{"id":14283,"date":"2022-05-11T22:29:06","date_gmt":"2022-05-11T22:29:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/05\/11\/pentagons-top-general-pledges-a-hard-look-at-troops-housing-allowance-levels\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T05:02:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T05:02:09","slug":"pentagons-top-general-pledges-a-hard-look-at-troops-housing-allowance-levels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/management\/pay-benefits\/2022\/05\/11\/pentagons-top-general-pledges-a-hard-look-at-troops-housing-allowance-levels\/","title":{"rendered":"Pentagon\u2019s top general pledges \u2018a hard look\u2019 at troops\u2019 current housing allowance levels"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley said he will \u201cpersonally take a hard look \u201c at whether to recommend increases this year in the Basic Allowance for Housing<\/a> for areas where troops are seeing skyrocketing increases in housing costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSoldiers don\u2019t ask for much,\u201d Milley told lawmakers during a House defense appropriations subcommittee hearing Wednesday. \u201cThey want good housing, good health care, good education and a safe environment for their families. I know the secretary of defense has the entire department focused on it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said the issue is \u201creally, really important.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe strain caused by rising rent costs and a number of other things are really creating some adverse effects<\/a> for our lower ranking enlisted, and we remain sighted on this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, whose district includes Fort Hood, asked the leaders whether they\u2019ve considered increasing BAH levels to meet the \u201cinflationary challenge we\u2019re seeing around our posts, not just in Texas, but in many other parts of the country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Milley replied that he will look at the BAH numbers specific to Fort Hood, as well as other parts of the country where housing costs have gone up dramatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carter cited \u201cridiculously high\u201d costs of housing near Fort Hood, which he attributed to the number of people who have been moving to Texas with large amounts of money from the sale of the homes they left and can afford to bid up prices. A house with a \u201creal worth of $350,000 is now selling for $1 million,\u201d he said. Even smaller homes that might have been available to service members are now selling for $700,000 to $900,000, he said. Although the VA loan benefit allows them to compete, \u201csellers don\u2019t want VA loans because the other guys are offering cash,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat drives our military families into the rental market, Carter said. \u201cThe rental market is going at the same rate. Something that six months ago was $2,000 a month is now $4,500 a month. Something that was $1,000 a month is now $2,500 a month. “<\/p>\n\n\n\t