BAH: Is it fair for singles vs. married or single parents?

[Unregistered]

If you are not a member of the country's armed forces then you are....a CIVILIAN. As an active duty member of the US Army, I find it offensive that a spouse would dare compare their role to mine. I've heard about the sacrifices, support yadda yadda yadda but IMO what military spouses do is no different, better than what spouses in every walk of life do. As if it's not bad enough that active duty single soldiers are being robbed of funds to support married soldiers family members, now the family members are actually considering themselves soldiers. Boy, I tell you.

Single soldiers being robbed of funds to support married soldiers? Where the hell do you get THAT idea? I don't recall going to a single soldier and telling him to give me money to support my family,

[Unregistered]

Wow, that's quite a statement! So I'm assuming you are not married and are basically jealous that married soldiers get housing and what not? And does that mean that if you were to ever get married, that you would take the money that has been 'stolen' from single soldiers and give it to them? Didn't think so..........

[Unregistered]

Here is the link to the informal meaning of civilian http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/civilian

I am sorry but to the one that is saying single soldiers are robbed to support the married soldiers oh please you need to recheck that. We do not rob single soldiers,that is so pathetic and just goes to show how naive you are on that fact. Just because a married soldier gets more money on BAH does not mean we are taking from the single soldier at all. Move up in ranks buddy

[Unregistered]

Here is the link to the informal meaning of civilian http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/civilian

I am sorry but to the one that is saying single soldiers are robbed to support the married soldiers oh please you need to recheck that. We do not rob single soldiers,that is so pathetic and just goes to show how naive you are on that fact. Just because a married soldier gets more money on BAH does not mean we are taking from the single soldier at all. Move up in ranks buddy


I TOTALLY AGREE!

[Unregistered]

Wow, that's quite a statement! So I'm assuming you are not married and are basically jealous that married soldiers get housing and what not? And does that mean that if you were to ever get married, that you would take the money that has been 'stolen' from single soldiers and give it to them? Didn't think so..........

Not jealous, MAD. It doesn't affect me now because in most places NCOs are authorized BAH/BAS but that's just recently. Prior to this single NCOs below the rank of E7 were forced to live in barracks right along with the soldiers who worked for them daily. I was in a situation once where I had 4 soldiers, average time in 2.5-3 yrs. I at the time had 11 yrs in. Because each of my soldiers had either a spouse or was a single parent, they received BAH/BAS and went home to a house every evening while "I" went home to a barracks room with a refrigerator so small a gallon of milk and a gallon of juice couldn't fit in at the same time. Mind you, the ONLY thing these soldiers could do was exactly what I told them to do then SHOWED them how to do...step by step. IMO any money at all given to a soldier for a dependant is being taken from the pocket of single soldiers. I honestly think any funds given for a dependant should be diverted to single soldiers to live off post if they choose.....regardless of rank.

[Unregistered]

Here is the link to the informal meaning of civilian http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/civilian

I am sorry but to the one that is saying single soldiers are robbed to support the married soldiers oh please you need to recheck that. We do not rob single soldiers,that is so pathetic and just goes to show how naive you are on that fact. Just because a married soldier gets more money on BAH does not mean we are taking from the single soldier at all. Move up in ranks buddy

ummmm, actually I'm not that low in rank.

[Unregistered]

If you want to bitch about something, bitch about post housing. Why shoud a higher ranking soldier live in the exact same house as a lower ranking soldier, since the higher ranking soldier is paying more? I'm sorry, but if I can get a better house out in town with my BAH, why should I have to live in the same type of home that someone is paying less for, sometimes hundreds of dollars less. now THAT's crap......

[Unregistered]

If you want to bitch about something, bitch about post housing. Why shoud a higher ranking soldier live in the exact same house as a lower ranking soldier, since the higher ranking soldier is paying more? I'm sorry, but if I can get a better house out in town with my BAH, why should I have to live in the same type of home that someone is paying less for, sometimes hundreds of dollars less. now THAT's crap......

Why should a single E6 pay $1000 for a barracks room? Untill Spring 05 when it came into play that E6s in pretty much any area were authorized BAH/BAS that's exactly what was going on. E6s were forced to give up BAH/BAS and live in barracks room. Depending on TIS this equaled out to around $1000 a month for a barracks room.

