NORFOLK, Va. — Among the many financial challenges facing America's military families: compensation for junior enlisted members is not keeping pace with inflation.
Military household income lags behind the civilian sector, and those military families fortunate enough to have two working parents face the challenge of finding accessible and affordable childcare.
The non-profit advocacy organization National Military Family Association is seeking several critical provisions that it says will strengthen and safeguard military families.
The organization has sent a letter to the Republican and Democratic leaders of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
In it, they write: "Our service members are struggling under the high and rising cost of living."
They ask for a pay increase of 19.5% for junior enlisted members E1 to E4, and 4.5% for all others.
"That 19.5% is really important when you look at things like food insecurity in military families, military spouse employment and all the things that make it difficult for military families to make ends meet," said National Military Family Association CEO Besa Pinchotti.
Additionally, the group is seeking Increased eligibility threshold for the Basic Needs Allowance, an increase to the Basic Allowance for Housing, and full funding for childcare fee assistance programs.
Pinchotti -- a Marine veteran's spouse herself -- said in an interview Tuesday with 13News Now that family readiness improvements will make for a more ready fighting force.
"The strength of our military really comes from our military families and if we don't take care of them, it really puts our military and our country in danger," she said.
The measure is part of the overall National Defense Authorization Act. It was approved by the House back in June.
However, there's a big difference between it and the Senate Armed Services Committee version of the NDAA, which only includes a 5.5 % pay increase for junior enlisted personnel.