My husband is currently at BCT, and will be going to AIT for 27 weeks, exactly 6 months. We were told by the recruiters that we will recieve BAH will he is at AIT, but now I keep hearing & reading different things. I read that if AIT is over 20 weeks, that makes it a PCS, and if I chose not to go, (I'm not going until he gets his duty station,) that we don't get BAH. Is this true? We are so confused and just want to know so we can plan & manage our finances accordingly!!!

Somebody correct me if Im wrong but AIT is never a PCS, its Initial Entry Training. Thats #1. #2, he should get BAH from the day he starts Basic regardless of where you are.

Any AIT over 20 weeks is considered a PCS as far as dependent purposes, meaning you can move your family to your AIT locataion at government expense.

BAH will not end if you choose not to go. BAH will be based upon your location until your husband reaches his first duty station, upon which it will be based upon that duty station, whether you are there or not.

Yes we have been getting BAH while he is in BCT...I'm still just not sure about getting it during AIT since it is so long, EVERY person I have asked has given me a different response!! Thanks for your help!

If you are not with your husband while he is at AIT you will still receive BAH. If you decide to move with your husband during AIT since this course is so long and you live off post you will receive BAH. If you move with your husband and you live on post NO BAH.

If you decide to stay your BAH will remain what your are getting now where you currently live. Now once your husband graduates AIT and arrives at his first duty station and you still decide not to join him your BAH will change to the amount received for his rank at his duty station.

quote:

Originally posted by oswalds0314:
My husband is currently at BCT, and will be going to AIT for 27 weeks, exactly 6 months. We were told by the recruiters that we will recieve BAH will he is at AIT, but now I keep hearing & reading different things. I read that if AIT is over 20 weeks, that makes it a PCS, and if I chose not to go, (I'm not going until he gets his duty station,) that we don't get BAH. Is this true? We are so confused and just want to know so we can plan & manage our finances accordingly!!!

Not true, if its more than 20 weeks he can request to move you up there with him at GOVT expense...but if you decide not to move you will continue to get BAH as you are now (while he is in basic)....

Unless you live on post, you will recieve BAH. At most duty stations, it is better to live off post. 9 times out of 10, the BAH not only covers rent/bills, but you can out on top with some extra $$ every month. IF you go to D.C. or CA though, it might be better to live on post since its so expensive to live in those states.
Also, you might want to think about going to wherever your husbands AIT is as soon as you are authorized. It might save you both a lot finacially and the burden of seperation will go away.

I don't totally agree-
Moving is Expensive, even if the Government moves your belongings. You have to pay deposits, re-buy all the stuff in your fridge, and a million other things that add up to be lots of $$ on a budget..
PLUS if you take a car to AIT and he is getting stationed to Korea or overseas and you're not taking the car there, then what?

IF you talk it out and decide to move to AIT, remember that your spouse is VERY BUSY. They'll be unavailable except to sleep and an hour or two in the evening, and PART of the weekends SOMETIMES. Get used to them telling you when they'll be home then being stuck longer than expected.

That being said, I DID move my family to AIT at Fort Gordon, Georgia. I had a long AIT and my wife had medical issues that were hard to take care of where her family was. There were no military medical facilities there, so the hospital at Ft Gordon was very helpful.

AND, one last thing-

Living off-post is better for lots of people. You don't have to deal with rank/neighbor issues, you are free to do what you want (and Landlord or city rules allow). And you CAN do it affordably.

On the other hand there is a lot of nicer housing being built- plus the TIME the Soldier saves living nearer to work sometimes makes it better. Remember they'll be going to PT in the morning, rushing home to shower/eat, then going back to work.

Consider how much gas $$ it will cost to live where you pick too! It adds up quick over time.

Check into the school system if you have children. I live off-post now because the schools are better than on-post.

I lived on-post for a couple years at Ft Meade and was able to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner w/ my wife almost every day- while others were spending hours driving.

Well looks like you have gotten your answer. I would stop listening to those people saying that you wouldn't be getting BAH. They don't seem to be very reliable sources.

quote:

Originally posted by AutobahnSHO:
AND, one last thing-

On the other hand there is a lot of nicer housing being built- plus the TIME the Soldier saves living nearer to work sometimes makes it better. Remember they'll be going to PT in the morning, rushing home to shower/eat, then going back to work.I lived on-post for a couple years at Ft Meade and was able to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner w/ my wife almost every day- while others were spending hours driving.

Ditto! My family moved with me to AIT at Ft. Meade and even WITH me living on post only 5 minutes away, I still rushed around every morning after PT trying to get ready to make it back in time for formation to go to class. It can be stressful, especially when you have to go to training after class or have guard duty. But, then again, my family wasn't a distraction for me at AIT, it actually helped. It kept me studying hard because I saw every day what I was working hard for...them.

Just make sure he knows that you don't get any special treatment because your family is there. You still have to pull guard duty and clean the barracks (even though you don't live there) and are expected at every formation. It's definitly a privlege.

Good luck with whatever decision you make!