Can I choose to get my own food during field training?

If the government meals are provided, then Soldiers are charged for them regardless if they are consumed or not*. Commanders are required to submit a list of assigned personnel that the meals were made available to finance for a payroll deduction for field rations (meal cards are not affected of course).

There are a few exceptions ("$15/day is a lot" is not one of them), but this is the general rule.

IF the situation is setup as a cash collection because installation messing is available (instead of field rations), then obviously it will be your call if you want to go through the chow line or not.

While often treated that way, BAS is not a bonus pay given to Servicemembers during the month. BAS is authorized as a calculated subsistence allowance for Servicemembers (just them, not their families). If the government provides meals, then those meals are deducted from the BAS, regardless of the operating conditions of the mission.

So yes, even if the Army forces you to go to the field, if the government gives you an MRE, field rations or those shelf-stable meals (or some other type is provided to you), the deduction will occur.
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* DoD 7000.14-R, Vol 7A, Chap 25,
para 2.4.3.1 - https://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/documents/fmr/current/07a/07a_25.pdf
* 37 U.S. Code § 402 - https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title37-section402&num=0&edition=prelim

As you know BAS has nothing to do with dependants. If you are orovided meals, regardless of the type you must pay. Having said that, are they taking the BAS out automatically, or are you signing at each meal issue? If it is automatic then you cannot have them stop. If you sign each time then you may be able to get away with not eating meals available.

Having said that, any 1SG or more junior leader will likely get involved if it appears as if you are not accepting the rations.

The reason they would be interested is based on your health and welfare. I am not sure what type of pogi bait meats the nutrition and calories provided by Army meals. No one restricts pogi bate, but they may order you to pay and recieve in order to guarantee your good health.

Bottom line is, if it is auto you must pay. If it is a sign as you go, you may get away with it, unless a leader shows an interest and I would say they should.

Nope! There's no option to choose the kind of food you get, outside of dietary restrictions and religious needs.

I would argue that $15 a day is a great deal! Now a days, $15 is one meal on the streets. I also think that since I have been in (15 years now) MREs have come a long way. They're damn delicious compared to when we first started putting boots down in Iraq and Afghanistan. Remember the omelette?

Also, I would point out that comparatively, the U.S. military does a good job of feeding it's troops. We provide safe, nutritious, and relatively decent food consistently and at little cost to the Soldier, while also not focusing on the "creature-comforts" too much but keeping our business to war-fighting. Exceptions abound, but I believe it's overall proven. I was a cook for a few years, also worked in a field feeding company (FFC) recently.

Hunt the good stuff. Life in the U.S.. military has a lot of comfort that other militaries don't, while also being lethal and capable.