DD Form 1475, Basic Allowance for Subsistence - Certification , is a form filled out and submitted in order to apply for the reimbursement due for missing an Army-provided meal. Any service member who missed a meal due to having to work through the meal is entitled to reimbursement.
This form is released by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and was last revised on December 1, 2017 . An up-to-date DD Form 1475 fillable version can be downloaded through the link below.
After the basic military training is completed, a service member becomes entitled to receive Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) on a monthly basis. BAS is an allowance intended to offset the cost of meals due to all officers and soldiers while on active duty (except the Initial Entry Training period). This allowance is non-taxable and is based on the historical fact that a service member received room and board as part of the payment. From 2002 onward, all the enlisted service members receive BAS but pay for their meals including meals provided by the government. The Army subsistence allowance is calculated according to the rank and circumstances of a service member.
Complete guidelines for DD Form 1475 can be found in Army Regulation 600-38, Meal Card Management System. You can claim reimbursement for missed meals only if the meals were missed due to mission requirements. The mission requirements, in this case, must be supported by the Individual Signature Headcount Records (i.e., DA Form 3032, Signature Headcount Sheet). You are not allowed to submit DD Form 1475 to offset the costs of the meals you did not consume because of personal preferences.
The unit commanders must ensure the preparation of the form within five working days after the corresponding exercise is over. The military supervisor of personnel indicated on the form must carefully provide all the required information. Then, the document is certified by the commander. The commander forwards the certified form to the personnel processing organization and the organization transmits it to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS).
After receiving the completed DD 1475, DFAS verifies it and provides the personal processing organization or the unit with a copy of the transmittal letter. The copy must be received within 30 calendar days. Otherwise, the unit commander or the personnel processing organization are required to initiate follow-up action. If the form is completed and filed properly, the Finance Office will adjust the paychecks of the service members listed on the form.
DD Form 1475 is a simple one-page form. It is easy to fill out, as most of its fields are self-explanatory: