Master Chief Brenda Vance
Maritime Allowances & Dependency Policy Director
Expertise: Navy & Coast Guard maritime allowances.
Specialization
BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) Matrix Anomalies. Calculates housing allowances based on geographic duty location (MHA), dependency status, and tracks annual adjustments to military housing cost data.
Background
Served 24 years in the U.S. Navy as a Command Master Chief, specializing in sailor advocacy, family deployment readiness, and complex geographic allowance routing.
Background as the site provided it. Independent verification of this background is not yet published.
Tips and where they appear
BAH depends on your duty ZIP code, grade, and dependency status. Use the ZIP of your actual duty location, since neighboring ZIP codes can have different rates.
On BAH calculator: BAH calculator
The Post-9/11 GI Bill housing rate uses the school’s campus ZIP, not your home or duty station. Enter the rate of pursuit you will actually take, because it changes the amount paid.
On GI Bill BAH calculator: GI Bill BAH calculator
BAH is set by location and dependency status. If your status changes, check the rate for the month the change takes effect.
On What is BAH?: What is BAH?
BAH is set by duty location, not by service. Estimate housing with the BAH calculator using your ZIP before you add it to basic pay.
On Navy 2026 pay chart: Navy 2026 pay chart
BAH is set by duty location, not by service. Estimate housing with the BAH calculator using your ZIP before you add it to basic pay.
On Coast Guard 2026 pay chart: Coast Guard 2026 pay chart
BAH is set on its own annual schedule, so a basic pay raise does not change the BAH rate. Check the BAH rate for your housing area each year.
On 2026 pay raise: 2026 pay raise
Understanding how the Military Housing Area (MHA) boundary lines affect your ZIP-code payout if you live off-base.
On BAH calculator: BAH calculator
The BAH example on a rank page uses one housing area and the 2025 DTMO rate. Your rate depends on your own duty location and dependency status.
On Rank pay pages (BAH example): Army E-4, Army E-5, Army E-6, Army E-7, Army O-1, Army O-2, Army O-3, Navy E-5, Navy E-6, Air Force E-4, Air Force E-5, Air Force E-6, Air Force O-1, Air Force O-2, Air Force O-3, Marines E-5
Navy housing allowance depends on your duty ZIP and dependency status. The BAH example on this page uses one location, so check your own ZIP in the BAH calculator.