Posted on Jan 1, 2022
Stigma persists around hunger in military as pandemic numbers remain high
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Soon after getting married, Tabetha Lamb and her husband — a second lieutenant in the Army — were moved to a base in Minot, North Dakota.
The move was challenging and not just because it started snowing in September and didn't stop. But because the two college graduates had to start paying back loans and his first paychecks in the new assignment weren’t correct — too low for his rank.
By Christmas, they were feeling the crunch.
“And there are a few times we got really, really nervous. I did not go to the food pantry at that point. Because he was an officer and it was really frowned upon,” said Lamb.
Rather than ask for help, the two racked up $5,000 in credit card debt. Lamb’s father was in the Air Force and they often struggled early in his career but she says the attitude in the military has been if you can’t make the ends meet, you aren’t being responsible.
The move was challenging and not just because it started snowing in September and didn't stop. But because the two college graduates had to start paying back loans and his first paychecks in the new assignment weren’t correct — too low for his rank.
By Christmas, they were feeling the crunch.
“And there are a few times we got really, really nervous. I did not go to the food pantry at that point. Because he was an officer and it was really frowned upon,” said Lamb.
Rather than ask for help, the two racked up $5,000 in credit card debt. Lamb’s father was in the Air Force and they often struggled early in his career but she says the attitude in the military has been if you can’t make the ends meet, you aren’t being responsible.
Stigma persists around hunger in military as pandemic numbers remain high
Posted from tpr.orgPosted in these groups: 
Food/Chow
Food/Chow
Posted 3 y ago
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Great share. When I assumed my first command I was amazed at the number in my squadron that were receiving assistance, and that was a LONG time ago.
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SFC Randy Hellenbrand
It was rough Sir. When I joined we had just got a HUGE pay raise. I made $288.00 a month. When I got married the housing and food helped but it was one really rough road. Still, some of the happiest days of my life back then.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
SFC Randy Hellenbrand I think there was more of a grin and bear it, do what you can attitude then compared to today's complain attitude.
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SFC Randy Hellenbrand
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen - Well, there were NO CREDIT CARDS in those days Sir. Sometimes the parents helped a bit, but you never wanted to ask. You lived within your means and sometimes you got a bit of a side job. I did a bit of bouncer work to help out. I just wish my CO would of believed me when I told him it was a heat of the moment thing when that MP gabbed me while I was breaking up a bar fight where I worked. It really was a beaut of a shiner I gave him.
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CWO3 (Join to see)
When I recruited 84-87, the media reported that E6 and below were drawing poverty wages, even qualifying for food stamps in some cases. No surprise considering how poor many are at induction. There was a case in CA of an Army SGT's kid hanging himself around that time. He overhead the parents discussing how tight things were and helped in the only way he thought he could. Sorry if NY Times blocks.
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/09/us/military-families-struggle-for-basics-of-life.html
https://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/09/us/military-families-struggle-for-basics-of-life.html
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This brings back several memories for me. My dad was Army National Guard for his entire career. He was a technician first and then AGR from the mid-80s. I remember having what we needed, but not having what we wanted until I was well into my teens. He knew how to make things worked and sacrificed for us to have good quality in the things the we needed. He is still amazing at managing personal finances and I credit him with my ability to do so even in tough times.
The other memory... Everyone thinks that officers are living large but I remember when every penny coming in had to quickly go back out in the beginning. I was a college grad with pretty reasonable student loan debt and I don't live lavishly even today, but I was making considerably less than what my fellow engineering graduates were making. Things got better quickly for me, but I think about how tuition costs have ballooned since then and wonder how some of these butter bars and First Lieutenants make it these days.
The other memory... Everyone thinks that officers are living large but I remember when every penny coming in had to quickly go back out in the beginning. I was a college grad with pretty reasonable student loan debt and I don't live lavishly even today, but I was making considerably less than what my fellow engineering graduates were making. Things got better quickly for me, but I think about how tuition costs have ballooned since then and wonder how some of these butter bars and First Lieutenants make it these days.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Ya, we struggled for many years repaying student loans, even with flight pay, but that debt was nothing compared to what I see students having now.
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