Why do Service Members with dependents deserve greater benefits, entitlements, and quality of life than single Service Members?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 08:10:29 -0400

Single soldiers are required to live in the barracks and eat DFAC food. A married soldier gets BAH, BAS, Family Separation Pay while TDY or deployed, and generally enjoy a far higher quality of life. If both soldiers do the same job, are the same MOS, same rank, have the same Time in Service, and Time in Grade, what makes the single soldier worth less to the Army?

Response by CSM Chuck Stafford made Oct 19 at 2016 8:34 AM

CSM Chuck Stafford — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 08:34:39 -0400

You are not worth less. Those are investments in a married soldier, most of whom tend to stay in the military longer than their single peers.

Fair, maybe - maybe not -- work your way up and change the policies that were made ages ago at echelons above echelons...

As an addendum, worrying about what others are getting is corrosive and can lead to us vs them mentalities.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Oct 19 at 2016 8:47 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 08:47:38 -0400

Okay, I'll bite on this one. Here is the simple answer from where as I see it. It cost more to have a family. For most dependents of a service member, it is tricky to find a job and other means to support themselves. I'm not saying they cannot but there are cases that I have seen where if the wife wants to move to be with her husband, she has to leave a well paying job and is not promised to find a job in the field they were working in. This is not the Army saying the single Soldier is any less "worthy" to the fight. It is the Army's way of acknowledging that it takes more to support more people in your family. Things like housing, family separation pay, and everything else is the just the Army's way to ensure the Soldier has the means to provide for his/her family.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2016 9:09 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 09:09:31 -0400

Look , its not fair that you judge us married people because we are married. Some of us that do get married also loose some of the things that you still have. Like Partying and getting shit faced , having multiple partners at a time, playing xbox all day all night. I know I no longer can do those things because I now have responsibilities.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Oct 19 at 2016 9:28 AM

SPC Erich Guenther — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 09:28:14 -0400

I was single in the Army and sometimes I would feel they had advantages BUT never that they had an absolute advantage across the board in everything. Every kid a couple has have will cost them on average $250,000 over a lifetime to raise. Think of that impact on an income and attempts to save for retirement. Add to that if the wife is stay at home and does not work to bring in another income or isn't trying all that hard on the job income front and they have to pay daycare. Trust me, it is only an appearance they have things better in life. Outside the Army as a Civilian with kids and a stay at home wife it gets worse financially and that is a large reason why so many married Soldiers enlist again. They do have it better in the Army than they would as a civilian in most cases initially being married but over time that starts to change as well.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Oct 19 at 2016 9:30 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 09:30:29 -0400

The single soldier is not worth less. Both are getting paid the same amount. The housing is for the family, not the soldier for one. Secondly, if you are a single soldier, you do realize that you also get BAS to eat, except it gets paid onto your chow hall card. So if you don't eat the chow hall food, it's your own problem, because you already paid for it.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2016 9:35 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 09:35:55 -0400

Having been a private in the barracks...I recall these frustrations all too well. BOSS was designed to address what was acknowledged to be injustices, but no system is perfect. With contractors running equal housing units, rank has lost some of its privileges...only the rent varies on cookie-cutter units based on the pay check. I disagree with the "single soldier is worth less". I would say marriage has advantages. I hated white glove inspections in the Bs when some housing units looked like squallor. I hated signing in my personally owned weapons...and paying rent to live off post. it shrank my tiny paycheck very quickly. Such was the consequence of MY choice.

How would you improve it? How could we make the changes you propose cost-neutral? Bitch away about how it is, that is tradition. Then, offer YOUR solution. What can you do to make it better/different?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2016 9:49 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 09:49:18 -0400

Think of it this way. If they had sufficient housing to support everyone then, ok, fine, we all live on post. But some families have 6 kids or no kids and there isnt enough of each type to satisfy everyone's requirements. BAH is the easy way to handle it.
BAS is based upon the DFAC rates. Family sep assists in costs associated with the absence such as child care. Hey, my decision to get married so I should absorb that cost but the gov't decided to extend it.
Anyone can get married and receive these benefits so be my guest.
Anyone can get married to another service member and receive even more BAH even though they share the same household (cant figure this one out).
Lastly, BAH never covers the full cost of rent, electricity and water unless you live in a sketchy neighborhood. And also don't forget having to pay for the gas to get to work everyday.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Oct 19 at 2016 10:05 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 10:05:41 -0400

