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The reason for the advance.
The amount of the advance requested.
The repayment period in months, if greater than
1 year, but not to exceed the member’s tour of
duty at the station.
The repayment start date, if other than the month
following payment. This date will always be the
first day of the month.
The member’s request must be submitted with the
appropriate documentation to support the actual
housing expenses. This would include a copy of the
lease/rental agreement, applicable utility company
statements, and any other pertinent documentation that
will help determine the actual costs. The approving
official must review these facts before approving the
member’s request for payment.
AMOUNT.— The amount to be advanced
normally should not exceed the total of 1 year’s
allowances the member expects to accrue. A larger
amount may be authorized if justified by proper
documentation. In no case will the advance payment
exceed the anticipated housing expenses or the OHA
and BAQ accruable for the member’s tour at that
station, whichever is less. In addition, the member’s
ability to repay the advance, considering other advances
of pay that may have been made and any recurring pay
deductions, will be considered in determining the
amount to be authorized. Expenses identified by a
member that will be used in the purchase of any real
estate or living accommodations will not be considered
as a basis for authorizing or determining the amount of
the advance.
LIQUIDATION.— Liquidation of the advance
usually will be at a rate of not less than equal monthly
installments of one-twelfth of the amount advanced per
month for the next 12 months. Collection will begin on
the first day of the month after payment has been made
unless the member requests a later starting date and the
authorizing official agrees that it is justified. The
starting date may be postponed up to 3 months after the
advance is paid. The repayment may be spread over a
period of more than 1 year, but is not to exceed the
member’s tour at the station.
COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE
COLAs are paid to help members maintain
purchasing power when they are assigned to high-cost
overseas areas, including Hawaii and Alaska. The
COLA system compares a difference in cost for a
“market basket” of goods and services purchased in an
overseas area to a similar market basket purchased in
CONUS. Using these data, the PDTTAC calculates the
COLA index for an area. The COLA index is a number
that represents the purchasing power difference for an
overseas area versus CONUS. A COLA index of 110
means that prices are 10 percent more expensive overall
than in CONUS. The COLA index for specific overseas
areas can be found in the JFTR, Volume 1, appendix J.
Entitlement Factors
The entitlement to a COLA will be based on one or
more of the following factors: (1) the member’s
dependency status, (2) the availability of government
messing facilities, and/or (3) the type of quarters
occupied. First, we will look at the entitlement factors
for a member without dependents. Later, we will look
at the same factors for a member with dependents.
MEMBER WITHOUT DEPENDENTS.— For a
member without dependents, the following factors
represent the classifications and types of entitlements.
Government Mess Not Available.— COLA will
be payable for any day during which a government mess
is not available for three meals a day at the PDS. This
allowance is not payable for any period in excess of 30
consecutive days the member is on leave in CONUS.
Government Quarters and Mess Available.— A
member residing in government quarters at a PDS
(including a vessel) where a government mess is
available is entitled to a COLA of 47 percent (rounded
to the closest penny) of the full rate specified for a
member without dependents. This rate will also apply
to a member who does not use an available government
mess
b e c a u s e o f
the
p r e s e n c e o f
noncommand-sponsored dependents.
Enlisted Member on Separate Rations.— An
enlisted member for whom government quarters are not
available who is authorized to mess separately is
entitled to a COLA.
Members
Authorized To
occupy
Nongovernment Quarters.— A member in grade E-7
or higher occupying nongovemment quarters is entitled
to COLA for any day during which it is impractical to
use the existing government mess for all three meals.
A member assigned to a ship or an afloat unit will have
the COLA reduced to 47 percent of the full rate
beginning on the day the ship is deployed when the
period of the deployment is more than 30 days. This
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