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2021-11-18 -Lurid Crime Tales-
‘Shocking truth.' 160,000 military families struggling with food insecurity, report
[JustTheNews] Feeding America estimates that 29% of military members faced food insecurity in the previous year.

At least 160,000 active-duty military members are struggling to feed their families, according to Feeding America, which coordinates over 200 food banks across the country.

It is unknown what the exact scope of the issue is, as there have been no formal studies. But activists say it has continued for years, mostly with junior-level enlisted service members -- ranks E1 to E4 in military parlance -- who have children, The Associated Press reported.
I remember being told by some former young military wives about their shame at needing food stamps to get through the month back when Jimmy Carter was president. Is this a thing that waxes and wanes, or has it been consistently like this the entire time?
"It's a shocking truth that's known to many food banks across the United States," said Feeding America's government relations officer, Vince Hall. "This should be the cause of deep embarrassment."

During the previous year, 29% of military members faced food insecurity, according to an estimate by Feeding America.

Junior enlisted ranks receive modest pay and have to frequently move, making it difficult for their spouses to maintain a job, the AP reported.

There is a significant network of military-adjacent charitable organizations, like Blue Star Families and the Armed Services YMCA, that have created an infrastructure of food banks near the majoriy of most domestic bases.

Military families living outside of base grounds receive a Basic Allowance for Housing to help cover the majority of their costs. But the 2008 Food and Nutrition Act counts the allowance as income when calculating food stamps eligibility, which results in disqualifying thousands of military families.

However, the allowance does not count as income with WIC benefits for mothers and children or for tax reasons.

"It's one of these things that the American people don't know about, but it's a matter of course among military members. We know this," said Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a former Blackhawk pilot who lost both of her legs in a helicopter crash in Iraq. "We're the mightiest military on the face of the earth and yet those who are on the lower rung of our military ranks are -- if they are married and have a child or two-- they're hungry. How can you focus on carrying out the mission and defending our democracy. If you're worried about whether or not your kid gets dinner tonight?"

A U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA) spokesman told AP that officials are "taking a fresh look at our authorities with respect to this policy."

Duckworth has sponsored a bill that would establish a Basic Needs Allowance for needy military families. Rep. James McGovern (D-Mass.) has asked for the Department of Defense to study the problem and repeal the USDA regulation that prevents military families in need from receiving SNAP benefits.

Josh Protas, Vice President of Public Policy for MAZON, an organization that has extensively researched military hunger, said military members dealing with food insecurity are less likely to re-enlist and more likely to be distracted in the field, according to the AP. He added that losing such talent may also be generational as military service tends to run in families.
Posted by Skidmark 2021-11-18 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ]  Top
 File under: Tin Hat Dictators, Presidents for Life, & Kleptocrats 

#1 When I was in, fifty years back, E4 with kids really wanted a part time job. Or food stamps.
Disgraceful. Do you want pix of Meals on Wheels driving into married housing on military bases?
You don't need to pay he E4 and under a princely wage. But if there's a family, for damn' sure you take care of them.
I was, at one point, in a slot where part of my job was what might be considered social work for the troops. Allotments were always screwed up, so we had resources while we got the G89s or whatever at Allotments to get off their butts and fix something.
I remember a First Sergeant, on the horn to battalion finance--that far back. "Misrez Johnson ain't got no food for the baby. You want me to come up there and slap a turd out of you the size of my forarm?" Top would and could have done it. First Sergeants have an ....interesting....position in the Army.
Got it done, too.
Shouldn't have to.
Disgraceful, plus the generational thing. Those are good troops. Can't afford to lose them.
Posted by Richard Aubrey 2021-11-18 01:04||   2021-11-18 01:04|| Front Page Top

#2 Disconnect DoD commissary stores from the insane (Box Store) mandate of average regional community pricing and the foking problem will GO AWAY !

BTW, I'm not an advocate of Army privates being married either. Family subsistence is only one of the problems this situation creates.


Posted by Besoeker 2021-11-18 02:11||   2021-11-18 02:11|| Front Page Top

#3 Jimmy Carter all over again.
Posted by Chealing Chomotle4158 2021-11-18 03:04||   2021-11-18 03:04|| Front Page Top

#4 "focus on carrying out the mission and defending our democracy."

They're not defending our democracy. We're fine.
Posted by Punky Elmigum9411 2021-11-18 06:08||   2021-11-18 06:08|| Front Page Top

#5 It's cyclic with the Donks in charge.

After Vietnam the Donks decided to punish the military for carrying out their Constitutional responsibilities. No pay raises during the Carter inflation. Then it became a campaign issue in 1980 and suddenly they got a very modest pay raise just before the election (and two more in the next year under Reagan).