The other way to look at it is a numbers game. I remember the day when you had to get permission to marry. Since it's something people do, then what do you do to keep the MIL member in and productive while they're being reproductive? The Government shells out the minimum necessary to obtain and maintain a volunteer force. So every set number of years, the employee decides if it's worth it to sign up again. If not, they vote with their feet. Another interesting thing is for a long time we had junior ENL families on food stamps. Doesn't sound like a windfall to me but more like the poverty line.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Oct 19 at 2016 10:23 AM

LTC Kevin B. — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 10:23:59 -0400

I'd focus on your own level of compensation/benefits, and not worry about your colleagues. Research shows that many people pay more attention to "relative compensation" (i.e. compensation compared to others) than they do about their overall level of compensation, and it adversely impacts their own level of job satisfaction and happiness. A clear, but extreme, example can be seen in professional sports. An athlete making $10m per year complains that another athlete is making $12m per year. Their focus is on the $2m differential, rather than the $10m level of their compensation. You'll always be unhappy, in or out of the military, if your focus is on trying to acquire what someone else has. If you're not making an amount that satisfies you, find another career path.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2016 10:26 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 10:26:12 -0400

I remember an E-6 who went through a divorce. He didn't obtain a lawyer because he thought his spouse would be fair. When the smoke cleared he found himself left with almost nothing after paying his bills on payday (like less than $20).

He was very happy to be allowed to live in the barracks and eat at the mess hall.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2016 10:26 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 10:26:38 -0400

I view it as a retention tool to keep good soldiers in the military. In the lower ranks that extra money is spent on paying bills, food, rent and other family support things. This isn't always enough and the spouse needs to work as well. In the higher ranks it does become a lifestyle preferences single soldiers can live off post and get the BAH as married soldiers.

Response by Cpl Glynis Sakowicz made Oct 19 at 2016 11:00 AM

Cpl Glynis Sakowicz — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 11:00:36 -0400

Its not a matter of DESERVING greater benefits, my friend, its a matter of knowing that those you love, will not be left in poverty and want, when you have to leave them, and you know you will at some point.
When separated by orders, most of us take money from the family funds for our own needs, and sometimes, that can cause a serious hardship. The Gulf War saw about a quarter of the families involved seeking out food banks and food stamps for a while, because we all know, military pay for lower grades has never been generous.
In all truth, singular troops are a great deal better suited for the military, but the military knows that unless we can be sure our families are able to keep a roof over their heads and food in the fridge, those 'family guys' are not going to keep their heads in the game.

Response by CWO2 Shelby DuBois made Oct 19 at 2016 11:43 AM

CWO2 Shelby DuBois — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 11:43:04 -0400

Warfighting is an inexact science. Those 'married' benes are another piece of the arsenal that we need to keep the machine fully loaded. There used to be an old saying...'if the Marines wanted you to have a wife, they'd have issued you one.'... and then you had to get the old man's okay to do so. They understood the hardship that a military family would have to endure and the odds were that they'd leave the service to find a better life. So to compete, voila! benes to attract and keep the manpower and those investments in time and money. And don't kid yourself... not all married people have it made either. I knew those who lived above their means... in debt, had family problems, quarters too small for thier families, and if on base, a very sometimes tyranical landlord.

Response by LTC Tim Ellis made Oct 19 at 2016 12:52 PM

LTC Tim Ellis — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 12:52:19 -0400

SGT Pappas, while I understand the desire for your own place and dining options (my son is a single E-5) I bet that the single Soldiers have more disposable income than their married peers when it comes down to it, kids are expensive. My kids are out of the house now and we have money and time to do the things we want. Just an old tanker throwing out some food for thought.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2016 1:19 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 13:19:32 -0400

as a single sm you have no overhead, free living quarters, food and utillities

Response by SGT Suraj Dave made Oct 19 at 2016 1:31 PM

SGT Suraj Dave — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 13:31:09 -0400

I can write you an essay on this. You think they treat single soldiers bad, being a single NCO is worse, because you are expected to be married. I remember the "NCO Barracks" I lived in were crawling with roaches and mold. You also get called in every time they need an NCO, because you are single your time is automatically meaningless. Everyone was getting contract married to get out of there. Slum lords aren't even allowed to treat their tenants like that. Its a health hazard to our soldiers. The high ranking married people simply don't care about the living conditions of the soldiers in the barracks. You attempt to say something and you get a "Back in my day we lived in open bays" speech.

