Financial Assistance

Managing money in today's marketplace can be challenging. Frequent deployments, separation from immediate and extended family members coupled with numerous moves can drain the resources of military families. Personal Financial Management education, training and counseling emphasizes personal financial responsibility and accountability by providing basic principles and practices of sound money management, counseling tools and referral services. PFM offers a wide range of services to serve the entire military community with their financial needs. The program offers:

• Command financial specialist training
• Financial workshops on topics such as banking and financial services, savings and investments, car buying strategies and credit management
• Individual financial management counseling

The financial counselor can be reached at:

DSN: 318-439-4046
011-973-17-85-4046

Housing Costs

Service members are entitled Temporary Lodging Allowance up to 45 days from the time of arrival in Bahrain. Department of Defense civilians receive 90 days TLA. This allowance should cover expenses for lodging in Bahrain; please plan accordingly when determining your moving budget. Overseas Housing Allowances unlike Basic Housing Allowance (stateside) may not be utilized by the service member for personal financial gain. The exact amount for dwelling and utilities is authorized only. Every paygrade has a maximum housing allowance based on paygrade regardless of time in service.

Advance Overseas Housing Allowance is a "one-time" payment when establishing "nongovernment" quarters at an overseas duty station that merits OHA. It is based on your monthly OHA rate multiplied by the number of months requested up to three months in advance. Repayment will be spanned out during the duration of the length of months paid in order to offset the entitlement and indebtedness evenly. Unfortunately, due to payday cut off dates, the final increment of the final month's deduction will not cease until after the end of the month (or the 1st of the upcoming month), that is why service members may not see the OHA entitlement start until the mid-month payday of the month that the OHA was supposed to resume.

Cost of Living Allowance

All permanently-assigned personnel are entitled to a Cost of Living Allowance due to the higher cost of living in Bahrain. COLA rates change frequently. For more up-to-date information, consult the Defense Finance Accounting Service website.

Temporary Lodging Allowances

You will be required to get a certificate of nonavailability issued, and you will be paid a Temporary Lodging Allowance to cover the expense of living in a hotel. The CNA stamp is applied to official orders. TLA is authorized for all personnel that receives the CNA stamp, and TLA is normally paid for a maximum of 45 days to allow personnel to negotiate for permanent quarters. Whether your temporary lodging is equipped with or without a kitchen will determine how much your entitlement is. E6 and below are required to utilize the barracks for TLA purposes. Sentinel Hall books all other personnel in accordance with force protection guidelines.

Family Separation Allowance-Restricted

Unaccompanied personnel with dependents (for example, spouse or child(ren) that were in the member's custody before orders to Bahrain) are authorized this entitlement in the amount of $250.

Overseas Housing Allowance

The OHA system provides an allowance to uniformed personnel assigned to overseas locations which defray a significant amount of housing costs. All active-duty military personnel permanently assigned to the local area are authorized to live in privately leased/owned quarters and are entitled to OHA. The monthly OHA for members is based on rank, sharers and specified lease amount.

Basic Allowance for Housing

Unaccompanied married personnel (who are not married to another service member) are entitled to receive Basic Allowance for Housing at the “with dependents rate” for their dependent's location while assigned to an unaccompanied tour in Bahrain.

Bahrain is authorized HDP-L (Hardship Duty Pay - Location), a flat rate of $100 a month.

The LES will show it as HDP -$100 under the entitlement column.

Specifics

-All members serving on PCS in a designated area, or serving in a temporary duty or deployed status for over 30 consecutive days in the area will receive HDP-L

Members on permanent reassignment to the area will be eligible from the day of arrival

-Members TDY to the area are not eligible during the first 30 days of consecutive service at the designated location. On the 31st day, HDP-L will be payable retroactive to the date of reporting

-Entitlement to HDP-L continues through the date of departure on PCS

For specific conditions of this entitlement, including a list of current and past locations, view the DOD Financial Management Regulation.

You can find more info in the DFAS website and DoD FMR Vol 7A Chapters 10 and 17.