The sequestration is a non-answer from our leaders. Rather than coming together to solve our debt problems they’ve taken this cowardly route. There are a lot of ways the sequestration affects Americans from air traffic controllers to education to public services, these cuts run deep. Those of us in the military community are already beginning to see just how much the cuts will affect our day-to-day life. That is because the first cuts come to services. They always cut our services first.
I’m not sure civilians understand how much military families depend on these services. Some DOD schools will be required to cut teacher hours. Since they cannot reduce the number of days students can attend school, teachers will be forced to double up on classes. They could work four days per week while another teacher takes over their class on the fifth day. That also means that teachers will have to cover a class one of the four days they are working. For military children this means two of the five days they attend school they will be mixed with another class. You cannot tell me this won’t negatively impact the education of our military children.
Military kids do not choose this life. We choose it for them, along with all of the sacrifices it requires. Most children have a sense of pride and contribution for these sacrifices. But that does not mean it is without hardship. My husband joined the Army when our older children were in the 3rd grade. They’re in the 10th grade now and we have moved three times. We will move again next year and possibly once more before they graduate high school. My younger children started kindergarten this year, they will start first grade at another school, and possibly second grade at yet another. My children are a representation of all military children, by some standards they’ve even had it easy. To take those children, who have already had their education disrupted multiple times and further disrupt it is cruel.
There is a lot of conjecture about other cuts. I heard this weekend that the Child Development Centers on Military Bases are next in line. If the Department of Defense has to furlough 800,000 employees, I would not be surprised if the CDC’s felt it too. As a parent this is extremely upsetting to me. Yes, there are plenty of off-post childcare centers available, but those centers do not understand the unique needs of military families. Their staffs are not experienced in dealing with children who move regularly, who have at least one parent absent for long periods of time, and most importantly they are not filled with children who make my kids feel normal. Last year Reese and Jackson were enrolled in the on-post preschool program. Most of the students in the class had at least one parent deployed. Their little cubbies were decorated with pictures of the deployed parent for when they got sad and there was a desk set up with paper, pencils, and envelopes so they could write letters whenever they felt the need. Jackson’s best friend Chandon was in his class. Chandon’s Dad had deployed at the same time as my husband, the boys were battle buddies. Chandon’s Mom, Megan, is one of my best friends and most trusted battle buddy too. While my husband was home on R & R Chandon asked if Jackson could come play after school. Jackson told him he couldn’t because his Dad was home. Chandon yelled, “Your Dad’s home?! I didn’t know your Dad was home!!” Then he threw his arms around him and the boys hugged for a long time. Even at 5-years-old those children understood and needed each other. Sending them to an off-post preschool would have robbed them of that experience and emotional connection. All of our military children deserve that same opportunity.
The military services that are being cut are the services that build these relationships. They are what our families depend on to get through all of the dark times. For most Americans, the war in Afghanistan is winding down. But for us, it’s not even close to over. For some, it might never be completely over. Last year the military reported record high suicide rates, for the first time more suicides than combat deaths. This is not a time to increase the stress on military families.
Regardless of your politics or how you feel about the war, remember that our military serves on behalf of the American people. Whether you like what they do or not, they do it because they were directed to by a government we elected. This country could not survive without a standing military and it is naive to think otherwise. Men and women who choose to do this job and the families who stand behind them deserve better than these budget cuts. There are plenty of other places, places that make sense, to make cuts in military spending. I voted for this president twice. I also voted for my Republican senator Lisa Murkowski in large part because she said she cared about military families. When she ran for re-election she met with military spouses, she looked me in the eye and said she needed to know what would help those of us in the trenches and what we needed. Now she has done nothing but further the burden on us. I am going to write her and ask that she try to make it stop. I hope that you too will write your representatives, on behalf of the military families who have sacrificed so much for you, and also ask to make this nonsense stop.
Very well said Bridget. I teared up a little reading this. It really is so very difficult on the little ones. Bless their resilient hearts!
They probably have the hardest job of all.
Oh Bridget, that’s terrible
I have friends and family in the Australian military and I work in law enforcement and it’s a sad truth that when it comes time to cut services and “save money” it always seems to be the people who serve the community (and have special needs that only that kind of service demands) that feel the chop first.