[Unregistered]

Why should a single E6 pay $1000 for a barracks room? Untill Spring 05 when it came into play that E6s in pretty much any area were authorized BAH/BAS that's exactly what was going on. E6s were forced to give up BAH/BAS and live in barracks room. Depending on TIS this equaled out to around $1000 a month for a barracks room.

When I was an E5 I was given BAH to live off post, mind you I was single too. So some single soldiers do get BAH to live off post you just have to know how to ask about it, in which I did back when I got E5 in 03. I will say it is not taking money from any single soldier one bit, I was there once and never ever thought of it that way and never would of thought of it that way. Hmmm then why dont we just have the military move all the families into the barracks then. Are you going to then say "Well crap now they are taking our barracks living away from us"? But to be honest a single soldier of E6 BAH is not that much different then an E6 with dependants

[Captain Barbossa]

How is someone drawing BAH for being married taking away from single soldiers/NCOs? There is no restricted number of people who can draw BAH, so this makes no sense.

If there were less people drawing BAH, do you really think it would go to single soldiers? The money would more likely go to buying more AK-47s for the Iraqi army or something.

[ringjamesa]

Seems that a lot of people posting in this thread are Army but let me say this; in the AF there are restrictions on single E-4s and below getting BAH. It is based off of dorm occupancy. Once the threshold is reached, Jr enlisted can recieve BAH and move off base if they so desire. I always stayed in the dorm for convenience-across the street from the club and a block from work.

[sickmind]

IMO any money at all given to a soldier for a dependant is being taken from the pocket of single soldiers. I honestly think any funds given for a dependant should be diverted to single soldiers to live off post if they choose.....regardless of rank.

If you take the cost of each meal that single soldiers can eat in the Mess Hall in a one month period and add it together it will equal the cost of the BAS that the married soldier gets. If a single soldier choses to eat somewhere else that is his choice.

I agree that barracks rooms are small and as a general rule poorly furnished. At the same time if a soldier joined the Military and was told that he would have to pay all his bills and pay rent, and the other expenses of marriage on his $900/month salary there would not be many married people joining the military. It is also worth noting that the last time I received BAH I still had to pay and additional $150/month to cover the rent so I was not getting rich off of BAH.

I suppose that you also want the money that is used to provide medical/dental care taken back and given to single soldiers. What about the money the library uses to buy childrens books and the money used to support the youth centers and day care centers? Lets take all the money that the military spends on these things and give it all to the single soldiers. Wait, I forgot if we take all this money away the only difference will be that there are no married personnel in the Military unless they are married to another service member. This way we can make everyone live in the barracks so that you will have to share your refridgerator with two other people.

One last idea before I get off of my soap box. It is largely the fault of the civilian population for the increase of BAH. Civilians know what soldiers get for BAH and so they make us pay every dime of it to them and when we get an increase guess what happens to our rent? The military need to do a better job of providing housing for solders because in the long run it will be more cost effective to pay to build a house and maintain it then it is to pay rent forever.

[Measure Man]

If you take the cost of each meal that single soldiers can eat in the Mess Hall in a one month period and add it together it will equal the cost of the BAS that the married soldier gets. If a single soldier choses to eat somewhere else that is his choice.

Of course the single soldier has to pay for the Mess Hall meal whether he "chooses" to eat it or not.


I agree that barracks rooms are small and as a general rule poorly furnished. At the same time if a soldier joined the Military and was told that he would have to pay all his bills and pay rent, and the other expenses of marriage on his $900/month salary there would not be many married people joining the military. It is also worth noting that the last time I received BAH I still had to pay and additional $150/month to cover the rent so I was not getting rich off of BAH.

So, you "chose" to live in a house that exceeded your BAH...that was your choice. A single person receiving BAH has the same choice, but gets paid less, period.


One last idea before I get off of my soap box. It is largely the fault of the civilian population for the increase of BAH. Civilians know what soldiers get for BAH and so they make us pay every dime of it to them and when we get an increase guess what happens to our rent? .

That is may be true in small communities that are dominated by the military, where the base is the main source of economy. When a base is near or close to a larger metropolitan area that doesn't work...the larger market drives the prices not the BAH rate. Nevertheless, you have a point with that...and BAH increases lag market increases by at least a couple years. I suffered for this pretty hard living in California while rent was going up 20-30% per year and BAH barely moved until 3 years later.

