>> While our officers have to pay for their meals on ship.
I was under the impression that the better meals served to officers are a perk of rank.
What are the rules for per diem while a ship is underway, and while a ship is in port, stateside or overseas?
Having grown up as an AF brat, I thought I understood the general workings of the military.
All I know is that an officer in the Navy has to pay for their meals aboard ship. They take it out of your pay.
The perks are white table linen, china dishes, and real silverware. Sometimes you get to have chicken almost every meal for three weeks running.
Actually officers receive a meal allowance in their pay. This is used to offset the cost of eating, especially, aboard ship. The cost of the meals is determined by each officers mess. I was on a FF which deployed to Far East. We chose to eat good as so paid more than another wardroom would.