Posted on Jan 1, 2022
Stigma persists around hunger in military as pandemic numbers remain high
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Soon after getting married, Tabetha Lamb and her husband — a second lieutenant in the Army — were moved to a base in Minot, North Dakota.
The move was challenging and not just because it started snowing in September and didn't stop. But because the two college graduates had to start paying back loans and his first paychecks in the new assignment weren’t correct — too low for his rank.
By Christmas, they were feeling the crunch.
“And there are a few times we got really, really nervous. I did not go to the food pantry at that point. Because he was an officer and it was really frowned upon,” said Lamb.
Rather than ask for help, the two racked up $5,000 in credit card debt. Lamb’s father was in the Air Force and they often struggled early in his career but she says the attitude in the military has been if you can’t make the ends meet, you aren’t being responsible.
The move was challenging and not just because it started snowing in September and didn't stop. But because the two college graduates had to start paying back loans and his first paychecks in the new assignment weren’t correct — too low for his rank.
By Christmas, they were feeling the crunch.
“And there are a few times we got really, really nervous. I did not go to the food pantry at that point. Because he was an officer and it was really frowned upon,” said Lamb.
Rather than ask for help, the two racked up $5,000 in credit card debt. Lamb’s father was in the Air Force and they often struggled early in his career but she says the attitude in the military has been if you can’t make the ends meet, you aren’t being responsible.
Stigma persists around hunger in military as pandemic numbers remain high
Posted from tpr.orgPosted in these groups: 
Food/Chow
Food/Chow
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
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Great share. When I assumed my first command I was amazed at the number in my squadron that were receiving assistance, and that was a LONG time ago.
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SFC Randy Hellenbrand
It was rough Sir. When I joined we had just got a HUGE pay raise. I made $288.00 a month. When I got married the housing and food helped but it was one really rough road. Still, some of the happiest days of my life back then.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
SFC Randy Hellenbrand I think there was more of a grin and bear it, do what you can attitude then compared to today's complain attitude.
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SFC Randy Hellenbrand
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen - Well, there were NO CREDIT CARDS in those days Sir. Sometimes the parents helped a bit, but you never wanted to ask. You lived within your means and sometimes you got a bit of a side job. I did a bit of bouncer work to help out. I just wish my CO would of believed me when I told him it was a heat of the moment thing when that MP gabbed me while I was breaking up a bar fight where I worked. It really was a beaut of a shiner I gave him.
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CWO3 (Join to see)
When I recruited 84-87, the media reported that E6 and below were drawing poverty wages, even qualifying for food stamps in some cases. No surprise considering how poor many are at induction. There was a case in CA of an Army SGT's kid hanging himself around that time. He overhead the parents discussing how tight things were and helped in the only way he thought he could. Sorry if NY Times blocks.
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/09/us/military-families-struggle-for-basics-of-life.html
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/09/us/military-families-struggle-for-basics-of-life.html
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel It shouldn't be this way!
..."Hunger in the Military has been a problem for decades. Often low-ranking service members have too little food and limited options. Twenty percent of active-duty respondents to a survey this year say they experienced food insecurity and more than 10 percent experienced hunger.
The problem was complicated by the pandemic when military spouses lost jobs or family members got sick. According to the U.S. Census, active military and reserve members experienced food insecurity at a rate far exceeding the nation. For much of the pandemic, they were double the national average.
Despite these eyebrow raising data points, there is very little academic research into the impacts on active duty military members. According to the USDA, only two papers have been published.
One published in May showed that one in three active duty military members was marginally food insecure and that food security played a role in retention and mental health."...
..."Hunger in the Military has been a problem for decades. Often low-ranking service members have too little food and limited options. Twenty percent of active-duty respondents to a survey this year say they experienced food insecurity and more than 10 percent experienced hunger.
The problem was complicated by the pandemic when military spouses lost jobs or family members got sick. According to the U.S. Census, active military and reserve members experienced food insecurity at a rate far exceeding the nation. For much of the pandemic, they were double the national average.
Despite these eyebrow raising data points, there is very little academic research into the impacts on active duty military members. According to the USDA, only two papers have been published.
One published in May showed that one in three active duty military members was marginally food insecure and that food security played a role in retention and mental health."...
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