Response by Sgt William Margeson made Oct 19 at 2016 1:32 PM

Sgt William Margeson — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 13:32:09 -0400

Married soldiers have to pay as they go. Single live free, eat free, and don't have the same expenses of family soldiers

Response by Sgt William Margeson made Oct 19 at 2016 1:34 PM

Sgt William Margeson — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 13:34:44 -0400

Married soldiers pay as they go. Single enlisted get room and board, and have other expenses. Single soldiers get room and board, medical.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2016 1:52 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 13:52:04 -0400

I think you are not seeing the big picture. Not being married is the best benefit. No responsibilities or people to take care of. Nobody stealing your bank while you are deployed. Free to choose who you want to spend time with. All the time in the world to fUrther your career or enjoy hobbies.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Oct 19 at 2016 1:54 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 13:54:27 -0400

Absolutely agree I think it's completely unfair
Single soldiers get free housing they don't have to pay a penny for it, that's completely unfair married soldiers only get a partial stipend that in no way shape or form covers the actual cost of living in the housing, paying the bills for utilities etc.

Single soldiers get free quarters and appliance maintenance they don't pay a dime for, they make a simple phone call maybe fill out a form and maintenance people come out for free and take care of all your needs during duty hours.... YOU GET PAID and DUTY time to get your bathroom fan fixed for FREE.

That married soldier has to pay the AC repairman, has to go to Best Buy and get the new refrigerator or washing machine when it dies. I think it's completely unfair that a single soldier gets all that for free.

I also think it's completely unfair that a single soldier doesn't have to get up hours before first call formation so that they can get there on time and unfair that a single soldier doesn't have to pay huge costs to travel to work each day wasting precious hours every day in commute.

The single soldier has everything they need on the installation they don't have to go to the next town over to get food, cross to the other side of town to go get something to drink or find a movie theater or a restaurant.....that's completely unfair to the married soldier who has to go all over to get the same things the single soldier has provided for them.

Department of defense, the United States Army as well as the unit chain of command has specific programs benefiting the single soldiers.
Low-cost tickets, concert events, fishing trips, movie nights....all kinds of things are provided in the better opportunity for single soldiers program that married soldiers are not allowed to use, that's completely unfair to the married soldier... Married soldiers are people too.

And yes all of the above was said somewhat tongue-in-cheek.. the point being the desire to complain comes from your personal position and outlook not necessarily the reality of the situation

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2016 2:41 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 14:41:10 -0400

If you want to live like a king, I don't think signing up for the military is the way to go. Then again... there is always Air Force. Just to point out, I believe the next year or two, military is changing how BAH works.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2016 2:41 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 14:41:54 -0400

Let's say we look at the conditions of living quaters. Some of the post housing isn't any better condition than the barracks. And all that money I get gets taken before my pay hits the bank. Childcare is expensive. If you and your wife work, somebody's getting payed for childcare. I've seen E7 s pay less than me. How's that fair.

Response by Sgt John Steinmeier made Oct 19 at 2016 3:10 PM

Sgt John Steinmeier — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 15:10:38 -0400

To stem the tide of persons that would otherwise leave the service once they get married and produce spawn. Without it the US Military would not have the sizable professional NCO core it has.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2016 3:32 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 15:32:33 -0400

Instead of bi*ching on RallyPoint, why not come up with a solution and present it. You're a Sergeant in the United States Army. Utilize your knowledge of how the Army works and get it done.

