Will a married soldier receiving BAH also receive family separation pay while at BCT and AIT?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 16:56:30 -0500

I just want to verify some information so I’m not mistaken. Will a married soldier receiving BAH also receive family separation pay while at BCT and AIT (granted the family is not within reasonable driving distance)? I never heard of such a thing but I’m not sure.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Dec 1 at 2019 4:57 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 16:57:52 -0500

All that I remember getting was my pay and BAH.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 1 at 2019 4:59 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 16:59:02 -0500

I've always understood it to mean if the separation is longer than 30 days you will receive it. If that's the case you will get it during some part of bct and all of ait.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 1 at 2019 7:30 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 19:30:10 -0500

I’m reclassing right now and I’m getting BAS, BAH, FSA. Not everyone here is for whatever reason though.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2019 7:53 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 07:53:34 -0500

What SGT Private RallyPoint Member said is correct you’re entitled to FSA after hitting the 31 day on your orders. So you’ll get it towards the end of BCT and all of AIT. I’m a Finance NCO. If you have any finance related questions feel free to message me.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2019 10:26 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 10:26:42 -0500

I just graduated BCT and AIT, and I did received BAH during training. As long as the soldier has a dependents or have a rent/mortgage, there should be no issues.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2019 10:35 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 10:35:48 -0500

Family Separation Allowance
A servicemember with dependents who serves an unaccompanied tour of duty may be entitled to a family separation allowance (FSA) of $250 per month. FSA accrues from the day of departure from the home station and ends the day prior to arrival at the home station This is in addition to any per diem or other entitlements presuming that:

Movement of dependents to the permanent duty station at Government expense is not authorized. This presupposes that the dependents do not already live at or near that station.

The member is on duty on board a ship away from the home port of the ship for a period of more than 30 continuous days.

The member is on temporary duty away from the permanent duty station for a continuous period of more than 30 days and the dependents do not live at or near the temporary duty station.

Servicemembers that choose to serve an unaccompanied tour of duty at a permanent duty station where the movement of dependents at Government expense is authorized, are not entitled to the family separation allowance under the first condition noted above.

In situations where servicemembers are married to another servicemember, family separation allowance is authorized for one member if the members were residing together immediately before the separation.

Servicemembers must complete a DD Form 1561 (Statement to Substantiate Payment of Family Separation Allowance) to substantiate entitlement to FSA.

Reference:
https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/
https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/Allowances.aspx
Pay Close Attention to this chapter/section.
https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/documents/fmr/current/07a/07a_27.pdf
Chapter 27- (2701)

Pay

Military Pay and Benefits Website sponsored by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness

Response by SPC Angela Burnham made Dec 2 at 2019 6:39 PM

SPC Angela Burnham — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 18:39:34 -0500

Yes. I worked at the Personnel Affairs and Banking office at Fort Benning enrolling new recruits into the army's pay system. They will receive BAH, BAS, and Separation Pay while they are in training.