Clarification of BAH and Commuting Entitlements for Partial Mobilization of USMCR Members in Support of Operations, Iraqi Freedom, Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom

1.  PURPOSE.  THIS MARADMIN CHANGES BAH POLICY FOR
MEMBERS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS IN REF A, CANCELS AND REPLACES REF B,
PROVIDES ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE ON COMMUTING DISTANCE, AND DIRECTS
LOCAL INSTALLATION COMMANDERS TO ENSURE UNIFORM APPLICATION OF
THIS GUIDANCE.
2.  BAH POLICY CHANGES:
A.  REPLACE, IN ITS ENTIRETY, PAR 5B OF REF A WITH:  "MARINES
WITHOUT DEPENDENTS.  MEMBERS WITHOUT DEPENDENTS, WHEN CALLED OR
ORDERED TO ACTIVE DUTY IN CONNECTION WITH A CONTINGENCY
OPERATION, REGARDLESS OF THE LENGTH OF ACTIVATION, ARE ENTITLED
TO BAH (TTC/SEQ 388/001) WHEN, BECAUSE OF THE CALL OR ORDER, THE
MEMBER IS UNABLE TO CONTINUE TO OCCUPY THEIR PRIMARY RESIDENCE
THAT IS OWNED BY THE MEMBER, OR FOR WHICH THE MEMBER REMAINS
RESPONSIBLE FOR RENT PAYMENT.  THE LOCALITY RATE AT WHICH TO
BASE THE BAH RATE IS THE ABOVE-MENTIONED PRIMARY RESIDENCE
(ADMIN SECTIONS MUST INPUT THE ZIP CODE)".
B.  PROOF OF ENTITLEMENT TO BAH FOR RESERVISTS RECALLED TO
ACTIVE DUTY INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, A MORTGAGE OR DEED
TO A HOME, A RENTAL LEASE AGREEMENT, A NOTORIZED PROMISSORY
AGREEMENT, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL DOCUMENT THAT SHOWS THE INDIVIDUAL
IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RENT PAYMENT OR OWNS THE PRIMARY RESIDENCE AT
THE TIME CALLED OR ORDERED TO ACTIVE DUTY.
C.  MARINES ELECTING NON-TEMPORARY STORAGE OF THEIR HHG, WHETHER
AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE OR AT PERSONAL EXPENSE, ARE NOT ENTITLED TO
BAH.
D.  DELETE THE SECOND SENTENCE OF PAR 19A OF REF A.
E.  CHANGES IN BAH IDENTIFIED ABOVE ARE EFFECTIVE THE DATE OF
THIS MARADMIN AND ARE NOT TO BE APPLIED RETROACTIVELY.
3.  COMMUTING DISTANCE.  THIS PARAGRAPH CLARIFIES WHETHER A
MEMBER'S PLACE OF ENTRY TO ACTIVE DUTY (PLEAD) IS WITHIN
COMMUTING DISTANCE OF THEIR PLACE OF DUTY (POD), AND PROVIDES
CLARIFING GUIDANCE REGARDING NORMAL COMMUTING DISTANCE.
A.  THE DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY ONE AND ONE HALF HOURS DRIVE
DURING NORMAL COMMUTING HOURS, OR ABOUT A 50 MILE RADIUS, ARE
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING IF A MEMBER'S POD IS WITHIN
COMMUTING DISTANCE FROM HIS PLEAD.  MEMBERS WHO LIVE OUTSIDE
THIS STANDARD COMMUTING DISTANCE WILL NORMALLY BE ELIGIBLE FOR
PER DIEM DURING THEIR PERIOD OF ACTIVATION.
B.  MEMBERS LIVING WITHIN THE STANDARD COMMUTING DISTANCE MAY BE
AUTHORIZED PER DIEM ONLY UNDER EXTRAORDINARY OR UNUSUAL CASES.
THE DETERMINING FACTORS ARE THE OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENT AND THE
RELATIVE DURATION OF THE PERIOD OF OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENT AS
DETERMINED BY THE COMMANDING OFFICER.  FOR EXAMPLE, IF DUE TO
LONG TERM OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS (E.G. LENGTHY OPERATIONAL
HOURS, IN EXCESS OF 12 HOURS DAILY), THE MEMBER NEEDS TO BE ON
CALL IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA, 24 HOUR OPS ETC., IT THEN MAY BE
JUSTIFIED FOR THE MEMBER TO BE AUTHORIZED PER DIEM.
(1) PER DIEM WILL BE AUTHORIZED ONLY FOR THE SPECIFIC PERIOD OF
TIME NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH THE MISSION.  SHORT-TERM REQUIREMENTS
WILL NOT BE USED TO JUSTIFY LONG-TERM PER DIEM.  WRITTEN
JUSTIFICATION, INCLUDING THE REQUESTOR'S NAME, GRADE, AND BILLET
SHALL BE PROVIDED BY THE COMMANDING OFFICER OR HIS DESIGNATED
REPRESENTATIVE TO THE ORDER ISSUING OFFICIAL.
(2) MEMBERS DO NOT RATE PER DIEM IN INSTANCES WHERE THEY ARE
COMMUTING BUT DO NOT PROCURE LODGING.  HOWEVER, THEY MAY BE
REIMBURSED FOR OCCASIONAL MISSED MEALS OR LODGING AS REQUIRED
FOR MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT.
C.  LOCAL INSTALLATION COMMANDERS WILL ENSURE CONSISTENT AND
EQUITABLE APPLICATION OF THIS GUIDANCE TO ALL PERSONNEL WHO ARE
TEMPORARILY ASSIGNED TO THEIR INSTALLATION.