As US Troops and Families Go Hungry, They Don’t Trust the Pentagon for Help

Spc. John Dodson helps stock the Paratrooper Assistance Pantry with food and child-care supplies at Fort Bragg, N.C., April 25, 2013. (Sgt. Kissta DiGregorio/U.S. Army photo)

19 Nov 2021
Military.com | By Konstantin Toropin

Angela, an enlisted sailor, saw her baby daughter as a miracle when she was born two years ago. The little girl quickly took over her life, and the child’s love of “Frozen” means that Angela can recite both movies from memory.

Now, as a single mother on active duty, she’s fighting to put food on their table, doing battle with her chain of command.

The need to overdraft her bank account for baby formula, living off only chicken and rice, or applying for civilian low-income assistance, only to be rejected -- it all feels like a broken promise by the Navy, Angela, who has served for a decade, told Military.com in an interview.

Read Next: Navy Tells Vaccine Refusers They Have Less Than a Week to Get the Shot, or Face Discharge

“I have called my dad crying because I didn't even have money to buy bread or peanut butter and jelly because I was so broke,” said Angela, whose name has been changed to protect her identity due to concerns about retaliation.

But she says the Navy has offered little assistance. Instead, leaders have intensified her struggles and insisted she find some way to make do.

“I've pretty much figured out that the Navy is not here to help you," she said.

Angela is among thousands of service members on active duty who struggle daily with hunger related to financial hardship, though the true scope of the problem is not fully known. It’s a stark reality that some troops cannot feed their families while serving in America’s all-volunteer force, despite its commitments to welfare, support services and benefits.

The gap in support means some service members are forced to rely on outside help like food pantries and relief organizations like the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.

About 14% of enlisted active-duty families reported “low” or “very low” food security in an annual 2020 survey, according to Denise Hollywood, the chief community and programs officer for Blue Star Families.

Enlisted troops appear to be suffering the most. A total of 29% of the most junior enlisted ranks of E1-E4, a segment that includes more than 570,000 people and more than half of all enlisted in the military, reported facing hunger over the past year, according to the advocacy group Feeding America, the largest hunger relief organization in the U.S.

In all, 160,000 service members struggled to provide food for themselves or their families, the group recently reported. A pair of Army studies found the problem was made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. One of those studies found that on one Army base, one in three reported being food insecure in 2019. The second study, done at a different Army base, saw that out of a sample of nearly 5,000 soldiers, the COVID-19 pandemic caused the percentage of food-insecure troops to almost double from 16% to 31%.

The term food-insecure means a person or family finds themselves unable to reliably get enough affordable and nutritious food.

Of the 199 food banks Feeding America has across the U.S., 74 have a specific food assistance program for active-duty military families, and 34 are near a base and regularly help service members.

Military.com spoke with two other service members for this story who were struggling with hunger. Both are single mothers – one stationed in Maryland and the other in Hawaii -- who said they did not trust their chain of command to help with their problems.

“I get told you need to buckle up and bear with it, you need to figure it out yourself,” the Maryland service member said.

She said senior enlisted and officers would berate her with expletives wanting to know why she was complaining about her struggles. “Why are you making me look bad?” she said they would ask.

All three mothers said they were forced to seek mental health help as a result of their financial struggles. Two said they considered suicide.


A man receives food at an Armed Service YMCA food distribution site in San Diego on Oct. 28, 2021. (Gregory Bull/AP Photo)

Data collected by nonprofit organizations going back to at least 2012 has documented the problem with hunger. However, historically the Pentagon has not been forthcoming with its own figures on the issue.

“The Navy is aware of the ongoing economic challenges that Sailors face, many of which have been exacerbated by the pandemic and inflationary trends in the economy,” Priscilla Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for the service, told Military.com.

Angela’s financial struggles began after the birth of her daughter while she was stationed in Texas.

“There was a time when she was first born that I was overdrafting my account every single pay period because of diapers,” she explained.

