We are a USCG family. My Daughter in law is a E-6 stationed in Ketchikan Alaska.
When she gets her paychecks, she is EXTREMELY well compensated, making lifestyle money more than for example the professional electrical workers at her local utility just down the street.
Right now she has missed one paycheck, and will probsably miss another. My son and her are simply pulling the equlivent of her paycheck from their short term savings, something any prudent family has. They can go for quite a while, knowing that back pay will be forthcoming.
The younger enlisted who do not have a short term emergency fund are in a more difficult postion. Most lenders are forebearing any loans, and if push comes to shove they can eat at the base. No servicepeople or their families are going hungry. I seriously doubt that anyone is going to be evicted or get anything repossessed unless they were not physically irresponsible prior to the shutdown.
That said, they of course need their pay, and are hoping that this issue gets solved quickly.
Sugardog, I feel that it’s important for me to edit my post and respond to your posts directly.
Regarding the pay of a Seaman, which I am for sake of argument calling a e-2 and e-3. You posted that their pay is below the Federal Poverty Level as someone with a wife and two kids.
What you are indicating is their Base Pay. Every USCG member recieves in addition to their base pay either free housing and meals at the barracs, or a housing and food allowance consumerate with their ranks expected station in life and adjusted for the local market conditions.
With the vast majority or Enlisted USCG members enlisting at age 18-19 and generally reaching a terminal rank of E-4 and some reraching E-5 by the end of their first enlistment contract you are I think intentionally negativly exagerating the reality of USCG life.
My son did wonderfully as a E-4 and E-5 when he was granted permission to live off base. He was rolling in money. When he married another USCG member, another E-4 and they had a child later on they were still doing very well. They both drove new vehicles, and seemed to me to have a very good life.
What you are describing as a E-2 or E-3 supporting a wife and two kids is not the norm, and is based on personal choices the member made with their life. You are describing a very junior USCG member that is saddled with a spouse that does not work, and two children. Sorry, but that is lifestyle choices that the member and their spouse consciously made and I can frankly generate little sympathy for those choices. Especially in light that the vast majority of working families these days are two income families. Having a spouse sit at home and rasise children sounds wonderful, but it in fact is a lifestyle choice, and if money is tight because of that choice, then so be it.