U.S. service members and their families are facing inflation while awaiting a pay increase included in upcoming legislation.
Inflation ticked down to 8.3% for the 12 months ending in August, which was still hotter than expected. The consumer price index released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Tuesday showed that the energy index fell 5% on the month but is still at a sky-high 23.8% for the 12 months ending in August, while food prices increased by more than 11% during that same period.
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Military leaders have addressed the ongoing struggle with inflation. The House included a 4.6% pay increase in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, which was determined before inflation reached its current level, various defense officials have admitted to congressional leaders. The House, during deliberations, rejected an amendment to establish a minimum base pay of $31,200 annually, equivalent to $15 hourly.
“Over the past year, the Department of Defense has focused on ways to take better care of our Service members and their families, and we still have more work to do,” Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Charlie Dietz told the Daily Caller News Foundation. He also said that the Pentagon “will continue to develop and implement solutions.”
Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston urged soldiers who are in difficult financial situations to utilize the Army’s Financial Readiness Program, which includes the use of food stamps, in a message to troops last month.
“With inflation affecting everything from gas prices to groceries to rent, some Soldiers and their families are finding it harder to get by on the budgets they’ve set and used before,” he wrote. “Soldiers and Families who know about and take advantage of these resources put themselves on a path toward a lifetime of solid financial health. Via online tools, phone calls with personal financial counselors and visits to the local installation Army Community Service Center, help is just a click, call or a walk away, and there’s no time like the present to get started.”
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All of this comes as every military branch is facing significant struggles recruiting new enlistees due to a variety of reasons, defense officials have said. In addition to a smaller percentage of people meeting the military’s strenuous requirements, leaders have also pointed to the coronavirus pandemic as another negative factor contributing to the recruitment dearth because they were unable to go to high schools or other similar grounds.
