How is the Government Shutdown Affecting Soldiers?

Let me first admit, I've read a few articles and listened to a few stories, but I still do not understand what is happening.

What I do understand, is that a military man in my family (a veteran who served in Iraq) is now considered "non-essential", thanks to the "government shut-down". He is in the Air National Guard, but now, he is not receiving any income. For a man with a wife, an infant son, a mortgage to pay, and a repeatedly breaking-down truck, that is like - YIKES!

We have had the privilege of helping him and his family. But this makes me wonder, who else has been labeled "non-essential"? How many of our soldiers are suddenly being deprived their paychecks?

My mind is still boggled by this new concept of a government that does not support its own military. I am quite politically naive. But this makes about as much sense to me as a brain deciding that the skeletal structure is "non-essential". A body can't survive that. Can a country survive that? I am sincerely spooked.

What I'd really like to know is this: If the government is going to cut off soldiers' pay, what can civilians do to ease the blow? Are there organizations already in place to support unpaid military?

"To support unpaid military"....

I still can't believe this is happening.

Guys, if you can share any reliable information with me, be it regarding the problem or the solution, I'd eat it up.

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Replies to This Discussion

K-ModPermalink Reply by Gumbo123 on October 28, 2013 at 3:08pm

@ Selkie - - - thank you for your concern!

Here is contact information you asked for re: Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas. The website says that they are to be featured in an article in the upcoming Nov 4, 2013 edition of Women's World Magazine. They are a local group here in the Dallas-FortWorth area, but might be able to help you with contacts for a similar organization there in your area where you could get involved.

While I'm at it, here are some other links I found online discussing the US Govt shutdown and how it affected active or retired military and their families:

http://www.military.com/topics/government-shutdown

http://paycheck-chronicles.military.com/2013/09/26/retirement-and-d...

http://www.wuft.org/news/2013/10/11/government-shutdown-affects-mil...

Will Military Members Get Paid if Government Shuts Down?

K-ModPermalink Reply by Gumbo123 on October 28, 2013 at 3:21pm

http://www.youtube.com/user/Airborneangels/videos

Permalink Reply by Tiffany (Selkie) on October 29, 2013 at 2:44pm

Good grief...

Thank you Gumbo, for your time and your info. I haven't finished reading all these articles you've recommended, but I've read a lot of 'em, and it's helping.

The anticipated problems of 2014 are so big, I don't know what to say or what to do. But meanwhile, my family will do what we can to show our military that they are NOT expendable.

I sure wish our country's leaders would cut something else - almost anything else! - when they start looking to cut federal spending. I don't speak for them, and they sure don't speak for me. I will make cuts in my own life to save what I can, and contribute what I can to reminding our soldiers that they ARE needed.