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Over $151 Million Taken from Soldiers' Paychecks for Food Costs Spent Elsewhere by the Army
Military ^ | February 14, 2025 | Steve Beynon

Posted on 02/14/2025 1:31:19 PM PST by george76

click here to read article


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To: Son-Joshua

I’d like to help them get to God.


41 posted on 02/14/2025 2:34:49 PM PST by Fledermaus (GOP RINOs - Get on Board or Get Out!)
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To: george76

The one good thing about all the crappy food my son had to eat in the various Army DFACs was that he became a great cook.


42 posted on 02/14/2025 2:43:41 PM PST by broken_clock (Go Trump! Prayers answered!)
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To: george76

These young soldiers are building muscle. They need lots of protein, not junk food like in a gas station.


43 posted on 02/14/2025 2:45:18 PM PST by Freee-dame ( )
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To: Eli Kopter
Check the Offers Mess.
44 posted on 02/14/2025 2:45:25 PM PST by Don_Ret_USAF ("No Government can survive Without The Trust Of The People."er)
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To: Arcadian Empire

Exactly which is why this story is crap! They get to eat three meals a day for free. No need for 460 bucks a month. The military was right on this.


45 posted on 02/14/2025 2:45:54 PM PST by napscoordinator (DeSantis is a beast! Florida is the freest state in the country! )
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To: george76

These young soldiers are building muscle. They need lots of protein, not junk food like in a gas station.


46 posted on 02/14/2025 2:46:11 PM PST by Freee-dame ( )
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To: Arcadian Empire

Friggin illegals throw away much better food than we give to American soldiers.


47 posted on 02/14/2025 2:49:20 PM PST by Mastador1
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To: Starboard

Given. Having served during War, I agree. But once you are in, then there is so little of the extras that you get, it would really piss me off.


48 posted on 02/14/2025 2:50:00 PM PST by Eli Kopter (Gentle elves set light to lead the Faroes on the starry way from age to age - U. of Faroe Islands)
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To: george76

I can’t believe how poorly paid soldiers.


49 posted on 02/14/2025 3:01:03 PM PST by Sam Gamgee
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To: Son-Joshua

In Canada refugees go immediately onto welfare. Infuriating.


50 posted on 02/14/2025 3:02:35 PM PST by Sam Gamgee
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To: george76
Soldiers were fed meals that were just a slice of toast and lima beans

They got toast? Kinda fancy.

51 posted on 02/14/2025 3:04:30 PM PST by Libloather (Why do climate change hoax deniers live in mansions on the beach?)
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To: Openurmind

SECDEF Hegsech turns out to be a disappointment. No GO, FO, or SES has been fired. There should be be a USAID-style restructure at the Pentagon. We expect another Esper at best.


52 posted on 02/14/2025 3:05:00 PM PST by Choppo
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To: Eli Kopter

“Then, take those funds and give them to the soldiers they stole from.”

Separate rats are a funny duck when it comes to budgeting for. And I don’t understand how they came to the idea that these funds, like housing, are supposed to go to single military members. And when we used the dining facilities, and we were getting rats, we paid over the counter for it at the location.

Separate rats and housing are not automatically awarded to troops. They apply to get them. So the funds are not a dedicated gift, there has to be reasons. I got them when I was in due to having a family and not being able to get base housing. But when I did get base housing, the housing funds were taken back from each check. And the amount of rats didn’t start to cover the price of groceries for a family, not even really me.

When I went TDY, and later traveled to designated areas for uncle sugar, they took my sep rats also as I was eating on the dining facilities. As a civilian working for the government, and depending on my level, the Consolidated Dormitory Office manages permanent party dormitories for single and geographically separated (mil to mil) airmen. In many cases, civilian employees were in a space available or were housed downtown. And in that case they were given housing during the trip that had to be acconted for upon return at the CPO.

wy69


53 posted on 02/14/2025 3:06:41 PM PST by whitney69
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To: Choppo

Has he had time to root them out yet?


54 posted on 02/14/2025 3:07:57 PM PST by Openurmind
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To: Fledermaus

Much has changed since I retired in 1990. If I understand correctly BAS is now paid across the board and the military member pays for meals eaten in messing facilities. (Feel free to correct me.) The author appears to be making an argument using the difference between the rates for Enlisted BAS I (adequate facilities) and BAS II (no adequate facilities) from the table below:

https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/Allowances/BAS.aspx
And:

https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/Pay-Tables/bas/

Note 1
BAS II is the monthly rate that may be payable to enlisted members on duty at a permanent station and assigned to single (unaccompanied) Government quarters, which do not have adequate food storage or preparation facilities, and where a Government mess is not available, and the Government cannot otherwise make meals available. The BAS II rate is twice the rate of standard enlisted BAS and must be authorized the Secretary of the Military Department concern.


55 posted on 02/14/2025 3:14:56 PM PST by PsyCon
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To: george76

56 posted on 02/14/2025 3:15:14 PM PST by frogjerk
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To: george76
The money is collected in what amounts to a tax on troops -- taken from their Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) payments, roughly $460 per month that is automatically deducted from the paychecks of service members who live in barracks and is intended to help cover food costs. For junior enlisted troops who earn about $30,000 annually, the cost can be consequential.

Unless things have changed a lot since I retired, this description is backwards. BAS is ADDED to your paycheck IF you don't live in the barracks. If you live in the barracks and eat at the DFAC, you don't get BAS.

Is the article saying that the BAS equivalent is given to the command?

57 posted on 02/14/2025 3:15:56 PM PST by Mr.Unique (My boss wants me to sign up for a 401K. No way I'm running that far! )
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To: 3RIVRS
Since when do barracks dwellers get BAS at all? It used to be assumed they ate 3 squares a day in the mess hall.

Yep. This article makes no sense.

58 posted on 02/14/2025 3:18:38 PM PST by Mr.Unique (My boss wants me to sign up for a 401K. No way I'm running that far! )
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To: LambSlave
When I was a soldier, if you were in the barracks, you ate at the mess hall or you paid for it yourself, as I recall.

+1

59 posted on 02/14/2025 3:19:03 PM PST by Mr.Unique (My boss wants me to sign up for a 401K. No way I'm running that far! )
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To: george76

I always lived in the barracks and never had money deducted for food.But that was 55 years ago.


60 posted on 02/14/2025 3:19:52 PM PST by Gay State Conservative (Import The Third World,Become The Third World)
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