Whether food is free or not in the Army is a common question for many considering joining the military. The answer is more complicated than a simple yes or no, as there are several factors that determine how much a service member pays for food.
Meals in the Field
When troops are deployed or training in the field, meals are provided to them free of charge. The military contracts with various food service companies to deliver hot meals to troops three times a day when they are unable to make it to a dining facility. These field meals, known as Meals Ready to Eat (MREs), are designed to provide sufficient calories and nutrients to sustain troops during operations. MREs are prepackaged shelf-stable meals that come in a variety of menus. They contain an entree, side dish, dessert, snacks, condiments, and flameless ration heaters to warm up the entree. Troops do not have to pay for MREs or any other food provided while training or on deployment.
Dining Facilities
When not in the field, troops take their meals at on-base dining facilities. The food at these “dfacs” is provided without charge to enlisted personnel with a paygrade of E-1 to E-4. For junior enlisted troops, all meals at the dfac are completely free. The dfacs provide a variety of hot entree options, sandwiches, salads, snacks, desserts, and beverages at scheduled mealtimes throughout the day. Enlisted troops can eat as much food as they want at the dfac without being charged.
Enlisted Paygrades E-5 and Above
Once an enlisted service member is promoted to E-5 and higher, they must start paying for their meals at the dfac. However, the meals are still offered at a significantly discounted rate compared to civilian restaurants. Currently, an E-5 and above pays $352.05 per month for three meals per day at the dfac. That comes out to about $3.50 per meal. Considering that most restaurant meals cost $10-15, the dfac is still an economical option. Enlisted personnel are not required to purchase dfac meal plans and can instead choose to eat at civilian establishments at their own expense. But the low cost dfac rate makes it sensible for most E-5s and above to continue eating there.
Officers
Commissioned officers in the military also receive discounted meal rates, though they pay slightly more than enlisted personnel. The current monthly rate for officers to eat three meals per day at the dfac is $386.74, which comes out to around $4 per meal. Like enlisted troops, officers are not mandated to eat at the dfac and can pay out of pocket for meals elsewhere. But the dfac provides a substantial cost savings for officers as well.
Basic Training
When new recruits first enter the military, they go through a boot camp phase known as Basic Training. Meals at Basic Training are covered as part of the overall training cost and provided to recruits for free. When in the chow hall, recruits are given a pre-set amount of time to eat their meals before continuing with their tight training schedules. The dining options are very limited during Basic since the priority is feeding hundreds of recruits efficiently rather than providing choices. Recruits cannot skip meals or leave Basic Training to purchase food elsewhere. But since the meals are free, cost is not a consideration during this initial training phase.
Deployments
When deployed overseas, troops receive their meals for free as part of their mission requirements. Either hot food is trucked out to their locations or MREs are distributed. Troops who are manning isolated outposts may rely heavily on long-lasting MREs because hot food can’t be transported to them easily. Since the military needs to ensure troops are fed while focusing on the mission, all meals are provided free of charge while downrange. This includes those with enlisted paygrades E-5 and above who normally have to pay for dfac meals back home.
Special Dietary Needs
The standard meals provided in the field, at the dfac, and during deployments may not meet the needs of troops who have medical conditions like food allergies or religious dietary restrictions. The military offers specialized meals for those with verified special dietary requirements. Some examples include gluten-free meals, dairy-free meals, pork-free meals, and vegetarian/vegan meals. Troops who need special meal accommodations do not have to pay extra for those meals. They are provided at no additional charge to the service member.
Recoupment of Costs
Although meals are free for most troops in many dining scenarios, the military does recoup some costs through payroll deductions. All enlisted troops and officers have a basic daily food allowance built into their regular pay. For junior enlisted troops who don’t have to directly pay for meals at the dfac, they still receive reduced living allowance pay due to the built-in subsistence allowance. So while the food itself is free for them, their pay does get decreased by a small amount to help offset the government’s food costs. For higher paygrades who do pay out of pocket for dfac meals, their direct payments cover most of the feeding expenses.
Late Meals
In the case when a service member misses a scheduled meal at the dfac due to duty obligations, they can request a late meal to be packaged up for them. These are called “johnny sacks” in reference to the brown bags they are packaged in. Johnny sacks can be picked up at the dfac shortly after regular meal hours. Enlisted personnel E-1 to E-4 receive them free of charge as a replacement for the meal they missed. E-5s and above must pay $3.50 per johnny sack, the same rate as their regular dfac meal plan.
Off-Base Housing
Service members who reside off-base in private housing receive a monthly stipend known as Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) as part of their living allowance benefits. BAS is meant to offset costs for troops buying groceries and cooking meals at home. While meals at the dfac are discounted, troops can use their BAS to purchase food to prepare more economical meals themselves. In 2023, the monthly BAS rate ranges from $486.20 for officers to $292.26 for new enlisted troops. BAS provides significant help with food costs for personnel not eating at the dfacs.
Military Discounts
When troops choose to eat at civilian restaurants, many offer military discounts of 10% or more to service members in uniform. Fast food places, family restaurants, and fine dining establishments often provide special rates on entire meal checks for the military. While troops have to pay out of pocket when eating off-base, the military discounts help lower the expense a bit.
Average Cost of Military Member Meals Per Day
| Paygrade | Meal Source | Average Cost Per Day |
| E-1 to E-4 | Field Meals/Dfacs | $0 |
| E-5 and above | Dfacs | $11.01 |
| Officers | Dfacs | $13.56 |
| E-1 to E-4 | Off-base | $8-$20 |
| E-5 and above | Off-base | $8-$20 |
| Officers | Off-base | $8-$20 |
Conclusion
In summary, food is free for enlisted troops in grades E-1 to E-4 when eating at dining facilities or during field exercises and deployments. E-5s and above and officers pay discounted rates at dfacs. When off-base, personnel receive food stipends but must cover costs fully out of pocket, though many restaurants offer military discounts. So while not completely free across the board, food costs are offset substantially for service members through subsidized meals or stipends.
Joining the Army does alleviate much of the burden of food costs through discounted dfac rates, stipends like BAS, and free field/deployment meals. However, those entering the higher enlisted paygrades or becoming officers should budget several hundred dollars a month for meals depending on their dining preferences. Carefully tracking food spending and taking advantage of low-cost dfac options and military restaurant discounts allows service members to keep their dietary costs in check.
With field, deployment, and dfac meals covered at zero or minimal personal cost for lower paygrades, joining the Army provides substantial savings on meals compared to civilian grocery and restaurant prices. And for higher ranks that do pay for their dfac meals, the rates are still far below normal costs. So while not completely free across the board, the Army does provide extensive measures to minimize the impact of food prices on troops through stipends, discounts, and fully covered meals during training, deployment, and for junior enlisted personnel.
The bottom line – while not every meal is free for every service member, the Army offers a number of programs and discounts to make food extremely economical for troops. Those considering joining can be assured they won’t have to pay full price for meals like their civilian counterparts.
Some key takeaways on military meal costs:
- Field meals and dfac meals are free for junior enlisted troops E-1 to E-4
- E-5 and above and officers pay discounted dfac rates of around $3.50 per meal
- Deployed troops receive free meals in field/MREs
- BAS and military discounts lower off-base meal costs
- Higher ranks pay more than lower ranks but still save substantially versus civilian prices
While not completely free, the Army does provide either zero-cost or very low-cost meal options to make being fed an insignificant burden for service members. Food, whether in garrison, training, or deployed, is covered through discounts and stipends to help troops focus on their duties rather than meal expenses.