{"id":50141,"date":"2023-07-03T18:00:40","date_gmt":"2023-07-03T18:00:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/07\/03\/army-auditors-scrutinize-food-allowance-deductions-for-field-training\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:57:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:57:47","slug":"army-auditors-scrutinize-food-allowance-deductions-for-field-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2023\/07\/03\/army-auditors-scrutinize-food-allowance-deductions-for-field-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Army auditors scrutinize food allowance deductions for field training"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Editor\u2019s note: This story was updated with a statement from an Army spokesperson at 2:00 p.m. EDT on July 3, 2023.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Army\u2019s internal auditors will review whether officials at five installations correctly docked meal allowances from soldiers during field training events this year, according to an internal announcement reviewed by Army Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At stake is roughly $15 per field day for a typical enlisted soldier, and troops interviewed by Army Times were furious that the service is \u201ccounting pennies,\u201d as one characterized the audits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The audits, conducted by the Army Audit Agency, will check basic allowance for subsistence \u2014 or BAS \u2014 deductions from May and June at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Fort Cavazos, Texas; Fort Drum, New York; Fort Carson, Colorado; and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BAS, according to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service and Army regulations<\/a>, is a monthly payment between $311 and $905 based on rank and availability of cooking facilities, intended to \u201cpartially offset\u201d the costs of service members\u2019 meals. Although virtually all troops beyond those in initial training receive BAS, many barracks-dwelling members must pay equivalent mandatory meal card charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the same regulations, though, units must deduct soldiers\u2019 BAS on a day-for-day basis when they attend field exercises and eat \u201cGovernment-provided\u201d meals. The deductions add up, and can tear a hole in a soldier\u2019s budget amid widespread food insecurity<\/a> in the ranks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bryce Dubee, a spokesperson for the Army, said the audits are a \u201cfollow-up…to previous audits conducted on meal collection for field training\u201d that indicated significant \u201cnon-compliance\u201d with the deduction policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Dubee said the Army\u2019s new HR platform, the Integrated Personnel and Pay System-Army, did not inspire the audit, the platform was highlighted in the internal announcement. The new program changed long-standing processes for BAS deductions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the regulation governing Army audits<\/a>, such efforts identify areas where improvements can be made, make recommendations to solve problems, and identify \u201cpotential monetary benefits\u201d in cases of financial loss. The internal auditors often review complex or new pay-related programs. Last year, the agency found an experimental recruiting performance bonus program may have overpaid recruiters by nearly $500,000<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\t