Basic Allowance for Housing Revised for Junior Enlisted Married Sailors

The Navy announced good news this week for junior Sailors married to other junior Sailors: if you are both on sea duty, you can now each receive basic allowance for housing (BAH). Before this change was instituted, dual military couples were only entitled to one joint housing allowance. To receive the benefit, eligible Sailors must meet all of the following criteria:

• Both are E-5 and below
• Both assigned to sea duty
• Have no other dependents
• Share the same household
• Have declined government quarters

The entitlement authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act is effective Oct. 1, 2003. The Navy has programmed for the estimated $9.3 million fiscal year 2004 cost. This policy change will benefit approximately 1,200 Navy couples. For more information, see

Navy News Article

http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=12366

or read NAVADMIN 059/04: http://www.bupers.navy.mil/navadmin/nav04/nav04059.txt.