Curiosity question. Do they just give you a blank check or do you have to submit the lease as proof?
I.E. AD it is called BAH and you can pocket the difference. The lease is just proof that you have a home, AND it allows them to monitor if the amount is correct overall.
Just saying theoretically, cadet Smith may have merit scholarship from the college and use this money to buy a car by living at home with the folks. They could take the lease out in their name and sublet to other students, so they can make money that way too.
If you live on campus, you give the copy of what you paid in your R&B to the AROTC HR person. They then give you that amount back up to $5,000 per semester for a yearly total of up to $10,000. Only stay in the dorm but no meal plan, then you give the receipt for what you paid for the dorm and they give you the median price of the school's meal plans up to the same amounts.
If you live off campus, AROTC has some kind of mathematical equation based upon typical housing costs near and/or around your college and what they pay you is based upon that. You are not required to show them any kind of receipt at all. Of course it's the same thing, up to $5,000 per semester for a yearly total of up to $10,000.
Now in this instance, how you use the money is up to the cadet. If they wish to use all of it on housing, it's their call. If they live rent free with a friend let's say and don't really eat a lot, then I guess they could pocket whatever they don't spend.
When you use the money for R&B, it got paid to my son for 4 years at the end of Nov. for the Fall semester and in March for the Spring semester.
Now as my son graduated this past May and is AD, I can only tell you what it was like for the last 4 years. As we know CC, changes things all the time so I have no idea as to how things are happening for this school year.