Report: Cap Pay Raises, Eliminate Commissaries

Armed Forces News ^ | 14 Mar 03

[ladtx]

A list of options for cutting federal spending that was released by the Congressional Budget Office last week includes a cap on military pay raises at 2 percent for several years. It sounds much like a federal pay raise plan proposed for 2004 by the White House Office of Management and Budget that was rejected by the President. Another option was to close down military commissaries. This would lead military exchanges to increase on-base grocery sales. Since exchange foodstuffs are generally 10 percent higher than similar commissary sales, about half of the $1.1 billion saved through commissary closings would be funneled back to service members through a grocery allowance of $500 a year. The CBO's reports generally get mixed responses from Congress.

[ladtx]

I can believe this is being put before Congress on the eve of war. The only redeeming fact is that it was rejected by the President once before. I expect the Democrats to jump on this as a way to make up for the "tax cuts for the rich".

[ladtx]

bump

[ladtx]

BTTT

[Pan_Yans Wife]

$500 for food allowance is way below what is needed, not to mention the 2% pay raise. I am pleased that Bush is towing the hard line, and standing up to the Democrats who think it is wonderful that our military families are practically starving. When my son was born, and my husband served in the Navy, we were eligible for WIC... that is how little money he earned! The military needs consecutive pay raises for many years to come, to balance some of the disparity with the cost of living. Otherwise, why would people want to stay in the military, when they can make more money in the private sector?

[ladtx]

I see not much has changed. When I was stationed at Fort Wolters, Texas during the Vietnam War we lived in on-post housing. It was deemed "sub-standard" housing. It was so poor they didn't take our quarters allowance and we only paid $85 per month, and we got what we paid for, and I was a warrant officer at the time. We knew we weren't in the Waldorf-Astoria when we picked our 6 month old son up off the floor with a cricket leg sticking out of this mouth.

As a post script: That son is now flying in B-1's out of Oman, so I guess the cricket diet didn't hurt him any.

[boomop1]

Roll back congressional pay raises first, the military is the first to get hit, we fought inflation in the 70's under tricky Dick. We got pay limits several other times, we are convenient targets.

[ladtx]

You're right, the military is convenient target. They don't have to do much thinking to freeze pay or eliminate commissaries.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I know you must be so proud of your son!

My husband served 9 1/2 years in the Navy, and got out of the military in '97, seven months after our son was born. He didn't feel he could provide well for his family in the military. He doesn't regret his decision, and the amount of his monthly income has increased.

My heart goes out to all military families that are still struggling. They deserve to be appreciated more. Where would we be without their service?

Best wishes.

[ladtx]

Actually I'll have 2 sons over there as soon as my second oldest is shipped out of Ft. Bragg this week.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Oh, my! You are a family of patriots! How very wonderful... you have raised your children very well. I will say a prayer for their safety. My God bless you and your family.

Best wishes.

[Jambe]

I fully support the closing of base commissaries, with very few exceptions. They no longer serve the same function as when originally created. Today, most military facilities within the U.S. are surrounded by commercial offerings that offer a better selection and frequently better prices/product than commissaries. Service is also better.

Given the current security status of our country, bases/facilities should be locked down and access permitted only to ACTIVE duty or ACTIVE Reserve forces only. All dependant operations should be provided by off base resources, including medical & dental.

The exception to the above would be facilities outside CONUS where due to isolated location or possible security issues staff & dependants need to stay on or close to base.

As a vet, I found it an annoyance that many facilities/bases served the ACTIVE duty person as a second class citizen. After returning from extended deployments, many on base facilities were often 'reserved' and unavalable for use.

Let's get the military back to it's basic function and support those core activities.

[ladtx]

Today, most military facilities within the U.S. are surrounded by commercial offerings that offer a better selection and frequently better prices/product than commissaries.

I disagree. During 20 years in the military, the majority (probably 90%) of my grocery shopping was in the commissary. It was much cheaper than the civilian counterpart with a better selection. The Fort Hood commissary is the largest grocery store I've ever seen. If I remember correctly it had at least 30 checkouts, all of them busy on payday.

[Marie]

My heart goes out to all military families that are still struggling. They deserve to be appreciated more. Where would we be without their service?

My family has been with the army for a dozen years now. I can honestly say that the last 2 years have been the best. One of my friends has a husband who is a young E-5 with 4 years in. I'm so pleased to see that they are doing much better than my family was at that same time. Since GWB has taken control, the direct impact that has had on my family is obvious and wonderful. The pay raises do not make us "rich", but we aren't struggling paycheck to paycheck like we were before.

And yes, we qualified for WIC, food stamps and other public assistance for the first 6 years of my husband's service. I pray that GWB continues to protect military families in EVERY WAY!

[Marie]

I fully support the closing of base commissaries, with very few exceptions. They no longer serve the same function as when originally created. Today, most military facilities within the U.S. are surrounded by commercial offerings that offer a better selection and frequently better prices/product than commissaries. Service is also better.

The commessaries save us a LOT of money! It's the PX/BXs that aren't useful (unless you're overseas). As for the service, I couldn't agree more. However, I found that sitting down with the commessary/PX manager solved tons of issues. I've managed to have anything I needed special ordered. Rudeness has been appologized for and the level of service went up overall after just one talk. If we just complain to one another about these issues, nothing gets done. If we go to the "boss" mountains are moved with very little effort.

[cinFLA]

I disagree. During 20 years in the military, the majority (probably 90%) of my grocery shopping was in the commissary. It was much cheaper than the civilian counterpart with a better selection. The Fort Hood commissary is the largest grocery store I've ever seen. If I remember correctly it had at least 30 checkouts, all of them busy on payday.

When was the last time you were in a commissary. If you had 20 years in, did you retire? Why do you not go to commissaries now?

[ladtx]

When was the last time you were in a commissary. If you had 20 years in, did you retire? Why do you not go to commissaries now?

The last time I was in a commissary was in December at Ellsworth AFB because it was cheaper than off base. Yes I did retire. I go to commissaries very seldom now simply because I don't live near one. If I did I would use it.

[ladtx]

It's the PX/BXs that aren't useful (unless you're overseas).

I agree totally. Usually the PX/BX has the same price and sometimes higher prices than civilian facilities.

[MSgt Smith]

I have never found an item at the BX that I couldn’t get cheaper down town. They claim that they will price match if it’s the exact same item, its never the exact same item. If a Col wants to get some high-end gift for his wife I guess its OK. The commissary is a different story. Good selection and price, most have a large specialty section to provide for all the foreign wives. Now that it can take more then an hour to get past the gate its nice for those that live on base.

[cinFLA]

I go to commissaries very seldom now simply because I don't live near one. If I did I would use it.

Perhaps you should visit a commissary now and review the service/price benefits and THEN revisit your post.

[ladtx]

Perhaps you should visit a commissary now and review the service/price benefits and THEN revisit your post.

I don't think things could have changed much in the last 2-3 months.