BAH and COMRATS

BAH=Basic Allowance for Housing
COMRATS=Commuted Rations (for food)

In Jacksonville and E-3 receives $748 a month for BAH and $270 a month for COMRATS. I do not get either of these. If I did, obviously I would be making an extra $1,000 a month on top of my monthly income of about $1,100. Ya, that is all I make a month.

Now, NAS Jacksonville has a base instruction that does not allow an E-3 to move off base. Sucks for me. Aaron Sieg, a guy who works in my building, has a 3 bedroom house that he lives alone in. He told me he would rent me a room for the flat rate of $450. I pay no bills, just rent. That would give me an extra $550 a month for expenses and savings. Good deal for me. Can't happen yet, though.

I take the test to make E-4 which is a 3rd class Petty Officer in March. If I make it I will be able to receive this extra income. It is not guaranteed I will make it, but I just have to study for the test. The test consists of questions concerning my rate (my job) and basic military regulations...like what uniforms consist of and what you can wear with what. Stupid shit like that. Sounds easy enough, but I do not necessarily do what normal SK's do. I am at a "do nothing" command. I am not ordering parts for a ship or for a plane or helo. I am ordering uniforms and setting up berthing arrangements for reservists. Everything I learned in "A" school has almost been completely forgotten. I will actually have to study for a test for the 1st time in my life. This test will effect me financially and could have a positive or negative effect on my career. Affect-in relation to emotion or feeling. Effect- something that inevitably follows an antecedent (as a cause or agent). I had to look it up to see which one to use.