U.S. Army Struggles to Feed Troops At Fort Carson

In 2024, there were growing reports of concern over food insecurity among military families, and in December of 2024, news stories like the one reported by Colorado Public Radio (CPR) raised additional concerns about the DoD’s ability to properly manage its troops.

According to a CPR news story titled, Lima beans and toast: Fort Carson working to combat bad food at soldier dining facilities, troops stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado “have expressed growing concerns about the quality and nutritional value of meals served in the base’s dining facilities. Reports from troops indicate that food shortages, small portions, and questionable food quality are recurring issues.”

Fort Carson Food Choices: Lima Beans And Toast

According to the news report, some stationed at Fort Carson reported meals “that consisted only of lima beans and a piece of garlic toast, highlighting the lack of variety and nutritional substance.” Other worries involved “undercooked or improperly stored food, raising questions about food safety practices.” This news comes in spite of DoD efforts, including Taking Care of Our People initiatives.

And Colorado Public Radio notes that food insecurity issues among the troops are “not unique to Fort Carson.” A 2023 government report “revealed widespread food challenges across various military installations…”

Published reports indicate Fort Carson leaderships “acknowledge” concerns, but until troops stop reporting problems getting basic food needs met, is the acknowledgment enough? Many say no.

Taking Care of Our People?

Those who turn to the DoD’s Taking Care of Our People official page in an initial introductory review of the website soon learn there is no easy way to reach out to Army or DoD leadership about food insecurity issues.

Nor (at press time) is there no easy-to-find resource on the Taking Care of Our People page to apply for the Basic Needs Allowance or to find resources to alleviate food insecurity. Where does the Department of Defense expect Fort Carson troops and others to go to seek assistance while military leadership tries to fix this problem?

The Colorado Public Radio story asks essential questions. “While some improvements have been observed, particularly during special occasions like Thanksgiving, soldiers emphasize the need for consistent, high-quality meals throughout the year,” the article states, adding, “They argue that providing adequate nutrition is a fundamental responsibility owed to those who serve their country.”

It’s Not Just Food Insecurity

Some argue that the Department of Defense owes basic food security to the troops as a bare minimum standard in exchange for the labor of an all-volunteer fighting force. And these people are. not alone, according to a 2023 Government Accounting Office report on the sorry state of DoD barracks for single soldiers and other troops.

• The 2023 GAO report states, “DOD does not reliably assess conditions, and some barracks are substandard. DOD assessments of conditions are unreliable.”
• “GAO observed barracks that pose potentially serious health and safety risks—such as broken windows and inoperable fire systems—and that do not meet minimum DOD standards for privacy and configuration.
• According to officials, ” thousands of service members live in barracks below standards.”

As you can see from the above, the DoD problem is not limited to food insecurity. The 2023 GAO report continues, adding, “DOD does not have complete funding information to make informed decisions.”

“For example, DOD requested about $15 billion for overall facility sustainment for fiscal year 2024 but could not identify how much of this total would be spent toward barracks.”

Furthermore, “In addition, DOD did not know how much it spent on housing allowances for service members who would normally be required to live in barracks, but did not because of insufficient space or poor living conditions.” Is it fair to ask ANYONE to volunteer to serve in uniform under such conditions?

The GAO report also notes, “DOD conducts insufficient oversight. For example, DOD does not track information on the condition of barracks or facilitate collaboration on initiatives to improve barracks. Insufficient oversight hampers DOD’s ability to identify and address long-standing challenges in barracks conditions across the department.”