Army paying for a house off base??

Question

I was talking to 2 of my recruiters the other day and they said they get paid like 1500+ a month to help pay for their housing, even more since they live in the Chicago area.

Anyway my question is how do I get this?? I am gonna enlist next week for a 3 year contract and attempt to get Ranger. I will probably get married before my enlistment is over. But what are the requirements to have the Army help pay for my house rent and everything when im no longer active?? Would I have to re-enlist after the 3 year and be active? Do I just need to be married?


Reason im asking this is because that money would be very helpful and I would really like to be able to buy a house after I am not active duty. Also what would this be called??

Answer 1

BAH is designed to cover off-base rental housing costs. It’s calculated using a complex formula that takes into account median current rental rates, the average cost of utilities, and renter’s insurance rates in each of 369 housing areas in the 50 States, said Susan Brumbaugh, director of the BAH program.

While home prices are not part of the calculus, the real estate market has a direct effect on the rental market, Brumbaugh said.

For example, last year’s average 3.5 percent increase came in the midst of a long upturn in home sales that helped tamp down rental cost increases.

“Home sales were still good” in 2006, said Brumbaugh. “The mortgage thing hadn’t collapsed yet. So many people were buying that we had a lot of landlords [with] rentals that were vacant.

I am not telling you to get married. You will get BAH when you get married and if you are on the fast track for promotion to SSG, once you get promoted to SGT, the Army will make you move off post and get BAH.

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/12/military_08bahrates_071212w/

SSG Schramm
US Army 15 years
OIF 2003
US Army Recruiter 3 years running in Texas

Answer 2

BAH is housing allowance it is a set rate which depends on the zip code of the base you are stationed at, what rank/rate you are and if you have dependents or not. If you are single w/o dependents then normally you will have to be an E5 and up or an E4 with longer than 4 years in, in order to qualify for it. The rates will change depending on your location for example Hawaii gets more than if you live in San Antonio, TX. If you are married then normally the rates for BAH will be higher, but is doesn't go up when you have children, the only time it changes is if the BAH goes up for the area or if you are promoted.

You can be stationed anywhere if there is an opening with your MOS in a place. There is quite a few Army personnel in San Diego even though there is no actual base there, there is still Recruiters as well as full time Reserves.

If you are Overseas, then it is called OHA and is based on teh amount of rent you are paying each month. You will also get an allowance for utilities with OHA. WIth BAH it is to pay for both the rent and all utilities.

Once you are no longer in the military, the BAH stops, whether you are married or not.

Answer 3

The military typically won't pay single recruits for off-base housing. If you're married with dependents they'll give you BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) that varies depending on your rank, location and dependent status. A calculator for 2009's BAH amounts is linked below.

Answer 4

Yea, im sure you would like the Army to pay you $1,500 a month after your enlistment is over with.

Heck, i'd like em to pay me $1,500 a month too.

But it's not gonna happen.

While you are active duty, and your married, you can collect a housing allowance.

It is based on where you are stationed and what the local rent is.

But after your enlistment, you don't collect any kind of pay from the military.

Answer 5

BAH is based on your rank and where you live. EX: CA generally gets more than AL, etc. If you are no longer "active duty" and therefore not in the army you don't receive it. It's a perk of being in the military as is housing on post/base.

Answer 6

The BAH (basic allowance for housing) they are talking about is paid to you by the zip code you live in and rank. (New York, San Diego, Los Angeles and Hawaii are the most expensive places to live) unless you are going to be stationed in these places. (No Army base in New York, San Diego, or Los Angeles) and since your just enlisting and no time in the army and low in rank you wont live off of base unless you are married. once you separate from the military that pay stops. in fact unless you are disabled all pay stops unless you retire.

Answer 7

First of all you need to be in the military, married or have dependent children. The amount you get is based on your rank, and duty station.
My fiancee and I have been together for 8 years and have 3 dependent children (that are his). He is an E-7, and we live in Virginia, we get close to that amount, but one of the guys in his company doesn't even come close to that amount, because his rank is E-4.
Best of luck

Answer 8

Go to

www.dfas.mil

and look up BAH rates for the zipcode / rank combination you will be at.

It's probably going to be about 300-800 bucks a month depending on where you live.

And guess what...EVERYONE gets it,unless you live on base - since you would be living for free ! It's nothing special.

Answer 9

Lol a_wood.

You get BAH, but not necessarily 1500 a month. It depends on where you are stationed as to how much your BAH will be. My husband is stationed at Lejeune and we certainly don't get 1500 for BAH.

Answer 10

The Army doesn't provide housing for those who are not in the Army.