PLEASE READ! GOV'T SHUTDOWN: a note from my friend Tearah Parker [ARMY WIFE]
For some reason my computer wasn't allowing me to "share" this so I copy/pasted! Please read note below from a dear friend. Here I am, Tearah Parker; breaking my lent. You heard it from my mouth first people. I am outraged beyond belief, and yes; I am going to speak.
I want to know how many of you have NO IDEA what is going on right now? How many of you are out getting your nails done, grocery shopping, planning parties, etc?
Let me tell you what I am dealing with, what WE are dealing with. We, of course; being military.
Last night I spent the night in the hospital. Instead of focusing on myself and the growing life inside me, I was surfing my Iphone in hopes of finding some relief news about the government shutdown that may or may not take effect as of midnight tonight. Now, we all know this has been going on for MONTHS. It was supposed to happen on the first, but an extension was pushed through until today, and now again, we wait.
I want to first address those of you who have the gall to say "you should have been saving', "you should be prepared for this", "this is why we should never live paycheck to paycheck'. How dare you? Especially those of you who are military personnel. You know what it's like. Now, dont get me wrong; I am not bashing savings. We should all be financially responsible and have some sort of savings going on at all times. HOWEVER. In these economic times, lets SAY (just for fun) that you have 3-4 grand in savings. What is that going to do for you? How many bills and for how long is that going to pay until its gone?
We have E-1's and E-2's who have WIVES and CHILDREN to support. After bills, gas in the car, and food on the table...they are lucky if there is enough leftover for dinner and a movie. So don't be so quick to point fingers. YOU are in the wrong in a VERY large way, and I am so dissapointed that I am seeing this in our very own community.
My rent alone is $1400. Why is my rent that much? Because, I live in (the wine country of) California. Why do I live in such an expensive place, you ask? Well, the same government that is about to deny my husband a paycheck, gave us written and specific orders to move and reside here until further notice. [and for those of you wondering; there is NO military housing available where we are stationed. I will repeat. NO military housing is available WHERE WE LIVE] Are we compensated with BAH? Yes. That doesnt mean that on the first of the month, when I get paid $1942...$1400 of that doesnt go to pay our rent. IT DOES. That leaves me (the wife of a SGT) with $542. That's to put gas in my car, food on the table for four people, and pay whatever bills I have left. (Which on the first is my cable and phone bill, usually amounting to $80)
Then what if my kids get sick and need medicine (that ISNT prescription and tricare DOES NOT cover)? Or how about if it's a holiday and extra expenses are needed like cooking a special meal, easter baskets (hello), Christmas, etc. Or bills from the dentist, optomotrist that need to be paid accordingly. All those things come from our paycheck. So you can see, from just the FIRST alone, I am left with POSSIBLY a few hundred dollars to put in savings. SHOULD everything go perfectly.
NOW THINK ABOUT how an E-1 or E-2, with those same responsibilites, and far less a paycheck...survives. It is unfair and WRONG to point fingers at those of us who ALREADY struggle. Doing so gets us NOWHERE and accomplishes NOTHING.
Our LES' have been released. & as of right now; we are recieving pay for April 1- 8. That is, HALF, of a paycheck. This is happening ladies and gentlemen.
AER has stated they are ready to help soldiers out should a shut down occur. Ummmm, AER comes from donations that are given from...OUR PAYCHECKS. So please, Id love to know how AER thinks they are going to help EVERY Army family in need should this occur. NOT TO MENTION; AER loans are a standard of $1,000. That doesn't even pay HALF of my bills. These solutions are not solutions at all. Mere ideas for those of us who are not really paying attention, to sit back and relax whilst the government cuts our pay. Even if AER WANTED to give $1000 to EVERY active duty Army family currently enlisted...I can say with full certainty that they DO NOT and WILL NOT have the funds. That's common knowledge people. AER was never put in place to help us should our paychecks be cut.
The ARMY ALONE is overstrengthed right now. Our economy is SO BAD that people are enlisting left and right (ironically, for the stability of a steady paycheck). If you do not re-enlist within 12 mos of your ETS date, YOU CANNOT re-enlist. Re-enlistment bonuses have been cut, completely. They do NOT exist for most MOS'. & points to promote right now are SKY HIGH. THESE ARE THE FACTS, MAKE YOURSELVES AWARE OF THEM.
& yes, just because this happened once in 1995 and everyone still got paid, DOES NOT MEAN we will still get paid THIS time. Are you paying attention to what's going on in our government/economy in the last 12-18 months? We are crumbling, and at an alarming rate. This is a HUGE possibility. Active duty military MAY be forced to work with NO paychecks starting midnight tonight.