[snax]

So I want to be clear... maybe one of you can offer clarification.

In the USAF, if you're married - you automatically get BAH? What if your forced to live on base?

Thank you.

*USAF Security Forces Wanna-Be*

[Measure Man]

So I want to be clear... maybe one of you can offer clarification.

In the USAF, if you're married - you automatically get BAH? What if your forced to live on base?

Thank you.

*USAF Security Forces Wanna-Be*

No, if you live on base you do not get BAH. That is in on-base housing I mean.

If you are forced to live in the barracks...normally that means you are in a location that is dependent-reststricted...like in Korea. Then you would live in the barracks and still get BAH for your spouse, based on wherever she is living.

[shrumette]

Speaking of housing. We were in Germany, (my husband was an E-6 at that time) Across the hall was an E-6 Airfoce. We 'lost' all our BAQ, but the Air Force did not lose a cent. You ask, why is that?? At least, then it was becasue Army housing was substanderd to Air Force housing. So much for being uniforn (as in alike) service.

[snax]

If you are forced to live in the barracks...normally that means you are in a location that is dependent-reststricted...like in Korea. Then you would live in the barracks and still get BAH for your spouse, based on wherever she is living.

Unless, my spouse and I were living on a base which I was assigned to before I was deployed? Then, still no BAH, right?


Speaking of housing. We were in Germany, (my husband was an E-6 at that time) Across the hall was an E-6 Airfoce. We 'lost' all our BAQ, but the Air Force did not lose a cent. You ask, why is that?? At least, then it was becasue Army housing was substanderd to Air Force housing.


Shrumette, this is one of the reasons I have chosen the USAF as my branch of preference. I have a wife and perhaps a little one sometime, and ensuring they have the highest quality of living possible (in the Military) is important to me. Everyone I know that is either current military, or ex, have all told me the same thing, "The Air Force has the highest quality of life."

Of course all branches have their perks..

[Measure Man]

Unless, my spouse and I were living on a base which I was assigned to before I was deployed? Then, still no BAH, right?

You lost me there...as soon as you get married you should be entitled to BAH...unless you AND your wife are assigned to on-base family housing.

If you are assigned to barracks...or living in a tent...and your wife is somewhere else, you should be entitled to BAH for where she is living and possibly family separation allowance.

I'm not a finance expert, but I've always gotten BAH for dependents when i was in a dependent restricted location (Korea)...and always got BAH w/dependent rate elsewhere....and it always continued while I was deployed.

[cajunroots]

As the wife of a past army husband and now a mother of an active Marine serving in the sand,
I must say that I AM EXTREMELY PROUD AND VERY SATISFIED AT THE PRIDE OF OUR
BRANCHES OF SERVICE, FOR WE AMERICANS (meaning service branches) do love being
married and are encouraged to be married and stay married. Compare the civilian world to
the military world and you will not find many unwed women having children! Be for real,
I am one to ask because I volunteer weekly at our local Crisis Pregnancy Center and let me
tell you monthly our unwed mother's count continue to rise up regularly.

We do not need to compare or ridicule our single Military Personnel/whether married or single
let's stay positive, marriage is not for all of us Americans!

Although I must make the comment, if only I had kept my mouth shut, I may /would still have been
married today to my Army husband, but at age 25, I thought I knew it all and had my husband
get out.

So as we all told my Son worry about your career first, your wife stays with you or goes..
That's just the way it is, don't let any woman run your job or the show! He's making the Military
a career and we support him 100%. Semper Fi.

[ringjamesa]

ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm That was a hard post to read. Anyway, the purpose of this thread is to explore the percieved difference in benifits. So it is hard to post without comparing. As for the different standards, I can tell you that while in GE, there were housing units that the Army was living that they wouldn't even let the AF personnel live in because it was "substandard." They waited until all the Army families moved out, renovated, and moved the AF families in.

