Sgt. Maj. Troy Black, the senior enlisted advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is advocating for enlisted personnel’s expenses such as phone bills, insurance, gas, rent, electricity, childcare, and food. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the bills young people need to pay. As the Pentagon nears the end of its Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation, Black spoke with Military Times about military pay, balancing budget goals, and 1980s fashion. He highlighted the need for pay and compensation to keep pace with the cost of living to avoid creating gaps.
Despite inflation moderating, Black stresses that pay and compensation must maintain some pace with the cost of living. He acknowledges the challenges of balancing modernization efforts, readiness, and quality of life within the defense budget. Black notes the ongoing competition between different priorities within the budget and supports the need for more funding for both modernization and quality of life initiatives.
Black emphasizes the changing responsibilities and needs of new generations of service members, citing examples such as the necessity of expensive cell phone contracts due to the digital world. He highlights the real costs involved in necessities like transportation and housing, which may not be considered luxuries anymore. He urges understanding and adjusting to the needs of new generations entering the military while upholding standards for success. Through anecdotes and personal experiences, Black illustrates the evolving nature of military service and the importance of adapting to change while maintaining high standards.
