Jan. 26, 2023

Frequently Asked Questions for Basic Needs Allowance

This article provides Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Basic Needs Allowance.

Jan. 7, 2023

Update to Military Assignments and Authorized Absences

This ALCOAST announces an update to the Coast Guard's Primary and Secondary Caregiver Leave Policy.

Dec. 30, 2022

Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) Implementation

This message establishes the implementation of the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA).

Dec. 23, 2022

2023 Continental U.S. (CONUS) Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) Rates

CONUS COLA Calculator UPDATED: 12/22/2022 with the rates for 2023. CALIFORNIA - San Francisco 1%. MASSACHUSETTS - Essex County 1%, Hampden County 1%, and Martha's Vineyard 3%. Michigan - Detroit 1%. NEW YORK - New York City 8% and Staten Island 1%.

Dec. 20, 2022

2023 Coast Guard Meal Rates

This message establishes Food Service Meal Rates for CY23.

Dec. 19, 2022

Flag Voice 593 - Basic Allowance for Housing & Basic Allowance for Subsistence—2023 Rates Released

Last week, 2023 Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) and Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates were announced. In most areas, BAH will increase for our members; BAS will also increase for both officers and enlisted members. CONUS Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) rates will be published soon. I want to provide some context to help you ensure your members’ understanding of BAH, BAS, and COLA.

Dec. 19, 2022

Basic Allowance for Housing Rates for 2023 Released

The Department of Defense has released the 2023 Basic Allowance for Housing rates. Basic Allowance for Housing rates will increase an average of 12.1 percent when the new rates take effect on January 1, 2023. An estimated $26.8 billion will be paid to approximately one million Service members. The significant increase in average BAH rates is reflective of the unique market conditions experienced across many locations nationwide over the past year. While average BAH rates increased substantially, different rental markets experience different market trends, and the 2023 BAH rates reflect those geographic market condition differences.

Dec. 6, 2022

ALCOAST 478/22 - Update 1 - FY23 Special Duty Pay (SPP) And Assignment Pay (AP)

Provides numerous changes to FY23 SDP and AP originally authorized in ALCOAST 359/22. Effects SDP for AST Instructors, PSU Tactical Coxswains, Independent Duty Food Service Officers, Food Service Officers, and Precision Marksman-Aviation.

Nov. 23, 2022

2023 Retiree and Annuitant Paydays

Retiree paydays are always on the first day of the month. If the first day of the month falls on a weekend, the pay date will move to the last business day of the payroll month.

Nov. 23, 2022

2023 Adjustments to Retired/Retainer Pay, Survivor Annuities and Premiums

The following Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) are effective December 1, 2023, based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) through the third quarter of the calendar year 2022. The term "retired pay" includes retainer pay and the term "members" includes former members.

Nov. 2, 2022

Coast Guard Announces FY-23 Monetary Enlisted Interventions - Bonuses

Note: Paragraph 4.f (BM RAP) is revised per ALCOAST 435/22, Update 1, FY23 Workforce Planning Team Results - Enlisted Monetary Interventions. ALCOAST 403/22 announces the results of the Military Workforce Planning Team (MWPT) monetary enlisted interventions. The MWPT convened in May 2022 to develop and recommend workforce policy interventions. Specifically, this ALCOAST authorizes Enlistment Bonuses (EB), Critical Skills Training Bonuses (CSTB), Critical Skills Retention Bonuses (CSRB), and Selective Reenlistment Bonuses (SRB),

Oct. 26, 2022

Fiscal Year 2023 Clothing and Uniform Allowance Rates

Fiscal Year 2022 Clothing and Uniform Allowance Rates are effective on 1 October 2022

Oct. 21, 2022

Fiscal Year 2023 Military Workforce Planning Team Results - Investigating Officer Intervention

This ALCOAST announces the approved FY23 Investigating Officer (IO) intervention.

Oct. 21, 2022

Fiscal Year 2023 Military Workforce Planning Team Results - Cyber Enlisted Interventions 

This ALCOAST announces the approved FY23 CYBER enlisted interventions.