The struggle to feed her child came quickly. Her daughter, who is lactose intolerant, required a specific type of baby formula, because Angela was unable to produce enough breast milk due to long work hours. That was a $40 expense every week or two, she said.

Angela tried applying for WIC – the government program aimed to help low-income parents feed their children – but “they told me that I made $1,000 too much.”

“We ran out of formula and I was overdrafted,” Angela recalled. “I had to make do with what I had, and I had to early start her on applesauce ... that way, she was satiated enough.”

Eventually, Angela transferred to California, partly in an effort to be close to her daughter’s father who was also stationed on the West Coast. The cost of living there only made things worse.

Paycheck to Paycheck

Feeding America says there isn’t one cause of hunger among military families, with low salaries for enlisted members, high rates of unemployment for military spouses, and high costs of child care contributing to the broader problem. For many families, causes stack up, weaving a web of hardship that is difficult to escape.

But the cost of housing plays an outsized role, Vince Hall, Feeding America’s head of government relations, told Military.com in a phone interview.

“It's shocking to see military families lining up for food assistance because they are often stationed in some of the nation's most expensive housing markets but lack the compensation necessary to live in those markets,” Hall said.

That allowance, known as the Basic Allowance for Housing, or BAH, is designed to cover costs of rent and utilities and it varies based on what region troops are stationed.

“In a community like San Diego, [the BAH] is often insufficient to find housing because the cost of living is 40% higher than the national average,” Hall said.

Angela, who is stationed in southern California, said she also worries about two single, pregnant sailors she oversees who live on base in barracks.

Navy policies don’t allow families to stay in the barracks. Once they deliver their babies, “they're going to receive BAH, but they're not going to receive enough BAH to help themselves,” she said.

BAH is also a double-edged sword because while officially an entitlement and not considered taxable income, it counts as gross income when calculating eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which is more widely known as food stamps.

Parents like Angela also face costs for child care and transportation to and from daycare that strain finances. Angela also lives almost half an hour from her base – a location she chose for its better schools -- but the cost of the commute eats into her paycheck.

“I am physically paycheck to paycheck to support myself, my child and the Navy's mission,” she said.

A single grocery trip can run Angela about $180, but she’s learned to make the food last up to three weeks for her and her daughter. “That way she's completely nourished, and I'm not taking anything from her mouth,” she said.

However, it means her own nutrition suffers.

“I literally just eat chicken thighs and white rice,” she said. “If I'm trying to splurge, I will get yellow rice and a rotisserie chicken, and I will mix them together and I will have a large pot that will last me the entire week.”

Nobody to Trust

The issue of military hunger has recently become more visible and openly discussed, especially in Washington, D.C.

“It feels like there's more honesty and acceptance of the problem,” Hall said.

Both the House and Senate versions of Congress’ annual defense policy bill have provisions for a new “basic needs allowance.” It would be an additional stipend paid to service members with families near the federal poverty level. First lady Jill Biden has advocated for passage of that measure, as well as other legislation aimed at curbing hunger in the ranks.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Wednesday that he ordered his department to come up with a new strategy within three months to help hungry service members and their dependents. The secretary’s plan also calls for an unspecified, yet temporary increase in BAH for areas that have had more than a 10% increase in rental costs.


A soldier shops the shelves of a food pantry at the Kansas City armory. (Jennifer Archdekin/Missouri National Guard photo)

Angela isn’t holding out hope, however. “I’ll believe it when I see it,” she said in reaction to the announcement. Her experience feels like a failure of the military to live up to its commitment to take care of its people.

The sentiment, she said, comes from treatment by toxic and unsupportive leaders. Her mentions of hardship or needing help came with threats of separation. Her status as a single mother who is struggling does not earn her any consideration with her superiors.

“You're a sailor first -- your child was not assigned to you in a seabag. … Those are the things that get said to us on repeat,” Angela said.

As a result, announcements like Austin’s efforts can fall on deaf ears.