Those of you who are not in the military, this doesnt effect you. However, I want to know why more people are not in an absolute uproar?!? CIVILIANS DO NOT EVEN KNOW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING!
We have to ask ourselves. Why are we SO uninformed?
There are rumors that Obama has said he will veto any bill that comes out stating we wont get paid. Ladies and gentlemen, lets face the damn facts. HE can stop this. Just as Clinton AND Reagan did when the government was shut down before.
Now, lets look at this. It is a BREECH OF CONTRACT for our men and women in the armed forces to be FORCED to work without a paycheck. A BREECH OF CONTRACT. That means that every man and woman who wears the uniform SHOULD have the right to opt out of their contract and LEAVE their branch, should pay stop. HOWEVER, as we all know (and so many of us have already been briefed on) our husbands and wives, will instead; be court martialed or marked as AWOL if they do not comply with the mission.
THAT INCLUDES ALL MILITARY PERSONNEL OVERSEAS FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOM. DODGING BULLETS, MOTORS, IED'S ETC. THAT MEANS THAT EVERY SINGLE MAN OR WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN WOUNDED AT THE COST OF PROVIDING FREEDOM FOR THIS COUNTRY, WILL STILL BE REQUIRED TO WORK WITHOUT A PAYCHECK. THAT MEANS THAT EVERY MAN AND WOMAN IN AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ, ETC. WILL STILL BE ASKED TO LAY THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR THE SAKE OF THIS COUNTRY....WITHOUT A PAY CHECK.
Now, they are warning us not to run to 'advance payday' suppliers. But let me tell you something; if we get hungry enough, we're going to go wherever we need to. The Navy Federal Reserve has offered and stated that they will 'front' all active duty military's pay checks, for at least the first month; should a shut down occur. (& I highly suggest we all rally together in thanks to them. For standing up in this time of need and offering help) After that? Who knows.
Rumors have circled that the government will provide waivers for us to hand out to landlords, cable, electric etc. Which would state that we fall under no obligation to pay until the budget crisis is fixed and our pay returned. That still doesnt take care of gas in my car or food on my table. Especially since we know that commisaries WILL be closed should a shut down occur. Will we be issued food stamps? Gas cards? I for one would like to know how my daughter will be able to attend school everyday without gas in my car. The school that we shelled out $2000 for her to attend. (For those of you wondering....that's from OUR savings. Because my husband and I not only strive, but FIGHT to give our children the best possible) Gas, in my town, is currently going for $4.19 a gallon. I have a 25 gallon tank, you do the math.
EVERY SINGLE Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force wife is talking about this right now. & I've looked (before writing this) EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOUR FB PAGES is swarming with articles, status' etc. about the shut down. YET I SEE NO CIVILIAN even aware enough to ask questions. Why are we the only ones aware of this? Is it because it's our paychecks? Isn't this America? Aren't these the people who have fought to give you freedom? Why are you not in an uproar, America?
We have husbands and wives who are overseas right now, fighting the fight. Literally, just hoping they get through today unscaved. & yet; they have to also worry if they are going to get paid on the 15th. If their wives, husbands, children at home are going to be provided for. Why are they worrying about that? Why?
Remember that the bible tells us not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. You don't have to ask me to have faith in God; He has never failed me. However, this is not some natural disaster we're talking about people. This is a government controlled issue that we MUST pay attention to. It is affecting us because; point blank, it can. THEY OWN US, let's not kid ourselves here. We suffer for the American people willingly, and yet we are the ones suffering now (with half a paycheck so far) because....they can. They can, and we (or at least our SO's who wear the uniform) can't say a damn thing.
With or without pay, my husband will continue to put his uniform on everyday, lace up his boots, and serve this country. That does NOT mean we agree, or that we are not outraged.
Prepare yourselves as best you can, and try to stay involved so that you can be informed. Heaven knows this won't be on the 5 o'clock news (just yet). So it is our responsibility to know our rights, know our options, and prepare accordingly.
& ladies (& gentlemen), let us not go quietly.
[Remember always that we are the strongest of the strong. We can and WILL survive, paycheck or not. Let us band together and rally around those struggling. We are military wives (& husbands) for a reason, and we are a different breed of human. Have faith in EACHOTHER, hold fast to prayer, and never forget what the ones around us have sacraficed for us. We MUST support them now more then ever. & remind them that we are proud of their CONTINUING sacrafices to keep this country a FREE one.]
