Comment

Comment by Craig on August 21, 2011 at 10:56am

Joy - I will add more pictures, I just haven't had time.  The place is really cool...

Comment by Joy on August 21, 2011 at 10:51am

Craig, thanks for the pictures of NIOC Denver!  It is always nice to know where our kids are headed!

Comment by Craig on August 21, 2011 at 9:59am

Here is the scoop:

If you're dual military with no children they both get single BAH.  With children,  its the one that claims the child as a dependent gets BAH w/dependents. The other would still collect BAH at the single rate.  So the smart thing to do is to have the higher ranking claim the child so they'd get more BAH. 

Which is why dual military always live better than normal military personnel because both collect at the single rate minimum.

If they get stationed at different duty stations, and are E-5 and under with no dependents, there is a chance that they would be put in the barracks.  If stationed together there is a 99.9% chance they would each draw the single rate BAH.

Go here for more info...(you know your special when you get a link from me,,,,Wait,... I give a link to everyone...~ha)

http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/bah.cfm

Comment by CTmomof3 on August 20, 2011 at 1:13pm

Wow Craig thanks. He's selling his baby aka motorcycle. From what I hear it's more of a pain to try and take it. Now,can I assume that he'd have sponsorship? He should know right? He's n E-5. I will pass this info along...gingerly....the kid still won't believe mom knows what she talking about. I will book mark the link too.

Comment by Craig on August 20, 2011 at 12:22pm

I tell you, the humor is what keeps me going.  I love when when I can throw in a joke every now and then.  

I remember once, a mom said her son shared the bath with the the sailors in the other room... This is what I immediately thought....

 

 

Man, this actually becomes reality soon.  On September 20th, gays are allowed to serve.  Man, I hope they stock up on alot or "soap-on-the-rope" at the exchange....Or the sailors eyes will be doing this:

Comment by Craig on August 20, 2011 at 11:59am

Actually you might want to book mark this link:

Smooth_Move

Comment by Craig on August 20, 2011 at 11:53am

Per the HHG, he has four choices.  He can leave ship his HHG for his wife to use if she deceides to stay where ever they were OR he can put them in temporary stowage and have them ship closer to his PCS date OR he can place them in non-temporary stowage while he is on his tour in Japan and they will remained stored until he returns to the US  OR  he can ship them to his home of record or anywhere in the US for someone else to store them (ie like his parents). 

Per the car, your correct, you're not authorized to ship your car to Japan, unless you pay for it yourself, and then I don't know if you can get it registered on base. The exception is a vehicle made after 1976, don't ask me why. You can ship a motorcycle, and you can probably find out more info on all of this either online or at the base where you are stationed now.

 

This is out of the consignment guide...instructions for Japan...sorry for the length 

PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLES (POVS): 
a. POV shipments are subject to embargo or waiver requirements. Effective 1 April 1996, the Assistant Secretary for Defense (for Management Policy) has granted limited case-by-case, waiver authority to Commander USFJ for shipment of post 1976 type vehicles to Mainland Japan only. Okinawa continues to be under an embargo status and is not included under this waiver authority. The waiver authority for Mainland Japan has been further delegated by USFJ to Component Commanders. When requesting a waiver the following information should be included: make/year/model of vehicle and vehicle identification number (VIN), if equipped with California emission. All DoD/military members/employees must obtain prior approval from their respective service authority in Japan named in para 8e. All imported motor vehicles must be registered by the Government of Japan. 
----- 

e. WAIVERS: All DOD/military members/employees must obtain prior approval from their respective service authority in Japan as indicated below for shipment of POVs. The following are the POC's for POV Waivers: 

1. For all Army: Commander, USAG-J, Bldg 102, Room E100, Unit 45006, ATTN IMPC-JA-LGT-Z, APO AP 96343. Phone numbers: DSN 263-5154/4766; COMM 011-81-46-407-5154. DSN FAX: 315-263-8984. Email address:atozama@zama.army.mil 

2. For Air Force: 

a. Yokota AB, JA: 374 LRS/LGRDF, Unit 5120, Yokota AB, JA, APO AP 96328. Phone numbers: DSN 315-225-9733-9725; COMM: 011-81-3117-55-9733/9725. DSN FAX: 315-225-9606. Email address: 374LRS.LGRDF@YOKOTA.AF.MIL 

b. Misawa AB, JA: 35 LRS/LGRDF, Misawa AB JA, Unit 5014, APO AP 96319-5014. Phone number: DSN 226-3525. DSN FAX: 226-2077. Email Address: 35personalpropertyoffice@misawa.af.mil 

3. For Navy and Marines: Commander, US Naval Forces, Japan ATTN: N-8, FPO AP 96349, phone number DSN 243-2065/3094. FAX number 243-3109. 

-----------------------

Privately Owned Vehicles (POV’s)POV shipments to Japan are permitted, subject to embargo or waiver requirements, but are not recommended.

 

 Effective 1 Apr 96, the assistant Secretary of Defense (Revised September 2004) 9STATEMENT OF LIVING AND WORKING CONDITIONS (Management & Policy) has granted limited case-by-case waiver authority to Commander USFJ for shipment of post-1976 vehicles to mainland Japan only. Okinawa continues to be under embargo and is not included under this waiver authority. Certain requirements/restrictions may cause personal and financial hardships encountered in modifying POVs to meet the strict environmental/emissions standards imposed by the host nation governments, especially in Japan.  

