They’re cash grubbing grub cash
Thousands and thousands of {dollars} collected by the USA Military for a meals program had been spent elsewhere — with lower than half of the funds really discovering their option to troopers’ plates, in accordance with a report.
An investigative report from Army.com discovered that of the $225 million snatched up from junior enlisted troopers as a part of the Primary Allowance for Subsistence program, simply $74 million went in the direction of meals.
“It’s just returned to the big pool of army funds, and it’s used someplace else,” an official informed the outlet.
The cash is collected in what quantities to a tax on troops — taken from their BAS cost of $460 per 30 days and mechanically deducted from paychecks of service members who reside in barracks. This system is meant to assist enlisted women and men to cowl meals prices.
However information from the 11 largest navy bases present in 2024, $151 million of the $225 million garnered from troopers was not spent on meals, in accordance with Army.com.
That quantity is presumably larger, contemplating the Military operates 104 garrisons, which all use the identical program.
In a single egregious instance, Fort Stewart, Georgia collected $17 million from troopers — however spent simply $2.1 million of it on grub. Which means 87% of meals funds had been redirected for different tasks, in accordance with the report.
All however two bases reviewed left greater than half of the cash for meals unspent, in accordance with the report.
“Stealing food money from our soldiers is not how we achieve military readiness,” Rep. Jul Tokuda (D-Hawaii) informed the Army.com, including, “The fact that at least $151 million was collected from soldiers and not spent on food as required demands not just an immediate investigation, but swift accountability.”
The revelation comes as troopers face an uphill battle in relation to commissary wants.
The outlet reviews that Fort Carson, Colorado, skilled pervasive meals shortages that left troopers to dine on lime beans and toast.
Stories from service members incessantly roast the poor high quality of meals served up by the Military — citing undercooked meat, unseasoned meals, lack of recent elements and unhealthy menu choices, Army.com reported.
