The American Legion launched its Base Assessment and Servicemember Experience (BASE) program in 2022 to improve the lives of military members and their families by learning directly from them about their needs and working with the Department of Defense (DoD) to improve conditions. BASE addresses quality of life needs by providing child care, healthcare, on-base housing, spouse employment, financial security, food security, and more.
The Honorable Ronald Keohane, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, addressed the organization’s National Security Commission during the Legion’s 105th National Convention in New Orleans on August 24 to inform efforts to improve the quality of life for military families.
“I once heard a veteran say, ‘I volunteered, but my family got drafted.’ That always stuck with me,” Keohane said. “I think about that statement every day in the office. It really gives me the energy to continue to work very hard on our various programs.”
On economic security, Keohane said soldiers have received a nearly 10% pay raise over the past two years – a new recruit on active duty makes just over $50,000 a year – basic housing allowances have increased by 18%, and you can save at least 25% at the supermarket compared to the local grocery store. In addition, the Basic Needs Allowance program ensures that the household income of a young soldier with a large family never reaches the poverty line. To applause, Keohane said the president’s budget includes funds to increase eligibility for basic needs allowances to provide more help to soldiers in need.
In addition to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for new mothers and fathers, the Department of Defense introduced a program last year that allows parents to take parental leave in smaller increments – 100,000 soldiers took advantage of this offer.
“We are very proud of that,” Keohane said. “Caring for our people absolutely includes our military families. The Department recognizes that the sacrifices of military families are critical.”
During a House Armed Services Committee quality of life panel discussion attended by the American Legion in April, it was reported that one in four soldiers suffers from food insecurity and more than one in five (22%) of soldiers’ spouses experience unemployment.
“We recognize that food insecurity is a complex challenge with no single cause,” Keohane said. “That’s why the department is taking a holistic approach to help our soldiers and their families who are experiencing food insecurity.”
Keohane said some service members may experience food insecurity due to their spouse’s unemployment, a military deployment, access to child care or financial instability. To better understand the challenges and answer the reasons behind them, the Department of Defense has identified two groups at stake when it comes to food insecurity: young unaccompanied service members who may have difficulty accessing dining halls and service members in a single-income household who may have greater financial burdens to feed their family. In addition to looking at food availability, the department has a financial assessment tool to help service members, has adjusted cafeteria hours, reduced cafeteria prices, created online shopping and food delivery services and expanded healthy grab-and-go food options.
“No soldier should ever say they are food insecure. That is unacceptable and we are working hard to change that,” Keohane stressed.
The Department of Defense has created a website for military members at https://www.militaryonesource.mil/ to help them with financial issues, food security, relocation needs, spouse employment, bringing pets (military members now receive $550 reimbursement for an in-state move and $2,000 for an out-of-state move for a pet), and more.
Regarding spousal employment, the Department of Defense assists military spouses in transferring government licenses and certifications and finding flexible employment opportunities and meaningful work at one of its 850 partner companies, which have hired more than 340,000 military spouses since 2011.
“Our soldiers’ spouses are, across the board, much better educated than their civilian counterparts, and we work hard to provide them with a career path,” Keohane said. “And research shows that working spouses are more willing to support their soldiers in staying in the military.”
Employment and child care for military spouses are a top priority for the Department of Defense because safe, reliable and flexible child care must be available for those spouses who are able to work. “Making this possible for families is a top priority in my office,” Keohane said, adding that the department has adjusted the fees parents pay for on-base child care, expanded child care in residential neighborhoods, increased child care provider salaries and allowed military members to donate up to $5,000 tax-free to child care.
Another priority for the Department of Defense is recruitment.
“For the first time in a long time, we are seeing improvement. The Army, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force have all met their recruiting mission for the current fiscal year through June 2024,” Keohane said, adding that the Navy fell just over 6,000 short. “We are working hard on the call to service. Together with the White House, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps and Selective Service, the Department is currently developing efforts to encourage the next generation of young people to pursue military, national health and service opportunities.
“It’s hard to strive for something you know nothing about. That underscores how important it is to the American Legion to share your service, to tell your stories, to go out and talk to youth.”