Response by SGT Alicia Brenneis made Oct 19 at 2016 3:35 PM

SGT Alicia Brenneis — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 15:35:09 -0400

Here's the thing, it all depends on what you do with what you have. I use to have a solder who had no major bills. I mean no car, credit cards, loans, housing costs ect. All he had was a phone and Internet. He lived like a king. Always had money. At one point he flat out bought a $2500 watch, which he promptly gave to a stripper at Cat West. (Fort campbell people know exacty what im talking about) Work with what you are given and stop thinking "life's not fair" .

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2016 3:39 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 15:39:34 -0400

This is a classic question. I have heard it asked by single guys a lot. I lived in the B's eating DFAC for about the first five years of my career. As a single guy I didn't pay rent or utilities. I only had to pay for food if I decided to go to a restaurant or buy a microwaveable dinner instead of eating DFAC. Only had to pay for my "wanted" expenditures;I.e. Cable, eating at restaurants or such things. My paycheck mostly went to things I wanted or wanted to do. I didn't have really any bills to pay. Then I met a woman thru friends and we hit it off. She was also a soldier and after a year of dating we decided to move in together. We got an apartment and now had bills. Rent, utilities, and the such. We weren't married yet so there was no BAH or BAS for either of us. Even with our combined income (both of us were e4) we barely were able to stay up on the bills and definitely didn't have the extra disposable income to go out and do anything. We were married six months later and started getting the supplemental pay and allowances. It helped greatly. My point is that married soldiers get these extra pay and allowances because the Army in its great and powerful wisdom decided that if you single they are gonna feed and house you. While if you're married then your gonna have to pay up. That bein the case then they give these married soldiers extra to cover it(barely)

Response by PFC Pamala (Hall) Foster made Oct 19 at 2016 3:41 PM

PFC Pamala (Hall) Foster — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 15:41:02 -0400

You are OUT OF YOUR LANE!!!!! The only thing you can control IS YOU SGT. That is all i have to say about this. Families can NOT live in barracks and again YOU take care of YOU!

Response by SFC George Smith made Oct 19 at 2016 5:34 PM

SFC George Smith — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 17:34:25 -0400

This has been a question since Bill Clinton started hacking and slashing the Military pay and benefits 23 years ago...

Response by SPC Roger Giffen made Oct 19 at 2016 6:03 PM

SPC Roger Giffen — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 18:03:14 -0400

I always felt that way until i got married. I actually preferred married life to the barracks.

Response by SGT Alfredo Alcazar made Oct 19 at 2016 6:08 PM

SGT Alfredo Alcazar — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 18:08:51 -0400

My man get married so you get the same benefits like the other guy who is married with children. If you're in the situation of the married SM would you like to live in the barracks?. Definitely not so get married and get this problem over with. I was drafted in the Army in 1966 while my dad stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas. I was stationed there too so I requested to live with my parents and my request was approved. I served my two years without going to Viet-Nam. I ETS's in 1968 and got out of the service. It's who you know in the Army. My dad worked for the post commander who is a two star General and even my brigade commander cant say no. Everything in the Army is politics.

Response by SGT Jason Mouret made Oct 19 at 2016 6:14 PM

SGT Jason Mouret — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 18:14:01 -0400

Enjoy being single, and enjoy have money saved up for when you do get married because on that day it will be your last day having money. I loved living in the barracks and going out no real responsibly. Trust me its a lot easier to pcs when your single.

Response by LCpl Hilton Hoskins made Oct 19 at 2016 6:47 PM

LCpl Hilton Hoskins — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 18:47:43 -0400

SGT here goes, when it's just you, you only have yourself to worry about. When you've got a family, the game changes, it's not just you that you're responsible for anymore. It's just like when you became an NCO. You have now been entrusted with the responsibility of leadership and accountability of your troops. The same applies to a service member who is married with a family. They have to be accountable for them. That means that they have to ensure that they have everything that they need. The pay difference is to ensure that they could accomplish that mission, just the same as you make sure your troops you're in charge of have what they need in order to carry out a mission. The only difference is that they are doing it for their relative family and you're doing it for your military family. As far as the whole thing with the barracks are concerned. Single troops are required to maintain a room in the barracks, they don't actually have to live in the barracks. They could live off base but they have to make sure that they are accessible if needed. If they choose to have an apartment off base then it's fine but they have to front the expenses themselves. During my tour I had an apartment off base but I had to front the bill myself (I had a second job) plus I had to make sure that my command could reach me if they needed me. The only exception for the military paying enough for a single service member to live off base is if there's not enough room in the barracks to house them or some other reason.