Oct. 21, 2022

Coast Guard Provides and Overview of Fiscal Year 23 Workforce Planning Team Results

This ALCOAST announces the efforts and results of the FY23 Workforce Planning Team (WPT). Military and Civilian Workforce Planning Teams (WPTs) are chartered governing bodies established to analyze recruiting, retention, and specialty management personnel trends. Each WPT uses data-driven recommendations to create balanced intervention strategies in order to obtain and retain a mission-ready workforce. As WPT sponsor and manager of military and civilian pay accounts, COMDT (CG-1) reviews and approves WPT recommendations on a Fiscal Year (FY) basis; no interventions are guaranteed beyond a given FY. Approved interventions within an FY may be started or stopped at any point in the year when the need is no longer required to manage a particular element of the workforce in the year.

Oct. 21, 2022

New Pay Entitlement - Assignment Incentive Pay for Cutters Undergoing Maintenance Periods (AIP-CMP)

Assignment Incentive Pay for Cutters Undergoing Maintenance Periods (AIP-CMP), a special pay. AIP-CMP may be paid to active duty officers and enlisted members entitled to Basic Pay under REF (B), including Reservists on active duty who are permanently assigned to a career sea pay (CSP) eligible cutter, and whose CSP has been stopped in conjunction with a lengthy cutter maintenance period, such as SLEP, MMA, etc. AIP-CMP is authorized effective 01 OCT 2022 in the amount of $200 per month.

Oct. 5, 2022

New Pay Entitlement: Assignment Incentive Pay - Pre-commissioning Cutter Crews

This ALCOAST announces the establishment of Assignment Incentive Pay for Pre-commissioning Cutter Crews (AIP-PCC), a special pay. AIP-PCC may be paid to active duty officers and enlisted members entitled to Basic Pay, including Reservists on active duty who are permanently assigned as part of a designated pre-commissioning cutter crew, and is authorized effective 01 SEP 2022 in the amount of $200 per month.

Sept. 27, 2022

Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Special Duty Pay (SDP) and Assignment Pay (AP)

This ALCOAST announces results of the FY23 Special Duty Pay and Assignment Pay Panel (SDP/AP) that convened on 25 Apr 2022. The SDP and AP levels recommended for FY23 were carefully balanced against compelling needs, base resources and organizational priorities.

Sept. 26, 2022

Readiness Management Periods for Recruiting Efforts

This ALCOAST announces an update to the Reserve Duty Status and Participation Manual, COMDTINST M1001.2, authorizing Readiness Management Period (RMP) duty to help meet the Coast Guard's active duty, reserve, and officer accession goals. Unless funding is specifically allocated and authorized, RMPs shall be performed without pay, for points only.

Sept. 23, 2022

DoD Announces Immediate and Long-Term Actions to Help Strengthen the Economic Security and Stability of Service Members and Their Families

DOD to increase BAH rates for 28 military housing areas, TLE duration from 10 to 14 days and up to 60 in some areas, and DLA rates effective 1 Oct 2022.

Sept. 23, 2022

DoD Authorizes an Automatic Increase to 2022 BAH Rates for Certain Locations

The Department of Defense (DoD) has authorized temporary increases to 2022 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates for 28 military housing areas (MHAs) across the United States.

July 20, 2022

Three Service-Wide Initiatives to Maximize Recruiting Efforts

Comdt (CG-1), Flag Voice #582 - As the Coast Guard seeks to improve recruiting efforts throughout the country, we must take greater strides to attract future service members to our workforce. The best way forward is to galvanize the entire Service and our external stakeholders to maximize our recruiting efforts. The Personnel Service Center has directed three initiatives described below and we are planning additional actions. I appreciate your personal support and engagement.

July 12, 2022

2022 Critical Housing Areas Update

This message adds Astoria/Warrenton, OR and Cape Disappointment/Illwaco, WA (MHA OR241) as designated Critical Housing Areas.

May 23, 2022

Additional Information Required When Submitting Trouble Tickets for Tax Issues

Attach a copy of the member's current IRS form W-4 to all trouble tickets for tax issues. In order to determine if there are any programming problems or if DA is calculating taxes correctly, a copy of members W-4 is required. This is based on the guidance provided by IRS in Publication 15-T. There are certain areas that are only filled out on the actual W-4 that is needed information in order for us to calculate what system should be doing.

May 19, 2022

Coast Guard Leased Housing Program Update

Contacting the housing office early in the PCS season allows time to request a waiver to leased housing eligibility if circumstances merit an exception. If Coast Guard leased housing is the best solution, the housing office may now contract that housing in advance, up to 60 days, in order to ensure its availability in time for your arrival.