UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 126/08
DTG 192258Z FEB 08
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MP DIV//
SUBJ/BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING (BAH) WAIVERS//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/CMC/YMD:20061126//
POC/B. IMLER/GYSGT/UNIT:MMIA/-/TEL:(703) 784-9200/TEL:DSN 278-9200//
POC/P. MORENO/LTCOL/UNIT:MPO/-/TEL:(703) 784-9200/TEL:DSN 278-9200//
POC/P. R. BONINCONTRI/CAPT/UNIT:MPO/-/TEL:(703) 784-9386
/TEL:DSN 278-9386//
NARR/REF A IS MCO 7220.56, ENTITLEMENT TO BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR
HOUSING (BAH) FOR LOCATIONS OTHER THAN THAN THE PERMANENT DUTY
STATION (PDS).//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. REF A PUBLISHED POLICY THAT ESTABLISHED
CRITERIA FOR ENTITLEMENT TO BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING (BAH)
AT LOCATIONS OTHER THAN THE MARINES PERMANENT DUTY STATION
(PDS). THIS MARADMIN CLARIFIES ASPECTS OF THAT POLICY
AFFECTED BY THE 2008 BAH RATES, AND WILL BE INCORPORATED IN THE NEXT
CHANGE OR REVISION OF REF A.
2. SITUATION
A. HISTORICALLY, MARINES STATIONED IN HIGH BAH PAYABLE LOCATIONS,
SUCH AS WASHINGTON DC AND SAN DIEGO CA, ARE ROUTINELY AUTHORIZED TO
RETAIN THE HIGHER BAH RATE WHEN REASSIGNED VIA PERMANENT CHANGE OF
ASSIGNMENT (PCA) ORDERS TO A LOWER BAH PAYABLE LOCATION WITHIN THE
VICINITY OF THE ORIGINAL PDS. FOR EXAMPLE, A MEMBER IS ASSIGNED TO
SAN DIEGO AND IS SUBSEQUENTLY REASSIGNED VIA PCA ORDERS TO CAMP
PENDLETON. IN THIS SITUATION, THE MEMBER MAY RETAIN THE HIGHER SAN
DIEGO BAH RATE UPON APPROVAL FROM HQMC.
B. THE FACTORS THAT SET 2008 BAH RATES RESULTED IN HIGHER
WITH-DEPENDENT BAH RATES FOR CAMP PENDLETON IN THE PAY GRADES OF E9,
CWO4, CWO5, O3E, & O4-O7 WHEN COMPARED TO THE WITH-DEPENDENT RATES OF
SAN DIEGO. THIS FLUCTUATION OF BAH RATES IMPACTS MARINES WITH
APPROVED BAH WAIVERS AUTHORIZING RETENTION OF THE SAN DIEGO BAH RATE.
C. THE SAN DIEGO MILITARY HOUSING AREA (MHA) INCLUDES MARINES
ASSIGNED TO MCAS MIRAMAR, MCRD SAN DIEGO, RECRUITING STATIONS, AND
OTHER UNITS LOCATED WITHIN THE SAN DIEGO MHA.
3. PURPOSE. TO MODIFY CURRENT POLICY TO ENSURE THAT MEMBERS
WITH-DEPENDENTS ORIGINALLY ASSIGNED VIA PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION
(PCS) ORDERS TO A HIGH BAH PAYABLE LOCATION ARE PROTECTED DURING
TIMES OF RATE FLUCTUATION.
4. EXECUTION. SERVICING ADMINISTRATION CENTERS WILL IDENTIFY
AFFECTED MARINES, BASED ON THE ELIGIBILITY BELOW, AND ENSURE THOSE
MARINES ARE AUTHORIZED THE HIGHER OF THE TWO RATES UNTIL ISSUED
SUBSEQUENT PCS ORDERS.
A. ELIGIBILITY
(1) MUST HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY APPROVED TO RETAIN BAH AT THE SAN DIEGO
RATE. BAH WAIVERS GRANTED AFTER 1 JAN 08 ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.
(2) ORIGINAL PCS ORDERS AUTHORIZED HOUSHOLD GOODS MOVE TO THE SAN
DIEGO MHA.
(3) CURRENTLY REASSIGNED TO CAMP PENDLETON VIA PCA ORDERS.
B. THE SERVICING ADMINISTRATION CENTER WILL ADJUST THE AFFECTED
MARINE'S PAY RECORD TO REFLECT THE HIGHER OF THE TWO RATES. THE
SERVICING ADMINISTRATION CENTER WILL NOTIFY THE MARINE UPON
IDENTIFICATION AND ADJUSTMENT OF PAY RECORD.
5. THE ADJUSTMENT TO THE MARINE'S BAH RATE IS EFFECTIVE 1 JAN 08.
RETROACTIVE PAYMENT TO 1 JAN 08 IS AUTHORIZED.
6. IN THE EVENT THAT THE 2009 BAH RATES RESULT IN HIGHER RATES FOR
THE SAN DIEGO MHA, SERVING PERSONAL ADMINISTRATION CENTERS WILL
REVIEW 2008 AFFECTED MARINES WHO MET THE CRITERIA IN PARAGRAPH 3
ABOVE, AND ENSURE THE MARINE IS AUTHORIZED THE HIGHER RATE OF BAH.
THE AUTHORIZATION TO PAY THE HIGHER BAH RATE TERMINATES UPON THE
MARINE RECEIVING FULLY FUNDED PCS ORDERS.
7. THIS MESSAGE APPLIES TO THE TOTAL FORCE MARINE CORPS.
8. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY MR. M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER
PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//