Oh, the joys of a joint service environment. Today:
Sailor: I can't afford anything. I don't know where I'm gonna live.
Civilian 1: We have an internal roommates board you can look at. A room is usually six to eight hundred a month around here.
Sailor: I won't live with other people, that sh!t's for civilians. And married people.
Civilian 2: Your BAH [tax-free housing allowance] should cover an apartment, apartments are like 1400 for a one-bedroom or 1500 for a two-bed.
Sailor: BAH is only 1900. I shouldn't have to live in a two-bedroom! This is so f'd up. Besides, my BAH already goes to the car [a new WRX].
Civilian 1: Dude, your BAH alone is more than my paycheck. You can make it work.
Civilian 2: Well, if you're worried about money, there are lots of military benefits you can take advantage of. Go to the commissary! My husband goes there, and you can save 50% easy, if you shop right!
Sailor: Yeahhhhh... I don't use the commissary, because that's... a Navy thing. And I don't really like things that have to do with the Navy.
Civilian 2: You're an idiot.
Sadly, this earned the civilians a talking-to from the Navy chief.
The Army officer across the hall is some sort of super-Mustachian who takes home the civilian-equivalent of a 193K salary and lives in an 8x8 room. Wish we could get him to give lessons.