A recent report highlights a troubling situation regarding the US Army’s food program aimed at supporting junior enlisted soldiers. It reveals that a large chunk of funds, meant for meals, was redirected to other uses. Only about $74 million of the $225 million that was deducted from soldiers through the Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) actually went towards food.
This means that most of the money, which should have paid for meals, ended up in the Army’s general budget instead. An Army official explained that these funds “just return to the big pool of Army funds” and are spent elsewhere.
The BAS program functions almost like a tax, taking out $460 each month from soldiers living in barracks to cover their food expenses. However, shocking numbers from major military bases show that in 2024, $151 million of the collected funds was not spent on meals. Since this system is in place at 104 garrisons, the total number could be much higher.
To illustrate, at Fort Stewart in Georgia, soldiers contributed $17 million to the program, but only $2.1 million was actually spent on food. This means that a staggering 87% of the designated funds were redirected. Most of the bases reviewed in the report spent less than half of their collected funds on food.
Rep. Jul Tokuda, a Democrat from Hawaii, criticized this practice sharply. She stated, “Stealing food money from our soldiers is not how we achieve military readiness.” She called for an immediate investigation and accountability, especially since many soldiers are facing food shortages at military commissaries. Reports from Fort Carson in Colorado indicate that some soldiers are struggling to find basic meals and are resorting to eating simple items like lima beans and toast. Concerns about food quality are also widespread, with complaints about undercooked meat, bland meals, a lack of fresh ingredients, and unhealthy options.
This situation raises serious questions about how service members are being supported and underscores the need for improved oversight of military funding.
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