how much is the housing allowance for an airforce jag lawyer

by Dr. Clinton Becker III 8 min read

Air Force JAG salary starts at $3,850.50 per month in base pay, which translates to $46,206 annually. Air Force benefits include a housing allowance adjusted for local cost of living, medical and dental benefits, and 30 days of paid vacation a year. A JAG attorney salary increases with years of service and promotions to the higher ranks.

Full Answer

How much does an Air Force JAG lawyer make?

If you choose to live off base, you will receive a monthly tax-free Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), which pays most, if not all, of your housing costs. The housing allowance is based on civilian rental costs by pay grade, dependency status and location. View specific location allowances here. In addition, officers receive a flat monthly food allowance, Basic Allowance …

What allowances does the Air Force offer?

Basic Allowance for Housing is the second-largest piece of compensation for most Service members. Rates for Service members in 2022 have increased an average of 5.1% nationwide. That means Service members who receive BAH will absorb between $74 and $168 of their housing costs monthly 2022 Rate Calculator.

What is basic allowance for housing in the military?

Air Force Wants Big Increase for 2023 Budget to Improve On-Base Housing for Military Families Funds to improve the dwellings provided by privatized housing …

How much do you get paid for a JAG promotion?

 · Years of Experience and Salary. Air Force JAG salary starts at per month in base pay, which translates to $46,206 annually. Air Force benefits include a housing allowance adjusted for local cost of...

How much does the Air Force pay for housing allowance?

Basic Allowance for Housing is the second-largest piece of compensation for most Service members. Rates for Service members in 2022 have increased an average of 5.1% nationwide. That means Service members who receive BAH will absorb between $74 and $168 of their housing costs monthly 2022 Rate Calculator.

How much do Air Force JAG lawyers make?

The salaries of Air Force Jags in the US range from $10,085 to $237,745 , with a median salary of $42,868 . The middle 57% of Air Force Jags makes between $42,868 and $107,389, with the top 86% making $237,745.

Does Air Force pay for housing?

FOOD AND HOUSING Living expenses, including utilities and maintenance, are covered for those who choose to live in on-base housing. A monthly tax-free housing allowance based on rank, family status and geographic location is provided for off-base residents to help pay for living expenses.

Do Jags get extra pay?

Retention Bonuses: Navy JAG Corps officers are eligible for a total of $60,000 in retention bonuses paid over three installments at different career milestones (at approximately the four-year mark, seven-year mark and 10-year mark) that can be used by officers to pay off their student debt.

What rank is a JAG lawyer?

RANK AND PAY RATES New Army Judge Advocates enter service as First Lieutenants (O-2) and are promoted to Captain (O-3) six to nine months later. Officers receive a raise in basic pay upon promotion to Captain and receive automatic pay increases after serving 2, 3, and 4 years.

Does JAG Corps pay law school?

Will the JAG Corps pay for my law school? Yes, through the Funded Legal Education Program (FLEP), the Army covers the cost of law school for up to 25 active-duty Officers and non-commissioned Officers every year.

What is the housing allowance for military?

These amounts vary by grade and dependency status and range from $74 to $168 monthly for the 2022 rates.

How does housing allowance work in the military?

BAH is an allowance to offset the cost of housing when you do not receive government-provided housing. Your BAH depends upon your location, pay grade and whether you have dependents. BAH rates are set by surveying the cost of rental properties in each geographic location.

How much is military allowance?

Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS): The Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) is used to pay for food for Enlisted Soldiers and Officers. The following are the BAS rates for 2021: Officers: $280.29. Enlisted: $406.98.

How fast do JAG officers get promoted?

The pay and benefits of joining the JAG Corps are competitive. Attorneys will commission as lieutenants and typically be promoted within the first 6-12 months.

Is it hard to get into JAG Corps?

Depending on the service branch, the acceptance rate for JAG Corps applicants is typically between 4-7%. The Army, for instance, receives about 4000 applications every year and only accepts around 200.

