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ALARACT 021/2008 EXCEPTION TO POLICY GUIDANCE FOR BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING (BAH) WAIVERS
This message clarifies policy guidance for Secretarial waivers to receive BAH at other than the Soldier’s duty station location.
These policies apply to active duty Soldiers (Title 10 and Title 32 US) authorized BAH.
1. REFERENCES:
A. JOINT FEDERAL TRAVEL REGULATIONS (JFTR), VOLUME 1, CHAPTER 10.
B. MEMORANDUM, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE ARMY (MANPOWER AND RESERVE AFFAIRS), 12 DECEMBER 2007,
SUBJECT: DELEGATION OF BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING (BAH) SECRETARIAL WAIVER AUTHORITY.
C. MEMORANDUM, DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, G-1, 28 JANUARY 2008, SUBJECT:
DELEGATION OF BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING (BAH) SECRETARIAL WAIVER AUTHORITY.
D. ALARACT 101-2003, 25 JULY 2003, PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION
(PME) BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING (BAH) WAIVER POLICY.
E. ALARACT, 06 APRIL 2002, BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR HOUSING (BAH) WAIVER POLICY.
2. PURPOSE. IN SUPPORT OF CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE ARMY INITIATIVE #2 PROVIDING GREATER FLEXIBILITY TO
SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, THIS MESSAGE IS BEING RELEASED TO CLARIFY POLICY GUIDANCE FOR SECRETARIAL
WAIVERS TO RECEIVE BAH AT OTHER THAN THE SOLDIER’S DUTY STATION LOCATION.
3. APPLICABILITY. THESE POLICIES APPLY TO ACTIVE DUTY SOLDIERS (TITLE 10 AND TITLE 32) AUTHORIZED BAH.
4. THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES QUALIFY FOR BAH SECRETARIAL WAIVER CONSIDERATION:
A. LOW/NO COST PCS WAIVER EXAMPLE: A MEMBER IS ASSIGNED TO WASHINGTON, DC AND REASSIGNED TO QUANTICO,
VA UNDER A LOW COST OR NO COST PCS. THE MEMBER MADE A HOUSING DECISION BASED ON THE BAH IN EFFECT AT
THE MEMBER’S PERMANENT DUTY STATION (PDS) [WASHINGTON, DC]. THE MEMBER MAY CONTINUE RECEIVING THE
HIGHER WASHINGTON, DC RATE WHEN THE MEMBER’S ASSIGNMENT ORDERS STATE, “THIS IS A NO/LOW COST MOVE
AND SHIPMENT OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND MOVEMENT OF DEPENDENTS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED” THE MOVEMENT
DESIGNATOR CODE IN THE ORDER IDENTIFIES A LOW/NO COST MOVE, AND THE MEMBER ESTABLISHED HIS/HER
HOUSEHOLD WHILE ASSIGNED TO THE OLD PDS.
B. PROFESSIONAL MILITARY EDUCATION OR TRAINING (PME). SOLDIERS DEPARTING PCS FOR 12 MONTHS OR LESS
FOR PME MAY RECEIVE THE BAH RATE AT THE DEPENDENTS LOCATION OR THE PREVIOUS DUTY STATION LOCATION
(IF THAT IS WHERE THE DEPENDENTS ARE LOCATED). THE WAIVER ONLY APPLIES TO SOLDIERS WITH DEPENDENTS.
SOLDIERS MUST AGREE TO LIMITED PCS ENTITLEMENTS TO INCLUDE: SHIPMENT OF AUTHORIZED UNACCOMPANIED
BAGGAGE WEIGHT ALLOWANCE (OFFICERS: 01-03 = 600LBS, 04-06 = 800LBS, 07-O10 = 1,000LBS, ENLISTED = 500LBS)
TO INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL BOOKS, PAPERS, AND EQUIPMENT, LIMITED DISLOCATION ALLOWANCE (DLA) AT THE
WITHOUT DEPENDENT RATE, TEMPORARY LODGING EXPENSE (TLE), AND PER DIEM, AND SHIPMENT OF POV (HAWAII &
ALASKA ONLY).
C. WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRE DEPENDENTS TO RESIDE SEPARATELY FROM THE MEMBER. THE SECRETARY OF
THE ARMY HAS APPROVED FOUR DISTINCT CATEGORIES FOR CONSIDERATION UNDER THIS AUTHORITY:
(1.) SOLDIERS WHO RECEIVE PCS ORDERS TO UNITS DEPLOYING WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF ARRIVAL. [A COPY OF THE
ORDER MUST ACCOMPANY THE REQUEST.]
(2.) SOLDIERS WHO HAVE DEPENDENTS IN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THEY DO NOT WISH TO DISRUPT. [A LETTER FROM
THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION MUST ACCOMPANY THE REQUEST.]
(3.) SOLDIERS WHO WISH TO HAVE THEIR SPOUSES CONTINUE EMPLOYMENT AT THE OLD DUTY STATION. [A LETTER
SUBSTANTIATING EMPLOYMENT MUST ACCOMPANY THE REQUEST.]
(4.) SOLDIERS WHO HAVE DEPENDENTS WITH MEDICAL CONSIDERATIONS THAT WARRANT LEAVING THEM AT THE OLD
DUTY STATION LOCATION. [EFMP CONSIDERATIONS MUST INCLUDE A LETTER FROM THE GAINING STATIONS EFMP
COORDINATOR. OTHER MEDICAL CONSIDERATIONS MUST INCLUDE A LETTER FROM COMPETENT MILITARY MEDICAL
AUTHORITY SUBSTANTIATING THE REQUIREMENT TO LEAVE THE DEPENDENTS AT THE OLD STATION.]
5. SOLDIERS MAY SUBMIT REQUESTS ELECTRONICALLY TO HQDADCSG1DAPE-PRC@H QDA.ARMY.MIL, OR FAX TO (703)
692-6819 [DSN 222]. ADDRESS REQUESTS TO HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY
CHIEF OF STAFF, G-1, ATTN: DAPE-PRC, 300 ARMY PENTAGON, WASHINGTON, DC 20310-0300. THE REQUEST MUST
INCLUDE A MEMO STATING THE REASON FOR THE REQUEST AND WHEN THE MEMBERS HOUSEHOLD WAS ESTABLISHED,
ORDERS ASSIGNING THE MEMBER TO THE NEW PDS, ORDERS ASSIGNING THE MEMBER TO THE OLD PDS [REQUEST
FOR ORDERS (RFO) IS NOT ACCEPTABLE], AND CURRENT LES. IF THE MEMBER IS BELOW THE GRADE OF E-7 OR AN
OFFICER IS BELOW THE GRADE OF 0-4, THE REQUEST MUST BE ENDORSED BY THE FIRST FIELD GRADE OFFICER IN
THE MEMBERS CHAIN OF COMMAND.
6. POINTS OF CONTACT (POC): LTC DWAYNE HARRIS (703) 692-6819.
EXPIRATION DATE CAN NOT BE DETERMINED