Military Wives' Struggle to Provide

The Difficulties in Providing for a Military Family from the Wife's Point of View

Military Wives' Struggle to Provide Military wives perform a multitude of jobs. From surrogate mother to grown men, babysitter, and tailor, to bed and breakfast owner, advice hotline operator, and of course cook ,maid, and financial planner. All of these tasks are expected and necessary, and although these odd jobs can be given fancy names they don't come with pay checks. As an insider to the world of military wives and stay at home moms I've seen a growing epidemic. Fueled by the economic state of the country, the increased deployment of troops, and the meager salary of the enlisted and lower level soldiers, families are struggling to get by. Avoiding debt is near impossible and the military offers little help. This is putting increased pressure on spouses with children, who would otherwise stay at home with the kids, to find work outside the home.

This is easier said then done. Using the Fort Campbell, KY and Clarksville, TN area as an example of military towns, it is easy to see why. The minimum wage in Kentucky is $5.15 an hour. Tennessee does not have minimum wage laws, but must comply with federal standards which remain also at $5.15 an hour. At minimum wage, working full time you would receive a monthly paycheck of $824, before taxes. The lowest cost of day care per child in this area that I could find was 60$ a week at an in home provider, I have two children bringing my hypothetical daycare cost to $480 per month. Doing the math that leaves $344 left before taxes come out and without calculating the cost of travel to and from the job. The choice many wives here at Fort Campbell and military installations around the country face is one between providing the time and effort during the day to keep the household running and the extra $100-$300 a month that could be made if they can find a full time job. With a degree or trade skill higher paying jobs are available, but finding the money to cover education and childcare expenses is often a frustrating and fruitless endeavor.