BAH deadline fast approaching, only one UTA left

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  • 301st Fighter Wing Financial Management
NAVAL AIR STATION FORT WORTH JOINT RESERVE BASE, Texas --  The recertification deadline for 301st Fighter Wing Airmen who receive the basic allowance for housing with dependent rate is closing fast.  Air Force Reserve Command's deadline is Nov. 20, which just leaves the upcoming unit training assembly (UTA) as the last chance for you to get this done. 

"This November UTA, we'll have someone specifically assigned to help you recertify," said Michael Oringderff, 301 FW comptroller.

The wing is now at 81 percent, which includes numbers from 10th Air Force staff and 44th Fighter Group, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. 

"We're getting a lot of incomplete forms coming into our office for various reasons, e.g., no supporting documentation, incomplete documentation and digital signatures on the Air Force Form 594, Application and Authorization to Start, Stop or Change Basic Allowance for Quarters or Dependency Redetermination," Oringderff said.

"We know the signature requirement has caused some consternation within the organization."

The Air Force Financial Management and Comptroller's office mandated that members must physically sign these forms, i.e. "wet" signatures. This is further required by the Financial Improvement Audit Readiness Program directed by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller). 

Reservists affected by this requirement must provide the document -- marriage license and birth certificate(s) -- which is the basis for their BAH entitlement. In addition, they must complete an AF Form 594. This form must be printed and signed. Again, a digital signature is not acceptable. Supporting documentation and the signed form must be hand-carried, faxed, mailed or e-mailed to the 301 FW Reserve Pay office.

As a reminder, unless you were deployed or have some other reason why you didn't recertify by Nov. 20, your  BAH entitlement will not be retroactive.  Any request for a retroactive approval must be approved by the 301st Financial Management Office and the wing commander.

For those Reservists receiving BAH without dependent rate, no action is required.

The push for revalidation of dependent documentation comes as the Air Force prepares to meet financial improvement and audit readiness requirements laid out in the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act. This one-time revalidation will ensure Air Force compliance with audit requirements.

"America entrusts the Air Force not only to spend taxpayer dollars wisely and efficiently, but also to account and justify that expenditure," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III in a recent memo. "Preparation for this important and legislatively mandated effort rests in the hands of every Airman, not just the financial community."

Although revalidation of Airmen's dependents will be a one-time recertification, Airmen will continue to play a vital role in the Air Force's audit readiness.

(Information was extracted from the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs article, Airmen must revalidate dependents.)