It is no secret that negative policies and a strained economy has placed significant strains on our nations Service Members. Service in todays military comes with high operational tempos with  50/60+ hour work weeks, with our men and women frequently spending extended periods of time away from their homes and loved ones, while continually providing for their families in conditions of ever-rising living costs. LOW recruitment and retention rates reflect on the overall effectiveness and moral of our forces and only has served to compound the problem;  resulting in higher demands of the service members both on and off the clock. This demand for high work output has become the NORM and often provides challenges at home, especially for junior military personal who make up the bulk of the fighting force.  Improving the financial situation of service members, easing burden on their families and improving moral isn't just a personal concern, it's a national one.

Policies affecting military pay, bonuses, entitlements, and reimbursements should be revised. It's not just the principle—it's the immediate effects these changes would have on the welfare and morale of Service Members and their families. By exempting these sources of income from taxation, we could ease the economic burden that most military families confront daily, ultimately enhancing their quality of life.

Moreover, these benefits would ripple outwards, increasing recruitment and retention rates across all services. It's an immediate, actionable solution to a critical issue. Doing more with less has become the coined phrase of continued service, many have found that this added stress is no longer worth it; especially when coupled with the unique stressors only experienced by those who serve in the Military or as a First Responder.  The cost of these additional strains  both on and off the job have made dealing with the unique challenges even harder to bare as is apparent in the low recruitment and rentention rates.

Recruitment and rentition has not been the only thing to suffer.  There has also been an increase in the cost of life.  The military constitutes about 0.4% of the U.S. population and yet, in 2018, military personnel and veteran suicide rates reached an all-time high of 24.8 per 100,000 (Military Times, 2019). Making military pay and benefits tax-free could serve as a step towards dealing with the increasing strain and stress prevalent within our military community.

Sign this petition to voice out our plea to mention and consider this integral issue in future policy-making decisions. Let's strive for a more financially stable environment for those who serve and protect our nation.