What is the retirement pay for Air Force?

Blended Retirement System (BRS) With BRS, you will receive 40% of your base pay after 20 years and a bonus at 12 years, which is 2.5% of your annual base pay. The military will contribute 1% of your base pay to your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).

Is Jag a good career?

Conclusion. JAG is an absolute correct way to fulfil one's dream. The officers always have a fixed timeline and working hours which helps them in achieving the attributes from the profession.

Is it hard to get into JAG Corps?

Depending on the service branch, the acceptance rate for JAG Corps applicants is typically between 4-7%. The Army, for instance, receives about 4000 applications every year and only accepts around 200.

Do JAGs see combat?

Yes, JAGs do get deployed to areas all over the world. JAGs serve as legal advisers to military commanders and have many responsibilities, including providing legal opinions on whether military actions comply with the laws of armed conflict to prosecuting or defending service members in courts martial.

Does navy JAG pay for law school?

‐ Funded Graduate Education: As part of the culture of learning that the Navy JAG Corps fosters, Navy judge advocates have the opportunity to earn a Master of Law (LL. M.) degree fully‐funded by the Navy.

Is the Air Force allowance taxable?

These allowances are monies provided for specific needs, such as food or housing when the government does not provide for that specific need. Most allowances are not taxable, which is an additional imbedded benefit of military pay.

When is clothing allowance issued for enlisted?

Clothing Allowance: Enlisted personnel are issued a standard wardrobe when they enter active duty and a clothing replacement allowance on their anniversary month. The replacement allowance is paid at the "basic" rate for members with less than 3 years of service, and after that at the "standard" rate.

What percentage of service members with dependents have rents fully reimbursed?

Rental ceilings are set such that 80 percent of Service members with dependents have rents fully reimbursed. Unaccompanied Service members or Service members without dependents are entitled to 90% of with dependent rate.

Can a commission officer get an initial uniform allowance?

Commissioned officers may be eligible for an initial uniform allowance, payable only once in a career. Cash Clothing Replacement Allowance: provided to enlisted members to fund replacement of military unique items the appropriate official requires for duty.

What is extra clothing allowance?

Extra clothing allowances provide for unusual circumstances when an enlisted member may require additional uniform items or when an officer (with a permanent duty station outside the United States) or enlisted member may require civilian clothes to perform their assigned duties. Maternity Supplemental Clothing Allowance: provided ...

What is BAH in military?

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH): Basic Allowance for Housing offsets the cost of housing when Airmen live off base. The intent of Basic Allowance for Housing is to provide uniformed service members accurate and equitable housing compensation based on housing costs in local civilian housing markets, and is payable when government quarters are not provided. Basic Allowance for Housing rates are based on the Airmen’s geographic duty location, pay grade, and dependency status. Basic Allowance for Housing is the second-largest piece of compensation for most Airmen. Rates for Service members in 2021 increased 2.9% nationwide. That means Airmen who receive BAH will absorb between $70 and $158 of their housing costs monthly 2021 Rate Calculator.

How much will the military increase in BAH?

The overall average military BAH rates across the country increased an average of 2.9% between 2020 and 2021, slightly higher than the 2020 2.8% increase, according to the Department of Defense. BAH rates are based on the combination of local costs for rent and utilities for various housing types.

Does BAH cover renters insurance?

BAH Does Not Cover Renter's Insurance. Another congressionally mandated change eliminated renter's insurance from the BAH calculation. That means that troops are expected to pay out of pocket for such insurance. Privatized base housing companies also no longer provide that protection as part of on-base rental agreements.

What is BAH in military?

BAH is designed to provide uniformed service members housing compensation based on housing costs in each local market. BAH is only payable when government quarters, such as barracks, are not provided or when a service member has dependents. Each year the BAH tables are released in mid-December.

What is the BAH rate for 2021?

