'Stealing food money from our soldiers': Troops going hungry as food budgets spent elsewhere

17 February

Millions of dollars meant to go toward feeding soldiers at U.S. Army bases are instead being redirected elsewhere, and it's unclear where those funds are going.

Military.com recently reported that more than $151 million out of $225 million in money contributed directly from service members' paychecks for food on bases — also known as a Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) payment — is not actually being spent for feeding troops. The outlet noted that it only examined BAS payments at the 11 largest bases, meaning that the actual dollar amount of redirected food budgets is likely far higher given that the Army operates 104 garrisons.

One of the most striking examples was at Fort Stewart in Georgia, where only $2.1 million out of $17 million in BAS payments went toward providing meals for soldiers, meaning 87% of troops' food money was redirected. And while Schofield Barracks in Hawaii took $14.5 million from troops' checks for food, only $5.3 million actually went toward feeding service members.

"Stealing food money from our soldiers is not how we achieve military readiness," Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii) told Military.com. "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 problem of soldiers not being fed sufficiently has persisted for several years, according to the outlet. At Fort Carson in Colorado last November, soldiers reported being fed just a slice of toast and a portion of lima beans. And in the summer of 2023, Military.com reported only two of 10 dining halls at Fort Cravazos in Texas were operational, which resulted in many soldiers "struggling to find meals."

Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston — who is the top enlisted member of the Army — reportedly attempted to revamp troops' meals to more closely resemble those fed to professional athletes. This included efforts to incorporate fresh protein shakes and healthier food options only to meet bureaucratic snags. Instead, bases invested more in "kiosks," which replaced hot meals cooked by food vendors on site with pre-packaged snacks and pre-made sandwiches akin to gas station deli meals high in sugar and low in protein.

Army spokesperson Major Andrea Kelly told the outlet that the food budgets are based on headcount at mess halls on base, which has been dwindling amid complaints of low-quality food, undercooked meat, a lack of seasoning and unhealthy options. This means less money is spent as fewer troops eat at mess halls. However, Military.com reported that former Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) made an inquiry about BAS payments not going toward soldiers' meals before the Covid-19 pandemic, which went unacknowledged with no follow-up.

Click here to read Military.com's full report.

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