BAH to increase for 2017

Good day folks! So this just in--->>> Basic Allowance Housing (BAH) rate will increase to an average of $41 per month January 1. The calculation used to determine it shrinks the amount of housing costs it is designed to cover.

BAH is re-calculated yearly using a snap-shot of housing cost in each region. For 2017, the rate is designed to cover 97 percent of troops' housing costs, which is a one percent drop from last year also the third step in a congressional plan to reduce rates by five percent over the next five years. The rate also no longer covers the cost of rental insurance.

The Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) rate for 2017 will remain un-changed from 2016 at $253.63 for officers and $368.29 for enlisted personnel. BAS is calculated based on the average price of food. BAH and BAS changes will be reflected in troops January 15th pay-check.

Troops in areas or pay-grades set to receive a BAH rate increase will receive the new, higher rate beginning in January. Those who live in an area with a rate reduction for 2017 will be grandfathered into the old, higher rate until they leave the area or change rank. If they are promoted and their new rank receives a lower rate, they will continue to receive their old, higher rate.

There are almost 2,000 troops stationed in Atlanta, Georgia, and they will see the largest increase in BAH for 2017 at 19 percent. An increase from $1,374 for an E-4 with dependents to $1,641.

Troops in Seattle will also see a major increase as well for their second year in a row. The average rate there will rise 13 percent for 2017. An increase from $2,073 for an E-4 with dependents to $2,373.

There are also areas facing larger rate drops for instance, Fort Huachuca, Arizona, where the rate will decrease by nine percent. Going from $858 for an E-4 with dependents currently living there to $789 for those new to the region.

Minot, North Dakota, also will face a major drop this year, with a rate decrease of 11 percent. Which goes from $1,308 for an E-4 with dependents currently living there to $1,170 for new residents.

Minot was the recipient of a 41 percent BAH increase in 2012 when flooding combined with an oil boom causing a major housing shortage.

I urge you all to please keep up with current events, you very well could be affected by certain things happening around us.

Isaac J. Hall II

#SemperKill

New Year, New Rules, PFT-CFT

Good day all, so the United States Marine Corps has updated the physical and combat fitness tests.

Beginning January 1, Marines will be able to take the Physical Fitness Test and Combat Fitness Test more than once to improve their scores, if not happy with previous scores. 

Marine Commandant Gen. Robert Neller is also allowing older Marines in their upper 40’s to row five kilometers on a rowing machine. Rather than running for the Physical Fitness Test.

The Marine Corps has made great effort to revamp both the PFT and CFT. Starting on Jan. 1, the tests will have updates and implementations. 

One of the biggest and most noticeable changes coming to the PFT in 2017 is the elimination of pull-ups. Male and female Marines as well as poolees and officer candidates can opt to do pushups rather than pull-ups.

Marines will now have to declare if they will do pushups or pull-ups before taking the test. They wont be allowed to switch from one exercise to the other while taking the test.

Here is the catch… Marines can only score a maximum score of 70 out of 100 possible points if they only do pushups for the upper-body portion of PFT. In order to score a full 100 points, Marines will have to do pull-ups.

The Corps is also re-hashing its weight charts for women in order to reflect that women put on muscle as they train. Female Marines will be allowed to be 5 to 7 pounds heavier, while women in other heights will be able to be 9 pounds heavier.

In 2017, Marines will need to get 235 points on both the PFT and CFT in order to get a first-class score on both tests. Prior to the changes the max score was varied by age.

  
Marines who score a 285 on both the PFT and CFT will be exempt from weight limits. If Marines score 250 points or higher on both tests, they will be afforded an additional 1 percent of body fat.

All Marines will have to increase the number crunches  in order to get a perfect score on

their PFT. Male Marines in the ages of 26 and 35 years old will have to do 115 crunches which is an increase of 15. Females Marines between the ages of 26 and 30 years will have to do 110 crunches, which is an increase of 10.

Men and women will also have to lift the 30-pound ammunition can more times as part of the CFT. Men 25 years old and younger will have to do 67 ammo-can lifts to pass and between 106 and 120 lifts for a max score, up from 45 times and 91 times.

Women who currently need to do at least 20 ammo-can lifts to pass will have to do at least 30 lifts next year. Getting a perfect score will require between 66 and 75 lifts depending on age.

Well cheers to revamping, lets see if those scores increase or not around the corps.

Isaac J. Hall II

#SemperKill