2018 BAS (Basic Allowance for Subsistence) rates

The Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) increase for 2018 is .3% after seeing no increase in BAS last year. TheFY2018 National Defense Authorization Act originally proposed 3.4% but that is what is proposed every year but is consistently lower each year.

The 2018 BAS increase was effective Jan. 1, 2018.

See the latest update on 2023 Basic Allowance for Subsistence rates.

Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) is used to pay for food for Enlisted Soldiers and Officers. Beginning on Jan. 1, 2002, all enlisted members were given full BAS, but pay for their meals (including those provided by the government) such as through a meal card management system.

BAS is calculated based on the current cost of food in the United States as recorded by the Department of Agriculture. Just as Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) correlates with the overall cost of living in a given zip code, BAS correlates with the cost of food in the given zip code. BAS, however, is not affected by the presence or absence of dependents, whereas BAH is a higher figure for service members with dependents.

BAS is not intended to cover all food-related expenses, but rather to aid in these expenses. The additional monthly stipend that service members can receive while overseas or when stationed in costly areas, known as Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), will not be affected by the proposed BAS rate.