Readiness in the U.S. armed forces is comprised of many factors, but "food insecurity" impacts physical and mental health, according to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy in a virtual panel discussion at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Patricia Montes Barron discussed "Food Security in the Military: What We Know and Why It Matters," at CSIS recently. The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Those serving on active duty, in the military reserves or in the National Guard, experienced food insecurity at double the national average in recent months, according to nationwide surveys. And, anecdotal evidence points to heightened rates of food insecurity among U.S. veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Barron, her office has been hard at work since April to develop a plan for the Defense Department that everyone can wrap their arms around. Barron stated,"We have also started to work with the USDA, and we've just gotten approval to work with the Census Bureau on a military family focus panel. Food insecurity is one of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin's high priorities. He wants to make sure we're addressing this and getting to it as quickly as we can … [via] Congressional interest, as well as discussions with [the White House's initiative] Joining Forces."
"We are gathering data and analyzing relevant statistics, which are going to help us better scope the problem," Barron said. "And, while my office is taking the lead, we can't do this alone. We need all of DOD and other federal agencies to work together with us."
Trained members of the Military Family Life Counselor Program (MFLC) will help with assessment tools to assist in determining if counselors deal with needed nutritional support, according to Barron. And, the DOD Federal Financial Readiness Office is also developing an assessment tool and will work closely with MFLC to make sure families know what financial resources are available.
Barron said proper nutrition is vital for readiness and national security. "If you are not getting nutritious food, you're not feeding your body and you're not feeding your mind to do the very best that you can do."
A military family should not have any challenges with food. We have a plethora of resources; we just need to make sure that our families are aware of them and can take advantage of them. Food insecurity is an individual experience, but it's also a family, community and national experience, as well.
EDITOR’S TAKE:
Ms. Barron aptly points out that food insecurity is a “family, community and national experience”. It is very alarming to learn that our military personnel are experiencing food insecurity, especially in this modern era. That said, we should all be concerned that any person in our country experiences food insecurity. During times of international conflict, imported food items could be severely restricted, which makes a strong case for classifying food and agriculture as a national security priority. As a nation, we must maintain strong support for our agricultural and food infrastructure.