Now, the purpose of the barracks is that single troops have a place to stay and so they don't have to worry about paying bills except for the ones they make for themselves. As far as your argument of the military valuing a married service member over another, all service members are valued the same. The only reason married service members seem to have more value is because it's not just them, they have responsibilities and those responsibilities by default become the responsibilities of their respective branch of service. I do understand though why you feel that you are not valued as much, I'm pretty sure that all of us would've liked to have our own house or apartment where we could have guests come and stay if we wanted them to but let's be honest here. If the military gave all troops houses on base, there wouldn't be room for training, storage, etc. That's why it has to be limited based on civilian responsibility of that service member.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2016 6:52 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 18:52:39 -0400

Ill start with the general response... It costs more to maintain a family then it does to remain single. With this said we are an all volunteer force. Marriage is a natural step in life in our society. If the Army wants to maintain its force it will provide some sort of incentive (Same as a bonus).

BAS - Every soldier needs to eat. You can think of BAS as separate rations. Normally a married soldier does not have the time to return home to eat. It's the same concept with single soldiers who are unable to get to a DFAC during operating hours. This also maintains the numbers in the DFAC. Can the DFAC support the number of troops that need to eat... Most cases no, they can't get soldiers through the lines fast enough during chow hours. Then comes the amount of money it costs to feed a family. Now for a couple with no kids BAS can usually cover the cost of food. Add kids and it starts to get a little more tough. Refer to my general response.

BAH - Now this one also has to do with rank. As you move up your room usually gets bigger/better. As an NCO (sometimes as low as SPC) you may be given the option to live in single soldier housing or off base (dependent to space on the base). BAH in some areas do not always cover the cost oh a house and utilities so it comes out of pocket in some cases. This takes away from the soldiers base pay. Also with living off base it is unofficially required for the soldier to have a vehicle. This takes up a soldiers time to get on base for whatever reason. Most married soldiers don't even go home during the duty day unlike most unmarried soldiers do during lunch.

Family Separation Pay - This is literally an incentive to keep soldiers in the military. As often as we travel most soldiers and their families wouldn't stay in if this wasn't in place. This goes back to retaining troops.

So to answer your question what makes a single worth less...? Well you're not. You're just cheaper to maintain. Its all about numbers and money to the DoD. If you have an idea on how to improve a soldiers welfare that can save the unit/garrison money and maintain/boost soldier moral, write it up and present it to your commander. If it makes sense and can logically be implemented they might just take you up on it. These are the things Officers look for as bullets for their OER. And it can set you up for success as an NCO.

Response by Cpl Rc Layne made Oct 19 at 2016 8:43 PM

Cpl Rc Layne — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 20:43:12 -0400

Seriously? Show me anything that says that you are required to SLEEP in the barracks. Show me anything that says that you are required to eat EVERY meal in the chow hall. Those supplements that you are complaining about don't go that far out in the real world. When I got tired of being in the barracks, I rented a small place off base and kept my assigned room clean and my gear and was at the appointed place at the appointment time. Ate in the chow hall except on weekends, made ends meet and could have company any night of the week.
Have some imagination, and stop whining.

Response by MSG Dan Castaneda made Oct 19 at 2016 11:31 PM

MSG Dan Castaneda — Wed, 19 Oct 2016 23:31:47 -0400

Do Special Forces operators deserve greater benefits than conventional forces? Yes, yes they do. I wanted to make more so I took the long walk. Be happy with what you are given or do something about it.

Response by SSgt Dan Maloney made Oct 20 at 2016 1:25 AM

SSgt Dan Maloney — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 01:25:16 -0400

Most of those responding negatively did not live in the barracks too long, I would venture. Many young soldiers get married for the benefit of getting out of the barracks. Its worth it. My suggestion to you is to find a young, single mom and marry her. You will get out of the barracks and a few extra dollars and she will get healthcare. Plus, you will have somewhere to go to at night and stay out of trouble. Could be the beginning of a beautiful marriage. Just don't do anything illegal.

