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

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!

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.