Military families are the backbone behind every uniformed service member. They relocate frequently, navigate long deployments, and sacrifice stability so their loved ones can serve the country. But according to veteran advocate Tom Westall, those sacrifices aren’t being matched by fair compensation—and it’s time for Congress to do something about it.
Military Families Are Struggling
Across the country, military families are feeling the pinch. While inflation continues to drive up prices for housing, food, childcare, and everyday essentials, military pay has failed to keep pace. For many enlisted families, particularly those in lower ranks, it’s not just tight—it’s unsustainable.
Westall, a former Army officer and current advocate for military well-being, argues that Congress needs to pay military families more money. He highlights that many service members now rely on food stamps or supplemental assistance just to get by. “We’re asking people to serve and protect our nation, but their families are going hungry,” he said in a recent interview.
What’s Causing the Financial Gap?
One of the key problems is that military base pay has not grown in proportion to the real-world cost of living. The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), which is supposed to offset housing costs, often falls short—especially in high-cost areas where many bases are located.
Additionally, military spouses face employment barriers due to frequent relocations, limited child care options, and state licensing requirements that don’t transfer easily. These compounding issues mean that the total household income for many military families lags behind civilian counterparts.
What Tom Westall Is Pushing For
Tom Westall isn’t just calling out the problem—he’s laying out a clear message to lawmakers: if we value our military, we must invest in their families. He’s advocating for:
- A significant raise in base pay
- An overhaul of the BAH formula to reflect actual housing markets
- Support for military spouse employment
- Expanded access to child care and healthcare services
“We shouldn’t need nonprofit food drives on military bases,” Westall said. “We should have a system where families can thrive—not just survive.”
Why This Matters
This isn’t just a matter of fairness—it’s about national security. If military families can’t sustain a basic quality of life, we risk losing talented service members to the private sector. Recruiting and retention suffer when the financial burden becomes too much to bear.
Congress needs to pay military families more money not as charity, but as a long-overdue investment. These families endure hardships most Americans never face—and they do it with strength, resilience, and honor. It’s time their compensation reflected that.
