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 Germany
offers a variety of landscapes from the coast in the north to the
Bavarian Alps in the south. The country boasts a multitude of
historical towns and cities, romantic castles, and excellent
museums. The tourism infrastructure is well developed and most
of the people speak English.
To learn
more about German cities, castles, and festivals, take a look at our
Germany map and travelogues. |
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Our Favorite
Germany Vacation Destinations |
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US MILITARY TIPS
US Air Force |
US Army |
US
Navy | US Marine Corps
Berlin | Heidelberg |
Frankfurt | Munich | Stuttgart
PCSing or going on TDY to Germany?
Use this page as
your guide!
BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING
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Military Finance is always confusing,
and this is especially true when moving overseas. Read our
Military Finance Tips and Essential Information to ensure to find out
more about your Military Money Matters. Armed with this
knowledge, you can protect your interests and ensure that you get
everything that you are entitled to.
Housing allowances when living CONUS (Basic Allowance for Housing) and OCONUS (Overseas Housing Allowance) vary in how they are used by the
servicemember.
You can find out how much BAH you are authorized at your specific duty station by visiting
the
BAH Rate
Webpage.
BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING
The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is available to active duty
servicemembers who work within the 50 United States who are not living
in government housing. Those servicemembers stationed in US
territories or in overseas countries receive an
Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA)
instead of BAH.
BAH compensates servicemembers to allow for housing on the local
economy. BAH is not designed to address the high cost of living
in a specific area. Servicemembers residing in areas in which
there is a high cost of living will be compensated under the
CONUS
COLA program.
BAH RATES
BAH rates are based on a servicemember's geographic duty location
(based on ZIP
code), pay grade, and dependency status. Those
servicemembers with more dependents will receive a higher rate of BAH.
If you are serving an unaccompanied overseas tour and your family is
staying in the US, you are eligible for OHA at the "without dependents
rate", along with BAH at the "with dependents rate" based on your
dependent's residence
ZIP Code.
The intent of BAH is to provide servicemembers with proper housing
based on the costs in the local civilian housing markets.
However, BAH is not intended to fully cover all housing costs.
Servicemembers are expected to pay a certain percentage of housing
costs themselves. This percentage (in 2001 it was 15%) is
deducted from the national median housing allowance. For
example, if the national median allowance is $500 (15% x $500 = $75),
servicemembers around the country were expected to pay $75
out-of-pocket to cover housing costs. Thus, if the local housing
cost was $1000, you would have received $925 in BAH.
BAH rates are based on rental data, and local monthly mortgage
payments are not used in the computation. Therefore your BAH
rates may not cover your mortgage payments.
CHANGES IN BAH
BAH Rates change from year to year to follow the changes in the
housing markets.
NOTE: BAH rate protection keeps individuals
from having a reduction in their housing allowance.
Individuals are entitled to either the January 1 rate for their grade
and location OR the housing allowance they were pain on December 31 of
the previous year, whichever is larger.
BAH rates may go up each year you are at a duty station to
properly compensate you for changes in the housing markets, but your
BAH rate will only go down if you: 1) PCS, 2) Are demoted, or 3) If
your dependency status changes.
OFF POST HOUSING VS. GOVERNMENT HOUSING
Your BAH rates are based on the housing choices made by
civilians of comparable income. This does not mean that your off
post residence will match the quarters that you would get if you live
on post.
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With dependents
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Without dependents
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Pay Grade |
Housing Standard |
Pay
Grade |
Housing Standard |
|
E-1 |
Midpoint of 2 bed apt and 2
bed townhouse |
E-1
|
1
bedroom apartment |
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E-2 |
E-2
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E-3 |
E-3
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E-4 |
E-4
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E-5 |
2 bedroom townhouse/duplex
|
E-5
|
2
bedroom apartment |
|
O-1 |
O-1
|
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E-6 |
3 bedroom townhouse/duplex
|
E-6
|
2
bedroom townhouse/duplex
|
|
W-1 |
W-1
|
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E-7 |
E-7
|
|
O-2 |
O-2
|
|
O-1 E |
O-1
E |
|
W-2 |
W-2
|
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E-8 |
E-8
|
|
W-3 |
3 bedroom single family
detached |
W-3
|
|
O-2 E |
O-2
E |
|
O-3 |
O-3
|
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E-9 |
E-9
|
|
W-4 |
O-3
E |
3
bedroom townhouse/duplex |
|
O-3 E |
W-4
|
|
O-4 |
O-4
|
|
W-5 |
W-5
|
|
O-5 |
4 bedroom single family
detached |
O-5
|
|
O-6 |
O-6
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3
bedroom single family detached |
|
O-7 |
O-7
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GEOGRAPHICALLY SEPARATED FAMILIES
If the servicemember is a geographic bachelor, his/her family is
eligible for BAH based on the duty station of the member. Only
in special circumstances, approved by the secretary of the service
concerned, will a member be granted an exception to receive BAH based
on the dependent's location. This applies to such cases as if a
member has a sick child that requires medical attention only available
in a certain location.
DUAL MILITARY FAMILIES
Under Chapter 26 of
the Financial Management Regulations, servicemembers in dual
military families cannot both claim dependents. For example, if
you and your wife are both in the military and have two children, only
one of you can collect full rate BAH. Your spouse must collect
single rate BAH. You may not each claim BAH with one child as a
dependent.
BAH II
BAH II is an allowance, not variable by geographic location, given to
servicemembers in special circumstances where they are not eligible
for the full monthly BAH rate (such as reservists on active duty less
than 20 weeks or servicemembers in confinement). BAH II amounts
are divisible by 30 for calculating daily payments. The rate is
changed annually.
BAH-DIFF
BAH-DIFF is given to servicemembers who are assigned to single
government quarters, but are authorized for housing to help the
servicemember pay child support. A servicemember is not entitled
to BAH-DIFF if the monthly support due to that child is less than the
BAH-DIFF rate. The rate is changed annually.
TERMINAL LEAVE
BAH is paid to servicemembers during terminal leave.
CONTACT INFORMATION
For more information, contact your service BAH representative.
|
US Air Force |
Contact your local
finance office or
Chain of Command |
|
US Army |
|
US Marine Corps |
|
US Navy |
(703) 695-3304 |
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Coast Guard |
(202) 267-2210 |
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Public Health
Service |
(301) 594-3371 |
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NOAA |
(301) 713-3453 |
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