the field it is taken, but never processed timely so the SM can account for the lower pay for one or two pay periods.
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BAH -- Yes, this is to primarily assist with off post housing and families. Single troops authorized to live off post and receiving BAH, No. They can put items into storage, etc.
BAS -- No. That is an allocation for meals for the troop, not the families. When deployed BAS should stop.
BAS -- No. That is an allocation for meals for the troop, not the families. When deployed BAS should stop.
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Wait. Single soldiers receive BAH while deployed? Really? Hmm...
Well, I wouldn't really consider it as "housing" when you live with no privacy, and in a place with no amenities most of the time.
Well, I wouldn't really consider it as "housing" when you live with no privacy, and in a place with no amenities most of the time.
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Yes! Your financial obligations do not stop as a deployed service member. Although you are protected from certain things, you still have to maintain your household regardless of status.
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Yes, because if you have dependents they don't come with you and rent or mortgage will still have to be paid. As far as BAS goes, technically you shouldn't get that because BAS is meant for food for the Soldier but most use it for their families too.
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BAH should continue. Another posted that rent/mortgage doesnt stop when you deploy. Even if you do move out of a housing unit, you will incur storage unit costs.
BAS could stop for the full months deployed, less any days not provided with meals (shore leave/liberty).
BAS could stop for the full months deployed, less any days not provided with meals (shore leave/liberty).
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Absolutely you should get it. Still required to maintain a mortgage while deployed.
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When you have a place and dependents, then yes. It's not like when I deploy, my family and rent/mortgage just vanishes into thin air.
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If you have family, mortgage and utility bills of course. If the GOV wants to save money on deployment, how about no R&R and give additional 15 days at end of tour, that would save $500 million + just in air fare cost. Also duplication of equipment in theater that they are paying for start air, just leave in place and establish GFE permanent in theater. That would safe a lot of $s too.
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If you look at regulations, for those with dependents, the BAH is theirs, not yours. Taking this away would put everyone in a hardship as it is still your responsibility to provide housing/food for your dependents. In addition to this, would it make sense to have to move all your stuff into storage, shut off all your bills, pay for a storage facility, then on return have to find a new place to live, get your utilities turned back on, and move again every single time you deploy or go TDY? As is, there is no time allotted for house hunting after a PCS/TDY. Granted you get R&R time, but seriously who would be happy about having to spend this time moving?
I do feel that you should be required to prove that you were paying for a house/apt during this time though to put a stop to those putting their stuff in storage and making huge profit off of the BAH during a deployment.
I do feel that you should be required to prove that you were paying for a house/apt during this time though to put a stop to those putting their stuff in storage and making huge profit off of the BAH during a deployment.
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SSgt (Join to see)
I am Air Force, not Army so are our regulations are a little different. AFI-36-2903, paragraph 1.2.3.7.2. While this does not directly state "for family", it does state that if it is not used to support your family, then you lose the entitlement and have to backpay what has been received. Just looked it up myself.
As for BAS... while it would possibly create a hardship for many if this were lost even short term, if they are properly prepared and financially stable it would not. BAS is for the member directly, dependents has zero factor in it. Seeing as meals are provided at almost all deployed locations, BAS at this point is more of a luxury.
As for BAS... while it would possibly create a hardship for many if this were lost even short term, if they are properly prepared and financially stable it would not. BAS is for the member directly, dependents has zero factor in it. Seeing as meals are provided at almost all deployed locations, BAS at this point is more of a luxury.
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