2021 BAH Rates: The overall average military BAH rates across the country increased an average of 2.9% between 2020 and 2021, slightly higher than the 2020 2.8% increase, according to the Department of Defense. BAH rates are based on the combination of local costs for rent and utilities for various housing types.

Does BAH decrease if you transfer to another unit?

That means if you don't transfer to another unit, your BAH won't decrease, it can only increase.

What is the MHA for E-5?

Your GI Bill Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is generally the same as the BAH for an E-5 with dependents. Your MHA is based on the ZIP code for your school. Unlike the BAH which can change on January 1 of every year, the GI Bill MHA rate will increase on August 1 (the beginning date of the academic year). More details.

When does the MHA rate increase?

Your MHA is based on the ZIP code for your school. Unlike the BAH which can change on January 1 of every year, the GI Bill MHA rate will increase on August 1 (the beginning date of the academic year). More details.

How much does an Air Force JAG make?

Air Force JAG salary starts at $3,850.50 per month in base pay, which translates to $46,206 annually. Air Force benefits include a housing allowance adjusted for local cost of living, medical and dental benefits, and 30 days of paid vacation a year.

What is a JAG in the Air Force?

Lawyers who work in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) corps serve the Air Force and its service members in a variety of ways, working as prosecutors, defense counsel and judges. After a few years of service, JAG officers who undertake additional legal training serve in highly specialized subfields such as procurement and government contracts, ...

What is a JAG lawyer?

Lawyers who work in the Judge Advocate General (JAG) corps serve the Air Force and its service members in a variety of ways, working as prosecutors, defense counsel and judges.

How to become an Air Force lawyer?

To get a direct appointment as an attorney with the Air Force, you must have graduated with a Juris Doctor (or be close to graduation) from a law school approved by the American Bar Association.

Where is the JAG training?

A JAG officer gets an introduction to military life and law beginning with Commissioned Officer Training followed by the Judge Advocate Staff Officer Course conducted at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. A number of opportunities exist for lawyers as they are promoted through the ranks, including leadership and teaching.

How many people graduate from the Air Force with a law degree?

Commissions to the Air Force JAG can be competitive. On average in the United States, more than 40,000 people graduate with a law degree each year and seek employment in their field.

What is the pay grade for a first lieutenant?

Air Force. You'll enter the service as a First Lieutenant, which is pay grade O-2. Career advancement and diverse opportunities are some of the perks you'll enjoy.

How much does a JAG make?

The highest starting salary is earned by Army JAG officers, with a yearly salary of $44,000 per year at the rank of captain. Most Army advocates stay at the level of captain through out their careers. The salary for this rank caps at $72,000 per year after 14 years of service.

What are the benefits of being a JAG?

Benefits. JAG officers are entitled to a long list of benefits. Free health and dental insurance, life insurance, and excellent retirement packages are all made available to JAG attorneys. In addition, numerous military related perks, such as commissary access and reduced price travel also contribute to the value of a military lawyer's salary.

How much does a lawyer make in 2011?

In 2011, the average salary of a private practice attorney was $113,310, ranging from $54,000 at the low end to $187,000 at the high end. By comparison, the average salary of a JAG officer is $65,000 per year. While military lawyers appear to earn substantially less than their civilian counterparts, the totality of the military salary, allowances and benefit package still make this a viable choice of careers.

What is the military's legal team called?

When the military needs to handle internal legal matters, it turns to a a group of specially trained lawyers, called the Judge Advocate General's Corps. Each service branch has its own attorneys, who cover such practice areas as environmental law, criminal matters and international law.

How to join the JAG Corps?

