New Junior Sailor BAH Policy

WASHINGTON -- The Navy announced good news this week for junior Sailors married to other junior Sailors: if you are both on sea duty, you can now each receive Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH).

“This benefit clarifies the BAH entitlement policy and is designed to reduce the financial burden on our junior Sailors,” said Cmdr. Katharine Reed, head of the pay and allowances section of Navy’s Military Compensation Policy Coordination Branch in Washington. “It also better achieves parity between our junior and senior enlisted afloat dual military families.”

Before this change was instituted, dual military couples in the rank of E-5 and below, when both were assigned to sea duty, were only entitled to one joint housing allowance.

To receive the benefit, eligible Sailors must meet all of the following criteria:

• Both are E-5 and below
• Both assigned to sea duty
• Have no other dependents
• Share the same household
• Have declined government quarters

The entitlement authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act is effective Oct. 1, 2003 (so affected sailors will receive "back pay" to Oct 1 2003). The Navy has programmed for the estimated $9.3 million fiscal year 2004 cost. Under the new law, both sailors will now receive single-rate BAH.

This policy change will benefit approximately 1,200 Navy couples.