“There's a complete disconnect between what Big Navy says, what a CO might say and then what the actual chain of command says,” Angela said. “If you don’t have a chain of command that you can trust, I guarantee no matter what, these sailors will suffer in silence.”

Outside groups agree. Abby Leibman, the leader of MAZON, said that while they “appreciate the Department of Defense’s long-overdue acknowledgment of the problem, directing military families to food banks is not a solution — it is an abdication of the government’s responsibility to care for our service members.”

One of the “immediate” solutions Austin’s plan offers is to “connect service members to additional resources and support programs addressed to alleviate food insecurity.”

Priscilla Rodriguez said that the service’s “top priority is taking care of our personnel,” when asked for a reaction to the story and noted that “food insecurity is a humanitarian issue and readiness challenge that we do not take lightly.”

“While we work with the DoD to find long-term solutions, we encourage Sailors and their families who are experiencing food insecurity and other financial challenges to seek assistance,” Rodriguez said in a statement.

“We also expect leaders to be aware of these challenges and support our Sailors and families in accessing the resources they need,” she added.

A drumbeat for change in policy circles may be rising around the issue of military hunger, but for the women who spoke to Military.com, the damage has been done, and Angela is through seeking help from the Navy.

“I have actually decided that I will not be relisting,” Angela said. “I can’t do it.”

She said she has a year of service left. Afterward, she hopes to go to Florida or Texas where she has family and relatives that can help support her and her daughter.

“Out here, where I have nothing ... it's just fighting for air,” she said.


-- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin.

Related: More Housing Money Coming as Pentagon Ponders Fix for Military Family Hunger

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/11/19/us-troops-and-families-go-hungry-they-dont-trust-pentagon-help.html?ESRC=eb_211122.nl

Yet, illegal aliens receive full government benefits and contribute nothing.

It infuriates me.

Everything from the shitty VA healthcare to military protocol.

Yet the military will pay for sex change surgery.

I did my Navy time.

I got fed on the ship.

Shore-duty sailors had mess halls. Actually, the food was much better than on a ship. On TAD, training or other special evolutions, I'd be eating with some shore command.

The only time an enlisted person need buy food, is if he elects to live off base. Typically, it's allowed for married people. SINGLE MOTHERS were, back when our leaders had sense...they were not accepted as recruits. Females who got pregnant were often offered the chance to cut their enlistment short, and counseled that child care would be entirely up to them and their family.

Many enlisted married sailors had wives who WORKED. Now, if a) they lived in town, instead of the base (common, when base housing is not enough in supply) and paying market rates; and b) spouse doesn't work; and c) cannot manage money, between them...then, yes, they'll have issues.

Seen a lot of married sailors go through this. Many times it was solved, not ideally, by having the woman and kid go back home, and just resuming life on the command. It sucks - but when you tried the other way and it didn't work, you go back to what does. Because that's where you're at when forward-deployed, anyway. She'll be happier with her people than alone in an overpriced San Diego dive while you're riding a boat doing donuts in the Persian Gulf.

But, I guess common-sense and accepting reality, are not required for enlistees these days.

HawkTheSlayer wrote:Yet, illegal aliens receive full government benefits and contribute nothing.

It infuriates me.

Everything from the shitty VA healthcare to military protocol.

Yet the military will pay for sex change surgery.

Truly beyond infuriating!

The housing problem. My daughter, as you know, is due back in the states soon. Luckily, she and her husband are in a position where they can handle the cost of transition.
Problem? There is a 5-month waiting list for housing. There are no houses for rent off base. They simply don't exist. The ONLY place for families to live is hotels/motels. The military will pay $1200/mo. Know of any hotels/motels a family of 4 or 5 can stay at for $1200? Didn't think so.
Obviously, what's needed is for the military to build more houses/housing units.

My daughter is incensed w/this situation, and plans to do what she can to fix it, once settled. But, that aside, it's easy to see how a MILITARY family coul be hurting for food, when the rent is out of their paygrade.

Casey Jones wrote:I did my Navy time.

