Today we have great news! Just last week (September 2022) the Secretary of Defense announced immediate and long-term actions to strengthen the economic security and stability of our service members.  

This has been heavy on my heart as we watched the market explode over the past couple of years.  The increased rent, mortgage rates, and now higher interest rates have been cutting into the household budget for our gallant service members. But now, the Department of Defense is reviewing BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) tables for that they can catch up with current market costs. Additionally, they are instituting immediate BAH increases in 28 military housing areas.  Those are listed below:

Vandenberg AFB, CA; Twenty Nine Palms MCB, CA; San Diego, CA; Dover AFB/ Rehoboth, DE; Patrick AFB, FL; Miami/Fort Lauderdale, FL; Orlando, FL; West Palm Beach, FL; Volusia County, FL; Fort Myers Beach, FL; Kings Bay/Brunswick, GA; Maui County, HI; Chicago, IL; Boston, MA; Cape Cod – Plymouth, MA; Martha’s Vineyard, MA; Brunswick, ME; Coastal Maine, ME; Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Helena, MT; Wilmington, NC; Northern New Jersey, NJ; Newport, RI; Providence, RI; Beaufort/Parris Island, SC; Knoxville, TN; Houston, TX; Quantico/Woodbridge, VA.

This affects approximately 115,000  service members.  Along with these housing measures, they are also planning to fund commissaries to cut prices at the register.  The goal is to save 25% above what you will find at the civilian grocery store. The new measures also include paying eligible service members the Basic Needs Allowance starting in January 2023.  Finally, the plans call for instituting a 4.6% pay increase for service members starting in January 2023.  

Currently, the living conditions for many service members are inadequate housing.  We have service members staying in campgrounds near installations, living in unsafe areas, having to live far away from the post, and/or being outbid for purchasing a home.  

Other items being considered as the department of defense reviews ways to strengthen the economic security and stability of service members and their families:

• Cover lodging expenses

• Dislocation allowance

• Improved childcare

• Enhanced help for spouses looking for employment