How will my BAH be determined when I go to AIT?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 22:43:37 -0400

Hello everyone,
I just recently got out of the Marine Corps and I'm reenlisting in the Army. I have dependents, and the Army is not authorizing them to come with me for AIT. My question is, since I have to go to AIT, is my BAH based off of where I go for AIT? Or is my rate based off of where I have to leave my family behind at? The reason I'm asking is where I live the cost of living is much higher than where I'm going for AIT.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2022 12:42 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 00:42:54 -0400

BAH will be rated off of where your family lives. You will be living in AIT barracks, probably the prior service/reclass ones and you may have permanent part rules instead of Initial Entry Training rules.

I’m on recruiting duty where the BAH is high. Whenever someone with a family goes to BCT always get BAH for the location of the family.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Sep 10 at 2022 10:48 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 10:48:46 -0400

Based on your Home of record- where your family is living

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Sep 10 at 2022 11:57 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 11:57:24 -0400

Where your Family lives. There are however other related issues, is she in Europe or Asia for example.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2022 6:39 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Sep 2022 18:39:46 -0400

You better be sure you have on hand all the BAH supporting documents (marriage licenses, and certificates) any lease/rental/mortgage documents you have.

Chances are you'll have to PROVE you are eligible for BAH more than once. While in AIT your time will be limited to fix anything. So when someone in finance says "oh you need such and such document" you need to be in a position to pull it out of your pocket right then and there.

I'd recommend carrying that stuff around until your pay statements reflect the payments being made.

********
I had to rush to fix my BAH stuff in Basic as a new soldier and it was nearly impossible calling by bank by phone to have them FAX documents (who faxes anymore) to get my BAH fixed. I was given a very narrow window of like 1 hour during in processing. I magically made it work because I had a credit card with my bank's phone number on the back to make that connection.

Fast forward, basically the same song and dance happened when I went to Officer school, but that time I was ready. Finance came into brief us, and RIGHT THEN AND THERE I produced all the possible documents they could want.