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Oct 20 at 2016 9:30 AM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 09:30:11 -0400

Amazed that in all the responses, no one mentioned that the benefits, entitlements and quality of life issues you refer to are the military's way of acknowledging that the pay for a single member is not adequate to support a married or even single living off base lifestyle. All the things you complain about are just a way to attempt to level the playing field for military members who don't fill the single living on base category. As many have mentioned, even with what you refer to as greater benefits, many struggle to make ends meet. A struggle that a single individual living on base never experiences!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2016 10:58 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 10:58:04 -0400

All i can say it, get married so you can realize real responsibility. Taking care of soldiers is tough but being married is not for everybody. Then throw in kids who deserve the world and see if your motivation grows because it will. I always tell my guys that " yea if i was single , i would be doing this and that" . But doing this and that usually gets people in trouble so I appreciate the extra discipline I need to be a father and a husband. We are all brothers and no one is above the next.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2016 12:54 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 12:54:28 -0400

What I'm about to write isn't meant to sound rude but having read it over in my head may come off that way. Isn't it common sense? The soldier has people they need to take care of hence the name "dependents" so they deserve more pay to support those depending on him/her. I'm a single soldier but I'd rather see more money go to the spouses and children of my brother/sisters in arms than myself because they need it.

Response by CPT Tom Monahan made Oct 20 at 2016 1:37 PM

CPT Tom Monahan — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 13:37:42 -0400

Totally agree! This comes from the idea that benefits are not part of pay. On the civilian private sector side you'll hear folks discuss total compensation vs salary.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Oct 20 at 2016 6:35 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 18:35:09 -0400

This has been one hilarious post. I was a Staff Sergeant over 12years in single and living in the barracks. Two floors down were SFC's who also were in the barracks. I got BAS based off my MOS, but I still had to put up with everything that the Soldiers who were junior enlisted eating in the chow hall had to do. My ass had to clean the barracks just like them. What I didn't see anywhere is the post requirements for housing. It makes a BIG difference. For me at the time, the policy was 95% full, then by rank, and DOR if the same rank, would be released to get off post housing. Now living in the DC area, BAH even at the single rate meant you were coming out of pocket to pay for some of your utilities. Nothing was included. Also back then, just because you lived off post does not exempt you from being inspected. Give you 24hr notice and be ready. I've had it done to me, and I've done it to my joes. Health and Welfare extends to everyone. Being off post when I finally made the move ate me alive being I had my ex living with me before I was married, and still had to maintain my room on post. After marriage, I got a little more, but overall, it wasn't that much of a help when now you have two people to feed, more gas used, more of everything and it's not factored in, and the Army doesn't care. Looking back, I had WAY more fun in the barracks, never had to worry about a DUI, being we drank in the barracks, and when we left to hit the club, either we walked, caught a cab, or had a DD to watch over us. Always had liquor it beer. Simple rule was on the weekends open your door, and we'd share what we had. No such thing as a dry weekend unless you had to work. Always had food, if I didn't in my room, go to someone else's room eat theirs and pay them back later. Always had gas. We'd rotate cars if we had a group going anywhere. I had more money IN the barracks than I did when I moved out and was married. I even caught more shit details living OFF post than I did in the barracks. It sucked when your section SGT lives two buildings up, and 1SG lives in another complex across the road and you can see each others apartments.

Response by PO1 Jack Howell made Oct 20 at 2016 11:19 PM

PO1 Jack Howell — Thu, 20 Oct 2016 23:19:49 -0400

Are kidding with this question? Service members receive more compensation because they have to take care of their dependents (food, housing, clothing, etc.) Generally speaking single sailors don't have all of those responsibilities. It's not about who is worth more. It's about making sure that soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen who have dependents are given the resources necessary to take care of them.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2016 10:28 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 10:28:05 -0400

Married and Single Soldiers are paid the same, it is true that the total compensation is higher for a married Soldier while still active. If/ when retirement comes those compensation packages are exactly the same again. Except due to the married Soldiers life choices that retirement goes a much shorter distance over the single Soldiers.
When everyone signed up they were told that the army would provide food and shelter as part of the compensation package. Does a single Soldier require a 2 bedroom house? Probably not, but does a married Soldier with a child require that? Yes. The Army is fulfilling that obligation to provide shelter. As others have mentioned on-post housing cannot always accommodate all the families so they are provided BAH to find quarters on the economy.