[CarolinaSarge]

Not jealous, MAD. It doesn't affect me now because in most places NCOs are authorized BAH/BAS but that's just recently. Prior to this single NCOs below the rank of E7 were forced to live in barracks right along with the soldiers who worked for them daily. I was in a situation once where I had 4 soldiers, average time in 2.5-3 yrs. I at the time had 11 yrs in. Because each of my soldiers had either a spouse or was a single parent, they received BAH/BAS and went home to a house every evening while "I" went home to a barracks room with a refrigerator so small a gallon of milk and a gallon of juice couldn't fit in at the same time. Mind you, the ONLY thing these soldiers could do was exactly what I told them to do then SHOWED them how to do...step by step. IMO any money at all given to a soldier for a dependant is being taken from the pocket of single soldiers. I honestly think any funds given for a dependant should be diverted to single soldiers to live off post if they choose.....regardless of rank.

Hey clueless and narrowminded, hi, yeah the whole "I have to live in barracks thing because I am single and wah wah wah," that's your branch of service or bases policy, not the DoD, Congress, or anyone else that runs the BAH or bennies programs, and most of the time it is to maintain good order and discipline, keep the required ready reserve of people in case something happens on base, and to ensure that they are using to the maximum extent possible, the barracks facility they are paying for upkeep on.

In the Air Force, E4s and some E3s, depending on the base/location, if single, can live off base if they woud like to, as long as there is a need, they attend a budgeting/financial advice briefing, and a certain occupancy level is maintained in the base dormitories. ALL E5s and above MUST reside off post. There are different rules depending on the branch of service, base, and leadership at that location, so just because you are "forced" to live in barracks don't go and make ignorant and unfounded statements that those members with families and spouses are stealing from your poor little cry baby pockets. Look outside your own selfish needs and wants for a moment and look at the retainability and seperation issues the DoD would have if they decided to tell everyone that if you want to have a family or kids you have to own your own dime. Most junior enlisted members struggle to make ends meet and exist right abov the poverty line as it is, now you are going to tell them that the Goverment is going to put them even further iin the hole? Everyone wanting to have a family is basically going to leave the service or not enlist all-together.

Oh, and on the BAS note, BAS is one rate whether you are single or have dependents, as it is meant to support the military member because that person's commander has deemed that either their duty schedule (like MPs/Security Forces) prevents them from having regular access to Government meals (ala chow hall) or that it is in that member's best interest.

[elm6578]

I guess the good thing about an "all volunteer" military is you can whine about stuff like this, the bad thing about it is when volunteers start think too highly of themselves for volunteering. And calling out spouses is a good example...You dont "make" money in the military, you earn it and that money you earn comes out of civilian and your taxes, thats why civilians run the military, ie: your president. You signed the dotted line so stop your bitching! You get what you get and if dont like it dont re-enlist.

[ringjamesa]

I guess the good thing about an "all volunteer" military is you can whine about stuff like this, the bad thing about it is when volunteers start think too highly of themselves for volunteering. And calling out spouses is a good example...You dont "make" money in the military, you earn it and that money you earn comes out of civilian and your taxes, thats why civilians run the military, ie: your president. You signed the dotted line so stop your bitching! You get what you get and if dont like it dont re-enlist.

Well, you must be the only person EVER to be in the military and NEVER complain about anything then. I am glad your military experience has been perfect. Just ignore the rest of us as we try to improve things for the future generations....

[USN - Retired]

Here’s an idea:

Pay BAH to all military service members. The BAH rate would be based only on the location of the service member and his/her rank – not on his/her marital status. The military would then charge rent to those military service members who decide to live in the BEQ/BOQ. The rent for a BEQ/BOQ room would vary base to base and would depend on the cost of rental properties in the local community. In other words, the BEQs/BOQs would have to compete with the rental properties in the local civilian community. Of course, a two person BEQ room would cost less than a single occupancy BEQ room, and a really nice BOQ room would cost more than an average BEQ room. Rent for a BEQ or BOQ room should never be more than the BAH received by a military service member.

[kojack]

married servicemembers and single mommies should be given promotion priority, assignment first choice, and be exempt from combat duty. Additionally, single personnel should be placed in shelter halves outside the barracks and the barracks converted into 25 million daycare facilities. . And, Im afraid, it still wouldnt be "fair"; dependents would still be "vicitimized"....

[ringjamesa]

Good one Kojack. Don't get me wrong, I love my BAH but I disagree with someone saying if you don't like it get out. If that were the case, nothing would ever change (except the uniforms every time a Gen wants another star...).