There are two ways to enter the JAG Corps as a Marine. The first is the PCL-Law program --the Marine Corps equivalent to the student entry program. Students complete the ten-week Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia, either during the summer before law school, or the 1L or 2L summer. Candidates then receive the rank of Second Lieutenant and are placed on Inactive Duty pending completion of law school. Upon graduation, students must take the first scheduled bar exam in any state, and must report LSAT scores of 150+. After passing the bar, students enter the Basic School--a six-month intensive basic training for the Marine Corps, then join JAG Corps members from the Navy at the Naval Justice School in Newport, Rhode Island. Students are then assigned their first duty station. The second option for entering the Marine JAG Corps is through the OCC-Law program, which is open to licensed attorneys, who must have completed law school, passed a state bar, and earned a 150+ on the LSAT.

What is a JAG?

The JAG Corps is the legal branch of the military, concerned with military justice and military law. The chief attorney in each branch is the Judge Advocate General, and those under him or her are considered to be Judge Advocates. These individuals both defend and prosecute military personnel, using the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

What is the JAG Corps?

Alison Monahan. Updated February 06, 2019. The Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG Corps), which encompasses the career path for military lawyers, has been popularized by the television show JAG, the film A Few Good Men, and a host of other pop cultural touchstones. If you're looking to serve your country as a lawyer, consider the JAG Corps.

How long is the JAG training?

The first is the Direct Commissioned Course (DCC) Phase--a six-week basic training for JAGs in Fort Benning, Georgia.

What is the UCMJ?

The UCMJ is a detailed body of law that has governed the U.S. armed forces since 1951. The UCMJ was modestly updated in 2008, to incorporate changes made by the President (via executive orders) and to include the National Defense Authorization Acts of 2006 and 2007. The UCMJ differs from traditional law, in that the military uses it to enforce itself, as if it were its own jurisdiction.

What is 51JX in the Air Force?

51JX. The pursuit of justice is at the center of every Air Force objective. So the rights of Airmen are naturally held in the highest regard and are defended and supported by top legal minds like Air Force Judge Advocates (JAG).

What is the job of a military lawyer?

Monitor, coordinate and direct legal activities. Prepare legal advice and opinions. Represent the United States in civil proceedings. Act as trial counsel, defense counsel or military judge as-needed. Instruct personnel in military justice procedures and legal issues.

Do you have to be a law student to be a JAG?

All branches require military lawyers to be at least third-year law students to apply for positions in the JAG Corps. To serve on active duty, you must graduate from law school and pass the bar in any state or the District of Columbia. Every branch also requires its lawyers to attend Officer Candidate School or Officer Training School for the Air Force. After graduation from OCS or OTS, military lawyers complete advanced JAG training programs required by each branch.

What does a JAG lawyer do?

Except for the Coast Guard, all JAG Corps lawyers have opportunities to practice law at international duty stations.

What is the job of a lawyer in the military?

All five branches of the U.S. military employ lawyers who serve on active duty as members of the military's Judge Advocate General Corps. Every member of this corps is a commissioned officer with a salary that depends on rank and time in service. Beginning JAG corps salaries vary because each branch has different initial ranks for its JAGs.

What branch of the military employs lawyers?

All five branches of the U.S. military employ lawyers who serve on active duty as members of the military's Judge Advocate General Corps. Every member of this corps is a commissioned officer with a salary that depends on rank and time in service.

What is a military lawyer?

Military lawyers practice in a wide range of legal areas as prosecutors and defenders. In some cases, they represent the United States government, and in others, they represent members of the armed services. Some JAGs specialize in military law, but others provide legal advice to service personnel about real estate, contracts or family law.

What are the benefits of being a military lawyer?

Military lawyers receive substantial benefits and perks that make this career attractive. Free housing, meals , health care and travel are the most common military benefits. The JAG Corps also offers free advanced legal education to its officers who want to pursue the Master of Laws degree. Educational benefits for dependents, temporary duty travel ...

How long does it take to get promoted to a higher rank?

Although some branches have lower starting salaries, promotion to a higher rank generally happens between six months to a year.

Exciting and filled with great people

It was an adventure, filled with exciting opportunities and interesting people. A great place to forge a career is your are serious and willing to work hard.

