Why am I forced to spend money on food because my schedule doesn’t allow me to eat at the chow hall?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 13:52:18 -0500

I am a single soldier and have been on Gate Guard for about 1-2 months. Some of it being from 0300 to 1700 & some of it being from 0300 to 1300 5 Days of the week. When I got put on this detail we were promised to start receiving BAS because of the fact that I’d be missing 80% to 90% of my chances to eat at the chow hall. About a month in it became apparent that nothing was getting done to insure that single soldiers would indeed be getting BAS. So I took it apon myself and went to my organic unit and submitted a 4187 about 1 or 2 weeks ago. I texted the SSG that helped me write and submit the 4187. This is what he said “S1 is working it now, finance didn’t want to do anything about it until you miss 3 months worth of meals so that’s why BN is trying to fix the issue for you guys“ So I guess my question is, is there anything I can do to speed up this process? & is this a common practice? Just doesn’t seam right to me that I’ve had and still have to spend $100s of dollars on food each week while at the same time being charged $100s of dollars each week for food I can’t eat.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Jan 20 at 2022 2:19 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 14:19:58 -0500

Sounds like something that can get fixed with escalating the issue. Stuff like this isn't standard practice but "good ideas" happen all the time. Sounds like someone in finance had an idea and somebody just needs to escalate it so their leadership squashes it.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2022 2:22 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 14:22:55 -0500

Evaluate your options in escalation. I can tell you, I've never met a CSM that wasn't pissed the absolute hell off that Soldiers weren't eating or being forced to spend money on something that's supposed to be provided.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 20 at 2022 3:38 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 15:38:07 -0500

You could always get some boxes of MREs to ensure government meals are provided (since you're a meal card holder and not on Sep Rats). This way, you're not spending your own money for meals. And, this will sustain you until such time as the Sep Rats kicks in

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Jan 20 at 2022 6:40 PM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 18:40:24 -0500

What does the interior guard chain have to say about this? I find it weird that everyone from the CPL of the Guard to the Officer of the Guard won't get the guards fed. Should rotate you with off duty guards so that you can eat or delivering rations to your post. When I was a young soldier on interior guard, we either were relieved by the CPL of the guard bringing reliefs to posts and carrying guards to mess hall or brining C rations to us.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 20 at 2022 7:11 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 19:11:15 -0500

In my mind this is a leadership or Finance failure. You are an agent of the US government and denying your access to the DFAC and BAS means the government is ripping you off in regard to your legitimate entitlements. In the matter of Fiscal Law, I see this inaction as illegal. The concept is legitimate expenses must be covered by the government to prevent the government from abusing government agents. For example, if a mailman needed a horse, the government has to give relief to the mailman and procure a horse for the mailman for his official duties. This is the PURPOSE part of Fiscal Law.

The army is running afoul of another Fiscal Law of TIME. The government must be timely in their payments. Finance saying it will take 3 months blows me away because your STATUS is a soldier who can not eat at the DFAC. I am willing to call a Finance Unit on your behalf to find out what the regs say. Not paying you for 90 days does not seem reasonable to me. The Fiscal Law of TIME exists so the government can not abuse contractors and agents like you.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 21 at 2022 1:17 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 01:17:53 -0500

You can submit for missed meals. Your command can sign off on DFAS reimbursing you for specific meals missed, you will have to have that tracked down to which meals on which days.

Also, you're not charged $100s of dollars a week for food you can't eat, that's not the way BAS works.

Response by Maj John Bell made Jan 21 at 2022 5:54 AM

Maj John Bell — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 05:54:22 -0500

If you are not receiving BAS and your duties do not allow you to eat at the chow hall during normal operation hours, it is incumbent on the command to ensure you receive some form of a meal (Box lunch, MRE, hot pack, unit rations, etc.) If you aren't in a firefight, you get fed your daily rations, no debate, no excuses, period.

Your chain of command is failing you. This was back in the 80's and 90's but I doubt it has changed, you can "request mast." That is Marine Corps terminology, but I know for a fact the Army had a similar grievance procedure. It is a FORMAL request, and it REQUIRES a FORMAL response. The Marines can ask for a "request mast" at any level of command starting with company command. Depending on the level of command, there is a mandatory response time. If a level of command does not feel it can meet the deadline, it must inform the next level up as soon as it thinks it cannot meet the deadline, not when it breaks the deadline.
Company - 24 hours
Battalion - 48 hours
Regiment - 3 Working days
Division - 5 working days
Corps - 7 working days.
There is no extension for the command to respond unless your unit is in a combat theater or deployed at sea and meeting the timeline is not reasonable.

What is happening to you is BS and heads need to roll. Bear with me and my sea story. In my Marine Infantry Officers course, a 2LT was assigned the training role of "Company GySgt." He was responsible for replenishing water for a platoon after a 25-mile force march, training firefight and digging in for the night.

The 2Lt walked down the hill to the company re-supply point, then decided he was too tired to walk a 5-gallon Gerry can of water back up the hill to a reinforced squad. No one was hurt or evac'd, but he didn't resupply the squad. Five hours later when they had to move out and go another 15 miles to their next objective, they still had no re-supply. When the instructors found out the squad was dry and why, (about 1 mile into the movement) The squad was re-supplied, the 2LT was removed from the field and he was a civilian in less than a week.

The person who couldn't order box lunches and get them delivered to the guards at the gate, IN A GARRISON ENVIRONMENT, needs to be disciplined.

Response by SMSgt Bob W. made Jan 21 at 2022 1:13 PM

SMSgt Bob W. — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 13:13:56 -0500

First, it doesn't take two weeks to get BAS approved; more like two days. The actual money may not show up until a second pay period after you go on "rats". I'd call the IG and make a complaint since the COC appears to be "jerking you around". Why can't they provide you with a meal? I'm sure they have people who can pickup meals and deliver them to the guard post.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2022 12:55 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 00:55:26 -0500

Your unit should have a memo typed and signed by the company commander with everyone’s names who are on gate guard. The memo will allow someone to pick up to-go plates and deliver them to you. We delivered meals everyday for the whole month.

Our cooks made extra plates for the soldiers and let us use the crates to grab lots of other things like chips, fruits, and drinks. Even on days if meals can’t be delivered you should have a box of MREs from supply.

Response by SPC Jeff Huntsinger made Feb 26 at 2022 4:27 PM

SPC Jeff Huntsinger — Sat, 26 Feb 2022 16:27:12 -0500

Dont you get separate rations?

Response by SGT Dennis Barrow made Apr 15 at 2022 4:46 PM

SGT Dennis Barrow — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 16:46:54 -0400

Back in the 70's they would issue us C-Rat's if it looked like you would be missing the chow hall.
I got in touch with the chow hall and asked if they would make me a sack lunch. They did and it was always fantastic meals!!