BAH rules change for accompanied overseas Marines

[USMCRET6391]

The Corps announced changes to its housing allowance payment policies May 22 that will impact Marines issued accompanied orders to overseas assignments, but elect to leave their families in the States.

According to Marine administrative message 238/06, when a member on accompanied orders reports for duty overseas, a single basic allowance for housing will be paid only for the Marine’s new primary duty assignment location.

“Effective Jan. 1, 2006, BAH is no longer payable when a member with dependents, assigned to [Continental United States], is issued accompanied orders overseas, and the member executes those orders but elects to leave his dependents in CONUS due to personal reasons,” the message said.

Under the new rules, members who leave their families behind would still be entitled an overseas housing allowance. But members who reside in single government quarters at their overseas assignment will not be entitled to any housing allowances.

Marines may request the policy be waived under certain circumstances; members who don’t wish to bring their families overseas may also request accompanied orders be converted to unaccompanied orders.