Originally Posted by
heavymetal101
Don’t buy into this per diem number for what you’re getting “paid”. Bring a car? Unless you live in Florida or a connecting state, that’s unrealistic. Hard to cook your own food when you don’t have a stove and only a hot plate that boils water in 20 minutes if you’re lucky. The Residence Inn breakfast program changed in October and now your choice is between gas station quiches or gas station slurry burritos for breakfast or cereal. The Marriott in the compound has a restaurant and cafe but prices for food just went up this month. We’ve been here since October and haven’t seen a full per diem payment yet due to the way it is paid out. December 31 will be the first time we get a full per diem check. Bottom line, plan for paychecks around $580 for 4 months with a bit more at the end of the month for your per diem from previous month.
Wait what? I brought my car in down from Virginia and I know guys who brought their cars I from farther distances… I don’t buy the unrealistic part. That’s on you for choosing not to bring a car. Training pay is 1600 per month plus 24/7 per diem at the domestic 2.50/hr rate. Your first check and each check on the 15th will be low. But the end of the month check will have the per diem included. Might want to get a hold of pay roll if you haven’t seen a lick of per diem yet….
As far as cooking, I managed to get groceries and cook with that hot plate just perfectly fine.