BAH while PCS'ing

[Droppin_Loads]

Quick question guys,

This may have been answered on here somewhere but I havent been able to find any information. I was hired on as a Nav Oct 2012, finally got some dates, headed to AMS in March, IFS in May, and Pensacola in July. My question is this. I am married with two kids, due to the rigorous schedule down in Pensacola I have decided to go down there alone to just get done without the stress of family. I have heard she would barely see me and I dont need her getting upset if I cant give her time while I need to be studying. So her and the kids will be staying here. Will I get BAH to help pay for my home here in MIssouri? I have heard that typically this is the case but it may be different when you PCS. I appreciate any info you guy have on the subject. Thank you.

[nsplayr]

Quick note about your assumptions...my advice is never spend time away from your family unless you absolutely have to. You'll probably be deploying enough in the near future that you'll wish you could have the time back. Nav school is hard work and you don't want to suck but there is absolutely no reason why you won't have time to spend with your family. Bring them, you won't regret it.

Obviously I don't know all the particulars of your situation (wife working a great job, kids in school, etc.) but my general life advice is to spend as much time as possible with the ones you love. You give up a lot of opportunity to do that while in the service, no reason to make it worse than it needs to be.

Good luck!

Edited November 5, 2013 by nsplayr

[Droppin_Loads]

Nsplayr,

Thank you for the advice, I will be taking this into account when we make a final decision. Kids are 2 years old and 2 months. Wife was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease just recently and therefore she is not working currently but we are hoping for a full recovery in the next 6-12 months, the doctors just arent sure how long it will take. This is another reason I am thinking about going alone she will more than likely still be in the middle of her monthly treatments at the hospital, though I am sure I could look into getting that transferred to Pensacola.

Does anyone else have advice on bring the family or no? Anyone else gone down there without family and regretted it? Thanks for the input guys its appreciated on my end very much.

[motox3005]

Quick question guys,

This may have been answered on here somewhere but I havent been able to find any information. I was hired on as a Nav Oct 2012, finally got some dates, headed to AMS in March, IFS in May, and Pensacola in July. My question is this. I am married with two kids, due to the rigorous schedule down in Pensacola I have decided to go down there alone to just get done without the stress of family. I have heard she would barely see me and I dont need her getting upset if I cant give her time while I need to be studying. So her and the kids will be staying here. Will I get BAH to help pay for my home here in MIssouri? I have heard that typically this is the case but it may be different when you PCS. I appreciate any info you guy have on the subject. Thank you.

Yes, you WILL! you'll also get seperation allowance(I belive). you can check how much BAH you'll earn here. Just enter your Zip...

https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bahCalc.cfm

Im also going to AMS in march, see ya there!

[Vicious3027]

Does anyone else have advice on bring the family or no? Anyone else gone down there without family and regretted it? Thanks for the input guys its appreciated on my end very much.

Hey DL,

I will be going to UPT with a similar situation. My wife and I have a 15 mo old and are expecting a second the week before my project OTS grad date. My wife has a great paying gov't job that she is going to take leave from. Which is great because there is not a shred of doubt in my mind: If I were to not see my family for the 1.5-2 years of pilot training I would go crazy.

[extreme3817]

Yes, you WILL! you'll also get seperation allowance(I belive). you can check how much BAH you'll earn here. Just enter your Zip...

https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bahCalc.cfm

Im also going to AMS in march, see ya there!

How exactly is this possible?

[motox3005]

How exactly is this possible?

How is what possible.... BAH? He's married with dependents... he is BAH eligible.

[extreme3817]

I am in a similar situation.

I am going to UPT (Vance in Dec 13) and I am married with a child whom is not going with me. I have not been able to find any regulation that says an unaccompanied officer living in government quarters (dorms) can get BAH for back home.

I heard there was a waiver but I have been unable to find any information on it. If you have more information or know where to find the reg, can you let me know.

Thanks

[motox3005]

I am in a similar situation.

I am going to UPT (Vance in Dec 13) and I am married with a child whom is not going with me. I have not been able to find any regulation that says an unaccompanied officer living in government quarters (dorms) can get BAH for back home.

I heard there was a waiver but I have been unable to find any information on it. If you have more information or know where to find the reg, can you let me know.