Your local housing office should be able to provide you with the housing standards and per rank and show you what is available on post. When I was in fort hood, I stayed in the barracks until I was a SPC and then they sent me off post to find a place to live due to availability. When I moved to again I was back in the barracks. As I got promoted to E5 and E6 I was offered better barracks rooms (each time) at the same post as is stated in the local housing policy.

I had the same feelings about the inequity of the living conditions and lack of choice as to where I ate (I never ate at the DFAC), it is a part of the military that I had to accept. The DFACS provide employment for the 82G’s that will at some time have to do their job because there are no alternatives (field, deployment). This is not to say that if they are serving garbage and the hours suck that you have to suck it up, you do need to bring it up to your chain of command. If you can justify a need for separate rations your command can authorize them.

As others have stated BOSS is a good place to start because in addition to trips and occasional parties, they also meet with the garrison commander on a regular basis to bring up these issues. If nobody is participating in BOSS then nothing gets done to improve your situation because he doesn’t hear any different. You are just one person complaining, if you and all of your Soldiers use that time with the commander and like-minded Soldiers from other units you are no longer just one person complaining but a real issue.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Oct 21 at 2016 1:15 PM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 13:15:01 -0400

actually, i believe those service members who are married with dependents make greater sacrifices than those who are single. when a single person transfers they pack their little green samsonite and go. married service members have to uproot a family. schools, jobs (possibly careers). those who make the greater sacrifice deserve extra compensations.
oh yeah, i'm a Marine Corps brat. never lived in one place more than 3 years

Response by PO1 Kevin Tucker made Oct 21 at 2016 10:57 PM

PO1 Kevin Tucker — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 22:57:38 -0400

I would like to respond to this one. I was Single for my entire 20yr career, that was my choice!! Those that are married with/without children are also made that choice. Coming from a single persons frame of mind, you have two people doing the same job, same experience, same time in rate.... their pay and benefits shoud be the same! Yes, it was my choice to remain single as was it was others to get married and have kids. They do not deserve nor should recieve additional benefits just because they are married. Their job has not changed, their military responsibilities have not changed... so why do they DESERVE more money. They don't. And as far as those supposed extra things provided by the military to single servicemembers, yeah, O.K. sure. They offer nothing to single servicemembers that are not also available to married servicemembers.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2016 1:55 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 01:55:23 -0400

Feeding families would naturally be more expensive. SGT Private RallyPoint Member

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2016 4:06 AM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 04:06:18 -0400

Marry the nearest "dancer" working their way through "nursing school" and reap all of the great benefits.

Response by Cpl John King made Oct 23 at 2016 12:38 AM

Cpl John King — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 00:38:58 -0400

No other company that I know of pays you according to the size of your family. You get paid for the position you hold.... I think that's what he's getting at.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2016 1:51 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 01:51:50 -0400

It's simple it's not just about you. You have others who rely on you directly. I'm not talking monetary either.

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Oct 24 at 2016 12:20 PM

MSgt Michael Smith — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 12:20:41 -0400

Think about this junior...How do you keep good NCOs in the Army? I mean they get valuable skills and education, so what makes them stay and train all of the new soldiers? Now, I'm an Army General lets say...I've got a bunch of baby Privates just out of boot camp on their first enlistment. About 20-30% are probably go career, the rest are going to do four and say goodbye. On the other hand I've got my career NCOs who are working day in and day out taking care of those babies, bringing them up right, mentoring them, etc. Tell me, where is my priority? My priority is with my NCOs, keeping them happy so they continue doing the great job they are doing, and I know that soon, 20% or so of those babies will join the NCO ranks, grow up and have family too.

Response by PFC Marcus Baucom made Nov 7 at 2016 3:10 PM

PFC Marcus Baucom — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 15:10:07 -0500

I was a single soldier and because my job was off of the main base out of fort campbell I was Abel to get bas.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2016 11:57 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 23:57:36 -0500

This is a ridiculous question (single Marine here). On top of the everyday duties you have as a single service member they have to provide for however many family members they have as well as be prepare to leave said family at a moments notice. More sacrifice = more benefits.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2016 2:11 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 14:11:18 -0500

Because they already fucked themselves by enlisting, now they are married xD jokes tho lol just jokes.

