SitNews - Stories in the News - Ketchikan, Alaska

Viewpoints: Letters / Opinions

Food Insecurity Within Our Military

By Donald Moskowitz

 

November 26, 2021
Friday PM


Most of us are celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas with family members, and enjoying bountiful meals, but what about approximately 160,000 families of active-duty military personnel who cannot afford to feed their families.

The food insecurity primarily impacts the most junior enlisted service members from the E1 to E4 ranks. According to the organization Feed America approximately 30% of these military members face food insecurity.

The lowest military ranks suffer with low pay along with high living costs at many base locations in the United States. The frequent moves required by the military makes it difficult for spouses to find work. Additionally, an Agriculture Department rule prevents military families from accessing food stamps.

Although there are charitable organizations providing some assistance, I am sure our military personnel prefer not to access charities for food. Maybe the Defense Department should review the pay rates for junior enlisted ranks and also provide increased living expense funding for high cost of living locations.

The food insecurity can adversely impact our military members and their families, and could have negative effects on our national security. 

Note: In the 1950s I was a Navy enlisted E1 with promotions to E2, E3, E4 and E5.

Donald Moskowitz
Londonderry NH

 

 

About:

 

Editor's Note:

The text of this letter was NOT edited by the SitNews Editor.

Received November 22, 2021 - Published November 26, 2021

Related Viewpoint:

letter

 

Representations of facts and opinions are solely those of the writers and do not represent the opinions of Sitnews.

 

E-mail your letters & opinions to editor@sitnews.us
Your full name, city and state are required for letter publication.

Published letters become the property of SitNews.

SitNews ©2020
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska

Articles & photographs that appear in SitNews are considered protected by copyright and may not be reprinted without written permission from and payment of any required fees to the proper sources.

E-mail your news & photos to editor@sitnews.us

Photographers choosing to submit photographs for publication to SitNews are in doing so granting their permission for publication and for archiving. SitNews does not sell photographs. All requests for purchasing a photograph will be emailed to the photographer.