I have to agree with you that this seems an unfair practice - as you said, different ranks are awarded different levels of BAH and to take that entire amount and have no say so in the home you live in is not right.

But I have to ask if this is something your husband has taken up with the XO or whoever handles the housing there on base. This is a private organization that is contracted to the AF to supply housing for the servicemen and women, but to my understanding, that doesnt mean they can do any old thing they want without recourse.

My younger sister is an officer in the Navy. She just got relocated to North Carolina from TN and had chosen a very nice condo and began having furniture and appliances delivered in advance of her move in date. To her shock, she got a call from the realtor saying the house was still being shown even after she had signed and faxed her lease to the agent and that now the house was sold to another party and she had no place to live!

She had to leave our family vacation early to square things away, but one call to her superiors got everything resolved for her.

As I said, if you haven't, turn to the Air Force for help on this one. If there is one thing an active duty military family shouldn't have to worry about, its their housing situation.