PCS Basics

What is BAH?Basic

→ Applies when living off-base, CONUS

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a monthly, tax-free payment that helps cover the cost of off-base housing. The amount depends on your rank, dependency status (with or without dependents), and the zip code of your duty station.

• BAH starts when you sign a lease or close on a home and have orders in hand.
• With dependents = higher rate. Without dependents = lower rate.
• BAH is designed to cover rent plus utilities.
• Look up your rate at militarypay.defense.gov.

What is TRICARE?Basic

TRICAREis the military's health insurance program. You must enroll or update your plan within 90 days of a PCS.

• TRICARE Prime— HMO style. You're assigned a Primary Care Manager (PCM) at a Military Treatment Facility (MTF). Referrals required. Lowest out-of-pocket cost.
• TRICARE Select — PPO style. Choose your own doctors. Higher cost-share, more flexibility.
• TRICARE Dental — Separate program through United Concordia.
• Manage enrollment at tricare.mil.

What is DEERS?Basic

Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) is the government database that proves you and your dependents — including same-sex spouses — are eligible for military benefits (healthcare, commissary, exchanges, etc.).

• Update DEERS within 30 days of any life change — marriage, new baby, PCS, or divorce.
• Go to the nearest ID card office (RAPIDS site).
• Bring: marriage certificate, birth certificates, and Social Security cards for each dependent.

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)Family

What is TMO?Basic

Transportation Management Office (TMO) coordinates the movement of your household goods (HHG). Schedule your TMO briefing as soon as you receive orders — appointments fill up fast.

• Government Move — TMO arranges everything. You pack (or they pack), they ship.
• PPM / DITY — You move yourself and get reimbursed approximately 100% of what the government would have paid. Can be profitable if done efficiently.
• Combo — Split the move: some items go with TMO, you haul the rest.

What is BAS?Basic

Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) is a monthly food allowance. In 2026, the rate is approximately $460/month for enlisted and $320/month for officers.

• If you live in the barracks and have a meal card, BAS may be deducted from your pay.
• If you live off-post, you keep the full BAS amount.

BAH and On-Base Housing (PPV)Basic

→ On-base privatized housing

If you live in privatized on-base housing (most military housing is managed by private companies like Corvias, Lincoln, Balfour Beatty, or Hunt), your BAH is paid directly to the housing provider — you never see it in your bank account. That is by design: your BAH covers your rent and the housing company collects it.

• You are responsible for utility costs above the average usage baseline.
• If BAH increases after your lease starts, the extra typically goes to the housing provider until renewal — check your lease.
• If you live off base, BAH lands in your account and you pay rent yourself. A BAH increase means more money in your pocket.
• BAH is set to cover median rental costs in your duty-station zip — not necessarily what housing actually costs in a given year.

Bottom line: know whether you're on PPV (BAH goes to landlord) or off-base (BAH goes to you). Both are valid — just understand the flow before you sign anything.

BAH for Geo-Separated and Dual-Military CouplesAdvanced

→ Dual military or geographically separated

If you and your spouse are stationed at different installations (geographically separated), each of you may receive BAH at the with-dependents rate — even if you have no children. This is one of the most financially significant rules in military pay.

Always verify your specific situation with your finance office — the geo-sep rule has eligibility requirements that must be documented.

What is OHA / COLA?AdvancedOCONUS

→ OCONUS overseas assignments

At OCONUS (overseas) duty stations, BAH is replaced by two separate allowances:

• Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) — Covers your actual rent up to a location-based cap. Unlike BAH, OHA reimburses what you actually pay.
• Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) — Offsets the higher cost of goods and services at overseas locations. Both amounts vary by duty station and fluctuate with exchange rates.
• OCONUS → CONUS gap period: When you depart an overseas assignment, OHA and COLA stop on your final departure date. CONUS BAH begins when you sign a lease or report to your new installation. The gap is typically covered by travel per-diem (one day of per-diem per 350 miles), but plan your finances for a potential 1–2 week gap between OHA stopping and BAH starting.

Space-A TravelOCONUS

Space-Available (Space-A) flightslet eligible military members and dependents fly on military aircraft for free or at low cost — on a standby basis. It's one of the best-kept perks in military life, especially useful during PCS moves and leave periods.

• Who qualifies: Active duty, Guard/Reserve on orders, retirees, and their dependents (rules vary by category).
• How it works:You sign up at a terminal, flights are listed by destination, and you're called when space opens up after duty passengers board.
• Not guaranteed — you may wait days. Build buffer time into your PCS.
• OCONUS moves: Space-A is popular for families heading to Japan, Germany, and Korea. Many families fly commercial to a hub terminal, then Space-A to their overseas destination.
• Sign up at AMC Travel (amc.af.mil) — register your family and pick your terminals before your move date.

During PCS: active duty with dependents travel as Cat II — much higher priority than retirees (Cat VI). Sign up at the terminal as early as possible; earlier sign-up date within a category wins seats.

Taxes and Your Home of RecordAdvanced

Military members pay state income tax based on their home of record (the state where they enlisted or were commissioned), not where they are currently stationed. This is a significant benefit — if you enlisted from Texas, Florida, or another no-income-tax state, you likely pay zero state income tax for your entire career.

• You cannot change your home of record mid-career without a break in service — choose wisely at enlistment/commissioning.
• Military Spouse Residency Relief Act (MSRRA):Spouses can elect to use the service member's state of legal residence for tax purposes — meaning both can pay taxes in the same (potentially zero-tax) state regardless of where the family is stationed.
• Most states have military-specific exemptions — some exempt all military pay, others exempt pay earned while deployed. Research your home-of-record state.
• BAH and BAS are federally tax-exempt. They do not count as income for federal or state income tax purposes.
• Resources: DoD Military Pay tax guide and your state's revenue department.

Military Family HomeschoolingFamily

Military families homeschool at higher rates than the general population — frequent moves make educational continuity a challenge, and homeschooling solves it. Here are key resources:

• HSLDA Military Families — legal support and guidance for military homeschoolers in all 50 states and OCONUS.
• DoDEA Virtual School— free, accredited online school for military dependents OCONUS who aren't enrolled in a DoDEA classroom school. Available at dodea.edu/virtual-school.
• Armed Forces Homeschoolers (AFH) — private Facebook group with 20,000+ military homeschool families sharing curriculum, state-specific tips, and OCONUS resources.
• State laws vary widely — some states require portfolio reviews, others require nothing. HSLDA tracks requirements by state.
• OCONUS: check if your installation's School Liaison Officer can connect you with local homeschool groups — many installations have active co-ops on base.

Power of Attorney & SCRA ProtectionsAdvanced

• General POA — broad authority for most actions. Works for lease signing, vehicle registration, and TMO appointments.
• Limited POA— restricted to specific transactions. Recommended when you want to limit scope (e.g., "sign lease only at Fort X").
• Get your POA notarized on base through the JAG office — free for active-duty service members and their families. Most states require notarization for a POA to be legally effective.
• A spouse with a valid POA can: sign a lease, pick up HHG, enroll children in school, and handle most TMO/housing paperwork independently.

Common PCS Acronyms