How do you feel about single Soldiers living off base on their own?

2014-06-23T22:46:57-04:00

So hypothetically -

Soldier has a barracks room and doesn't live there. He lives off base. Makes all formations on time, no issues with finances, older and mature, etc. Maintains barracks room in that the person keeps it spotless, etc. The Army does NOT provide BAH in this example.

Your thoughts...

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2014 11:05 PM

2014-06-23T23:05:00-04:00

I did exactly that when I was a young SGT. Maintained a room because I had to and used it to shower after PT. Paid rent out of pocket because I wasn't authorized BAH. Had no issues.

Now - if a Soldier starts getting in trouble, can't make formations, etc...then it would be an issue.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2014 12:43 AM

2014-06-24T00:43:52-04:00

In the situation you described, I don't see why it would be a problem. As long as he maintains financial stability, continues to perform all his required tasks, and make his time hacks. If it starts to interfere in anyway, then it should be stopped immediately. Lots of guys that are single and assigned a room in the barracks are mature and responsible enough to handle this situation without issue.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2014 12:57 AM

2014-06-24T00:57:31-04:00

I'm of two minds on this matter.

In high cost areas (Washington, D.C., Hawaii, etc) I think I'm more interested in quietly discovering what's going on; finances, whether the SM is living in a building in which his/her rights are protected through a proper lease, etc. This way, if I sense a pattern, I can quietly ask the SM a few well chosen questions and encourage / suggest a proper course. No need for a formal conversation as long as things are going well as can be expected of a mature individual.

In other areas, especially overseas, I want to know a bit more. There are several areas where the command has to have more direct input/influence. As long as the paperwork is properly filed and the command is satisfied - I'm good with it.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2014 1:26 AM

2014-06-24T01:26:04-04:00

Personally, I don't have an issue with the example scenario you provided. Professionally, the Soldier needs to have command approval to reside off post (but they still won't receive BAH). While there are some single Soldiers that are mature enough to handle the responsibility of living off post, the vast majority are not. If you need an example, just take a stroll through the barracks. We (NCOs) must constantly inspect the barracks because the Soldiers aren't doing the right thing on their own. And why would they, since a majority are straight out of high school and still very immature. That's why provide them with guidance and mentorship. I'm generalizing this, as I'm aware there are some older junior Soldiers and some that are very mature for their young age. But for the sake of uniformity, good order and discipline, we need to have one standard. Your single, in the barracks you go. Now, if the Army would build enough housing, I would also mandate married personnel must also reside in on post housing, but that's a different topic!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2014 2:27 AM

2014-06-24T02:27:06-04:00

I don't have an issue with it as long as the soldier has proven himself to be responsible and mature in his work ethics and decision making process. I would definitely make sure his finances are in order so he doesn't fall through on rent especially since he is not getting BAH.

One thing some people miss is whether the soldier is mature and smart enough to have purchased a house. If he managed to get a small (not too small) but decently liveable house to be able to rent it out when he PCSs then more power to him. As a young soldier, if he did this early in his career. He'd have a phenomenal cash cow (for lack of a better term) when he retires.

Response by SFC Douglas Eshenbaugh made Jun 24 at 2014 3:46 AM

2014-06-24T03:46:05-04:00

I'd have him provide a strip map to the residence and treat it just like any other Soldier living off post.

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Jun 24 at 2014 5:26 PM

2014-06-24T17:26:48-04:00

I was forced to live this scenario after my first overseas assignment when I came back from Guam and went to Advanced Electronics School as an Second CLass Petty Officer (E-5). EVen thought the BEW did no meet Navy Standards for minimum Housing for an E-5, the command still got away with forcing me (and my two roommates) to live in base because we were students. One of my roommates had just come from a tour in country Vietnam on Swift Boats and another had come from Sea Duty like me. All of us were E-5s. Together we rented and paid out of pocket for a 3 bedroom Apartment in town and never missed any classes or other assignments. All of us had been in the Navy between 4 and 6 years.

If the command had been more reasonable we would have been too. As it was we maintained our room and appealed our BAH request all the way to the local Admiral, who agreed. After a 6 month appeal and review we were awarded BAH and BAS retroactively to our reporting date and -- and newly reporting E-5 and above were automatically granted BAH upon request. Sometimes it pays to fight.

So, to answer the question, I would be happy to let him live off base, but then wonder if he should be drawing BAH. I know the Navy rules, but not sure about Army.

