Army Discriminates Against Single Career Soldiers Deploying in Support of GWOT

[patmc]

Branch did not show up this week, so we're still waiting, but from the stats, I am a good candidate for a MiTT, and speaking with guys in classes ahead of me, this no BAH for single officers is an issue of contention. If I get selected, I would at least like an explanation, other than, because we said so.

You can justify anything by arguing that the Army can do what it wants, you're doing fine, and it could always be worse, but that is not a reason for a MiTT exclusion from BAH. Majority of guys on these teams are not volunteers, and if you're sending them, why should the guy next to you wearing a ring make $10K+ more, just because he has a ring. I understand he has a family, but does any other "employer" outright pay married more? What if his family is living with his/her parents, and banking the money? Unfair or discrimination, whichever, it is what it is.

I doubt it will change though. I know a few CPTs who got out because of their MiTT experience, and I would think unnecessary additional kicks to the junk would not make that situation improved.

[Marvin.Iavecchia]

The BAH exclusion isn't because of MITT...it's the temporary policy for MITTs that I mentioned above. If you come down on MITT orders on or after AUG09, and you are single, you will get to keep your BAH because you will PCS to Polk instead of Kuwait. You will collect Polk BAH while deployed. There may be exceptions to this if you put your HHG into storage (check with local transportation and finance folks).

HRC (Aviation) doesn't want to hear it either - I think they are drinking the same water as the guys posting above.

We will be successful in reversing this policy before AUG09, but it will take support from people like you. Urge anyone you know to speak out about this... as publicly as possible.

[ODB]

So the Army instituted an approximately year long policy that you fell into. There are many who fall into these, who knows what the bean counters were attempting to acheive when implementing this. We could go round and round about it, but what it really comes down to is that you are in the Army and get caught up in these things. One could argue that no single soldiers should receive BAH and should all have to live in Gov't quarters. Would love to see officers 3-4 men to a room, but guess that'll never happen. Seems I remember a day when there were such things as BOQs, anyone else remember these? If all single soldiers had to live in on base quarters then there would be no BAH issues with regards to single soldiers. I could also make the arguement that why do you deserve BAH at a higher rate than say an E-6 or E-7? Why are you authorized the standard of living of a house yet above enlisted members are only authorized an apartment or townhouse? Point is there are some things that the Army does that are not fair. So it's fair that BAH for my location actually decreased this year? Yet electric went up 20% and everything else increased (inflation)? Figure that one out. Yes in recent years we have been spoiled as a force, money being thrown around for everything, yet once the screws tighten everyone wants to scream no fair. Think it's bad now wait a couple years. Understand you feeling slighted, but I don't particularly feel for you. As a single E-5 and E-6 I remember having to live in the barracks, BAH for me was unheard of, so there I am living 2 to a room and sometimes 3 or 4 to a room, like to see a bunch of Majors and CPTs doing that.

Sorry to rant but BAH and fairness of such is a sore subject, but not one that any of us will be able to change, too many highers reap the benefits of the way it is now. Ask yourself this who needs it more, you or that E-3 with three kids? Yes no one told him to have three kids.

[Schmedlap]

Urge anyone you know to speak out about this... as publicly as possible.

Is it appropriate for service members to speak out publicly? Or appropriate for service members to urge others to do so?

[Entropy]

It's a PITA, but this is SOP in my experience. None of my deployments when I was single included any kind of BAH, or any reimbursement for putting my crap in storage or paying for storage or any other expense. This was back when I was in the Navy and at that time single E-1 to E-6 and junior officers had to live on the ship or barracks. But's it's been a while for me. Has the policy changed, or was BAH to MiTT deployers implemented as an incentive or something?