THE SEAL OF THE ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Headquarters
Department of the Army
Washington, DC
1 November 2023

*Army Regulation 600–38

Effective 1 December 2023

Personnel-General

The Meal Entitlement Management System

By Order of the Secretary of the Army:

RANDY A. GEORGE

General, United States Army

Chief of Staff

MARK F. AVERILL

Administrative Assistant to the

Secretary of the Army

History. This publication is a major revision.

Authorities. The authorities for this regulation are DoD 7000.14–R, Volume 7A, and DoDD 1418.05.

Applicability. This regulation applies to the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve, unless otherwise stated.

Proponent and exception authority. The proponent of this regulation is the Deputy Chief of Staff, G–4. The proponent has the authority to approve exceptions or waivers to this regulation that are consistent with controlling law and regulations. The proponent may delegate this approval authority, in writing, to a division chief within the proponent agency or its direct reporting unit or field operating agency in the grade of colonel or the civilian equivalent. Activities may request a waiver to this regulation by providing justification that includes a full analysis of the expected benefits and must include formal review by the activity's senior legal officer. All waiver requests will be endorsed by the commander or senior leader of the requesting activity and forwarded through their higher headquarters to the policy proponent. Refer to AR 25–30 for specific requirements.

Army internal control process. This regulation contains internal control provisions in accordance with AR 11–2 and identifies the key internal controls that must be evaluated. (See appendix B).

Suggested improvements. Users are invited to send comments and suggested improvements on DA FormDA FormDepartment of the Army form 2028 (Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank Forms) directly to G–4 Publications Team mailbox: usarmy.pentagon.hqda-dcs-g-4.mbx.publications@army.mil.

Distribution. This regulation is available in electronic media only and is intended for the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve.

*This regulation supersedes AR 600–38, dated 17 August 2016.

AR 600–38 • 1 November 2023

UNCLASSIFIED

Basic allowance for subsistence A monetary allowance paid to all Servicemembers who are authorized to subsist themselves or enlisted personnel who receive BAS and who must reimburse in cash when eating a Government supplied meal, and do not reside in a barracks on an Army installation.

Essential station messing Messing declared by the installation, base, or station commander responsible for single government quar- ters, that is essential to operate the appropriated fund dining facility efficiently and economically, or that is necessary for the health and safety of enlisted personnel permanently assigned to single quarters.

Essential unit messing Group messing that is declared by an appropriate authority (the Secretary concerned or, for a Joint task force, the combatant commander or Joint task force commander concerned) essential for operational readiness, military operations or effective training where members are required to eat government-fur- nished meals. Members will be in a travel status and are entitled to travel reimbursement for incidental expenses, but not for subsistence. Designation for EUM will apply only to organizational units and to op- erational elements and detachments, not to individual Soldiers

Field duty Any maneuvers, war games, field exercises, or similar operations where a Servicemember is assigned to a unit being subsisted in a dining facility operated by or on behalf of the U.S. Government or with an or- ganization drawing field rations. Members may be on per diem orders.

Field training site A location to conduct maneuvers and field exercises, where meals are served under field conditions, re- gardless of where the food may have been prepared.

Meal Entitlement Controller An enlisted Soldier (E4 or above) or DA Civilian (GS – 4 or above) who helps a Senior Meal Entitlement Controller to authorize and control meal entitlements for Soldiers.

Missed meal A meal missed by a Soldier because of official duty requirements.

Pay-account collections A reduction (by the DFASDFASDefense Finance and Accounting Service) in a Soldier's pay for meals available to an officer or an enlisted member dur- ing field duty. The amount of a net-pay reduction depends on the type (breakfast, lunch, dinner) of a meal in question and the meal cost published by the Office of the Secretary of Defense in its calendar-year schedule of "Food Service Charges at Appropriated Fund Dining Facilities and the Military Academies."

Sea Duty Service performed in a self-propelled vessel with berthing and messing facilities that is in an active status, in commission, or in service. Applies to members who are either permanent party or aboard for TDYTDYTemporary duty.

Senior Meal Entitlement Controller A commissioned officer, warrant officer, senior noncommissioned officer (E7 or above or an E6 filling an E7 position), or civilian (GS – 9 or above) who is appointed by the commander of a unit or organization to manage meal entitlement within a unit, authorizing, and withdrawing meal entitlement.

Subsistence in kind Furnished meals or rations provided at no charge to members not entitled to BAS from an appropriated fund dining facility or who are subsisted at no charge on behalf of the Government.