Can big Army force a National Guard Soldier to deploy without providing meals?

2022-11-14T04:36:57-05:00

My unit is scheduled for a deployment overseas to a not combat theater next year and last week at drill we were informed that we will be responsible for feeding ourselves. The nearest DFAC is 30 minutes away and we will not have transportation provided to us. The DFAC only serves breakfast and lunch and it is not open for meals on weekends or holidays. Big Army is stating because all NG units deploying to this region have orders stating "meals provided", they are not responsible for feeding us.
I have served on active duty and as a National Guard Soldier. I have multiple deployments and this is the first time I have heard of this. Due to the nature of this deployment, I will not reveal the location.
Thank you for any assistance with my question and concerns.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Nov 14 at 2022 5:44 AM

2022-11-14T05:44:08-05:00

I don't know how it is today, but I've been several places for the Guard that just gave me a per diem for subsistence and I was responsible for my own meals.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2022 6:30 AM

2022-11-14T06:30:32-05:00

I wouldn't worry about it. The deployment is next year, there is plenty of time for ARNG Bureau to amend your units orders so you guys get food or at least per diem

Response by CSM Eric Biggs made Nov 14 at 2022 6:47 AM

2022-11-14T06:47:30-05:00

This is one of those things 1SG’s and Sergeants Major, deal with all the time. Usually it is correct before some Jr. leader tells the formation they won’t get trans to chow, or even get chow. Trust in your NCO support channel.
You may get a bus to take you to breakfast and lunch, and get an MRE for dinner. They may give you full per diem. They may get a hand full of vans and get the chow hall to serve dinner as well. Give it time, every once in a while drop a bug about it in your squad leaders ear and have them send it up to the 1SG and CSM. It will be taken care of.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Nov 14 at 2022 7:46 AM

2022-11-14T07:46:48-05:00

"Meals provided" means exactly that. Meals will be provided to you. They can give you MREs, T-Rats, Mermites, shoot a couple deer and give you a grill, get you to the DFAC, or send your unit 100 loaves of bread 25 cans of peanut butter and 25 cans of jelly. But they WILL provide meals.

If they put "Meals provided" and FAIL to provide meals it is a violation of the orders.

As CSM Eric Biggs and SFC Private RallyPoint Member said, this will be fixed by your leaders. (In this case most likely BN staff - S3 and/or S4 should be all over it.)

Either they will provide the meals they say they will OR you will get a per diem to feed yourself. But they won't leave you with no food and also paying for food out of pocket.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Nov 14 at 2022 8:23 AM

2022-11-14T08:23:23-05:00

Drama like this happens and is one of those things that gets handled before it becomes a problem. The deployment is next year. Things will change at least a half dozen times or more before you get boots on the ground. Don't get spun up on something that may not actually ever be a problem. Leadership will get it sorted.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2022 8:42 AM

2022-11-14T08:42:43-05:00

Troops not getting fed? There is a CSM out there who is going to pop a blood vessel and rip someone a new one over that.

Hell we have chow runners if we have guys on a detail that can't make it to the DFAC. Either they get an MRE or someone runs from the DFAC to their position and delivers a plate.

DFAC not being open for dinner, weekends, or holidays seems... Odd. Never experienced that before.

I can say that when I was on pre-mob at Fort Hood they forgot about us for two days and our XO ordered pizza for the unit until they got it all squared away. No water, no food, COVID conditions. They got it sorted and we started getting regular deliveries of mermites and cambros around meal time.

They also kept sending us huge amounts of dessert we threw away, like come on guy people are trying to stay fit here stop giving us so much cake. Fort Hood coffee was also some of the worst I've ever had, it was so thin it might have been confused for tea.

At any rate, our orders said the same I thing so once we got to our AO, active provided everything. Even our cooks got taken from us to help run the DFAC's. Actually they plucked various MOS' and placed them wherever they wanted, needs of the Army.

As for getting to chow, if we were in our work area it was a mile down the road. If we were in our sleep area then it was actually a short 1-2 minute walk. For when it was down the road we either toughed it out and walked (120F) or we utilized our connections to time buses and other vehicles and transport people over. Be here at this time and we'll take you, if not you're hoofing it.

I'm sure this will get squared away down the line.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 14 at 2022 11:55 AM

2022-11-14T11:55:35-05:00

I'm not sure about your guard unit but I wouldn't believe this one bit. I have to deployments with the national guard and have also spent many training cycles at places that didn't have a dining facility. Luckily your brigade has a cook section that can provide you food. If your unit isn't doing that then your unit is the one you need to blame but I'm pretty sure that that is something that they are going to do. The food was terrible but it was still food.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Nov 15 at 2022 12:24 PM

2022-11-15T12:24:38-05:00

As many others have said, No they can't fail to provide feeding for Soldiers. Orders need to be amended or other provisions made. As an NCO you should run this up the chain of command in the interest of Soldiers under your leadership.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 15 at 2022 7:26 PM

2022-11-15T19:26:06-05:00

I assume the location for your deployment is not a new one. Am I correct?