Posted on Jun 12, 2014
Why should BAH raise if you get married? Why should some people get paid more than others just because they're married?
3.83K
71
45
Posted in these groups: 
Military Pay
Military Pay
Posted >1 y ago
This is a duplicate discussion. Click below to see more on this topic.
DoD proposals are suggesting scrapping the "with dependents" rates under the current BAH program, moving instead to a simpler, flatter benefit that makes no distinction between single service members and those with families.
What are your thoughts about a universal BAH (based on locality) for single/married service members?
What are your thoughts about a universal BAH (based on locality) for single/married service members?
Responses: 9
BLUF: Personnel are not "paid" more because they are married. BAH=Basic Allowance for Housing. It's not a pay (and therefore not considered taxable income under the federal tax code). BAH is given to provide housing for dependents. If you are married to a civilian spouse then that person is your dependent (dependent is not exclusive to mean child, you can have an adult dependent). It has been the policy of the military to provide senior leaders BAH at a reduced rate (BAH W/O) to allow the service member to acquire housing for themselves off post on the economy. Otherwise, they live in the barracks on post. *side note, when going thru a separation or divorce, the service member is required to provide an allotment in equal value to at least the BAH to their dependent until the divorce is complete.
1SG (Join to see)
MAJ Ballinger, I was attempting to point out the flaw in the question to begin with. No one is "paid more" just because they became married. The military agreed to provide adequate housing as part of joining. It would be incredulous to believe the meager base pay provided is more than enough to support a family. But to address it more specifically, it the military wants to stop "paying" BAH, then they need to ensure there is adequate housing available on post for either service member's family. And stop revert family housing back to gov't controlled because privatization will only continue to have personnel receive BAH. And if they do all that, they will discover it costs more to build and maintain housing than what they were paying out in BAH to begin with, because there are many installations that do not have homes to accommodate me and my family.
I ask that you broaden your view, just a little.....as I try to demonstrate a couple sides to the argument.....does it open up the discussion for additional discussionary perspectives? I hope this gives you some perspective to comment. I am very interested in your thoughts.
Argument 1:
We should have equal pay, regardless whether we are married or not, have dependents or not....we're expected to (and get paid to) perform our wartime missions regardless of our family situation.....I am expected to carry a rifle and to engage and destroy the enemy of the United States in close combat.....
Argument2:
It's not fair that everyone gets the same entitlements, when it cost more to provide for a family as opposed to an individual. Married service members pay more for the dental plans, they pay more for "family sgli" and they have additional unique support requirements that single service members just don't have (e.g. child care, additional food cost's additional cost with utilities). Having the same BAH rate is very closed minded and follows the train of thought that we should all live in barracks together, regardless of rank and regardless of marital status. people have different situiations and different needs. Additional BAH for service members with families is not a something to change.
Argument 3:
We enlisted individual Soldiers/Sailers/Airmen/ Marines and Coast Guardmen, we reenlist families....think of all the servicemembers in the services today that were raised in a military family. Those from a military family background typically have more determination and discipline and it is important to encourage our servicemembers to raise families while in the service. To encourage a healthy life, we need to provide a little more pay (BAH) for them as well.
Your thoughts?
Argument 1:
We should have equal pay, regardless whether we are married or not, have dependents or not....we're expected to (and get paid to) perform our wartime missions regardless of our family situation.....I am expected to carry a rifle and to engage and destroy the enemy of the United States in close combat.....
Argument2:
It's not fair that everyone gets the same entitlements, when it cost more to provide for a family as opposed to an individual. Married service members pay more for the dental plans, they pay more for "family sgli" and they have additional unique support requirements that single service members just don't have (e.g. child care, additional food cost's additional cost with utilities). Having the same BAH rate is very closed minded and follows the train of thought that we should all live in barracks together, regardless of rank and regardless of marital status. people have different situiations and different needs. Additional BAH for service members with families is not a something to change.
Argument 3:
We enlisted individual Soldiers/Sailers/Airmen/ Marines and Coast Guardmen, we reenlist families....think of all the servicemembers in the services today that were raised in a military family. Those from a military family background typically have more determination and discipline and it is important to encourage our servicemembers to raise families while in the service. To encourage a healthy life, we need to provide a little more pay (BAH) for them as well.
Your thoughts?
SN (Join to see)
Exactly my point of view. Not only does a higher Grade make more Base Pay, but also higher BAH? In my eyes, if you want something nicer, you better have the money for it and BAH should be the same amount all over. Especially in the Navy you get an extra amount of money, if you are attached to a ship, called sea pay, which depends also on your sea time. Example: Lets say Captain Joseph Navy is Married with kids, has been in the Navy for 16 and has a sea time of 9 years.
8735.00 Base Pay
2412.00 BAH
494.00 Sea Duty Pay
Well that makes 11,641 bucks! Granted, Captain Joseph Navy earned his way, but that s 1000 bucks he has extra compared to me plus he makes over 4 times my salery on base pay. Where is the fairness for the little guys here, who busted their butts for ever too?
8735.00 Base Pay
2412.00 BAH
494.00 Sea Duty Pay
Well that makes 11,641 bucks! Granted, Captain Joseph Navy earned his way, but that s 1000 bucks he has extra compared to me plus he makes over 4 times my salery on base pay. Where is the fairness for the little guys here, who busted their butts for ever too?
CMDCM Gene Treants
SN Seymour, Sea Pay is based on the number of years you have at sea. I do not understand why you think someone fresh out of boot camp should get the same amount of Sea Pay as someone with 12 years at sea. It used to be that way when I first came in and we got a whole $15.00 a month for sea duty.
The reason for more money at more sea time was and is to get people to go back to sea AND to pay people for the rigors of being at sea. In port we are expected to work an average 40 hour work week, plus duty days. At sea, if we are lucky then we work no more than 10 to 14 hours a day. During certain states of Battle or Steaming we may not ever see our racks for days on end.
Sea Pay is the same for all ranks Based on Time at Sea.
The reason for more money at more sea time was and is to get people to go back to sea AND to pay people for the rigors of being at sea. In port we are expected to work an average 40 hour work week, plus duty days. At sea, if we are lucky then we work no more than 10 to 14 hours a day. During certain states of Battle or Steaming we may not ever see our racks for days on end.
Sea Pay is the same for all ranks Based on Time at Sea.
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google