Posted on May 18, 2014
Why does the Army discriminate against single soldiers?
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First let me say I am biased in my opinion since I am a single soldier. The Army stacks the deck against single soldiers, in a variety of ways. There are standards that single soldiers are forced to obey that married soldiers are not. Purely just because of their marriage.
Housing is my personal biggest area of concern being a single soldier. I am a 27 yr old college graduate. I get the same "rights" in my living quarters that a single 17/18 yr old straight out of high-school would get. If that same soldier is married, they get considerably more freedom, pay, and budget control than I do.
I as a single soldier get no say in where I live. At my current duty station the BAH for my rank and dependent status (Single, E-4) would be $1,068. So I essentially pay $1,068 dollars a month to live in the barracks. The barracks I live in have two separate bedrooms, with a common kitchen and bathroom area. Since there are two soldiers in each little barracks apartment, we collectively pay $2,136 a month for this set up. That is FAR more then what a similar apartment style would cost in the surrounding communities. If single soldiers were allowed to have BAH and live where they choose we could potentially save several hundred dollars a month by controlling our living expenses. That's not including the approximately $300 a month we are forced to pay for the DFACs.
There is also the issue of furniture in the barracks. Again we have no say, we get whatever the Army already has in the room. Personally I would love to have an actual nice mattress, instead of these cheap plastic blue ones.
Barracks inspections. I can't stand barracks inspections. The inspections are completely up to the person doing them and what they "think" the standard should be. One inspection your could be fine, the next one your getting lectured about how to make a bed. Last summer I had to write a 2 page paper for an LT about personal standards in the barracks. All because my bed didn't have hospital corners. (That morning when I get up I tossed my blanket off to the right of me, where it was just sorta crunched up against the wall running the length of my bed.) If I want to know what I am allowed to have and not have in my room, I have to read three different policy letters to find out. Division could allow something, Brigade could say no, and then Battalion have nothing about it at all. I get that lower commands are allowed to restrict privileges as they see fit. I'm just saying it's cumbersome to have to read three different levels policy to find out what is what.
It annoys me that I have to have periodic inspections(currently every morning before PT for my company) while married soldiers receive no inspections just because they are married. I get that they have a family, I just don't see why that should stop a squad leader from making a planned, announced, and visual walk-through of the house of the married soldier. Keeping the same standard of living as a single soldier should be part of the military life.
Meal Deductions. I don't think the DFACs are worth the $300 a month I have to pay. I hate having to "play" the "I am a Meal Card Holder" card to get lunch sometimes during work. It's usually followed by a married soldier saying "I'm working thru lunch, you don't see me bitching about wanting to leave for food". True. However when we miss our lunch it's gone. The money we paid is gone rather we ate that meal or not. Married people if they bring their lunch it'll still be there later. If they eat out, then well that's just money they didn't spend that day. They can use it tomorrow to get twice as much for lunch or eat somewhere more expensive depending on their budget.
We get no say in what sounds good for dinner. It's whatever the DFAC has. Sometimes that means either fried or grilled chicken. If they run out of one thing, it'll be whatever they have left. It's not right. It leaves married people with control over their diet and single soldiers with whatever the Army needed to clean out of the fridge.
The above is just Big Army things, the discrimination continues all the way down to the company level. At my company single soldiers who live in the barracks are not allowed to park in the lot in front of the company. Now our barracks is approximately 3/4 mile down the road. Our motor pool is another 3/4 mile the other direction. I find it silly that an entire parking lot is reserved for married people. Sure single soldiers can drive to work, but we have to park in the barracks across the street. Which is not the barracks we live in. Married people can't park in that same lot if the one in front of company is full? To a point I can understand the reasoning behind this, but single soldiers have to leave and run here and there just like our married counter-parts. Why should they get special parking treatment? I don't see anyone stopping married people from using the barracks washers and dryers to avoid buying their own/going to coin laundry mats. Why are married people allowed to dip their hands in our honey and slap ours away from theirs?
