A bombshell report has exposed that more than $151 million meant to feed soldiers at 11 of the Army’s largest bases was repurposed for undisclosed uses.
This revelation, first reported by Steve Beynon of Military.com, comes as junior enlisted soldiers struggle to access nutritious food on base, with some being forced to survive on substandard meals.
The funds in question are deducted directly from service members’ Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS), a monthly $460 allotment meant to cover food costs for soldiers living in barracks.
For junior enlisted personnel earning approximately $30,000 annually, this deduction represents a significant financial burden. Yet, instead of using these funds to provide adequate meals, the Army appears to be diverting them elsewhere.
Incredibly, out of $225 million collected across just 11 bases, a staggering $151 million was not used for food expenses. With the Army operating a total of 104 garrisons, the true amount of unspent funds could be far higher.
The Army refuses to disclose what the extra funds are being used for. Major expenses like dining hall infrastructure and food service worker salaries are covered under separate budgets, and despite repeated inquiries from Military.com, officials have declined to provide any transparency.
When pressed, the Army provided only a vague statement, claiming that food expenditures are based on past attendance at dining facilities. But that explanation doesn’t account for why the vast majority of BAS funds are not going toward feeding soldiers.
The following data obtained by Military.com represents the Army’s fiscal year 2024, spanning from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024. It provides a rounded comparison of the total funds collected from soldiers for food at each installation versus the actual expenditures on food.
Fort Stewart, Georgia:
- Money collected from soldiers: $17 million
- Money spent on food: $2.1 million
Fort Drum, New York:
- Money collected from soldiers: $18.2 million
- Money spent on food: $3.9 million
Fort Carson, Colorado:
- Money collected from soldiers: $22 million
- Money spent on food: $5 million
Fort Riley, Kansas:
- Money collected from soldiers: $19.1 million
- Money spent on food: $5.1 million
Fort Bliss, Texas:
- Money collected from soldiers: $22 million
- Money spent on food: $11 million
Fort Cavazos, Texas:
- Money collected from soldiers: $42.5 million
- Money spent on food: $11.7 million
Fort Bragg, North Carolina:
- Money collected from soldiers: $34.6 million
- Money spent on food: $16.6 million
Fort Campbell, Kentucky:
- Money collected from soldiers: $18 million
- Money spent on food: $5.1 million
Schofield Barracks, Hawaii:
- Money collected from soldiers: $14.5 million
- Money spent on food: $5.3 million
Fort Wainwright, Alaska:
- Money collected from soldiers: $9 million
- Money spent on food: $3 million
Fort Richardson, Alaska:
- Money collected from soldiers: $7.5 million
- Money spent on food: $4 million
More from the news outlet:
At Fort Stewart, Georgia, for example, soldiers contributed $17 million, but the base spent just $2.1 million — redirecting 87% of the funds. Schofield Barracks in Hawaii collected $14.5 million but used only $5.3 million, meaning 63% of the money was used elsewhere.
All but two bases left more than half of the money for food unspent. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska and Fort Bliss, Texas, left 41% and 49% of funds on the table, respectively.
It’s unclear what specifically the additional funds taken from soldiers are being spent on, but they do not appear to be going toward feeding soldiers.
[…]
How to feed the force is an equation service planners continue to grapple with. In 2023, Military.com reported that Fort Cavazos, Texas — the Army’s most extensive base — was barely able to keep its food services running for much of that summer, with only two of its 10 dining facilities open, leaving soldiers struggling to find meals.
In November last year, the publication reported pervasive food shortages at Fort Carson, Colorado. Soldiers were fed meals that were just a slice of toast and lima beans, troops told Military.com.
Read more here.
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