What it is
BAS is the food allowance. It is one flat national rate for all enlisted members and a second flat rate for all officers. It does not change with rank, location, or dependents. It is not taxed.
2026 rate
Enlisted: $476.95 per month. Officer: $328.48 per month. Effective January 1, 2026.
What goes wrong
If you are enlisted and your BAS shows anything other than the standard rate, something specific is going on: either BAS II authorization or a meal deduction situation. Junior enlisted living in the barracks often see BAS granted and then most of it pulled back as a meal deduction. That pairing is normal, but the deduction should stop when you move out of essential station messing.