December 23, 2011 A study by the Pew Research Center found that of the 167,000 enlisted women in the military, 31 percent are black, twice their percentage in the civilian female population, while 53% of White women represent the military, making up 78% of the civilian female population. Beth J. Asch, a senior economist and defense manpower specialist at the Rand … [Read more...]
Overseas Cost of Living Allowance Adjustments
December 2011 and January 2012 Effective in December 2011, 47 members stationed in Moscow, Russia will see an increase. In January 2012, roughly 1600 members stationed in Homer, Juneau, Kodiak, Unalaska, Alaska will see an increase in COLA while other locations will see no change. Increases in COLA will also be seen for the Barbados, Brazil, Cambodia, and Cape Verde. Members … [Read more...]
2012 Basic Allowance for Housing Component Breakdown
About BAH Data is collected annually for over 350 Military Housing Areas (MHAs) in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. Three components are included in the BAH computation: median current market rent, average utilities (including electricity, heat, and water/sewer) and average renter's insurance. Collectively, these components establish the total … [Read more...]
The Real Power Behind Derogatory Terms
12/19/2011 Commentary by Staff Sgt. Candice Compton (AFNS) -- Derogatory comments are comprised of words that tend or intend to detract, disparage or belittle and can often be considered offensive. Derogatory words have the power to hurt and potentially cause violence or other forms of hostility. The origins of these disparaging/derogatory terms can depend on geographic … [Read more...]
2012 BAH Rates Announced
December 2011 The Department of Defense has released the 2012 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates. BAH rates will increase an average of 2 percent when the new rates take effect on January 1, 2012. For members with dependents, average increases in BAH are approximately $39 per month. A typical E-6 with dependents, for example, will find his/her BAH about $35 per month … [Read more...]