And it depends on how you look at it. You can look at it as though you pay for it. Or you can look at it as: The academy pays for everything, and they also give you $100 a month; initially; for personal use. And each semester, they will continue to raise the amount of money they give you for personal uses, until it reaches the maximum of $950 a month. (increasing for inflation as congress deems necessary).
The reason I prefer to view this as EVERYTHING is free, and the academy/military is paying you a stipend, is because when compared to a private civilian college or university, you truly are spending money out of your pocket. At the academy, you aren't.
Put it this way. You could be the unfortunate individual who has no parental or family support. You could walk into the academy with $5 to your name. You could have no outside source of income whatsoever, and it will NOT COST YOU $0.01 to go to the academy. In fact, you will receive; on top of your tuition, books, room, board, uniforms, and all other school related fees; approximately $100-$150 a month initially; working your way up to $950 a month. (Before taxes). So, view that anyway you want to. I personally don't see it as "You paying" for anything.
In traditional colleges, you have the opportunity to work part time, get summer jobs, etc... so that you can have additional money for personal items as well as leisure and transportation. In the academies, the requirements are such that you are not allowed to seek outside employment, summer jobs, nights/weekend, etc... But you still have the need for personal items, leisure, transportation, etc... just like in a civilian school. So the academy/military compensates you for this lack of opportunity. Call it a stipend like I do, or refer to it any way you like. The point is, they give you $950 a month to take care of all your personal requirements. But to make life easier for you, they physically provide you with the initial setup of items needed; also so everyone is provided the same items. In return, they are taking out of the $950 a month what you would have been required to pay. But again, it's a stipend with certain mandatory requirements. I.e. everyone WILL use the laptop they tell you to use and hand you. You can buy another of your choosing out of your leftover money or personal money, but you will take what they tell you to have. Again, I don't see this as you paying for it, because you aren't working and earning the $950 a month that you are receiving. I see it more as a stipend to compensate for not being allowed to work part time for additional money. My son was offered similar scholarships from private sources prior to his accepting the academy. One paid literally for 100% of everything required to go to school. They then gave him $300 per month as a stipend for his personal use. This was because they didn't want him working part time jobs during the school year. They wanted him to concentrate on his classes. He could work summer jobs, but not during the school year. In return, he received $300 a month. mike....