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37 U.S.C. § 402

Section 402 · Basic allowance for subsistence

Version as of October 30, 2000, with additions and removals from the October 17, 1998 version.

As of October 30, 2000
As of October 17, 1998

(a) Entitlement to Allowance.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) or otherwise provided by law, each member of a uniformed service who is entitled to basic pay is entitled to a basic allowance for subsistence as set forth in this section.

(a) Entitlement to Allowance.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) or otherwise provided by law, each member of a uniformed service who is entitled to basic pay is entitled to a basic allowance for subsistence as set forth in this section.

(2) An enlisted member is not entitled to the basic allowance for subsistence during basic training.

(2) An enlisted member is not entitled to the basic allowance for subsistence during basic training.

(b) Rates of Allowance Based on Food Costs.—(1) The monthly rate of basic allowance for subsistence to be in effect for an enlisted member for a year (beginning on January 1 of that year) shall be the amount that is halfway between the following amounts, which are determined by the Secretary of Agriculture as of October 1 of the preceding year:
(b) Rates of Allowance Based on Food Costs.—(1) Through December 31, 2001, the monthly rate of basic allowance for subsistence to be in effect for an enlisted member for a year (beginning on January 1 of that year) shall be the amount that is halfway between the following amounts, which are determined by the Secretary of Agriculture as of October 1 of the preceding year:

(A) The amount equal to the monthly cost of a moderate-cost food plan for a male in the United States who is between 20 and 50 years of age.

(A) The amount equal to the monthly cost of a moderate-cost food plan for a male in the United States who is between 20 and 50 years of age.

(B) The amount equal to the monthly cost of a liberal food plan for a male in the United States who is between 20 and 50 years of age.

(B) The amount equal to the monthly cost of a liberal food plan for a male in the United States who is between 20 and 50 years of age.

(2) The monthly rate of basic allowance for subsistence to be in effect for an officer for a year (beginning on January 1 of that year) shall be the amount equal to the monthly rate of basic allowance for subsistence in effect for officers for the preceding year, increased by the same percentage by which the rate of basic allowance for subsistence for enlisted members for the preceding year is increased effective on such January 1.
(2) On and after January 1, 2002, the monthly rate of basic allowance for subsistence to be in effect for an enlisted member for a year (beginning on January 1 of that year) shall be equal to the sum of—

(A) the monthly rate of basic allowance for subsistence that was in effect for an enlisted member for the preceding year; plus

(B) the product of the monthly rate under subparagraph (A) and the percentage increase in the monthly cost of a liberal food plan for a male in the United States who is between 20 and 50 years of age over the preceding fiscal year, as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture each October 1.

(3) The monthly rate of basic allowance for subsistence to be in effect for an officer for a year (beginning on January 1 of that year) shall be the amount equal to the monthly rate of basic allowance for subsistence in effect for officers for the preceding year, increased by the same percentage by which the rate of basic allowance for subsistence for enlisted members for the preceding year is increased effective on such January 1.

(c) Advance Payment.—The allowance to an enlisted member may be paid in advance for a period of not more than three months.

(c) Advance Payment.—The allowance to an enlisted member may be paid in advance for a period of not more than three months.

(d) Special Rule for Members Authorized to Mess Separately.—(1) In areas prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Transportation with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, an enlisted member described in paragraph (2) is entitled to not more than the pro rata allowance established under subsection (b)(1) for each meal the member buys from a source other than a messing facility of the United States.
(d) Special Rule for Members Authorized to Mess Separately.—(1) In areas prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Transportation with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, an enlisted member described in paragraph (2) is entitled to not more than the pro rata allowance in effect under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b) for each meal the member buys from a source other than a messing facility of the United States.

(2) An enlisted member referred to in paragraph (1) is a member who is granted permission to mess separately and whose duties require the member to buy at least one meal from a source other than a messing facility of the United States.

(2) An enlisted member referred to in paragraph (1) is a member who is granted permission to mess separately and whose duties require the member to buy at least one meal from a source other than a messing facility of the United States.

(e) Special Rule for Certain Enlisted Reserve Members.—Unless entitled to basic pay under section 204 of this title, an enlisted member of a reserve component may receive, at the discretion of the Secretary concerned, rations in kind, or a part thereof, when the member's instruction or duty periods, as described in section 206(a) of this title, total at least 8 hours in a calendar day. The Secretary concerned may provide an enlisted member who could be provided rations in kind under the preceding sentence with a commutation when rations in kind are not available.

(e) Special Rule for Certain Enlisted Reserve Members.—Unless entitled to basic pay under section 204 of this title, an enlisted member of a reserve component may receive, at the discretion of the Secretary concerned, rations in kind, or a part thereof, when the member's instruction or duty periods, as described in section 206(a) of this title, total at least 8 hours in a calendar day. The Secretary concerned may provide an enlisted member who could be provided rations in kind under the preceding sentence with a commutation when rations in kind are not available.

(f) Policies on Use of Dining and Messing Facilities.—The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretaries concerned, shall prescribe policies regarding use of dining and field messing facilities of the uniformed services.

(f) Policies on Use of Dining and Messing Facilities.—The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretaries concerned, shall prescribe policies regarding use of dining and field messing facilities of the uniformed services.

(g) Regulations.—(1) The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations for the administration of this section. Before prescribing the regulations, the Secretary shall consult with each Secretary concerned.

(g) Regulations.—(1) The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations for the administration of this section. Before prescribing the regulations, the Secretary shall consult with each Secretary concerned.

(2) The regulations shall include the specific rates of basic allowance for subsistence required by subsection (b).

(2) The regulations shall include the specific rates of basic allowance for subsistence required by subsection (b).

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