Posted on Nov 11, 2020
Many military families are struggling in the era of Covid
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"Even in a so-called normal economy, military spouses have a hard time finding work, since they move so often. Pre-Covid, they faced a 24% unemployment rate, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. The coronavirus has compounded that."
Many military families are struggling in the era of Covid
Posted from cnbc.com
Coronavirus COVID19
Military Family
Personal Finance
Spouses
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 1
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I appreciate this post. We rarely mention sacrifices the military families make to include spousal employment. Unfortunately the spouses careers are put on the back burner quite often. The military has a program that will pay young SMs and their families to bring them up to poverty level, but I really don't see much of a relief because I believe the poverty level for a family of four is like $24,000/year. Here is an article that alludes to spousal employment and poverty in the military. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/military/why-are-many-america-s-military-families-going-hungry-n1028886
Some military families choose between buying groceries, paying bills
At Dewey Elementary in San Diego, where most kids have military parents, the line forms early at the food pantry for free produce, snacks and staples like bread.
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PFC Kimberly Staiti
Thank you so much for sharing this information. The awful divorce rate in the lower ranks is closely tied to the poverty level rate of income they receive.
Imagine the feeling after returning from a combat setting and returning home to see your family using food stamps. We must work on raising the military pay rates.
Imagine the feeling after returning from a combat setting and returning home to see your family using food stamps. We must work on raising the military pay rates.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
PFC Kimberly Staiti - I was a SPC with a wife and a kid. I was happy to get a free turkey for Thanksgiving.
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PFC Kimberly Staiti
MAJ Ken Landgren I got married as a soldier to a soldier in November 1988 and I ETS'd in December. Hubster was PCS'd in January to Fort Carson. He ETS'd January 1990. We knew folks with kids who were on food stamps. As a broker, the Hubs made more money in one month than we made (combined) in the Army.
We both held TSSCI's.
We as a nation need to increase military pay as a matter of national security, IMHO
We both held TSSCI's.
We as a nation need to increase military pay as a matter of national security, IMHO
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MAJ Ken Landgren
PFC Kimberly Staiti - I agree. It is much worse all around for the whole country now due to COVID.
I am going to go on a tangent because I am verbose and have nothing better to say. I donated to a food pantry, but I know it is not enough. I am not trying to brag but during the holiday season I was giving $30 tips for my lunches as a random act of giving at my favorite Mexican restaurant. The Mexican waiters often send money to Mexico to help their families. It was kind of cute. They took turns being my waiter so they could get the nice tips. lol
I don't know exactly what I am trying to say here. As a tank officer I always felt I should roll up my sleeves and get dirty with the soldiers. That was the only way to know if life was miserable for the soldiers. Perhaps those in leadership positions or decision makers should suffer like others, then they can see the truth.
I want to close by saying that there is a benchmark of generosity and magnanimity of Americans that I don't see now. After WWII American families paid the equivalent of $130 in todays money to send hundreds of millions of food packages to war ravaged Europe to keep many of them from starving. For some the alternative would be a family sharing a loaf of bread for a week. The food packages were lifelines. Systems were in place for European school kids to receive food packages for lunch. Some of the packages for the girls had dolls in them. We as a country was magnanimous one time. I just wish we had that generosity in such trying times.
Thanks for letting me ramble and rant. :)
I am going to go on a tangent because I am verbose and have nothing better to say. I donated to a food pantry, but I know it is not enough. I am not trying to brag but during the holiday season I was giving $30 tips for my lunches as a random act of giving at my favorite Mexican restaurant. The Mexican waiters often send money to Mexico to help their families. It was kind of cute. They took turns being my waiter so they could get the nice tips. lol
I don't know exactly what I am trying to say here. As a tank officer I always felt I should roll up my sleeves and get dirty with the soldiers. That was the only way to know if life was miserable for the soldiers. Perhaps those in leadership positions or decision makers should suffer like others, then they can see the truth.
I want to close by saying that there is a benchmark of generosity and magnanimity of Americans that I don't see now. After WWII American families paid the equivalent of $130 in todays money to send hundreds of millions of food packages to war ravaged Europe to keep many of them from starving. For some the alternative would be a family sharing a loaf of bread for a week. The food packages were lifelines. Systems were in place for European school kids to receive food packages for lunch. Some of the packages for the girls had dolls in them. We as a country was magnanimous one time. I just wish we had that generosity in such trying times.
Thanks for letting me ramble and rant. :)
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