Like I said from the start I'm biased. I look over the fence and see greener grass. Perhaps this is all just one single soldier bitching and complaining.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Update FEB 2019: Since I originally posted this message, I have gotten married. My view on the subject has not changed. I want to respond to some of the overarching themes in everyone responses.
“Quit bitching/whining/complaining.” I feel there is a difference between logically laying out issues and grievances and just bitching about them. The number of leaders who contributions on this post/topic amounted to “quit saying words” is disheartening.
“Get married/Army will issue you a wife.” Saying to get married just to move out of the barracks is a failure of leadership. Those of you (in my opinion) with that mentally should reconsider what you do/did and what your job is/was. As a former Infantry NCO I have dealt with the countless issues that arise when a soldier quickly marries someone for the wrong reason (example: get out of the barracks). The domestic issues, spouse calling in to the Staff Duty, soldier isn’t training because of counseling/FAP/court/Divorce related nonsense, greatly diminishes readiness which the last I checked the Army still considers to be pretty important.
“I had more money/I wish I was back in the barracks/ but but bills! etc.” Bull. I wish I could challenge anyone who says that to actually prove it. As stated, I am married now. I have more money, flexibility, and financial freedom then I did as a single E-4. Now some of that is because I’m a higher rank. Part of it is because I use BAH as intended to cover housing/bills, my BAS for food, and having the control over how much I spend on those two items is very important. Also, my spouse works. I have come to realize that is less than common for married soldiers in the Army. However, I would argue that getting married and not having both spouses working is a decision that you made going in to it. I’m not arguing/stating if it’s the right or wrong choice. It’s what you decided worked for ya’ll. To me it’s the equivalent of a private going out and buying that 23% interest Mustang then complaining about how much money it costs and how he used to have it so much better without that car payment. If you choose (by getting married/having kids) to feed/house/care for additional people (spouse/kids) and yet do nothing to increase your income than yeah…you’ll have less money. That is a very poor argument for what the original post was about.
a. Hopefully ^above^ I’ve made my point clear and concise seems a little muddy to me, I guess we shall see in future comments.
“Move off post.” That’s not an option. Well I guess it is, however single soldiers still have to maintain the barracks room they get assigned, they still wouldn’t get the BAH entitlement, and they would have to still pay the DFAC out of their BAS. Do I need to continue on the ignorance of that statement? Sure, there’s a packet you can submit and ask to receive those allowances, I’ve only ever seen get accepted once and that was when my BDE changed from Light to Armored, only for E-5s, and it was suggested only if they were on orders and would be PCS’ing soon anyhow. They wanted non-PCS’ing E-5s still in the barracks. I don’t recall if I stated it in my original post but that unofficial additional duty of being an NCO at the barracks is crap. “You’re an NCO at the barracks keep everyone in line down there after work and on weekends”, thought that’s what CQ was for. I’ll also comment on the “single people off post would party to much/be late to formation/traffic at the gates/ get in trouble in town more” line of nonsense. It’s ignorant. Along with the “paying dues” comments.
Veterans- I appreciate you are still active in the boarder military community, and recognize that your time in the service paved the way for what we did/do/have accomplished today. However, pointing out how things were worse yesterday compared today and to “suck it up” is lazy. There is no reason we can’t keep pointing out things today to make tomorrow even better. I’m sure there is crap I can’t even fathom that ya’ll dealt with back in the 60s, 80s, and what have you that were fixed because of people continuing to bring the issue up.
Lastly, I’ve enjoyed reading the varied amount of responses everyone has on the topic. If mine come off as aggressive or across the line it was not my intention. When I posted the original stuff above 4+ almost 5 years ago I never expected it to get attention and still receive emails notifications years later. I’m fairly sure I’ve read 90% of the comments because Rally Point sends me an email every time someone comments. No I did not add that picture at the top, it’s the website. Sorry if you clicked on a Rally Point ad somewhere that linked to this post only to see it’s from 2014. I don’t control those. It’s the website. Yes I’m sure there are a few grammar and spelling errors. If you point it out at the beginning of a comment, I’m more likely to see it and correct the issue. Cheers to several more years of being told why I’m wrong.
