Jump to content

Non-PDS BAH for Guard/Reserve


Recommended Posts

Hey all, searched and couldn't find a thread on-point. I'm still at least a year out from WOFT (assuming I'm fortunate enough to get selected in September), but in my experience having all your ducks in a row is always good when it comes to dealing with the military.

 

When I interviewed with the unit they informed me there is a way to get a waiver so that I will get BAH for my home of record while I'm going through training. This would be huge as BAH for where my wife and I own our home is about $3400 a month for a W1. We have a mortgage and other expenses, and my wife is in grad school, so that money would be obviously very helpful. I am going the Guard route, and as of right now my wife isn't planning on moving to AL, at least not initially, for the duration of flight school. We also won't be selling our house.

I'm just wondering if (1) anyone here has experience with this; and (2) if anyone can point me towards any official memos/guidance.

 

Thanks all

 

Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just went through this a few months ago. The S1 shop is not very familiar with the process, but it is entirely doable. You'll essentially have to put together a packet with supporting documents (a copy of your orders, mortgage, memos, etc), and it gets sent up to the Pentagon to be approved. When you get there, just let them know you want to put together a packet for the BAH waiver and they'll let you know what you have to gather in order to get it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sounds good. What are your options as far as housing at Rucker in that case? Do you still get BAH for down there? Have to live on base? Frankly I'd probably prefer to live in a barracks room that's already furnished, etc, since it's only temporary. Moving sucks. Does this change if your spouse comes to live with you partway through flight school?

Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You pretty much have two. As far as I know, if you live on base without a roommate, you wont get any BAH. If you live on base with a roommate, you'll get half your BAH. Not sure how it would work if you had the waiver and your BAH reflected your home of record and not Fort Rucker. As far as I know, you'll be in barracks for WOCS (and SERE), but WOs are on their own for housing otherwise.

 

I chose to live off base in Enterprise in the cheapest place I could find with a roommate I already new. My monthly rent was ~$700 including all utilities, so I was able to pocket quite a bit of the BAH each month. If you go in with someone else in a townhome in the Rucker Boulevard complex it'd probably be even cheaper. Other people in my class wanted to stay on base, be centrally located, and were willing to pay a little extra for it. There's plenty of options. You've just gotta find the one that suits your needs.

 

Not sure about your last question. My wife is staying back home for the duration of my time down here.

 

Hope this helps!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

But they do pay for you to move/have movers? I wouldn't be bringing much. But I hate moving.

I do think it will be nice to go home on holidays/leave etc and have my house lived in/furnished.

 

Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, you won't get both. If you head down there and don't get the waiver, you'll receive the Ft. Rucker with dependents rate. If you get the waiver, you'll receive the with dependents rate for you home of record.

You'll have to talk to DFAS they will tell you everything to do its really simple actually. I was gone for a year when I was doing enlisted AIT. Had my documents ready to go and it got approved within a week or so. The ARMY doesn't want to see you struggle but appropriate documentation is essential.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know one guy in my class was a Geo Bachelor; his kids were EFMP due to allergies, or some weirdness. So they stayed where they stayed, he got BAH for that locale, and lived in the Barracks by Lyster, but it sounded like that part was a bit of a hand from the mil.

 

If you're getting Boston area BAH with dependents, there's no reason you shouldn't be able to pay for a small place/with roommates (ideal, anyway) at Rucker with that, as well as your mortgage.

 

I did a dity move, and brought what fit in my Corolla. Not much as you might imagine. I bought some things while I was there (a boxed mattress, some wire shelves as clothes holders, what-have-you). I maintained my living space back in MA (Cape) plus the cost of rental at Rucker.

 

When I first got there, I ended up paying $700/month for a furnished room, living with the owner/fellow student. Suffice to say, I was being heavily gouged... I stayed by myself when I was there as an instructor, across Rucker BLVD and paid about the same, or less (it's been awhile).

 

Housing is pretty damn cheap down there. Get a roommate, share expenses, and have someone to study with. You don't need an elaborate setup in your bedroom; you're married and not trying to impress anyone, right? If you feel like bringing a game system or whatever, it doesn't take up much room and you can either buy a cheap or used TV and sell it again when you leave. There's no reason to uproot your entire existence and bring it down there with you, if your wife isn't coming down as well.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh I agree. I was thinking of replacing our queen bed back home and getting a king bed, and bringing the queen memory-foam mattress with me (if the army would move it for me) and then returning it to our guest room when I move back home. Otherwise it's whatever fits in the wrangler... which will be some clothes, a small TV, and maybe a coffee table. I'll grab a couple camping chairs and a cheap mattress and call it a day.

 

And yes, Boston BAH will be more than adequate I'm sure. I'm pretty cheap, I don't spend a lot of money going out. My biggest expenses are probably ammo and car payments.

 

My wife is in a second bachelors/graduate program, whether she comes at all and for how long will completely depend on when I go down and how far along she is in the program. I haven't even been accepted yet, but I was told at soonest it would be late next summer early next fall if I were accepted. (I am feeling pretty good about my application, but I understand that I very well could be passed over the first time around). She finishes the nursing part of her degree that spring, and then goes right into the masters program. At that point she can take some time off and work if she wants. My guess is at most she'll come down over summer break/winter break, etc.

 

Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...