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Show THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO make up our armed forces are more educated, sophisticated and technically skilled than ever before in the history of the U.S. military. Yet their high level of ability makes the challenge they face all the more troubling—eventragic. For, although their military needs, suchasthelatest weaponry and equipment, are recognized,their personal needs—including adequate food, housing and financial support for themselves and their families —are often neglected, ignored or shrugged off. “The military poor” is the phrase used by the Association of the U.S. Armyto describe the plight of growing numbers ofenlisted personnelin all branches of service who subsist on food stamps or who need other forms ofpublic assistance to make ends meet. “Too many good young Marinesare leaving,” says Sgt. Maj, Michael McGrawofthe Ist Marine Expeditionary Force. “Manylance corporals and corporals are bailing outaftertheirfirst hitch, because our operational commitments have been burning them out. Andthe paytheyreceive isn’t enoughto take care of their families. Sometry to supplementtheir earnings by working another job on the side. Many seniorsergeants report that a substantial number of Marines receive social services in town,including food stamps. Manyothers who could use and would qualify fe those services are too proud to apply.” Morethan half of the Marine Corpsare privates and lance corporals whose annual pay range of $11,000 to $13,000 is below the national povertyline for a family of four. The growingtoll of overseas deployments, lack of housing on military bases and the struggle to keep up with the costofliving have contributed to serious morale problems. During 199394, although the Corps largely maintainedits overall force structure, only 16 percentofthe eligible Marines reenlisted aftertheirfirst four-year term, down from nearly 40 percent during the mid-1980s. In today’s armedforces, the 2.5 million family members,including 1.4 million children, overshadow the 1.5 million active-duty men and women. During the heightof the Vietnam war,less than 15 percentofthe armed forces, mostly senior ranking members, were married. Today, close to 65 percent, including many young enlisted people, are either married or are single parents. The need to provide adequate housing, child care and medical services competes with the costs of essential training, new weaponssystems and maintaining aging equipment. Fort Stewart, Ga. hometo the Army’s 24th Mechanized Infantry ion (soon to be renamed the 3rd Division), which was decorated for valor in Thousands of families in today’s armed forces can’t make ends meet: When It’s Here Than Over There S COVER PHOTOGRAPHBY ART STEIN/PHOTO RESEARCHERS A N T O PAGE 4 MAY 20, 1995 L PARADE MAGAZINE |
