(a) Amounts of basic pay, basic allowance for housing, basic allowance for subsistence, and other payments of military compensation (other than travel and transportation allowances and separation allowances) shall be paid on the first day of the month beginning after the month during which the right to such compensation accrues.

(b) Subsection (a) does not preclude one payment in midmonth for any element of compensation and does not affect any authority to make advance payments of pay and allowances.