Afdw

Purpose-drive work focused on Air Force Core Values. Great flexibility and hours. Superior command with great support staff. Great to know work Important to the Air Force mission

Ready to move on

Fast paced and lots of experience for new attorneys. Deployments likely. Opportunities to work in many areas, not necessarily typical lawyer type tasks.

Amazing

I enjoyed my time in the Air Force. I would highly recommend others to serve. It was an amazing experience. I saw and lived in places that you will never see without being in the AF.

Great Opportunity

The Air Force provides a great opportunity for young people to learn valuable skills that will benefit them for a lifetime. It also provides a unique life experience that is difficult to quantify. The spirit of camaraderie in the military is something that you do not find in most other jobs. The Air Force becomes your second family.

Important mission, great benefits, really takes care of people

I love the Air Force. I'm still in the reserves so I can't say anything bad...legally, I can't. However, even if I could, it wouldn't be much. I would've stayed on active duty if I could be closer to home.

Pros

Rewarding career, accelerated work experiences compared to civilian companies, transparent promotion system.

Income

  • The Navy JAG Corps offers active-duty judge advocates a competitive starting salary. The total compensation includes basic pay and certain non-taxable allowances, such as those for housing and subs...
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Health and Life Insurance

  1. Full medical and dental coveragein Navy or civilian facilities for the service member and his/her dependent family.
  2. $400,000 life insurancepolicy for $29/month.
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Education Financial Assistance

  1. School debt repayment: Under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, you may qualify for loan forgiveness and an income-driven repayment plan.
  2. Retention Bonuses: Navy JAG Corps officers are eligible for a total of $60,000 in retention bonuses paid over three installments at different career milestones (at approximately the four-year mark,...
  1. School debt repayment: Under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, you may qualify for loan forgiveness and an income-driven repayment plan.
  2. Retention Bonuses: Navy JAG Corps officers are eligible for a total of $60,000 in retention bonuses paid over three installments at different career milestones (at approximately the four-year mark,...
  3. Funded Graduate Education: Navy judge advocates have the opportunity for fully funded graduate education leading to award of a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree. Navy judge advocates have attended grad...
  4. GI Bill & Transferability: Transferability option under the Post-9/11 GI Bill allows service members to transfer all or some unused benefits to their spouse or dependent children.

Retirement

  1. 401k-like Thrift Savings Plan.Automatic 1% DoD contribution to the service member’s Thrift Savings Plan, and up to 4% Department of Defense matching contributions.
  2. Generous retirementincome after 20 years of service.
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Time Off

  1. 30 days paid vacation each year.
  2. 10 paid federal holidays per year.
  3. Sick leave for personal medical needs or care of family members and adoption.
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Life and Work Balance

  1. 12 weeks paid maternity leave for service members who give birth; 10 days parental leave for service members that adopt children or whose spouse has given birth.
  2. Subsidizedchild care, an exceptional family member program, and youth programs.
  3. Department of Defense schoolsin some geographic locations.
  4. Recreational discounts and services through Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR)programs.
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Travel

  1. Foreign duty and travel opportunities through temporary or permanent assignments.
  2. Discounted travel.
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Moving Assistance

  • The Department of Defense will contract with a commercial mover for the movement of your household goods to your first permanent duty station. Both you and your family are reimbursed for travel exp...
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Additional Privileges

  1. Access to military exchanges(worldwide chain of tax-free “department stores”), which sell brand-name items at discounts.
  2. Access to military commissaries(tax-free grocery stores) that save military families approximately 25% on their food bills.
  3. Use of officers clubs around the world.
  1. Access to military exchanges(worldwide chain of tax-free “department stores”), which sell brand-name items at discounts.
  2. Access to military commissaries(tax-free grocery stores) that save military families approximately 25% on their food bills.
  3. Use of officers clubs around the world.
  4. VA Guaranteed Home Loan Program.