Messes must establish a method whereby the total number of meals served is categorically recorded daily. This includes meals served to mess members, guests of the mess, and the number of meals eaten by enlisted personnel. To get the total percentage of meals consumed by each category, divide the number of meals consumed by the enlisted personnel by the total number of meals served; for example:

Mess member and guest meals ................. 784

Enlisted personnel meals ............................403

Total meals served ,1,187

Dividing 403 by 1,187 = 33.9%, which is the percentage of meals eaten by enlisted personnel.

DETERMINATION OF VALUE OF PROVISIONS CONSUMED

Determine the total value of provisions consumed by subtracting the money value of the closing inventory from the sum of the opening inventory and the total receipts during the month; for example:

COMPARISON

Multiply the value of provisions consumed by the enlisted personnel meal percentage and compare the product with the value of the total commuted rations. The amount payable to the mess is the lesser of the two amounts; for example:

Thus, the lesser amount of 1 and 2 is ($142.38 in this case) paid to the mess treasurer by the disbursing officer.

COMPUTATION OF A PARTIAL MESS BILL FOR A NEW MEMBER BEING PERMANENTLY ASSIGNED

Members are charged for the day they report aboard unless reporting after 1800. Multiply the actual number of inclusive days for which a mess bill is payable (all days of the month that the member is aboard including the 31st day, when applicable) by the month's mess bill, then divide by the actual number of days in the month and round off to the nearest cent; for example:

MESS BILL REBATE FOR MEMBER BEING PERMANETLY DETACHED

Members are not charged for the day they depart unless they depart after 1800; for example:

Member being detached at 1200 22 April.

Mess bill for April is $42.00, which the member paid on 3/30.

Inclusive dates not chargeable: 22-30 April (9 days).

To summarize rebate rules from previous paragraphs, there is no charge for the day of departure if the member leaves before 1800 and no charge for the day a member arrives if he or she arrives after 1800. Otherwise either day is charged.