My heart bleeds, not just for you and the other parents, but most of all for the children. You’re exactly right. No one who doesn’t live in the life can truly appreciate the effects it has on those that do and my fervent hope is that some kind of common sense will prevail before the children (yours and the others) have to bear the brunt of someone else’s thoughtless bean counting.
My thoughts and hopes are that someone will think with their heads and hearts rather than with a spreadsheet and an accountant and see that they hurt more than just some silly bottom line in sidelining those resources.
Hang in there and blessings to your little ones.
Thank you for this thoughtful and kind comment, Robbie. It’s sad that these types of cuts are even being considered when there are (in my opinion) other, bigger, and more sensible cuts that can be made. I too hope someone will step up and stop this mess.
It always upsets me that the military is one of the first to be hit with cuts. It seems the most needed and respected of all services should NEVER be cut. But please, do not only write to the Senator, write to the president you voted for twice, and tell him to stop sending money to countries that hate us. 250 billion to Egypt??? taking stipends for education away from the Army and Marines and giving stipends to the illegal( another word for criminal) immigrants??? He needs to be open to other suggestions as well as the senate and house. It is not just the republicans…..Someone, somewhere has to see that military cuts are hurting this country and must be stopped!!
The tuition assistance is a big one too, very unfortunate that they don’t see the value in soldiers educating themselves. They can still use their GI Bill, but there are some strings attached that make it difficult. I would have written about that too, but it seemed like I needed to keep this blog just about family services.
Thank you for writing this. I will pass it around. xo Love the story about Jackson and Chandon. xo
Thanks Jodi. The whole thing is very upsetting to me, I hate to see my children have to sacrifice any more than they already have.
Good Morning Bridget,
Thanks for this thoughtful column. Though I often rail at American violence at home and abroad, I do recognize the need for our military. Often it is necessitated by our politics and policies, not by our military. I put in a lot of years on the old Anchorage Child Abuse Board and Center for Children and Parents. Needless suffering of children gets to me. Drone deaths of innocent children overseas riles me, but the equally unnecessary misery of our own military kids left unprotected from sadness and uncertainty without the CDC also seems just plain mean. Those who protect us need a variety of protections from suffering too.
Well, I’m approaching another rant so best shut up, but…
All best,
Gary
Thanks Gary, it is upsetting to me too. These children deserve the very best support we can provide. Like I said, they did not choose this life.
Very well said!!! I completely agree with you!
Thanks Heidi!
I am thankful that my active-duty husband’s pay cannot be touched. But I am sickened…yes, physically ill with worry, because his current mission, on foreign soil, has in essence been shut down this week. No, he is not “in the war zone”. His mission is closer to home & much more vital than most people realize. Hell, most people don’t realize we have people stationed where he is. And as of this week, it has been put on hold because of MONEY. How does that make you feel about your safety?
I don’t think most people do realize how much they do “from home” to protect us all. I don’t think many people realize what being married to a soldier is like – even when he’s “home.”
Well said. I believe you should also write the president because I believe he is the one responsible for the budget cuts. One thing does surprise me though, why did you vote for a president when he wasn’t for our military? Did you just not see this coming? I don’t mean you any disrespect, I’m just curious and have wondered why people in the military voted for him. my husband, kids, and the military are my life. So when I see someone that isn’t for that, I don’t want them/him running it
Thank you for your comment Becky. I don’t understand what you mean when you say he wasn’t “for our military.” He wanted to bring the troops home, which I agreed with, he had a reasonable plan for the economy, in his first term he had the best military minds in the world advising him, and most importantly he did not seem like he was going to live in the “bubble” and only hear the opinions that agreed with his own. I don’t know what he ever said or did that would make him “against the military.” Frankly, I think that’s just political rhetoric that doesn’t make any sense.
Bridget: this is a wonderful and obviously heartfelt post. While I think it’s fair that defense spending be reduced after years of massive outlays to fund these wars (one of which continues, with people still dying), sequester is the very worst way to go about doing this. It’s horribly unpatriotic to have politicians unable to settle their differences using military servants and families as political pawns. It cheapens everything and tarnishes an otherwise proud experience for all of us. I served for 22 years as both an enlisted member and an officer … in that time, I asked my wife to relocate 8 times and sent my kids to 7 schools. I spent 3.5 of those years away from home, and the balance of that time working incredibly long days in stressful environments. And we had it good. My heart goes out to the families that experience loss, bad health, or relationship issues along the way … and we all do all of this for the privilege of serving. All we ask is that our leaders never wager our lives cheaply and always treat us fairly. Sequester is unfair, and the wars that have preceded it asked too much of too many for too little in return. This is a dark time for our country and its relationship with those who protect it. Thank you for keeping up the good fight with your powerful words and your service.
