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
Suck it up, we all went through this, you think that because you live in the barracks you should be entitled to live off post get for real, I lived in barracks until I got married, if my wife could live with me in the barracks she probably would, we lived on base housing for the most part until I got to Hawaii, Schofield Barracks, at my rank of E5 the lack of on base housing lead us to live off post, this was in 85-87 the rent was a few dollars of $1000.00 for a 2 bedroom apartment, with no park or playground for our kids to run around, it is what it is but you being an E4 will just have deal with it, once you get promoted to an E5 will open the opportunity to move off base, till then suck it up
Man ! I have never witness more crying about military life, in all my years in the Marine Corps! And the majority seems to come from the Army and the Air Force. 1st of all why do you expect any kind of special treatment when you and list in the military in the 1st place? From what I have seen you guys have it a lot much better here in 2019 or in the 21st century, then I could even imagine back in 79 through 88. Doing my 1st enlistment I was single the barracks were nothing like what you all have to day yet the great majority of us were happy! Free lodging, free amenities, free meals. And all we had to do was keep the barracks spotless keep my Room spotless keep my uniforms in our lockers maintained and in order and you had no problems. When it was announced there was a barracks inspection we are knew the drill yeah I took a few hours out of my time but so what. I reenlisted and I got married I was able to live off base. It felt great to have their freedom But with their freedom came more responsibility as far as getting to work on time you had no control over the traffic if there was a major accident and you couldn't get to work on time , You had no excuse. I don't know but in a Marine Corps we still had to maintain the barracks cleanliness even though we live Off base. I also had the chance of Holding a position of police sergeant I was in charge of the barracks and making sure everybody had what they need it to keep it in order so I've seen it from every angle and I've experienced it from every angle. I don't think the government purposely set things up toDiscriminate against single individuals whether they be men are women. After I got married after while I wish I was back in a barracks we had more fun the barracks, And when I bury finally went coed everyone was really having fun no one wanted to live off base. So I don't think you should complain about anything thank God for what you have and that your serving in the military of the world's greatest nation.
I do not want to sound harsh, but anyone that sees things the way you do needs to re-evaluate what it means to serve? The words "selfless service" are not just a catch phrase, fair should be almost expunged from your vocabulary.
The Army does not provide these benefits to a soldier because the soldier is married. It's not a perk or a gift. The Army does this because the Army needs to do it .... for the Army, not for the soldier. I will not go into all the details of whys but I will reiterate, it is for the benefit of the force and the Government, not for the individual.
When the Army provides something to one group of soldiers and not another, regardless of what it is, this is done for the Army, not for the soldier. And if someone else receives what you do not, how did you loose out? You are getting everything that was promised you. Nothing is being taken from you, or denied to you. You made your deal, it's the same deal everyone else that signs up makes.
Some of you are going to disagree. I know this for certain. Civilians that sign up for personal gain can't be expected to see it any other way than from a perspective of what they get or don't get. But if you signed up to serve, to really serve. Then maybe you'll understand what I am trying to pass on.
The Army does not provide these benefits to a soldier because the soldier is married. It's not a perk or a gift. The Army does this because the Army needs to do it .... for the Army, not for the soldier. I will not go into all the details of whys but I will reiterate, it is for the benefit of the force and the Government, not for the individual.
When the Army provides something to one group of soldiers and not another, regardless of what it is, this is done for the Army, not for the soldier. And if someone else receives what you do not, how did you loose out? You are getting everything that was promised you. Nothing is being taken from you, or denied to you. You made your deal, it's the same deal everyone else that signs up makes.
Some of you are going to disagree. I know this for certain. Civilians that sign up for personal gain can't be expected to see it any other way than from a perspective of what they get or don't get. But if you signed up to serve, to really serve. Then maybe you'll understand what I am trying to pass on.
Not just the Army. I've always felt that single officers are discriminated against. E.g. we usually get more holiday duty as we "don't have families to be with." As a single sailor/officer, especially overseas. I was happy to stand holiday duty - I just didn't like that it was assumed that I had nowhere to go or anyone to be with. That said, I was often compensated with a little extra liberty and gratitude from my peers and seniors.
Just be careful as you could be required to move back to the barracks and send your wife to your home of records for being a nonconformist or your wife could do or say something that would be seen as disgruntled and you are responsible for her actions and required to move into the barracks
You need to get married or stop whining snowflake. Married soldiers may get a little more, as you say freedom, it’s freedom to be involved in their families life. Imagine if we only had single people join and then disallowed marriage to those serving. I was both a single and a married service member in the Navy and then in the Army, believe me there is a lot more stress and demands on you as a married service member. Do your job !
I fixed this problem, I maintained a space in the B's. But shared rent off post. It was worth every dime. Helped clean the shower during the week in the B's. And my CoC were cool with it. Life is choices, it's a matter of figuring out what works.
The primary reason for having soldiers live in barracks is to have them available when needed. The privilege of residing off post with your spouse and family is just that, a PRIVILEGE. I never considered getting married to get out of the barracks. I never, in 21 years, gave that as advice. I did, however, revoke, with command approval, the off pist living privileges of more than one married soldier in my various squads, platoons, and battery. Your discussion points make very little more sense than when my youngest son complained because his older brother got the bigger bedroom. You do present you thoughts in a very"muddy" way, I agree. You need to also understand that the military spends big bucks on the barracks. They try to make them as comfortable as is posdible, under the circumstances. That is Billions of dollars that would now be wasted as well as paying Billions per year so you could be treated ad you personally believe you should be "entitled" to.
I just made it out of the barracks after 8 years and 4 months. Wanna know how. I made E-6. But you are 100% right, the army does poop on single soldiers. Its just a by product of society doing the same as well. Oh your 34, and E-5 in the army for 8 years? hahaha you still live in the barracks because you are a single loser, yea you are a loser if you are single that's what society says so the Army will just echo that.
Let me preface this by saying that I’m a single Soldier. The reason you have to live in the barracks and you have to eat at the defac is a cost saving measure for the Army. The Army couldn’t afford paying all the single Soldiers BAS/BAH. Single Soldiers also tend be a higher risk group, having them in the barracks benefits leaders by giving them an easier means to keep accountability of their Soldiers. Inspections help reinforce discipline. If your CoC doesn’t have a standard for what is clean and what is not clean, they’re failing. Furthermore, keeping the barracks clean increases the longevity of the building. No ones stopping you from buying a mattress and putting the blue one underneath your bed or in your closet, or getting a mattress pad. Parking, married soldiers should be parking where the rest of the junior enlisted park. Married people should NOT be using the barracks washer and dryer. At all. They get more than enough money to care for their dependents and hit up a laundromat. Not sure what you mean about counseling/fap stuff causing people to miss training events, those programs are there to assist Soldiers and their families but not take precedence over their job, except in extenuating circumstances. I’ve never seen anyone miss training for that stuff, if they should be planning that around their work schedules, or coordinate with their leaders to avoid that. I really think this bias against single Soldiers you’re perceiving is more superficial than actual as far as the big Army goes. Individual commands vary.
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