 

Even vehicles manufactured in Japan and meeting California emissions requirements, reimported to Japan, must undergo a two-day emissions test, which costs approximately Y192,600 (between $1,700-$2,000 depending upon the conversion rate at the time), and requires driving the vehicle to the Yokota area where it must remain overnight. Although earlier-model cars may be shipped, cost of compliance with Japanese emission control and safety standards would significantly increase should the vehicle fail the inspection(s).  Vehicles that do not pass inspection will not be shipped back to CONUS at government expense. Used Japanese cars are readily available, are fairly inexpensive, have the advantage of right-hand drive, and meet Japanese emission control standards.

 

 Also, Japanese public transportation is excellent, and rental vehicles are available on base for off-base excursions.Motorcycles are popular means of transportation in Japan.  However, because of the inherent dangers involved in operating motorcycles, specific licensing requirements must be met, as well as stringent safety and emission system controls in compliance with Japanese laws.  Purchase of a new or used motorcycle in Japan is a relatively straightforward transaction with prices comparable to those in the U.S.  If you have a state-approved or U.S. military issued motorcycle license, be sure to bring it with you, as it may reduce the time spent in qualifying  for a license.

 

 If you plan to ship a motorcycle to Japan, it would be advisable to have your sponsor check the vehicle specifications with the Security Department to ensure that the motorcycle will pass Japanese standards without excessive and costly modifications.  Two-wheeled vehicles (including motorcycles) may not be driven by SOFA-sponsored persons in Misawa between 1 December and 30 March.

Comment by Craig on August 20, 2011 at 11:25am

I will only answer the BAH question, since this is really going to be long.  I will answer the other ones in a separate post.

 

There are actually very few places a sailors spouse can't go (example the island of Diego Garcia).  Yes, they have contractors on that island (male and female), but contractors are the only civilians.

 

His wife is a U.S. citizen.  She NEVER will lose her rights just because her husband is in the military.  She can go where ever she wants, however, the Navy doesn't have to give her all the entitlements.  What does this mean?  Let be break it down:

Him going to Pensacola - Since the spouse is located in the U.S., then they can collect BAH for whatever area they are living.  Notice I said where the spouse is located.  The reason I said that is the sailor might receive the BAH, but it is the dependent that gives him that entitlement.  It's not the sailors money, it's the dependent.  The sailor is required to pay for housing for the dependent, up to the BAH limit.  So if the spouse wants to live in an expensive place (example $10,000 per month), then the sailor is only require to pay what his limit is (example $1,500 per month).  The rest of the money is on the dependent.

 

Depending on where the spouse lives is what the Navy pays in BAH and COLA.  So lets say the spouse lives in San Francisco, and is receiving BAH and COLA for that area, then they might not want to tell the Navy they are going to Pensacola.  They want to keep that nice chunk of money instead of the lower BAH cost area in Pensacola.  Is this morally right?  Well if you remember the dependent is only "visiting", then yes it is.  The only thing the Navy can do is limit his time with her.  They can't restrict him to base because that would be a punishment (the phase liberty is a different story).  However, they can say his barracks room must be clean each day (without dust), so he would be responsible to maintain his Geographically, bachelors status.

 

On the other hand, lets say Georgia is less BAH than Pensacola, then she would want to tell the Navy her new location is in Pensacola then she would get the BAH for that area.  She can move there, but since it isn't a PCS move, the Navy won't pay to move her House Hold Goods (HHG). 

Does this make sense?

 

Overseas is totally different.  The sailors wife can go there to an live on the economy, but the Navy is only responsible for the BAH, not the COLA.  So if she was a millionaire then she could live there if the country would allow it.  Most countries limit a visit to 6 months.  But most sailors can't afford the cost for those areas out of their pocket.  To live there and receive the Navy entitlements, they must be command sponsored to use things like medical, base exchange, commissary.  Without command sponsorship, If they get sick, then they must seek medical in town and it is really expensive. I had a sailor on my website that went through all of this.  It ended up his wife just went to Japan to visit every 6 months, and live in the US for 3 years while he completed his tour.  They could never get command sponsorship since he was only a E2.  Yes, I know the Navy has a rule saying married sailor in paygrade E1-E3 are not allowed to go overseas, but that is only base on readiness.  The Navy said they needed him there, so he had to go (without his spouse).  It was a totally sad situation, with a bad outcome.  

Again, I will answer the car stuff and the HHG stuff in a separate post.  This one is getting way too long....

Comment by CTmomof3 on August 20, 2011 at 11:19am

Some people just don't get humor. Everyone needs to be able to laugh or we'd go crazy. Especially with these rates cuz we re in the dark. This group as well as others are loaded with info. What did people do before this. Kinda like what did we do before cell phones. lol.

Comment by navymom3 on August 20, 2011 at 10:28am

I have also got loads of information from this site. I know my son appreciates me knowing some of the answers to his questions. He has even had me ask a few questions on here for him. He says "Mom ask those navy moms for me will ya" Or more "Ask that retired CTM guy on your site for me" aka Craig.

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