Thank you for this comment. It’s nice to hear from someone who sees both sides of the issue. I agree that cuts to spending are absolutely necessary, and I’m more than happy to my part – but cutting family services is the wrong way. I wish they could see what you and I have seen or lived in our shoes for a few years.
Self-serving, that is what this blog is. Never once did you express concern over the loss of wages impacting the 900,000 DOD civilians who serve as well. The military will still get their pay raise while the civilians will see cuts. It seems your first and only concern is about yourself. Your the perfect example of a self-obsessed person.
Dear Anonymous,
This blog is titled Sequester and the Military Family. Bridget is addressing one part of the sequester, not all of it. There is much more than just adding in the DOD civilians. There are FBI, CIA, law enforcement, emergency responders, Federal Aviation Administration just to name a few, who are also being effected. Bridget choose to talk about one part of the sequester. It’s very clear in the title. If Bridget had just titled this Sequester, you might have an argument. She did not. You judgement on her character is misguided and wrong.
Sincerely, BROOKE
Thank you, Brooke. You. Are. Awesomesauce.
Actually, in the beginning of the post I did mention that the sequester will affect a lot of people. However, that is not my area of knowledge or the purpose of this post. As Brooke pointed out, the title is “Sequester And The Military Family” not “Sequester And DOD Civilians.” Perhaps you should write that post – but you’ll probably gave to be brave enough to use your name, most people don’t care what Anonymous posters have to say.
Also, it should be “You’re the perfect example…” not “your.”
Great response Bridget!
I love you, Bridget. Great response.
[...] I appreciate all of the responses. Today, I wrote a little more on the subject. Also, check out Sequester and the Military Family by Bridget and The Most Lavish Benefit of All by Jill. Thank you for [...]
I completely agree with you. This is a small glance at a much larger picture. However I feel that we don’t take the time to focus on the effect of that these cuts will have on the day to day lives of the service members and their familys. Already at a friends post they have talked about closing the CDC on Fridays. While this would clearly save money there are service members who work on fridays who need childcare in order to go to work. At that same post they have already closed the commisary one extra day a week as a way to keep costs down. While this isn’t as big of a deal as the child care clearly is the idea they are using as an across the board apporach won’t work.
This is important – I shared it.
You’re right about the CDC cuts. I attended the orientation at the Fort Gordon CDC in order to register my 3-year-old son in hourly care, only to find out that the hourly rooms are closed here due to staff PCSing and a hiring freeze, so they cannot be replaced. The only way hourly care is available here is if a child in the full day care happens to be absent, then a child could go there.
Please don’t be offended, but has Dallas ever considered to quit the Army and search for another job? I’m not familiar with the American way and don’t know if the soldiers are commited to stay for a certain time period. But if I knew that my job forces my children to go through all this moving and missing a parent for months, I personally would think about something else I could do with my life … at least until they’re a little older.
As a fellow military wife I completely and totally agree with you and I loved your story about the two 5 year old friends. I have experienced the same type of thing with my daughters’ military friends and It is precious! But I must be honest, I was going to share your article on fb because it resonated so much…until I got to the last paragraph where you admitted to voting for Obama not once but TWICE!? That leaves me dumbfounded. I will never understand why any military families voted for him when it was obvious that the change he was promising would affect us the most. You do know that the sequester was a plan put into place by Obama in order to force Republicans to cooperate? He’s acting like it is congress’ fault but it was his plan! He wrote the plan thinking it would never actually be used because he never thought the Republicans would allow it because of how in it he specifically and intentionally targeted the groups and organizations which he knew the Republicsns would support. Although I HATE the sequestration and everything about it and the pain it is causing me and so many people I love, I am personally glad the Republicans didn’t relent and “save the day” from the change Obama promised. The people voted for change. Give the people what they want.
Well said. I am a military spouse (husband is currently deployed AGAIN). We have two sets of twins as well! I am from Alaska and I also like wine. How have we not met in this life?!?
Mahalo!
-Gigi Jones