At 9E i had been TDYing and sport bidding getting $1000/month in per diem. If you are not living in-base it's the way to go. It doesn't always work out, but it boosted my first-year by several thousand. Whatever the case may be, just plan on being broke as h*ll. Several thousand more than welfare level pay is still poverty. Good per diem or not, you're going to starve.