I got fed on the ship.

Shore-duty sailors had mess halls.  Actually, the food was much better than on a ship.  On TAD, training or other special evolutions, I'd be eating with some shore command.

The only time an enlisted person need buy food, is if he elects to live off base.  Typically, it's allowed for married people.  SINGLE MOTHERS were, back when our leaders had sense...they were not accepted as recruits.  Females who got pregnant were often offered the chance to cut their enlistment short, and counseled that child care would be entirely up to them and their family.

Many enlisted married sailors had wives who WORKED.  Now, if a) they lived in town, instead of the base (common, when base housing is not enough in supply) and paying market rates; and b) spouse doesn't work; and c) cannot manage money, between them...then, yes, they'll have issues.

Seen a lot of married sailors go through this.  Many times it was solved, not ideally, by having the woman and kid go back home, and just resuming life on the command.  It sucks - but when you tried the other way and it didn't work, you go back to what does.  Because that's where you're at when forward-deployed, anyway.  She'll be happier with her people than alone in an overpriced San Diego dive while you're riding a boat doing donuts in the Persian Gulf.

But, I guess common-sense and accepting reality, are not required for enlistees these days.

Oh dear. Some people will likely take what I've got to say as walking back, due to what I left out.

Women who get pregnant while serving, yet have no support system in place so as to keep them serving as they did w/o children, need to step out.
In the same token, if the military made promises upon their enlistment, then, by golly, they need to keep them.

FWIW, I've never been a high proponent of women serving. Not in combat, at any rate.

[quote="2cent"]

Casey Jones wrote:
Oh dear.  Some people will likely take what I've got to say as walking back, due to what I left out.

Women who get pregnant while serving, yet have no support system in place so as to keep them serving as they did w/o children, need to step out.

Agreed. That USED to be how it was handled; but...you know, today's Woketard sensibilities? They've been sprouting a long time. I think it was about the time of George One World Bush...the Kinder, Gentler type...that the forcible discharges of pregnant females was stopped.

I don't remember, but I think it happened in connection with restrictions on abortion in military medical services. With twisted Shrub logic, I seem to recall...they decided, if they (medical commands) wouldn't abort, and couldn't counsel abortion, there "should be" and option.

Of course, the Other Option can never be mentioned in Woketard presence.

Moving women into combat-exposure has been another wet dream of the Left. I think it has to do with how easily it will be to distract, demoralize and destroy discipline among the combat troops. But, just barring women in such slots was...not permitted, not since Her Hillaryness became the Proxy President in 1992.

That was another thing that messed up male enlistees' careers, but that's fodder for another screed. Closed advancement opportunities in favor of lower-scoring females.

But in the midst of all this, we have recruits with chaotic, stressed family lives over food budgets...and we wonder why all this was discouraged, from the first? Idiocy. Only a Demotard Party like what we have, could look at that and say, how did all this happen...?

In the same token, if the military made promises upon their enlistment, then, by golly, they need to keep them.

Should go two ways. Now, again, I'm not clear here...but IIRC, once, long before I was in...marriage was not PERMISSIBLE for first-term enlistees. To prevent this.

Prevent distraction from pregnancy, child-care or maintaining a household. Now, if a serviceman went home and got married, I don't think his CO could do much about it; but he wouldn't get dependent allotments or housing allowances or commuted rations (food allowance) until his second hitch, at which time it was presumed he would be a careerist.

But, much of why the military (all branches and DoD) don't keep their promises, is because that is how hyper-political government agencies WORK. They lie. The people in positions lie. They lie when the truth would serve better; because it makes the weak drones feel powerful.

I went in, expecting to find a professional outfit. I found many professionals, but the nature of the system was it's EXTREME politization. Not party politics, but office-politics, power-politics.
 

FWIW, I've never been a high proponent of women serving.  Not in combat, at any rate.  

Nor I; and it's partly because I saw how it goes.

Doesn't matter. It's being done by people with ulterior plans who wish the military branches NOT to work.