Proposed Amendment of Coast Guard Regulations Regarding Basic Allowance for Quarters

The Comptroller of the U.S. Coast Guard requested a decision as to whether the Coast Guard Regulations could be amended to permit all members without dependents, who are performing temporary additional duty aboard a vessel, to continue to receive Basic Allowance for Quarters (BAQ), if previously entitled, regardless of the length of temporary duty. The request for such an amendment stems from problems encountered by members without dependents who are required to perform such temporary additional duty. Regulations require such a member's entitlement to BAQ to be temporarily discontinued during temporary duty aboard a vessel if the period exceeds 3 months. Due to the discontinuance of BAQ, some members have had to sell or sublease their non-Government quarters to avoid financial loss. BAQ is not discontinued when a member without dependents is ordered on temporary additional duty to another shore station for 3 months or more even if Government quarters are provided at the temporary duty location during the entire period. In an effort to equalize treatment in these situations, it is proposed that Coast Guard regulations be amended to permit the performance of temporary additional duty for 3 months or more aboard a vessel without discontinuance of BAQ. The provisions of law governing BAQ entitlement state that a member of the uniformed service without dependents is not entitled to BAQ while performing sea duty. Sea duty is defined as any duty aboard a vessel for 3 months or more, whether it is permanent or temporary duty. Therefore, it is the view of GAO that the Coast Guard regulations may not be amended to permit continued payment of BAQ in the described circumstances.