Housing is my personal biggest area of concern being a single soldier. I am a 27 yr old college graduate. I get the same "rights" in my living quarters that a single 17/18 yr old straight out of high-school would get. If that same soldier is married, they get considerably more freedom, pay, and budget control than I do.
I as a single soldier get no say in where I live. At my current duty station the BAH for my rank and dependent status (Single, E-4) would be $1,068. So I essentially pay $1,068 dollars a month to live in the barracks. The barracks I live in have two separate bedrooms, with a common kitchen and bathroom area. Since there are two soldiers in each little barracks apartment, we collectively pay $2,136 a month for this set up. That is FAR more then what a similar apartment style would cost in the surrounding communities. If single soldiers were allowed to have BAH and live where they choose we could potentially save several hundred dollars a month by controlling our living expenses. That's not including the approximately $300 a month we are forced to pay for the DFACs.
There is also the issue of furniture in the barracks. Again we have no say, we get whatever the Army already has in the room. Personally I would love to have an actual nice mattress, instead of these cheap plastic blue ones.
Barracks inspections. I can't stand barracks inspections. The inspections are completely up to the person doing them and what they "think" the standard should be. One inspection your could be fine, the next one your getting lectured about how to make a bed. Last summer I had to write a 2 page paper for an LT about personal standards in the barracks. All because my bed didn't have hospital corners. (That morning when I get up I tossed my blanket off to the right of me, where it was just sorta crunched up against the wall running the length of my bed.) If I want to know what I am allowed to have and not have in my room, I have to read three different policy letters to find out. Division could allow something, Brigade could say no, and then Battalion have nothing about it at all. I get that lower commands are allowed to restrict privileges as they see fit. I'm just saying it's cumbersome to have to read three different levels policy to find out what is what.
It annoys me that I have to have periodic inspections(currently every morning before PT for my company) while married soldiers receive no inspections just because they are married. I get that they have a family, I just don't see why that should stop a squad leader from making a planned, announced, and visual walk-through of the house of the married soldier. Keeping the same standard of living as a single soldier should be part of the military life.
Meal Deductions. I don't think the DFACs are worth the $300 a month I have to pay. I hate having to "play" the "I am a Meal Card Holder" card to get lunch sometimes during work. It's usually followed by a married soldier saying "I'm working thru lunch, you don't see me bitching about wanting to leave for food". True. However when we miss our lunch it's gone. The money we paid is gone rather we ate that meal or not. Married people if they bring their lunch it'll still be there later. If they eat out, then well that's just money they didn't spend that day. They can use it tomorrow to get twice as much for lunch or eat somewhere more expensive depending on their budget.
We get no say in what sounds good for dinner. It's whatever the DFAC has. Sometimes that means either fried or grilled chicken. If they run out of one thing, it'll be whatever they have left. It's not right. It leaves married people with control over their diet and single soldiers with whatever the Army needed to clean out of the fridge.
The above is just Big Army things, the discrimination continues all the way down to the company level. At my company single soldiers who live in the barracks are not allowed to park in the lot in front of the company. Now our barracks is approximately 3/4 mile down the road. Our motor pool is another 3/4 mile the other direction. I find it silly that an entire parking lot is reserved for married people. Sure single soldiers can drive to work, but we have to park in the barracks across the street. Which is not the barracks we live in. Married people can't park in that same lot if the one in front of company is full? To a point I can understand the reasoning behind this, but single soldiers have to leave and run here and there just like our married counter-parts. Why should they get special parking treatment? I don't see anyone stopping married people from using the barracks washers and dryers to avoid buying their own/going to coin laundry mats. Why are married people allowed to dip their hands in our honey and slap ours away from theirs?
