B-135707, MAY 5, 1958

THAT THE ORDERS DIRECTING YOU TO PERFORM THIS ASSIGNMENT WERE VERBAL ONES. SINCE COMMUTED RATIONS ARE A FORM OF SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE. YOUR CLAIM APPARENTLY IS FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE ON THE BASIS THAT YOU WERE ABSENT DURING THE WORKING DAY FROM YOUR DUTY STATION. ENLISTED PERSONNEL WHO WERE GRANTED PERMISSION TO MESS SEPARATELY FROM THEIR ORGANIZATION AT THE TIME INVOLVED WERE ENTITLED TO THE COMMUTATION VALUE OF THE RATION. THE PAYMENT OF SUCH COMMUTATION VALUE WAS IN LIEU OF FURNISHING ALL MEALS IN KIND AND UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES THE ENLISTED MAN WAS REQUIRED TO SUBSIST HIMSELF AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. UNDER THE NAVY REGULATIONS IN EFFECT IN 1951 AN ENLISTED PERSON WHO WAS IN RECEIPT OF A COMMUTED RATION ALLOWANCE WAS NOT ENTITLED TO AN ADDITIONAL SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE BECAUSE HE WAS REQUIRED TO BE ABSENT FROM HIS REGULAR POST OF DUTY DURING THE PERIOD WHEN A MEAL WAS BEING SERVED.