This past week I was part of the Military Officers Association (MOAA) team (two of us) to brief our congressional delegation on issues important to our military and veterans. National MOAA briefed the State Chapters on the priority issues we were to focus one. The overall issue was/is recruiting and retention for the services. I did not appreciate the severity of the problem until we were given the facts. Since the creation of the all-volunteer military in 1973, recruiting has not been an issue. But today all but Space Force are falling short of their goals. One reason is that 63% of our active duty military would not recommend serving today in our military. That is down from 75% just 2 years ago. It isn’t the work they do or the missions they are required to perform, it is the ability to support their families. Today, an E-5, a middle grade enlisted family person, typically with about 4-6 years of service, with an income of base pay, housing pay and subsistence pay and normal expenses for a family of four would fall $433 short each month. The housing pay is based on the average rental rate in the area.

Starting in 2018, Congress reduced the housing pay by 1%/year until it reached 95%. Congress restored 2% in the National Defense 2023 Authorization Act, but still falls short of the cost to cover housing. MOAA and the other service organizations are requesting congress restore the housing pay. Both Senator Collins and Senator King support this return to 100%. Senator Collins also said that the military base pay for enlisted falls short of the commensurate wages in the private sector. Since 2014, pay increases have not matched inflation which adds to the financial burden of our military personnel. We also briefed the delegation on the erosion of healthcare benefits. While military personnel healthcare is provided by the Defense Health Agency (DHA), dependent and retired military’s healthcare is provided by TRICARE. Those using TRICARE rely on a pharmacy network for their prescriptions. This year, DHA slashed the network pharmacies by 25%. Many small pharmacies were amongst those cut which significantly affects rural Maine. But big box pharmacies, including all Walmarts, were cut as well. Again, both Senators Collins and King support efforts to ensure pharmacies are available to those who depend on them. It is important to remember that Senator King is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee; and Senator Collins is the ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. While legislation can be approved by the Senate, it has to be funded to get final approval. Often legislation doesn’t make it to the President because Appropriations couldn’t figure out how to pay for it.

Just coincidentally, Honor Flight Maine had their first flight for 2023 this past weekend! I joined them while I was in D.C. More on that next week.

The monthly Post meeting is Monday, May 8, 6 p.m.