DEPT OF DEFENSE RECOMMENDS FOOD STAMPS FOR SOLDIERS

[Dee]

Inflation has reached such extremes that the United States military has recommended soldiers apply for food stamps.

Amazing.

https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/u-s-army-officials-recommend-issuing-food-stamps-to-service-members/

[Lloyd Smale]

Its sad that they pay the people that put there lives on the line at poverty levels.

[Dee]

Inflation is the problem Lloyd. Everything has almost doubled in price.

[Lloyd Smale]

that and there wages arent adjusted for inflation. that should be the absolute minimum they should do for them. If you figured the real world hours most enlisted in the military put in its doubtful an E-3 makes make 8 bucks an hour. They make less then 30k a year. When we were in columbia we averaged 12 hour days 7 days a week for 3 weeks then went state side for a week and trained 3 days (8 hours) then had 3 days off. so in fact we got 3 days off a month and 7 days to spend with our familys. Thats if nobody on the other teams were sick or hurt. If so you didnt get to go state side. I always told people later in life that if they had to pay OT i could have got out after 8 years and drove a Porche home.  Even on a ship or deployed overseas you have to factor they not only need a bit of spending money but have to support there familys back home. 

Inflation is the problem Lloyd. Everything has almost doubled in price.

[Dee]

When I was a rookie cop Lloyd,  I qualified for Welfare. Police officers don't have a PX, or a base grocery store, or free medical for themselves and their families, and I continually worked double shifts, and numerous part time jobs.
I never drew welfare, ect, I just found more part time jobs, and did without.

[Lloyd Smale]

Dont doubt it a bit. The city cops here dont make crap. Guy holding a sign up on construction site probably makes twice as much.  Even the chief of the city police makes much less then the guys at the paper mill. Sherrifs dept is a bit better and the state cops have it pretty good. But anymore the px or base grocery store doesnt save you much of anything. Most times walmart is cheaper. I went into an exchange for the first time in 40 years last summer and was blown away by how high the prices of electronics like tvs were there. Much higher then a box store. Yup they get free medical but the caliber of doctors the military attracts are the best.

When I was a rookie cop Lloyd,  I qualified for Welfare. Police officers don't have a PX, or a base grocery store, or free medical for themselves and their families, and I continually worked double shifts, and numerous part time jobs.
I never drew welfare, ect, I just found more part time jobs, and did without.

[nw_hunter]

When I was a rookie cop Lloyd,  I qualified for Welfare. Police officers don't have a PX, or a base grocery store, or free medical for themselves and their families, and I continually worked double shifts, and numerous part time jobs.
I never drew welfare, ect, I just found more part time jobs, and did without.

I remember my BIL  as a LEO always usually working a part time Job, and some double shifts as well until he reached the rank of Capt. Perhaps then as well. I 'm not sure because by then I was killing it with a whopping 98.00 a month as an E-1 in Ft Hood Tx. All of our meals, military clothing, and medical was part of the pay. I think in the entire 3 plus years I was in the Army, I visited the clinics perhaps 3 or 4 times.

[Dee]

When I was a rookie cop Lloyd,  I qualified for Welfare. Police officers don't have a PX, or a base grocery store, or free medical for themselves and their families, and I continually worked double shifts, and numerous part time jobs.
I never drew welfare, ect, I just found more part time jobs, and did without.

I remember my BIL  as a LEO always usually working a part time Job, and some double shifts as well until he reached the rank of Capt. Perhaps then as well. I 'm not sure because by then I was killing it with a whopping 98.00 a month as an E-1 in Ft Hood Tx. All of our meals, military clothing, and medical was part of the pay. I think in the entire 3 plus years I was in the Army, I visited the clinics perhaps 3 or 4 times.

And you still have free medical for life for your 3 years of service.
I've paid for my own, and my family for my entire adult life.

The point of the thread is: With all the military benefits, medical ect, plus pay, they should not need welfare, or food stamps.

Bidens' inflation is much higher than claimed, and is ridiculous to the point of causing such a situation.

[Lloyd Smale]

Dee free medical coverage through the va is income based unless your disabled. You have to make less the 35k a year to qualify. There are also 8 different levels and some have to pay deductables and things like dental and eye care arent included. For the most part those who qualify for full medical make below the max and would qualify for medcaid anyway. Income does include social security. Now if you have medicare or insurance you can go to a VA hospital but they will bill your insurance or medicare and you will pay deductalbes and copays just like if you went to a regular hospital. I think most that get full social security and even a small pension dont qualify. Also there 8 levels and the VA is about overwelmed right now and they can turn down level 7 and 8 people if they dont have the doctors or resourses to deal with you. Also this last inflation spike wasnt the start of low ranking military qualifying for food stamps. that first happened in 2001. For over 20 years its been going on and NO administration has addressed it. 

When I was a rookie cop Lloyd,  I qualified for Welfare. Police officers don't have a PX, or a base grocery store, or free medical for themselves and their families, and I continually worked double shifts, and numerous part time jobs.
I never drew welfare, ect, I just found more part time jobs, and did without.

