Soldiers at Fort Carson Report Severe Food Shortages and Poor Quality in Dining Facilities

While Americans enjoy Thanksgiving at Fort Carson in Colorado, soldiers face a very different situation. Many people have difficulty staying healthy and ready because their meals are only sometimes good enough, and there are few options at base eating facilities.

Reports from troops show that problems keep happening, such as meals that don't meet nutritional standards and portions that need to be more significant. One soldier showed off the problem by posting a picture of a dinner with toast and green beans. It can be hard to get even these bad meals because eating halls often need more food or close with a warning.

"This is a problem for the whole division," a soldier who did not want to be named said. "People in the barracks who don't have cars to get around are the ones who are hurt the most."

While kiosks are supposed to be extra places to eat, they are often empty or full of unhealthy snacks like chips and candy, which don't meet the nutritional needs of troops. Some unit leaders have told their soldiers to write down the bad conditions to bring their worries to the attention of higher-ups.

A spokesperson for Fort Carson, Lt. Col. Joseph Payton, admitted the issues and said, "We're committed to ensuring our soldiers receive quality and healthy meals." He also said that the problem is being looked at by leadership at the brigade level.

Stress over money makes the problem worse. Soldiers give an average of $460 monthly from their Basic Allowance for Subsistence, which adds up to $22 million annually. But this year, the base only had $5 million for food, leaving $17 million missing.

Problems with food have been mentioned at other bases, like Fort Cavazos in Texas. This shows that Army food service logistics need to be fixed. Even though they are still angry, soldiers hope that changes will be made to ensure they get the food and help they need.

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