With the increase in the Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS), military members will now receive more money each month to help with the rising cost of food. Starting on January 1st, the BAS will rise by 11.2%, which is the greatest increase seen in the past two decades.

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BAS Military Guide

The subsistence allowance is a monthly allowance to help with the cost of food and meals. The amount one receives is not connected to their dependent status or paygrade. BAS rates are adjusted every year to match the changing price of food that is measured by the Department of Agriculture; however, the costs are not covered for family members.

Eligibility for BAS Military Pay

Those eligible for BAS include enlisted and officer personnel serving in the Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Marine Corps, and Army. Officers are not qualified to receive BAS when they have been absent for more than 24 hours or if they are on excess leave status. Enlisted personnel can also qualify for a continuous BAS entitlement except for the following:

• Members who are on excess leave status.
• Recruits attending training.
• Members on educational leave that’s been approved.
• Members who are AWOL.
• Members at the Reserve/Officer Candidate School without continuous prior service.

BAS is also not given to any service member who is deployed or on duty on field-training exercises. During training, units provide food to the service members.

Changes to BAS for 2023

The Basic Allowance for Subsistence 2022 had the following monthly rates:

• Officers

  : $280.29

• Enlisted

  : $406.98

In 2023, the increase in rates will be as follows:

• Officers

  : $311.68

• Enlisted

  : $452.56

This change will give officers $31.39 more per month, and enlisted members will get $45.58 more per month, which makes this the first time ever that the Basic Allowance Subsistence has gone over $300. The biggest increase since 2002 comes about due to global inflation, and industry officials do not expect high food inflation to go away any time soon. In response, military members have seen increases in the Basic Allowance for Housing. The 2023 budget request also pushed for a basic pay increase of 4.6%. Other emphasis is placed on a new basic needs allowance in order to give more money to military members who make less than 130% of the federal poverty guidelines. Additionally, leaders in the Pentagon have pushed for military personnel to receive higher base pay and allowances. Military members will be able to see the changes in their BAS in their mid-month payments in January 2023.

Economic Pressures and BAS

With economic pressures ensuing and the rise in the cost of living, it’s normal for military members to be burdened by financial costs. With the 11.2% rise in the 2023 BAS, military members can feel a bit of ease and relief from the economic troubles they may have. For extra help in figuring out how much money one might receive in the military, check out the Military Pay Calculator, which can calculate personal military pay.

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