I remember my BIL  as a LEO always usually working a part time Job, and some double shifts as well until he reached the rank of Capt. Perhaps then as well. I 'm not sure because by then I was killing it with a whopping 98.00 a month as an E-1 in Ft Hood Tx. All of our meals, military clothing, and medical was part of the pay. I think in the entire 3 plus years I was in the Army, I visited the clinics perhaps 3 or 4 times.

And you still have free medical for life for your 3 years of service.
I've paid for my own, and my family for my entire adult life.

The point of the thread is: With all the military benefits, medical ect, plus pay, they should not need welfare, or food stamps.

Bidens' inflation is much higher than claimed, and is ridiculous to the point of causing such a situation.

[ironglow]

  It is a total disgrace, no member of our military should be applying for food stamps, especially when our federal government is spending trillions on an unproven "climate change" wild goose chase.

  Nor should a LEO be forced to use food stamps.  Some people are demanding the defunding of police, even some who live in communities that need police the most!  Who can be so stupid?

   Here's a bit of ancient wisdom for such misled people who think it is OK to underpay military or police.

   
18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”  (1 Timothy 5:18)

  BTW: Except for severely wounded veterans, we vets don't get "free medical" for life..  The VA plan is much like any other health care plan, in fact it is run by such a plan.  We pay co-pays, just as other plans require.

   Even active duty personnel have something called "Tri-Care". I don't know if deductions are made for this plan.
  Perhaps Team Nelson or another recent or current military  can comment..

   
 
   In fact, I also carry a civilian health care plan too. I sometimes use one..sometimes the other.

[O-mega]

This isn't new, back in 83 when I went in, most under the rank of SPC (E-4) could qualify for food stamps and WIC (pregnancy and young kids).  I never applied, opting to pawn a rifle I had most every end of month to get groceries for the family, and getting it back out on payday.  Did that all the way until I got E-4, then the raise was just enough to stop the practice.  Of course, the wife stayed home, we had two and a third on the way at home to take care of.  Now, many have two working parents, but still barely manage until they get to E-4 or E-5 (some not even then), depending on a bunch of factors, cost of living, spending habits, living within their means etc. 

[Lloyd Smale]

one the other side of the argument you do get GI bill which will pay for college. Thats a BIG benifit to those who use it. Also like the police you werent forced to join. We all knew the pay scale when we went in and the government didnt issue you a family. that was your choice. A single man in the military really doesnt have it bad. Only way it changes especially with the libs in charge is if whats happening today gets worse and people get out and just dont join. It isnt like the power company having to give the 600 employees mine had a 4 percent raise. Theres 1.3 MILLION people in the miltary in this country. But even that said i see our liberal government giving billions to stupid crap like global warming/green energy. It would be much better spent making our military and police jobs more attractive to better quality people and more of them.

[ironglow]

one the other side of the argument you do get GI bill which will pay for college. Thats a BIG benifit to those who use it. Also like the police you werent forced to join. We all knew the pay scale when we went in and the government didnt issue you a family. that was your choice. A single man in the military really doesnt have it bad. Only way it changes especially with the libs in charge is if whats happening today gets worse and people get out and just dont join. It isnt like the power company having to give the 600 employees mine had a 4 percent raise. Theres 1.3 MILLION people in the miltary in this country. But even that said i see our liberal government giving billions to stupid crap like global warming/green energy. It would be much better spent making our military and police jobs more attractive to better quality people and more of them.

  I see by the news, that nurses in Minneapolis are striking for a 30% raise.  They have been offered 12%, but turned the offer down.  Doesn't that seem a bit greedy?

[Lloyd Smale]

 Id say. Worked for the power company almost 30 years and once we got a 6 percent raise. Most were 3-4 and thats a 3 year contract not 3 percent a year. We also have a crap retirement plan. It never goes up for any reason. WHat you get when you retire is the same as you get 20 years later. My buddy's dad retired 15 years before me and he got 650 bucks a month. Wasnt bad at the time but he died last year getting the same pension. Pretty tough to do much more then pay your utilities with that and many places that wouldnt even cover utilities. but i cant bitch because now you contribute to a 401k or get nothing. With the way the stock market is today even contributing sure isnt going to get you a comfortable retirement. 

one the other side of the argument you do get GI bill which will pay for college. Thats a BIG benifit to those who use it. Also like the police you werent forced to join. We all knew the pay scale when we went in and the government didnt issue you a family. that was your choice. A single man in the military really doesnt have it bad. Only way it changes especially with the libs in charge is if whats happening today gets worse and people get out and just dont join. It isnt like the power company having to give the 600 employees mine had a 4 percent raise. Theres 1.3 MILLION people in the miltary in this country. But even that said i see our liberal government giving billions to stupid crap like global warming/green energy. It would be much better spent making our military and police jobs more attractive to better quality people and more of them.

  I see by the news, that nurses in Minneapolis are striking for a 30% raise.  They have been offered 12%, but turned the offer down.  Doesn't that seem a bit greedy?

