DES MOINES, Iowa — Troops will go without pay if the government shutdown continues past October 15, leaving their families back home concerned about how they will make ends meet.
April Conway, the Vice President of Blue Star Mothers of Iowa, said she is already planning to support her son if the shutdown doesn’t end.
“Several of us are preparing to supplement their incomes if we have to. And you know, what about our moms that are already retired that, that wasn’t on their plan? But we also have sons and daughter in laws that when our kids left, they had children and they needed to take the next year off to take care of the kids. And now there’s nothing coming in. So we might be in a situation where we’re not only having to supplement our children, but provide for their entire family,” Conway said.
During previous shutdowns, congress either passed measures to ensure that military members were still paid or had already appropriated the defense budget.
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Conway said that not receiving paychecks adds to military families already existing worries.
“We’re already fearful. We’re already anxious. We’re already worried when they’re gone. And then you add this on top of it. But our big concern as well is they’re there and we need them to focus on their mission. And if they’re worried about how their wife or their husband or their children are going to eat or if their cell phone is still going to work so they can call us,” Conway said.
Jackie Schmillen, a Deputy Public Affairs Officer with the Iowa National Guard, said the shutdown doesn’t impact troops’ ability to perform their missions.
“In no way is this shutdown impacting our ability to fulfill our missions on a local state level, national level, or those that are deployed at this time. We are showing up and doing what we need to do every single day. But we understand that there is going to be some effect if those paychecks don’t show up on time,” Schmillen said.
Schmillen said the Iowa National Guard is prepared to support troops and their families if the shutdown continues.
“We have our Warrior Family Services Branch. They are always available not just during a shutdown, but any time our service members need anything. So whether it’s a phone call, an email or person to person, we are ready to click those resources in place. There is quite a list of different things that we can provide our service members, but that is a great place to start,” Schmillen said.
To learn more about the Warrior & Family Services Branch, click here.
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