Military Allotments

**Roguish Lawyer** · 11-08-2013, 10:12

I am curious how many of you guys have used them in the past or are currently using them, and what you think about the process. Do you think they should be eliminated as an option for servicemembers?

**Team Sergeant** · 11-08-2013, 10:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roguish Lawyer

I am curious how many of you guys have used them in the past or are currently using them, and what you think about the process. Do you think they should be eliminated as an option for servicemembers?

Before direct deposit they were needed, now that your check goes straight into a bank account of your choosing you could easily have the bank do the same task. (I do). They could end them, except for maybe the legal aspects, like garnishing our wages cause we get divorced.

**The Reaper** · 11-08-2013, 12:35

IIRC, that is also how charitable contributions to CFC are taken.

Or is that a deduction?

TR

**Pete** · 11-08-2013, 12:36

When we were moving around a lot I always set up an allotment for almost all of my base pay at a local bank and gave the checkbook to the wife.

That was her "keeping the house running money". My EOM pay went into my checkbook and was mine. Tax free zones, et al was a windfall for me - so I had to buy a bunch of gold jewelry for her with it.

The advantage for her was she knew exactly what she was getting each month.

69harley · 11-08-2013, 13:13

Before the internet and online banking, as a single NCO living in the barracks, I had allotments set up for my car payment. Later when I moved off base I added an allotment for the rent payment. Was convienent for when I was in the field (frequently), or deployed.

blue02hd · 11-08-2013, 23:59

Much like the P38 can opener, you COULD use it, but why?

Additionally, I have seen Military Pay Allotment's framed as a requirement for all incoming soldiers to Fort Bragg who are divorced, single, and "with dependents". My 1st hand run in with this sillyness includes a years backpay that Finance refused to release unless I showed them proof of an Allottment to my Ex. I refused to comply, and then began the tedious process of working up finance military and eventually civilian chain of command. At each meeting with a different "Supervisor" I asked the exact same question; What regulation defines the requirement of an Allotment to qualify for recieving "With Dependents" (child support). If they would produce the reg then I would comply, as well as better advise my soldiers, etc etc. When they could not produce a Reg Finance relented, I was offered an "exception". Finance couldn't even admit what they were enforcing was a locally generated "requirement" that was unofficial, harmful to soldiers, and wrong.

For me, I was displeased with the Civilian GS Contractor who felt that she could better manage my bills than myself. She initially tried to explain that it was a legal committment to my Ex, and that the Army required proof of payment of Child Support. This is what they were briefing Divorced soldiers who inprocessed, and of course is not true. It took me all of five minutes to deconstruct her legal arguement. Buy me a beer and you'll get my talking points on how that conversatin went, but thats another story for another time.

Bottom Line Last, this is an antiquated option within the military's pay system that is not nearly as efficient as online banking. If used as part of UCMJ, proponents could probably try to defend its continued usage, but UCMJ does not specify how to garnish wages and this is probably the least efficient manner now a days.

Then again, some people still use P38's for the beanies and weanies, wear ranger panties (guilty), and I just witnessed the Marine Corp SGM "axehand" his Corp on TV, after he banned it from use due to political correctness?

It's a Brave New World,,,,