[O-mega]

one the other side of the argument you do get GI bill which will pay for college. Thats a BIG benifit to those who use it. Also like the police you werent forced to join. We all knew the pay scale when we went in and the government didnt issue you a family. that was your choice. A single man in the military really doesnt have it bad. Only way it changes especially with the libs in charge is if whats happening today gets worse and people get out and just dont join. It isnt like the power company having to give the 600 employees mine had a 4 percent raise. Theres 1.3 MILLION people in the miltary in this country. But even that said i see our liberal government giving billions to stupid crap like global warming/green energy. It would be much better spent making our military and police jobs more attractive to better quality people and more of them.

  I see by the news, that nurses in Minneapolis are striking for a 30% raise.  They have been offered 12%, but turned the offer down.  Doesn't that seem a bit greedy?

I think that depends on what their pay is in regards to cost of living, hospital profits, and compared to doctor's pay.  In NC, where my daughter works, she was given two large pay raises one was to compete for LPNs, and the other was to better match their workload vs the doctors workload and pay.

Id say. Worked for the power company almost 30 years and once we got a 6 percent raise. Most were 3-4 and thats a 3 year contract not 3 percent a year. We also have a crap retirement plan. It never goes up for any reason. WHat you get when you retire is the same as you get 20 years later. My buddy's dad retired 15 years before me and he got 650 bucks a month. Wasnt bad at the time but he died last year getting the same pension. Pretty tough to do much more then pay your utilities with that and many places that wouldnt even cover utilities. but i cant bitch because now you contribute to a 401k or get nothing. With the way the stock market is today even contributing sure isnt going to get you a comfortable retirement. 

Well Lloyd, I guess I'll throw it right back at you, the power company workers knew the pay scale and retirement benefits when they accepted a job there.  When I joined in 83', I had no idea what the pay was, no idea what retirement would be, what punishment my body and mind would have to endure, or really any of the hardships I would have to go through to get to retirement.  Yes, IMO soldiers do have decent benefits now, but they have to put up with a lot for them as well.

[Lloyd Smale]

your right. I knew exactly what the pay was when i took the job just like i knew exactly what the pay was when i joined the military. Cant imagine anyone taking any job without knowing what he will be getting paid and what the benifits are. Doesnt mean by any stretch of the imagination that i think our soldiers are payed fairly or for that matter our police. I got by just fine in the military on the pay i got but then i didnt get married until i was an e-4 and made e-5 shortly after. I got out at 8 as an e6 and if it wasnt for my learning disabled son would have gladly stayed in. I just wanted a more stable schooling for him and my ma taught spec ed back home. Then add to that i was away for months at a time. even at that i had a job lined up before i got out. But even working 12 hour days about every day of the week the military was the best job i ever had. Only job i can honestly say i loved. I think back on it with regret all the time but have to tell myself that with my injurys i would have never been able to do 20-30 years doing what i did in the military and would have probably ended up behind a desk. 

one the other side of the argument you do get GI bill which will pay for college. Thats a BIG benifit to those who use it. Also like the police you werent forced to join. We all knew the pay scale when we went in and the government didnt issue you a family. that was your choice. A single man in the military really doesnt have it bad. Only way it changes especially with the libs in charge is if whats happening today gets worse and people get out and just dont join. It isnt like the power company having to give the 600 employees mine had a 4 percent raise. Theres 1.3 MILLION people in the miltary in this country. But even that said i see our liberal government giving billions to stupid crap like global warming/green energy. It would be much better spent making our military and police jobs more attractive to better quality people and more of them.

  I see by the news, that nurses in Minneapolis are striking for a 30% raise.  They have been offered 12%, but turned the offer down.  Doesn't that seem a bit greedy?

I think that depends on what their pay is in regards to cost of living, hospital profits, and compared to doctor's pay.  In NC, where my daughter works, she was given two large pay raises one was to compete for LPNs, and the other was to better match their workload vs the doctors workload and pay.

Id say. Worked for the power company almost 30 years and once we got a 6 percent raise. Most were 3-4 and thats a 3 year contract not 3 percent a year. We also have a crap retirement plan. It never goes up for any reason. WHat you get when you retire is the same as you get 20 years later. My buddy's dad retired 15 years before me and he got 650 bucks a month. Wasnt bad at the time but he died last year getting the same pension. Pretty tough to do much more then pay your utilities with that and many places that wouldnt even cover utilities. but i cant bitch because now you contribute to a 401k or get nothing. With the way the stock market is today even contributing sure isnt going to get you a comfortable retirement. 

Well Lloyd, I guess I'll throw it right back at you, the power company workers knew the pay scale and retirement benefits when they accepted a job there.  When I joined in 83', I had no idea what the pay was, no idea what retirement would be, what punishment my body and mind would have to endure, or really any of the hardships I would have to go through to get to retirement.  Yes, IMO soldiers do have decent benefits now, but they have to put up with a lot for them as well.