Like I said from the start I'm biased. I look over the fence and see greener grass. Perhaps this is all just one single soldier bitching and complaining.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Update FEB 2019: Since I originally posted this message, I have gotten married. My view on the subject has not changed. I want to respond to some of the overarching themes in everyone responses.
“Quit bitching/whining/complaining.” I feel there is a difference between logically laying out issues and grievances and just bitching about them. The number of leaders who contributions on this post/topic amounted to “quit saying words” is disheartening.
“Get married/Army will issue you a wife.” Saying to get married just to move out of the barracks is a failure of leadership. Those of you (in my opinion) with that mentally should reconsider what you do/did and what your job is/was. As a former Infantry NCO I have dealt with the countless issues that arise when a soldier quickly marries someone for the wrong reason (example: get out of the barracks). The domestic issues, spouse calling in to the Staff Duty, soldier isn’t training because of counseling/FAP/court/Divorce related nonsense, greatly diminishes readiness which the last I checked the Army still considers to be pretty important.
“I had more money/I wish I was back in the barracks/ but but bills! etc.” Bull. I wish I could challenge anyone who says that to actually prove it. As stated, I am married now. I have more money, flexibility, and financial freedom then I did as a single E-4. Now some of that is because I’m a higher rank. Part of it is because I use BAH as intended to cover housing/bills, my BAS for food, and having the control over how much I spend on those two items is very important. Also, my spouse works. I have come to realize that is less than common for married soldiers in the Army. However, I would argue that getting married and not having both spouses working is a decision that you made going in to it. I’m not arguing/stating if it’s the right or wrong choice. It’s what you decided worked for ya’ll. To me it’s the equivalent of a private going out and buying that 23% interest Mustang then complaining about how much money it costs and how he used to have it so much better without that car payment. If you choose (by getting married/having kids) to feed/house/care for additional people (spouse/kids) and yet do nothing to increase your income than yeah…you’ll have less money. That is a very poor argument for what the original post was about.
a. Hopefully ^above^ I’ve made my point clear and concise seems a little muddy to me, I guess we shall see in future comments.
“Move off post.” That’s not an option. Well I guess it is, however single soldiers still have to maintain the barracks room they get assigned, they still wouldn’t get the BAH entitlement, and they would have to still pay the DFAC out of their BAS. Do I need to continue on the ignorance of that statement? Sure, there’s a packet you can submit and ask to receive those allowances, I’ve only ever seen get accepted once and that was when my BDE changed from Light to Armored, only for E-5s, and it was suggested only if they were on orders and would be PCS’ing soon anyhow. They wanted non-PCS’ing E-5s still in the barracks. I don’t recall if I stated it in my original post but that unofficial additional duty of being an NCO at the barracks is crap. “You’re an NCO at the barracks keep everyone in line down there after work and on weekends”, thought that’s what CQ was for. I’ll also comment on the “single people off post would party to much/be late to formation/traffic at the gates/ get in trouble in town more” line of nonsense. It’s ignorant. Along with the “paying dues” comments.
Veterans- I appreciate you are still active in the boarder military community, and recognize that your time in the service paved the way for what we did/do/have accomplished today. However, pointing out how things were worse yesterday compared today and to “suck it up” is lazy. There is no reason we can’t keep pointing out things today to make tomorrow even better. I’m sure there is crap I can’t even fathom that ya’ll dealt with back in the 60s, 80s, and what have you that were fixed because of people continuing to bring the issue up.
Lastly, I’ve enjoyed reading the varied amount of responses everyone has on the topic. If mine come off as aggressive or across the line it was not my intention. When I posted the original stuff above 4+ almost 5 years ago I never expected it to get attention and still receive emails notifications years later. I’m fairly sure I’ve read 90% of the comments because Rally Point sends me an email every time someone comments. No I did not add that picture at the top, it’s the website. Sorry if you clicked on a Rally Point ad somewhere that linked to this post only to see it’s from 2014. I don’t control those. It’s the website. Yes I’m sure there are a few grammar and spelling errors. If you point it out at the beginning of a comment, I’m more likely to see it and correct the issue. Cheers to several more years of being told why I’m wrong.
