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I can only speak from my experience in the Air Force as an enlisted man way back about 15 years ago -- other services may be different.

Unmarried airmen up to the paygrade of E-4 generally live in on-base quarters; while in government-furnished quarters they do not receive BAQ (except for a 'token' amount, see below) and eat for free in the dining hall (unless there is no facility at the base). Depending on the housing situation you could put yourself on the list to move off base and receive BAQ/BAS (Basic Allowance for Quarters/Basic Allowance for Subsistence) which was based on seniority in that grade.

(Back in my days E-4 was the dual rank of Senior Airman (SrA) and Sergeant (Sgt) -- the only difference was that a sergeant had at least one year's time in grade and graduated from the NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) Preparatory Course (now called Airman Leadership School) -- what was disparagingly called 'maggot school'. Nowadays, NCO status in the Air Force is not conferred until the paygrade of E-5 (Staff Sergeant). The Army confers NCO status on E-4s appointed to the rank of Corporal (mostly in infantry and other combat arms units) and the Navy and Marine Corps confer NCO status upon reaching E-4 (Petty Officer 3rd Class/Corporal).

Married airmen have the option of living off base or in government-furnished on-base quarters. If they live on base, all they get is a 'token' payment for BAQ (this also applies to unmarried airmen); they are eligible to receive BAS. Depending on the base they are stationed at, both married and unmarried airmen (as well as officers) receive a cost-of living allowance. Flight pay, special duty and hazardous duty pay also adds to the paycheck depending on the career field and location.

For enlisted, a clothing allowance is paid for uniforms on entry into basic training, then again after six months active service and thereafter once a year. Some career fields have allowances for the purchase of civilian clothing. Officers do not receive a clothing allowance except the civilian clothing allowance, if required by their career field.

Promotion to the first three enlisted grades is generally automatic after fulfilling time-in grade requirements. Generally in peacetime, it's practically next to impossible to get beyond E-4 in your first four-year hitch.

Promotion to E-5 through E-9 (Staff Sergeant through Chief Master Sergeant) is done through a competitive program called WAPS (Weighted Airman Promotion System). This consists of two tests, one to determine knowledge in your specialty, another measures knowledge in military and administrative subjects, called the Promotion Fitness Examination. The scores from both tests, pluse the average of the number and type of awards and decorations, performance reviews, time in grade and time in service determine the 'cutoff score' for the promotion cycle. Those who score above the cutoff are assigned a 'line number' and are promoted based on how high their line number is up until the cutoff number is reached. Promotions to the 'supergrades' (E-8 and E-9, Senior and Chief Master Sergeant) is even more selective, with WAPS supplemented by a central promotion board.

Hope this gives you guys a little more detail on military pay and allowances... there are some who serve our country because they are proud to serve, even though the pay may suck.