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Dec 7 at 2016 3:02 PM

SSG Robert Webster — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 15:02:20 -0500

All of you that are complaining about the current circumstances, I tell you what, I would trade my experience as a single barracks soldier with any of you. If you are not willing to trade that experience, then you have not much to complain about. It does not matter what MOS you are. Us older folks are not quite as blind as you make it out to be.
One other thing that has been pointed out, it is not the post/base that you are at, it is also your chain of command.
I would also like to point out that for pay disparity, you better take a closer look at the pay on the outside of the military compared to the same or similar job outside the military. In addition, in a lot of corporate jobs the same type of pay differences are out there. within the same company and in the same locations, they are not normally talked about and you will note that you are told not to discuss your pay compensation with your co-workers. At least in the military if you have the same rank and time in service, you have a comparable pay amount across the board.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2016 5:44 PM

SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 17:44:15 -0500

Because those with dependents are waaaayyyyy better than you.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2016 6:06 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 18:06:24 -0500

All I see here is a bunch of immaturity and crying that's typical of the "gimme" generation.

Response by MSgt Jimmy Mullins made Dec 29 at 2016 6:52 AM

MSgt Jimmy Mullins — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 06:52:42 -0500

I think there should be no married people in the military

Response by MCPO Tom Miller made Dec 29 at 2016 11:51 AM

MCPO Tom Miller — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 11:51:02 -0500

This discussion has been in the military for generations. I remember upon returning from a long deployment in the Navy the first leave period was always given to sailors with families and the single sailors were seldom on that list. Even pay and allowances were a complaint of those single sailors. After liberty call, those single sailors who weren't planning to go ashore in our home port were seeked out to sign standby chits to assume the married duties and watches. Usually our singles bore the burden and openly agreed to standby. The other side is those who did sign were paid for it and it was profitable. As that old Chief would say, if the Navy wanted you to have a wife, you'd be issued one. Life is what it is in the military. The name shipmate became a sea going unity of a strong bond as in the Navy deployments were long and arduous and life was equally shared away from home port without any attention to unfair pay standards. The singles had much more money to spend as those who were married didn't. Two worlds of married and singles! Fortunes weren't in any military pay scales and those extra pay and allowances for dependents certainly didn't create wealth above the single sailors. While single, I ate many a wonderful meal provided by a married sailors wife. Yes, being a shipmate covered it all and resentment disappeared with maturity and respect for my career shipmates!

Response by SPC Byron Skinner made Dec 30 at 2016 6:53 PM

SPC Byron Skinner — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 18:53:46 -0500

Sp4 Byron Skinner. I'll let you youngsters handle this. Married soldiers with family use to get a well used mobile home which the last occupant didn't clean before they left.

Response by SSgt Randall Halbrook made Sep 21 at 2017 5:58 PM

SSgt Randall Halbrook — Thu, 21 Sep 2017 17:58:45 -0400

Thank god I was in the USAF; never felt that way.SrA and below had to share a room but SSgt up did not. The food was always good at dining facilities. Breakfast was my favorite made to order omelettes were great .

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Feb 22 at 2018 1:10 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 13:10:05 -0500

BAH is fixed, if rent is higher then you pay the difference. BAS stops when you are in the field or deployed. DFAC is good and nourishing, and balanced. Rentals are always in shortage, and over priced. As for quality of live- add travel time to and from, gas used, hardship of maintaining your rental-and don't forget the units that live on the edged and have thins like 1-2 hour report time from the time the unit is alerted- not the time the unit alerts you. Single soldiers are not worth less- they actually have more- few food, free housing, free laundry, no real maintenance of the quarters, free utilities, etc.

Response by SGT Justin Anderson made Aug 16 at 2020 11:05 PM

SGT Justin Anderson — Sun, 16 Aug 2020 23:05:05 -0400

Maybe when you're done being cherry at life and focus on yourself. Best way to put it is once you're married or have offspring you'll understand.