All of your examples reminded me of when Bullet was a flight commander as an ALO (he had enlisted people under him in his jt assignment, when he was a FCC in the AF it was just officers)
Anyway, when they went on a TDY right after the military started to give out the credit cards, he had a married guy, who went to get a cash advance on the card and was declined. He came to find out his wife spent 8K on it, new furniture, diamond earrings, etc. As soon as this came to light the commander collected everyones credit cards, I of course asked Bullet how did he not notice the new furniture, or the earrings
?
You are right the community is very tight knit in the military and many supervisors (1st shirts and FCC's) have to deal with assisting in a emotional role. Every yr, my heartbreaks when I know that we give out to young airman a full T-Day dinner because they can't afford to do it themselves. The OSS had 7 families that we made food baskets for this year
My other big beef...watching retirees show up at the commissary and clearing out the shelves of diapers and baby formula! I actually had a fight w/a retiree at Ft Bragg when I had a new born as they took all of the formula and I had my 6 mos. old in the shopping cart, I asked politely for 1 can. She informed me in
her day children weren't allowed in the commissary, I told her in
her day you were allowed to leave us in a sweltering car in the parking lot without being arrested by the MPS. As we all know how the commissary works, you don't pick the lane you go in, your told where to go, she was right in front of me, unloading, Milk, Bacon, diapers, formula, and cigarrettes, the young enlisted personnel with his wife and baby was right in front of her with no formula or diapers (since she took them all, they were next to me during the fight)and pd with food stamps. I told her I hope your children that are not in the military appreciate the fact that you took the last of the supplies so that those of us who could lose their AD loved one couldn't get it!
I know I will be a retiree soon enough, but I will always keep in my mind how financially difficult it is for the young married people who need the commissary to survive!