Unmarried are invisible, forgotten

[MADem]

64. Military people get paid less, too, if they are single. Family allowances are not insignificant,

and single people who don't have children don't get 'em. One's salary is only a small piece of the pie...it's the allowances that add up, if you're getting enough of them.

The MWR/MWA agencies (morale, welfare, recreation--responsible for "off duty fun" like bowling alleys, swimming pools, clubs, tix/tours, things like that) fired up a Single Servicemember program about twenty or so years ago that provides little perks here and there for the singles, but most of those opportunities are also made available to families, too.

The single individual in uniform will work harder and get less for their trouble. That didn't happen when I was in charge (I was never afraid of doling out liberty when people worked hard and effectively), but I was only in charge of a very small corner of the big picture.

People do notice when they aren't being treated fairly! Not enough times do the brass listen to the singles--they're very focused on the issues of the "military family" and how the spouse/kids manage when the servicemember is deployed--but everyone needs to be heard, IMO. Singles have parents, siblings, friends, etc. These people mean as much to them as a spouse and kids.