Posted in these groups: 
Barracks
BAS
Marriage
DiscriminationBetter Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) President
Barracks BAS Marriage DiscriminationBetter Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) President
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 488
Let me start this by saying would you like a crying towel. I have lived both sides of this. When I was on active duty and living in the Barracks our room I say our I shared a small room with another E-4 divided by wall lockers the hole floor shared the latrine no kitchen no microwave was allowed in the room ( 2 Microwaves were in the Day room for the whole unit)at the time and only the micro fridges was allowed. Now on to the life off post you do realize the money that they receive is based on two or more people so those people you are envying are generally not living as well as you are. They not only have themselves to feed but a wife and usually children to not only feed but to clothe. Not to mention that you know that free medical you get they have deductibles for some of their family medical expenses. Oh and those Sweet apartments you mentioned they have these things called utilities that have to be payed. Oh and back in the Day we did have inspections surprise inspections called health and welfare inspections. Back then it wasn't unusual for Married soldiers to be drawing food stamps because our income was so low. So you might want to re-evaluate what you think of that green grass. you mentioned about pulling the meal card marred soldiers don't have that to pull. Also think about this when you deploy you have only your self to worry about your married piers have so much more to worry about. So next time you feel discriminated against go find some one and get married and join the other side you will find the other side is very difficult and they really get no favors. Just remember While you live in the barracks you really have no bills to worry about.
SSG (Join to see)
Good one
I totally agree with you 100%! I myself hate the dfac and see no point in the dfac. Being in the military 7 years now is SGT P and still have to live in the Bs and have a meal card that I NEVER use. Plus my mos doesn't allow a normal work schedule so if you miss the dfac time tough shit. I hate the meal card and yes that $300 goes to waste because I never ever use it. The Army won't pay me back hell no. So I feel your pain in this.
SFC (Join to see)
SSG(P) (Join to see) - Yes Sgt Rooney. You can always voice your opinion. It's how you're voicing your opinion that has me concerned. My whole point- voice your opinion but be a professional, especially on these forums. Like I said previously, no one is going to listen if you sound like your ranting. Be strategic with your words.
SPC Dawn Appelberg (Johnson)
Being off shift means you should be able to make some meals at the dfac. That you choose to not utilize what is given to you is not the military's fault. The military was never meant to be high end dining and vacations. It was meant for soldiers who are willing to sacrifice for their country in order to serve in a proud, small community of citizens.
Everyone who has commented on this question who defends the practices of discrimination against single Soldiers should really read the following: http://militarypay.defense.gov/Portals/107/Documents/Reports/GreenBook_2015.pdf. It shows only the pure cash compensation paid to single Soldiers vs. married (or otherwise with dependents). Even with not taking into account the vast compensation derived from the vast benefit value that accrues at a much higher rate to those with dependents/married than those who are single/without dependents, this document clearly provides the data points to substantiate what SGT Eric Thrasher is discussing here.
Reject this data all you like, but them's the facts, folks: the Army systematically discriminates against single Soldiers / those without dependents.
Reject this data all you like, but them's the facts, folks: the Army systematically discriminates against single Soldiers / those without dependents.
They're not discriminating against single soldiers. They are accommodating married soldiers, because that's a normal life event, for which you may encounter during your own career. If you do get married and have children some day, you will have those accommodations available to you just the same. How many military members could ever make a career out of the military if they did not have those accommodations for a growing family? At some juncture during a 20 or more year career, they will surely get married or start a family, as you (and/or many of your peers) will likely do. If you eat free meals and stay in a free barracks, you are being provided a service.
If you are staying in the barracks and not getting a housing allowance, you are not "paying" the amount you would receive if you were accompanied. You are receiving an amount based your dependent status via free housing.
