One of the biggest steps in any marriage is combining and managing your finances. As a Navy wife, I needed to learn a completely new language just to figure out how much money my husband earned. Here is some of the basic terminology associated with military pay.
LES = Leave and Earnings Statement. Also could be called a pay stub. Shows leave (sick leave, standard leave, etc- also known as vacation and sick time) and earnings.
Base pay = standard pay scale. This figure is pre-determined and computed by rank and years of service.
BAQ = Basic Allowance for (living) Quarters. Money given to personnel who are permitted to live off the military base. This is also pre-determined and computed by rank and years of service.
ComRats = Commuted Rations. Food "allowance" - for Sailors with Dependents and those who are not required to eat meals in the mess hall.
COLA = Cost of Living Adjustment or Allowance. Additional money to compensate for a higher cost of living at a particular duty station. Hawaii, for example, has a bigger COLA than Idaho.
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