An officer or enlisted member of the Armed Forces of the United States entitled to basic pay, who has been certified within the past 12 months (or 12 months plus 180 days when called or recalled to active duty in support of a contingency operation) to be proficient in a foreign language, and who meets one of the following conditions: Be qualified in a career military linguist … [Read more...]

Q-1: I am a member of the U.S. Armed Forces performing services in a combat zone. Is any part of my military pay for serving in this area excluded from gross income? A-1: Yes, if you serve in a combat zone as an enlisted person or as a warrant officer (including commissioned warrant officers) for any part of a month, all your military pay received for military service that … [Read more...]

NEW 2012 BAS Rates Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) entitlement continues for service members while hospitalized. BAS is meant to offset costs for a member's meals. This allowance is based in the historic origins of the military in which the military provided room and board (or rations) as part of a member's pay. This allowance is not intended to offset the costs of meals … [Read more...]

Military Enlisted members are provided monetary allowances to pay for uniform replacement and maintenance. These allowances are based on the cost of specific uniform items, and on an estimated “wear out” date for each specific item. The clothing allowance typically is paid on the anniversary of the day members entered the military. People with fewer than three years … [Read more...]

*Cost of Living Adjustment for 2012* * COLA update for 2010 * A decrease in the Consumer Price Index means military retirees and annuitants will not receive a Cost of Living Adjustment increase in 2010. Also, Survivor Benefit Plan premiums, will not increase. The CPI, published by the Department of Labor, normally increases as a result of inflation, leading to a COLA increase. … [Read more...]