The normal course of marriage and children isn't so easy in the military life. Spouses cannot maintain long-term careers, as they are moving from place to place. Costs increase exponentially when people have spouses and children, and when the spouse has limited income options due to constant moving, the military has made adjustments to acknowledge normal human family events. If you are frustrated that something is available to someone else, you are not seeing how it is available to you when you will need it. You are eligible for those things too, even though at the moment, you are not in the position to require those accommodations.
Base housing can be inspected. Off base housing is ripe for lost deposits and other costs. BAH may not even fully cover available housing off-base, and many military families end up paying out of pocket for housing, not because they want a fancy house, but because it can be very difficult to even find a place to live. As an E-4, I remember living in a hotel for a few weeks trying to find an available place.
We all have different challenges. I fear you are only looking at the "benefits" and not considering why those beneifts exist nor what challenges soldiers who are married face outside the scope of your own situation. A single soldier with the same benefits would have an amazing ride with those beneifts, but it's not the same if you have a family. If you're picturing how it would benefit you, you're missing the bigger picture.
If you are staying in the barracks and not getting a housing allowance, you are not "paying" the amount you would receive if you were accompanied. You are receiving an amount based your dependent status via free housing.
The normal course of marriage and children isn't so easy in the military life. Spouses cannot maintain long-term careers, as they are moving from place to place. Costs increase exponentially when people have spouses and children, and when the spouse has limited income options due to constant moving, the military has made adjustments to acknowledge normal human family events. If you are frustrated that something is available to someone else, you are not seeing how it is available to you when you will need it. You are eligible for those things too, even though at the moment, you are not in the position to require those accommodations.
Base housing can be inspected. Off base housing is ripe for lost deposits and other costs. BAH may not even fully cover available housing off-base, and many military families end up paying out of pocket for housing, not because they want a fancy house, but because it can be very difficult to even find a place to live. As an E-4, I remember living in a hotel for a few weeks trying to find an available place.
We all have different challenges. I fear you are only looking at the "benefits" and not considering why those beneifts exist nor what challenges soldiers who are married face outside the scope of your own situation. A single soldier with the same benefits would have an amazing ride with those beneifts, but it's not the same if you have a family. If you're picturing how it would benefit you, you're missing the bigger picture.
MAJ (Join to see)
Man, people will really tie themselves in loops to justify discrimination against single Soldiers. "Accommodating married Soldiers" = providing entitlement/benefit based on marital status = discrimination. There's really no wiggle room here. Whether or not married Soldiers face challenges that single Soldiers don't is irrelevant---married Soldiers have made a personal choice to be married, single Soldiers have made a personal choice to be single. One group shouldn't be "compensated" more for their personal choice.
PO2 Devrie Paradowski
You say "Accommodating married soldiers" = discrimination. Is providing parking spaces for people with disabilities discriminatory toward able-bodied people? The accommodation is available to all soldiers when and if they need it. It's available to you too. Its a benefit to the military as a whole to accommodate general life situations common among humans (having a family). It allows people with families to serve in a capacity which they may not be able to without those accommodations.
Depending on the leadership, married soldiers are given time off when they attend unit FRG functions with their spouse. Married soldiers are excused from all staff duty/CQ duty on the weekends. They get paid 3-4x the earnings of a single soldier and get to eat the meals they prefer. The DFACs serve the lowest quality food which aside from the bacon and eggs in the morning, isn't even actually cooked, it's just reheated. Active duty Army is the worst of all services. I have eaten at Marine Corps, Air force and Navy facilities, all of which offered better products. Hell Army food may rate at or below prison food according to my Guard units maintenance Warrant (works full time in corrections). The single soldier will be worked to death so married soldiers can enjoy family time. We had soldiers in my unit marry the village slut, knowing she was sleeping with other soldiers, and would probably take their money in a divorce process, just so they could get some rest, adequate lodging, and a decent meal. The transition from active army to national guard couldn't have been any better. Seriously dont miss the 14-15 hour days as an active duty supply sergeant for slaves pay.
SSG Genaro Negrete
The first four words you put up are the real issue. "Depending on the leadership" A bulk of the comments on this discussion are more often than not anecdotal accounts of one person being magnified as the standard for the Army.
