Do enlisted personnel who live on base or post have to pay for meals?

Question

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Answer 1

All military personnel pay for their meals. Look at an LES (leave and earning statement), you can find it on there, tells what is taken out of your check. When I was in, it was about $7, per pay check, every 1st and 15th. This was for all the chow hall meals.

Answer 2

It's been a few years since I've been on meal ticket, but from what I understand everyone in the Air Force receives BAS, Basic Allowance for Subsistence. However, if you live in the dorms and eat at the chow hall, they take money out based on what you eat. At one time they took out money regardless of actually eatting at the chow hall or not. I'm not sure if this is still the practice or not.

"BAS is meant to offset costs for a member's meals. This allowance is based in the historic origins of the military in which the military provided room and board (or rations) as part of a member's pay. This allowance is not intended to offset the costs of meals for family members.

Beginning on January 1 2002, all enlisted members get full BAS, but pay for their meals (including those provided by the government). This is the culmination of the BAS Reform transition period.

Because BAS is intended to provide meals for the service member, its level is linked to the price of food. Therefore, each year it is adjusted based upon the increase of the price of food as measured by the USDA food cost index. This is why the increase to BAS will not necessarily be the same percentage as that applied to the increase in the pay table, as annual pay raises are linked to the increase of private sector wages."

For Enlisted its $272.26/month.

Answer 3

I'm in the air force right now. So the answer i will give you is completely true. (for the air force and most likely the other services)

you pay for your meals either way. if you're single and E-3 and below (sometimes E-4, depending on the base) the money comes straight out of your pay check. (no matter if you eat at the chow hall or not) thats only if you live in the dorms. if you live off base or are married and live on base, that money goes to straight to you.

Answer 4

That depends. If they have a meal card the answer is no. If they are authorized separate rations, the answer is yes. Service members who are authorized separate rations get extra money in their pay for meals.

Answer 5

Not usually, your command should have a specific area for you to eat, such as the chow hall. Sometimes and depending on what command you are at, you might get extra money for food. In this case, you would have to pay for your food no matter where you go.

Answer 6

No they get a meal card to eat in the dining facility and if they do not have a dining facility then they get BAS which is Basic allowence for subsidies to pay fpr their food

Answer 7

All depends on if they live in dorms or actual base housing. If they are in a dorm then they have a meal card. If they are living in a house they have to pay

Answer 8

Unless they choose to have Separate Rations. They should be able to eat at any mess facility on the base or camp they are assigned to.

Answer 9

In Australia they pay for meals if they live on base, but if they are at sea or out bush or on deployment, they don't.

Answer 10

yep, if you live on base or on a ship , it is automatically deducted from your pay every month unless you use a smart chip which is on your military id to pay for your meals in the galley.