Posted on Feb 21, 2023
Nearly half of junior enlisted spouses coped with food insecurity
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Good morning, RP family!
According to a study, many junior and even some senior enlisted spouses have coped with food insecurity. Although at varying levels, the study unearthed an alarming problem amongst our force that should be addressed very swiftly. Our service members and families who support our nation must at a bare minimum always have shelter and enough food in their pantry.
In my opinion, there are a couple of problems with food insecurity amongst troops and their families. The first is cost of living expenses are very high and it will only get worse as the latest CPI shows a much slower than anticipated inflation reduction. The second is our nation's "spend culture" where spending and getting into debt is normalized as a routine way of living. Perhaps each service branch should work to educate junior service members about budgeting while Congress should work on developing an additional food stipend?
What are your thoughts? Feel free to like this post and share your response!
According to a study, many junior and even some senior enlisted spouses have coped with food insecurity. Although at varying levels, the study unearthed an alarming problem amongst our force that should be addressed very swiftly. Our service members and families who support our nation must at a bare minimum always have shelter and enough food in their pantry.
In my opinion, there are a couple of problems with food insecurity amongst troops and their families. The first is cost of living expenses are very high and it will only get worse as the latest CPI shows a much slower than anticipated inflation reduction. The second is our nation's "spend culture" where spending and getting into debt is normalized as a routine way of living. Perhaps each service branch should work to educate junior service members about budgeting while Congress should work on developing an additional food stipend?
What are your thoughts? Feel free to like this post and share your response!
Nearly half of junior enlisted spouses coped with food insecurity
Posted from armytimes.com
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Edited 1 y ago
Posted 1 y ago
Responses: 2
The article is actually wrong with that headline. Nearly half of those that reported food insecurity were junior enlisted, not "Half of junior enlisted" (see chart). In other words, of the 25% that reported food insecurity, 45% of them were junior enlisted (E1-E4).
However, to your points raise in the second paragraph, I completely agree. The 25% of military spouses that reported food insecurity is more than twice that of the civilian population (10.2%)*.
The new Basic Needs Allowance* should absolutely help with that (that just went into effect this year, so it is not reflected in this study). The BNA brings your pay up to 130% of the federal poverty level (note: the BNA is calculated off of ALL family income, not just the base pay of the Servicemember), so for a family of four, that would be a minimum household income of $3,250 a month.
I think DoD is taking steps in the right direction to rectify issues, but can do more (ESPECIALLY in the data gathering aspect).
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* DoD Study - https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3295629/dod-survey-delivers-data-on-well-being-of-military-spouses/
* https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting-the-essentials/food-security-and-nutrition-assistance/
* Federal Poverty Guidelines - https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines
* DFAS guide to BNA - https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/bna/
However, to your points raise in the second paragraph, I completely agree. The 25% of military spouses that reported food insecurity is more than twice that of the civilian population (10.2%)*.
The new Basic Needs Allowance* should absolutely help with that (that just went into effect this year, so it is not reflected in this study). The BNA brings your pay up to 130% of the federal poverty level (note: the BNA is calculated off of ALL family income, not just the base pay of the Servicemember), so for a family of four, that would be a minimum household income of $3,250 a month.
I think DoD is taking steps in the right direction to rectify issues, but can do more (ESPECIALLY in the data gathering aspect).
------------------------------------
* DoD Study - https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3295629/dod-survey-delivers-data-on-well-being-of-military-spouses/
* https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting-the-essentials/food-security-and-nutrition-assistance/
* Federal Poverty Guidelines - https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines
* DFAS guide to BNA - https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/bna/
DOD Survey Delivers Data on Well-Being of Military Spouses
The Defense Department announced yesterday the results of its biennial survey of military spouses that provides key insights into the well-being of military families on topics, including food
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MSG (Join to see)
Nice information, sir! I've heard that not many people qualify for the BNA which is not contributing to the food security issue amongst service members and their families.
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COL Randall C.
MSG (Join to see) - Rgr. That "total household income" throws a lot of people because they assume it's the base pay of the Servicemember. It seems that the BNA would help out in a lot fewer situations than we would hope.
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Perhaps a ratio of Food costs per child/ spouse should be in the mix? Or a way of figuring cost of necessities for the age of the child ; diapers / food/ bottles and formula for the youngest, then scale it on a median for age/ health/... of the child/ spouse,... then go from there.
For clothing, for children, have a circuit share system of gently used/ like new clothing from among the families on base and off.
As well as discounted items at the PX . It is a bit disheartening to go off base into a thrift / second hand clothing store and have to use part of the food money for clothes and such.
Especially when others on base could share the clothes etc for younger kids- under tween aged ,
Have bicycles etc stored away for use by the next child, old enough to ride / learn to ride a bike.
Turn military families into... a community sharing the things they can... like baseball gloves / bikes/ ... within the base's families.
Food and clothing are high costs.
Buffer the gaps in Bicycles and such things by establishing a care and share circuit with in the Base / off base families.
For clothing, for children, have a circuit share system of gently used/ like new clothing from among the families on base and off.
As well as discounted items at the PX . It is a bit disheartening to go off base into a thrift / second hand clothing store and have to use part of the food money for clothes and such.
Especially when others on base could share the clothes etc for younger kids- under tween aged ,
Have bicycles etc stored away for use by the next child, old enough to ride / learn to ride a bike.
Turn military families into... a community sharing the things they can... like baseball gloves / bikes/ ... within the base's families.
Food and clothing are high costs.
Buffer the gaps in Bicycles and such things by establishing a care and share circuit with in the Base / off base families.
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