What a Real People-First Pentagon Budget Would Include
Family-support and mental-health services need a long-overdue plus-up.
By Sarah Streyder and Erin Anhalt
April 12, 2021
President Biden just rolled out an outline of his annual budget proposal, and analysts from all corners of the D.C. Beltway are flocking to the nearest microphone to lobby for their piece of the budget pie.
We’re two military spouses adding our voices to the chorus. While military spending often evokes images of jets roaring overhead and uniformed soldiers marching to cadence, so much more goes in to preparing our force to keep America safe. Entire family units serve alongside their loved one in uniform, and their health and resilience are more than a fringe issue – they directly affect force readiness and retention.
COVID-19 has rightly forced national security experts to re-analyze our conceptions of what kind of spending it takes to keep Americans safe. The pandemic exacerbated existing vulnerabilities within the DoD’s military family support apparatus. Below are three critical areas for investment that deserve attention in these budget debates.
Boost military childcare
https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2021/04/what-real-people-first-pentagon-budget-would-include/173260/
