Hey everyone, I’ve been trying to get my BAH sorted out since I went to bootcamp back in September 2023, but I haven’t been paid it. Talked to my chain of command, but no luck so far. I’m wondering if it’s time to hire an attorney to help me file a claim and get what I’m owed. Anyone have any tips or been in a similar situation?
I went through something similar! Have you tried submitting a request mast to your CO? That might get things moving quicker without hiring a lawyer.
Ripley said:
I went through something similar! Have you tried submitting a request mast to your CO? That might get things moving quicker without hiring a lawyer.
I’ve heard of request mast but wasn’t sure how it works. So, I just ask my chain of command to set it up?
@Oli
Yep, exactly! Just tell them you want to speak to your CO. It’s your right, and usually, they’ll pass it up the chain. Hopefully, that helps!
Honestly, hiring a lawyer might be overkill. They don’t really have much authority over the Navy in these cases.
Han said:
Honestly, hiring a lawyer might be overkill. They don’t really have much authority over the Navy in these cases.
That’s fair… I was just frustrated after months of this not getting anywhere!
@Oli
I totally get it! Sometimes it feels like the system just drags. Try the request mast approach first.
If request mast doesn’t work, you could look into filing an Article 138 complaint. Basically, it pushes it up to the admiral level.
Pip said:
If request mast doesn’t work, you could look into filing an Article 138 complaint. Basically, it pushes it up to the admiral level.
Article 138 complaint? Sounds intense, lol. How does that work?
@Oli
Haha, yeah, it’s serious. You just put it in writing and hand it to any commissioned officer, and they’re required to pass it up. It’s a last resort, but it’s there if you need it.
BAH stuff can be a pain. I had issues with it too, and honestly, just staying on them constantly is what worked for me.
Hartley said:
BAH stuff can be a pain. I had issues with it too, and honestly, just staying on them constantly is what worked for me.
Good to know. I’ll keep that in mind if all else fails!
You could try requesting to see if they need anything specific. I’ve heard people get stuck because they’re missing one document.
Kip said:
You could try requesting to see if they need anything specific. I’ve heard people get stuck because they’re missing one document.
Yeah, they mentioned child support paperwork, but I have full custody, so I didn’t think I’d need it. Guess I should double-check!
@Oli
Definitely check! Sometimes they don’t make that clear upfront. Good luck!