They have to pay for their food??

[Chris A.]

My son's paycheck was over $300 less this week, and he says his shipmates had the same problem. At first I thought it was an equipment charge but he says it was for food! Evidently thy're assessed a food charge at the start of every month. It would have been nice to be prepared for it and not had it dropped on them like a ton of bricks. Where in the regs does it say they have to pay for their own food? Anyone have any info on this?

[K]

It's kind of fascinating when you have tons of people who think the "military" gets TOO much money.

They never realize that all that money does not just go to bombs, bullets and helicopters. It also goes to overheard, insurance, training, salaries, food, medicine, bandages, etc. I remember the days when you used to actually get a REAL discount if you shopped at the BX or the Commissary. A serious discount. Not anymore. The stuff is the same price or higher. Why? Because every tax cut or diversion or caveat that it be shared with rural Manhatten pig farmers means a little bit less for our men and women.

In a nutshell, there is nothing free in life. Everything costs money including food and clothing. The government has to pay for them somehow and they may pass along the savings to our kids but there is (as my dad used to explain) no magic money tree growing in the backyard (or in the center of the Pentagon). My advice to all moms is just assume they have to pay for EVERYTHING like a college student or junior accountant and then when you do get the freebies it's a nice surprise. I mentioned the three hundred some dollars for food to my son before he left and since he has been grocery shopping with me he said, "THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS!?!?!?! For the WHOLE month? HOW do they work that out? Food is SO expensive? We spend that in a week sometimes!!?!?" He also grasps the little stuff like someone has to pay for the toilet cleaner or the brooms or the laundry detergeant etc. In reality, it's still cheaper on them in bootcamp and A school then it would be if they were on their own trying to make ends meet. Also consider that many of our kids are going to be getting quite an education (mine is going to Nuke School)...sometimes similar or the equivelent of a college education. In this economy my son is so fortunate. Sure he is going to have to pay for some things but he is getting so much more in return. Just my two cents. As a cop I paid for my own drycleaning, having patches sewn on, much of my gear, weapons, etc. I think I got an old pancake holster free because a guy gave it to me and that was about it.

I found an OLD poster for the Navy and you can see even back then they had to pay for things. Notice it says "FIRST" uniform free? Not ALL of them...

[KELLY]

I wonder what a loaf of bread and a gallon of gas cost when that poster was used by the Navy.

[Hoppi aka Angie]

Wondering why you are surprised your child has to pay for things such as unifroms, hair cuts, patches, dry cleaning, patches sewn on, etc..?

If I remember correctly the galley in Biloxi charges you by what you buy, not a set fee like the galley on the Navy base does.

If your child is in "C" school, they should be able to fill out a travel claim when they get to their first duty station to get some of the money back.

[KELLY]

I believe I said that my son, not my child did have to pay for his meals on an “as he eats” basis while in C school on his base in Biloxi, unlike when he was attending A school in Pensacola. So you did remember correctly. I guess the reason I was surprised, as you asked, is that you never hear about all the costs, unlike you hear about all the benefits. Obviously if so many other Navy Sailors and families are surprised by this then it is not common knowledge. This is a learning experience for some of us and we learn and discuss issues as they come up for us. Just like the travel claim that you mentioned, this is something that I am not familiar with. My son may be and when he tells me about it I may very well be surprised again. I am surprised at least once a week with things he shares about Navy life. I find that life is full of surprises. It is what keeps it interesting.

[Hoppi aka Angie]

The point I was trying to get at, is the galley in Biloxi makes you pay per item. ie...if you get a salad and soup and sandwich you pay more than just for a sandwich. That is what I was trying to say.

[Hoppi aka Angie]

We (Sailors) do not pay for medical or eye glasses. If we had to pay for medical I would still be owing the Navy money from my surgery :~}

We are also allowed to get one free pair of glasses a year from the Navy, if you need more than that you get the script and go out in town to get a pair.

As far as food, I keep saying this over and over. We do NOT pay for our food! The Navy gives us money and than they take it away.

Recommend your Sailor take his LES and talk to his staff members where he is at, so they can explain it to them.

[Chris A.]

I think the point of much of this discussion is that we hear ahead of time all about the many benefits the military offers but the deductions are never mentioned until it's too late to question anything. The recruiters tell us that the Navy provides "pretty much everything" but don't say "and by the way, you'll have to pay for this that and the other." It's a question of perception and I think it needs to be made clear to prospective recruits that the Navy does NOT pay for everything.

I don't know how many of you watched the excellent series on PBS called "Carrier" but at one point one of the pilots (officer of course) was praising the sailors who worked so hard on board the ship "considering how little they get paid they do a wonderful job." Or words to that effect. Somebody at least was paying attention.

[Hoppi aka Angie]

I understand the point, what I don't understand is that I am in the Navy and the Sailors are TOLD all the time how to read their LES and the pays and deductions they get. So why don't they pass on ALL the info to the parents.

As far as the recruiters I am not one and will never be one. I know for a FACT they are explained the pay in BC and in "A" schools, if they choice to only tell their parents part of the storie that is their choice.

[Hoppi aka Angie]

Your not inconveniencing anyone, I just get frustrated when the students don't pay attention to what they are taught.

[PattiO]

Hi howdy.
this is my first post. I just saw this site advertised on TV - and in an Army/Air Force town no less! I'm glad to have caught up with y'all. My son is also on the Stennis.

about food: those who live on the ship do not receive the $225 per month for COMRATS. And folks live on the ship when they are in port in Bremerton. My son did spend some time on the Barge when the ship was in drydock there. No one was living on board. Also at that time, he was receiving COMRATS (food allowance) because the galley was closed.

so, keeping this short, hope to keep in touch with many of you.

PattiO

[Hoppi aka Angie]

If you took my post the wrong way, I am sorry. I can be very blunt and have told I come acros rude, so if that is the case, i am sorry. Feel free to ask any and all questions you want.

What do you mean "not sure howw the next step works"?

[Hoppi aka Angie]

It is not the mom's who frustrate me, it is the lack of info that your Sailor is passing on to you.