Response by PO1 G. Leslie /Stiltner made Jun 24 at 2014 6:43 PM

2014-06-24T18:43:00-04:00

I think that if the person is not financially strapping themselves and they are making musters and are on time to work or duty then it should not be a problem! They are meeting their obligations as required who cares wear they sleep at night. However if we are talking about the Army I am sure there is some AR ruling somewhere that says its against the rules. Just saying as this has been my experience thus far on this list! LOL

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 24 at 2014 7:05 PM

2014-06-24T19:05:24-04:00

It all depends on the soldier and their maturity. If they are able to handle themselves and their family and able to get to work on time, power too them. I had an issue with one soldier in my section while at Ft Drum. He was on a waiting list for post housing. when he finally got it, it was 45 minutes away off post in a military housing community. The post offered transportation to and from work via shuttle buses (he had 1 car and his wife and young child needed that) but he had to leave home at 0430 to be on post for PT and didn't leave post until 1800. That was a bit much, but no matter how or what we tried, The red tape couldn't get him moved somewhere closer. From everything I saw. it looked like senior Os & Es had priority on housing. He was a good soldier and this started leading to discipline problems and concluded with his wife and child going back home while he moved to the barracks. It's very sad when the system fails a SM.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2014 7:11 PM

2014-06-24T19:11:03-04:00

If they are in the right place, at the right time, in the right uniform I don't see an issue. However as NCO I reserve the right to do a health & welfare check and insure they aren't living like a pig. I would also make sure they at least have renter's insurance and ensure they have a budget since they're not receiving BAH and throw in a good counseling statement filled with all the particulars. Last thing I need to hear is the CDR/1SG telling my PSG one of joes/janes (had to keep it fair) is acting a fool in their off-post housing.

In some areas, some bases/post have gone to privatized housing. I'll give you an example, I live near Luke AFB, an Airman and roomate(s) can share quarters in the housing area. Each member has to sign a contract and they receive BAH. As to to whether they have to maintain a dorm room(barracks room for us Army types), I can't recall. Moving into base housing requires CDR/1SG approval and of course credit checks etc and you become the unwilling target of security force/MPs because we all know sometimes there's loud parties.

Response by SSG(P) Auston Terry made Sep 7 at 2014 11:38 PM

2014-09-07T23:38:37-04:00

I have a soldier that does this now. Our biggest problem at the moment is that his roommate is a slob and that soldiers chain of command doesn't seem to care.

Other than that he makes formation, assists me in my barracks walkthroughs and has yet to make me regret the decision (he at least gave me a chance to say no first.)

Response by SGT Suraj Dave made Sep 13 at 2014 8:28 PM

2014-09-13T20:28:08-04:00

I did exactly that.

My barracks were infested with roaches, and had mold everywhere.

I was late once or twice, but I was everyone's favorite medic. Nothing was going to happen to me.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 28 at 2014 1:03 AM

2014-09-28T01:03:20-04:00

I'm biased because this is what I do.

But yeah, I think there isn't anything wrong with it as long as it doesn't interfere with accomplishing the mission. It may also be a sign that the barracks aren't so great if you aren't even able to cook food in them... Seriously. The Army complains about fat Soldiers then gives them a microwave. What's healthy and can be made strictly in a microwave?

I'll stop before I rant.

Response by Col Joseph Lenertz made Feb 3 at 2015 12:32 PM

2015-02-03T12:32:12-05:00

No problem at all, under your assumptions. I did the same thing upon arrival at UPT. I had lived on base for 4 years and decided it was worth it to me to pay out of pocket. I checked back with Billeting periodically, and when it was full, and they were unable to put me on base, my BAH was reinstated.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2016 2:27 PM

2016-03-01T14:27:00-05:00

If he/she wants to waste money simply because they don't want to live in the barracks for free....more power to them.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made May 4 at 2016 6:29 PM

2016-05-04T18:29:35-04:00

I did exactly that for months. Unfortunately my roommate got sent to Vietnam and I couldn't afford it by myself.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2017 6:27 PM

2017-06-08T18:27:00-04:00

I did that myself for a year until I wanted to save money. I was a lot happier living like a normal mf

Response by 1SG Clifford Barnes made Jul 7 at 2017 9:31 PM

2017-07-07T21:31:04-04:00

Not a problem

Response by SSG Mark Franzen made Jul 29 at 2018 10:53 PM

2018-07-29T22:53:15-04:00

army regulation AR 420-1 WILL EXPLAIN THE POLICY.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 16 at 2020 8:18 PM

2020-05-16T20:18:02-04:00

For me, as long as no issues are coming up because of it and they understand the financial burden it could cause. I have no issue whatsoever. They just better be at their barracks room during inspections.