COLA survey available for USAFE members

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Bob Purtiman
  • USAFE News Service
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) --  Certain service members stationed in Europe will soon have an opportunity to possibly change the amount of cost of living allowance people receive each month by filling out a Department of Defense living pattern survey.

The Department of Defense Per Diem Committee will be conducting the survey from May 16-June 17. The survey charts the shopping activities of service members and their dependents.

U.S. Air Forces in Europe members with dependents stationed in Germany (including the areas around Ramstein Air Base, Geilenkirchen, Spangdahlem AB, Stuttgart, and Kalkar), Belgium (Klein Brogel AB), Italy (Camp Darby and Ghedi) and the Netherlands (Volkel) are eligible to take the web-based survey at https://www.perdiem.osd.mil/oscola/lps/germany.

“We are encouraging all eligible to complete this survey,” said 1st Lt. Jason Werner, USAFE chief of command pay and entitlements. “A low survey turnout has the potential to adversely affect the COLA index rate and in turn, people will get a smaller check.”

It is also possible that spending habits and prices have stayed relatively consistent and the COLA index could remain unchanged.

“We’re making a maximum effort to get people to participate so we can get a clear picture of peoples’ spending habits,” he added. “If people are accurate about where they shop and when, the result will be a truer COLA — it will reflect the actual situation they are living in and it will accurately reflect what it costs to live there.”

Once the LPS is complete, a retail price survey will be conducted by pricing teams and the results will be given to the Per Diem Committee. The RPS reports the actual prices of goods and services overseas. If there is a substantial difference in the current rate, the committee will change the COLA rate.

“People will be able to take the survey from their home computer,” said Master Sgt. Keibu Kamarakafego, USAFE manager of military pay and procedures. “The survey results are based on members with dependents. Single members’ COLA will be based on a percentage of what a married person brings home.”

The spouse of a service member is eligible to take the survey, said the lieutenant. In fact, it’s recommended that the person who does a majority of the shopping for the household be the one that takes the survey.

Because the dollar has dropped in value against the Euro, it can be expensive living in Europe. Currently, living at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, costs 36 percent more than living in the United States would.

“If people are being forced to shop at the exchange and commissary because they are receiving a COLA rate that’s not in line with what it costs to purchase off-base goods, the committee would want to know about it,” Sergeant Kamarakafego explained. “We encourage people to do an accurate assessment and … report current information.”

Once the LPS results are tallied, pricing teams will perform the RPS, said the lieutenant. The teams will go to the top two stores that people shop at for certain items and document them. Different goods hold different weight in determining the COLA index.

“Items like fruits carry a lot less weight than auto insurance,” Lieutenant Werner said. “Auto insurance is one of the heaviest weighted items on the list. It’s the highest difference between stateside and overseas.”

By the early fall, the results will be complete and the Per Diem Committee will make the COLA adjustment.

“If it’s a positive change, it will be implemented quickly,” Lieutenant Werner said. “If it’s a negative change, the committee will phase it in over several pay periods. The change will also be publicized, so members will be able to adjust their budgets accordingly.”