I'll throw some more anecdotes at you. I've been in units where married soldiers had weekend and holiday staff duty and cq. I've been in units where married soldiers are sitting in the day room of a barracks building, pissed off, because they couldn't go home until the single soldiers finished a GI party. I have even bee in units where squad leaders and platoon sergeants allow all soldiers to run personal errands during the work day if the optempo slows. For every sob story about Army life, there is a counter story. The single, unifying thread is the face that front line, functional leadership varies greatly.
I wonder if the disparity causing this "discrimination" can be traced to the particular lobby groups each side has. While not strictly limited to married soldiers, the unit FRG may lean more toward addressing quality of life issues a single soldier may not be concerned about. The BOSS program, strictly for single soldiers, is definitely addressing quality of life issues that don't affect married soldiers. While the BOSS program speaks directly to the installation command team, the unit FRG has a battalion/company commander's ear. It seems as if the FRG has a connection closer to the individual soldier than the BOSS program. Again, this idea can easily be refuted by anecdotal references to the best FRG / BOSS programs in the military. The real answer would be to take those best practices and ensure they get implemented as thoroughly as possible.
I'll throw some more anecdotes at you. I've been in units where married soldiers had weekend and holiday staff duty and cq. I've been in units where married soldiers are sitting in the day room of a barracks building, pissed off, because they couldn't go home until the single soldiers finished a GI party. I have even bee in units where squad leaders and platoon sergeants allow all soldiers to run personal errands during the work day if the optempo slows. For every sob story about Army life, there is a counter story. The single, unifying thread is the face that front line, functional leadership varies greatly.
I wonder if the disparity causing this "discrimination" can be traced to the particular lobby groups each side has. While not strictly limited to married soldiers, the unit FRG may lean more toward addressing quality of life issues a single soldier may not be concerned about. The BOSS program, strictly for single soldiers, is definitely addressing quality of life issues that don't affect married soldiers. While the BOSS program speaks directly to the installation command team, the unit FRG has a battalion/company commander's ear. It seems as if the FRG has a connection closer to the individual soldier than the BOSS program. Again, this idea can easily be refuted by anecdotal references to the best FRG / BOSS programs in the military. The real answer would be to take those best practices and ensure they get implemented as thoroughly as possible.
LTC (Join to see)
When I was a married E4, I was out in the field with the rest of the single guys. I pulled staff duty/CQ on weekends. When I was a Company CO, I was "on call" 24/7 and spent many a weekend afternoon/night/early morning "downtown" bailing one of my single Soldiers out of jail. The only "special treatment" I have ever received in 34 years is that I was allowed to leave a local (ie on post) training exercise a half day early so I could rush to the hospital to witness the birth of my first child, and they charged me a days leave for it....
I believe the military supports the soldier's support system in this case; the family. Nothing takes a solider out the fight than problems at home. Providing a more stable financial situation at home with spouse and children gives a lot motivation to service members to work hard, complete mission, and come home.
I was 27 in Basic, AIT, and 28, single, no dependents when assigned to Ft McClellan in August 1984. I had a three man room with a common bathroom down the hall. Inspections were definitely subjective and I received extra duty and restriction the first week I was there because I left an ironing board up with an iron (cooling) on it...I definitely understand your concerns! Unfortunately, the Army doesn’t seem to have changed much in the past 36 years!
I dont recall it being this way back in the 80s I was in Germany and was married living off bass and I stayed as long as anyone else cleaning our m16s and track vehicles we could not leave the bass till all was done . And I even recall one of my tops telling me if the army wanted me to have a wife they would have issued me one.
I find this to be a complete and total case of hurt feelings. I distinctly remember how effective the BOSS program was at getting single Soldiers out of work at reasonable hours, while us married guys stayed at the shop until well past 1800 on most nights. We got shorter lunches because we were expected to bring our lunches from home. Single Soldiers got multiple days off to attend BOSS events while we held down the fort.
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