Room and Board Expenses for Deployed Military Personnel

Hey there! Looking ahead to life after graduation, and I'm leaning towards military service. A question that came up recently: Do deployed military personnel have to pay for their own room and board while on deployment?

Hello! I'm glad to hear you're considering military service after graduation. There are many benefits provided to military personnel and among them are provisions for lodging (room) and sustenance (board). Here's how it usually breaks down:

While military personnel are deployed, the military provides housing and meals at no cost. The intent here is to ensure the effectiveness and wellbeing of its personnel by providing the basic necessity such as food and shelter. The type of housing can vary greatly depending on the deployment zone, ranging from military bases to naval ships.

For those who are on active duty but not currently deployed, there are provisions known as Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS), which are meant to defray the cost of housing and food. However, if a service member is living on base or a ship, they generally will not receive these allowances because housing and meals are provided to them directly.

Every situation can vary and there may be additional allowances or factors based on your particular career path within the military, rank, location of deployment and other variables. Therefore, it is recommended to confirm these details with a military recruiter or a service-specific liaison to have a clear understanding.