During Clinton's administration declaring their Cold War savings, the same thing popped up again. His DoD wormtongue blamed it on the troop having too many kids. Later when pressed, they said a family with two kids was their definition of large.

Got to remember these are the same Leftists clowns who demand a "Living Wage" not "Minimum Wage".

Now way back in as late as the 60s during the draft Army, being married with children was considered for deferment. Junior enlisted had to get their company commander's approval to get married. All because when it comes to their most important asset, the troops, they're raging misers. Up until Reagan even those who resided on post, lived in WWII or earlier housing and billeting. Uncle Same was the biggest slum lord in America.
Posted by Procopius2k 2021-11-18 06:39||   2021-11-18 06:39|| Front Page Top

#6 I don’t know where the DOD commissary tied to community store pricing idea originated because here at NAS Whidbey our commissary is significantly cheaper; now if you want to discuss tying Exchange prices to the community that is different. In response to a question posed to region’s NEX a couple years back i was given a copy (since lost) of an instruction that clearly said NEX gas prices could not be more than a couple pennies cheaper than outside. And that made no allowance for fact on base you paid no state taxes. So NEX gas prices were essentially the same and NEX got to pocket all the (avoided) local taxes. So i seldom buy gas on base.
And finally, while junior enlisted may have to use food stamps, it is enlightening to drive through enlisted housing and see all the BMWs, Lexuses(Lexii?), and similar vehicles. I never had that thought process and bought used for many years.
Posted by USN, Ret. 2021-11-18 08:35||   2021-11-18 08:35|| Front Page Top

#7 Ref #6: Good observation and cmnt from NAS Whidbey. I'll never forget seeing foreign diplomats and staff stuffing their shopping carts at the Ft. Bevoir commissary.





Posted by Helmuth, Speaking for Squank7581 2021-11-18 08:43||   2021-11-18 08:43|| Front Page Top

#8 ...and see all the BMWs, Lexuses(Lexii?)

Youngings and enlistment/reenlistment bonuses (and big screen TV).
Posted by Procopius2k 2021-11-18 08:57||   2021-11-18 08:57|| Front Page Top

#9  So NEX gas prices were essentially the same and NEX got to pocket all the (avoided) local taxes.

Why I buy my gas on the reservation. State lost in court trying to get the gas tax on tribal land. And its cheaper even though procured from the same supplier as the off reservation stations.
Posted by Procopius2k 2021-11-18 08:59||   2021-11-18 08:59|| Front Page Top

#10 our commissary is significantly cheaper
Check the 'expiration date' on frozen meats.



Posted by Skidmark 2021-11-18 09:35||   2021-11-18 09:35|| Front Page Top

#11 Disgraceful!
Posted by JohnQC 2021-11-18 09:37||   2021-11-18 09:37|| Front Page Top

#12 For my first 16 years I was an Air Force brat. Dad an 0-5 then 0-6.

We lived on base(s) during all his deployments. Only shopped at Commissary and BX (called PX back in the day). My Mom said they had everything she needed. No need to run into town to A&P.

They split up when I was 16 and boy, going civvie, was a real wakeup call.
Posted by Jack is Back! 2021-11-18 11:54||   2021-11-18 11:54|| Front Page Top

#13 The future all LGBTQ military will not have these sorts of problems.
Posted by ruprecht 2021-11-18 13:40||   2021-11-18 13:40|| Front Page Top

#14 Not all get reenlistment bonuses.
And as to commissary expiration dates: have not seen it any worse than ‘out in town.’
Posted by USN, Ret. 2021-11-18 14:15||   2021-11-18 14:15|| Front Page Top

#15 General Milley looks well fed.
Posted by Airandee 2021-11-18 14:27||   2021-11-18 14:27|| Front Page Top

#16 Which reminds me, did the Army suspend the height and weight standards?
Posted by Procopius2k 2021-11-18 15:50||   2021-11-18 15:50|| Front Page Top

#17 /\ Doesn't matter. I spotted the widest arssed sojur I have ever seen at FOB Speicher in 2007. Walking away from the DFAC. It was a hot, dusty mid-day. I thought it was a mirage. Had to come to a crawl in my Ranger to confirm. To her credit, she obviously hadn't shirked a deployment.
Posted by Besoeker 2021-11-18 16:33||   2021-11-18 16:33|| Front Page Top

#18 General Meally would lead the double-envelopment of Chateau Briand.
Posted by swksvolFF 2021-11-18 17:32||   2021-11-18 17:32|| Front Page Top

09:11 Mercutio
09:07 AlmostAnonymous5839
08:52 Matt
08:24 Matt
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07:42 BrerRabbit
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07:34 trailing wife
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07:30 NN2N1
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