Thanks

That im not sure of.... I was refering only to his AMS/IFS becasue there is no option to bring your faimily on base, therefore the govt must give you BAH.

Sorry I know this does not help you...

[Droppin_Loads]

Yes, I know I will get it for AMS and IFS because those are not PCS. My question is, will i get this down in Pensacola because they are not coming with me but we still have a mortgage here at home. Thanks guys.

[Droppin_Loads]

So from what I can tell, this is possible to do. Looks like you need to talk to finance at your base and fill out some sort of waiver. I think that wraps things up here guys, thanks for all the input!

[rancormac]

New question...

I PCS'd from my UPT base to my B-Course base, and my unit's finance wont update my new zip code for BAH.  They said since I'm on the same set of orders as from UPT, they cant change the zip code unless its a new set of orders.  My previous orders just kept getting modified to add Fuge, IFF, B-Course, etc.  I sent them my new (modified)  orders and explained it was a PCS... they still said "cant change BAH zip code unless its a new order number"

WTFover??

[brabus]

Bullshit - amendments are essentially the same as new orders.  They have to accept all amendments.  In fact, I'd say about half of my PCS orders haven't initially had my dependents on them, but the amendment adding my family was all that was needed to get all the dependent entitlements (same overall order number).  Stop talking to Airman dumbass and go straight to the first officer in the chain.  If they can't produce official AFI /JTR that backs their side up, they have to concede.  If they don't at that point, may be time to talk to your B-Course Flt/CC and ask for some higher level help.

[uhhello]

2 hours ago, brabus said:

Bullshit - amendments are essentially the same as new orders.  They have to accept all amendments.  In fact, I'd say about half of my PCS orders haven't initially had my dependents on them, but the amendment adding my family was all that was needed to get all the dependent entitlements (same overall order number).  Stop talking to Airman dumbass and go straight to the first officer in the chain.  If they can't produce official AFI /JTR that backs their side up, they have to concede.  If they don't at that point, may be time to talk to your B-Course Flt/CC and ask for some higher level help.

This.  It's always been hit or miss at the support functions but the last couple years with the drawdowns, its become horrible.  Same type of issue, different problem for us.  Trying to reclass an FEB guy and met wrong answer after wrong answer.  I don't even bother with the entry level customer support anymore.  If the supt or flt cc's keep getting the "easy" questions, maybe they'll get a clue as to how bad it is. 

[Lawman]

Bullshit - amendments are essentially the same as new orders.  They have to accept all amendments.  In fact, I'd say about half of my PCS orders haven't initially had my dependents on them, but the amendment adding my family was all that was needed to get all the dependent entitlements (same overall order number).  Stop talking to Airman dumbass and go straight to the first officer in the chain.  If they can't produce official AFI /JTR that backs their side up, they have to concede.  If they don't at that point, may be time to talk to your B-Course Flt/CC and ask for some higher level help.

Agreed

IG and ICE.

Both of those get civilian run departments full of check the box answer green/blue suiters off their ass in a hurry. Go ugly early to avoid the run around of "we can't make that decision/approval without..." complaints to IG or ICE get the person that is authorized to make that decision on the phone because it's not Airmen/Specialist Snuffy that has to just ignore the fire anymore.

My personal rule is if the person in talking to has spent less time in the military than the number of stripes on their sleeve (IE anybody but an NCOIC or OIC) I'm going up the chain immediately to that person when I get anything but a "yes sir" to correcting problems.


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[rancormac]

Thanks.  I think I actually found JTR support for my side.  Assuming "BAH-RC (Reserve Component)" applies, Ch 10, Part E, Sec 13

"

2. If the RC member receives an order modification or amendment extending the assignment, the prospective (new) active duty period determines authority. If the prospective new period is more than 30 days, BAH-RC would stop the day before the amendment/modification and primary residence-based BAH/OHA would start on the modification date. If the prospective period is 140 or more days for training or over 180 days and PCS HHG are authorized, the BAH-RC or primary residence-based BAH/OHA would stop the day before the modification/amendment and PDS-based BAH/OHA would begin on the modification date.

"

Sad news is this was a TSgt telling me to pound sand...