Until
2002, BAS was paid only when individuals were officially allowed
(for various reasons) to eat their meals outside of the military
dining facilities (chow halls). Those required to eat meals in the
dining facilities (usually, single enlisted, living on-base) received
a "partial allowance" of about $25.80 per month. Beginning
in Fiscal Year 2002, all enlisted and officers receive full-rate
BAS, after initial entry training (boot camp and follow-on schooling).
However, for those required to consume meals in the dining facilities,
most of the BAS will be automatically deducted from their paychecks,
resulting in those members still only receiving about $26.00 each
month. There are plans (for the future) to only deduct the cost of
meals actually consumed in the dining facilities, but that is likely
several years in the future (for the present time, DOD depends on
the fact that members required to consume meals in the dining facilities
only eat an average of 70 percent of their meals there, and purchase
30 percent of the meals elsewhere. The services rely upon the difference
to help balance their food budgets).
Enlisted
members with less than 4 months of service used to be paid BAS at
a lower rate. That difference was eliminated in 2002.
BAS used
to be calculated on a daily basis. That means that a person who received
BAS got just a little bit more during months that had 31 days in
them, and a little bit less during the month of February (which has
less than 30 days). In 2002, Congress changed the law so that BAS
is a set monthly rate.
Enlisted
members, with or without dependents, used to lose BAS if they were
deployed (or "in the field"). In 1998, Congress changed
this. Now, enlisted members temporarily assigned to duty away from
their permanent duty station or to duty under field conditions at
their permanent duty station are entitled to BAS at a rate not less
than that which they had at their permanent duty station.
The category
of "When rations-in-kind are not available" is being phased out.
As such, this specific category amount does not increase each year.
When the normal "Enlisted" amount meets or exceeds the "When Rations-in-Kind
are not Available" amount, the category will be completely eliminated.
