Thoughts on the New "deployment" to Korea? Is it right for them to take Soldiers BAS in return for a meal card?

No worries! Thank you for your answer. This question was more along the lines of being a rotational unit, and taking BAS from married Soldiers.

Thank you for your answer Sir. If you have time, revert to MSG Chavaree comment, where I further explained myself.

Mahalo!

Would this not be considered an accompanied tour? It's a TCS, and not a PCS. I've never heard of BAS being taken from Married Soldiers to give them meal cards. The exception being, NCOES schools.

SSG (Join to see) - If it's a one year tour, it's an unaccompanied tour. The meal card satisfies the need for BAS and, therefore, if the meal card is issued, BAS is either reduced or withdrawn. If it weren't, it would be the equivalent of getting paid BAS twice.

Does this change if it's a nine month rotational deployment instead of a one year "hardship tour"? And if the meal card isn't used and the soldier buys groceries at a cheaper rate and self-feeds the entire nine months, isn't the soldier then being charged twice for food (assuming the BAS is taken regardless of whether the meal card is used or not, which nobody has yet to clarify).

Jo W. - If you are a 9-month tour, you will receive a ration card and a meal card. The ration card is for Class-6 and the meal card is for your meals. The meal card will satisfy the government's obligation of feeding you.

If you decide to purchase food on the economy or at the Exchange, that's on your dime. The government will not reimburse you for that expense. The government will have satisfied their obligation by law (see above).

This is the same for any unaccompanied tour.

If your orders state otherwise, they will do one of two things:
1) respect the order, or
2) amend the order to the above parameters.

I have only seen them get the order amended.