Jughead

Is 16G a "real" AFSC? Isn't just "general staff"--i.e., any AFSC can fill it? If so, than having it as a secondary won't mean a thing (i.e., even "less of a thing" than others have pointed out--correctly, IMO--a secondary AFSC means to begin with). Analogy: I was an 11G in my staff job ("general pilot"--any 11x can fill it). There's no point to me getting a secondary AFSC for something that I would be eligible for no matter what my AFSC (11x) is or what AFSCs are listed on my SURF....

Why are you "excluding" your withholding amount? What's excluded is your income (up to the ~$7,400 limit). Remember, your monthly withholding is not the tax you're paying, it's an estimated installment on your overall tax liability for the year. No, because you're ignoring your base + fly + hfp = taxable income that is already subject to the exclusion. Depends on your rank & years for flight pay purposes, but if your normal total taxable income for the month is over the limit, receiving the bonus in the CZTE makes no difference for your tax exclusion; if your normal taxable income is below the limit, the first $X of the bonus to bring it up to the limit is an additional tax exempt amount. A better way to look at this is what tax bracket you're in. If you're going to be in the desert a lot, you'll probably drop down the 15% (or lower?)--multiple CZTE months make this a bit tough to estimate. Anyway, go w/ 15% for argument. Figure out what "X" is (how much your normal total taxable income is below the limit), multiply that by 15% (the tax you "would have" paid on X if not in CZTE), that's your tax advantage. Bottom line, not going to be a large amount, certainly not $2K.j PS: Sputnik pretty much answered this earlier in the thread: http://www.flyingsquadron.com/forums/index...st&p=162499

Why is that necessary? There's no requirement for HHG to be moved prior to outprocessing the base. Now, you may find it easier to move "as a family" if Hubby comes back from LTS (on the AF's nickel), then outprocesses, then off you go. But you can set your HHG move up for any time after you have orders in hand, and it need not be prior to outprocessing. If you want/need Hubby back to help get out of Dodge, then an out-and-back TDY is the way to go; if that's not an issue for you (or if you can't get the orders changed), you can still move when it's convenient for you. Hell, you can still have Hubby come back and move with you--but it'll be on your nickel & he'll be burning leave for any days in addition to his official travel time from LTS - Base X. ALSO: I take it you're on base? I've never lived in base housing, so this is based on hearsay. BUT, I believe there's not even a requirement to move out of base housing in the situation you describe. Probably more complicated and must have housing office's involvement, but you can extend your move-out date to coincide w/ your actual move. If you get out-and-back orders, this is a non-issue; but it sounds like this would be the easiest way to go. Again, I have not personally done this, but I have friends who have...