British Army takes month off

[Sea Skimmer]

If few people live in barracks, it would make the entire notion even more absurd since savings would be so greatly reduced, and that still leaves the little issue of troops overseas.

[Block]

Talk of coups and soldiers sleeping on the street is a little melodramatic, even the critics of the move quoted in the article don't suggest soldiers would be unhappy with it - and how many of those 100,000 would actually live in their barracks? In Australia even young enlisted will often marry/claim de facto and move out to private housing, although they get pretty generous subsidies.

Different country different rules. In the US military until you've hit E-4 living off base unless married or having dependants is impossible due to Pentagon rules. Britian is a little different but there are bases I've seen in areas where it's financially impossible to live off base because the British housing allowance is considerably stingy compared with other militaries. From what I've talked to, experienced myself Britain is on the low end compared with America (middle ground) and the high end (Germany) which supposedly has fantastic allowances for it's military like paying for house supplies and upkeep repairs.

*Edit
To clarify, American housing allowances are based on rank. Higher ranks get more money but not that much more. E-4 when you generally speaking can draw it (At all) is depending on the area 150$ less than you need for a decent place or 150$ more than you need. California is on the low side, Norfolk the high side.

Uh I got 1650 a month for housing in Cali, which was enough for rent, all utilities and food, as a Specialist, plus I got the food allowance of 360 a month. It's plenty for a one bedroom apartment in the places we have bases around here.

[Simon_Jester]

I think he means that the allowance is too small or too large by 150$, not that it's 150$ total.

A flat allowance that's more than enough in one place would be kind of short in another place, but since living costs around the country only vary by so much, the difference between costs of living off-base at Fort Cheap and Camp Expensive will only be a few hundred dollars a month.

[Zaune]

I think he means that the allowance is too small or too large by 150$, not that it's 150$ total.

A flat allowance that's more than enough in one place would be kind of short in another place, but since living costs around the country only vary by so much, the difference between costs of living off-base at Fort Cheap and Camp Expensive will only be a few hundred dollars a month.

See also the various N&P threads about property prices in the UK. Junior officers would probably struggle to afford off-base rental accommodation, much less enlisted men.

[Questor]

Uh I got 1650 a month for housing in Cali, which was enough for rent, all utilities and food, as a Specialist, plus I got the food allowance of 360 a month. It's plenty for a one bedroom apartment in the places we have bases around here.

Block, that all depends on the base. I live less than 5 miles from the gate of what used to be MCAS El Toro, and that housing allowance would not cover those items. Unsurprisingly, El Toro had a lot of base housing. I'd say that Bean's dead on target with it being about $150 short of what you'd need around here.

The Bay Area, I would imagine is much, much worse.

[UnderAGreySky]

Is there any other source for this news? I've checked both the Guardian and the Telegraph and neither of them seems to have it on their main pages.

[Beowulf]

Uh I got 1650 a month for housing in Cali, which was enough for rent, all utilities and food, as a Specialist, plus I got the food allowance of 360 a month. It's plenty for a one bedroom apartment in the places we have bases around here.

Block, that all depends on the base. I live less than 5 miles from the gate of what used to be MCAS El Toro, and that housing allowance would not cover those items. Unsurprisingly, El Toro had a lot of base housing. I'd say that Bean's dead on target with it being about $150 short of what you'd need around here.

The Bay Area, I would imagine is much, much worse.

Exact housing allowance depends on your location, not just that you're in CA, but where in CA. Housing allowance for a recruiter in SF is going to be much higher than for that same rank person at Beale AFB.

[Lonestar]

Is there any other source for this news? I've checked both the Guardian and the Telegraph and neither of them seems to have it on their main pages.

Well, the MoD's Blog is repeating it(Under the December 3rd Entry), so seems Legit.

[thejester]

If few people live in barracks, it would make the entire notion even more absurd since savings would be so greatly reduced, and that still leaves the little issue of troops overseas.

I assume barracks is being used in the same way it is in Australia, as a synonym for base rather than a specific living quarters. I'd also assume that most of those overseas would come home given they've got a month and it's Christmas.