The 100-Hour Work Week: Understanding Military Family Food Insecurity

By Tony Grayson Tech Executive (ex-SVP Oracle, AWS, Meta) & Former Nuclear Submarine Commander

Despite serving their country, many junior enlisted families face food insecurity, relying on commissaries and assistance programs like SNAP to make ends meet.

I want you to consider a job offer.

The position requires you to work 100-hour weeks. Sometimes more. You'll be away from your family for 6-9 months at a time. No weekends home, no quick visits when your kids are sick, or your spouse needs you.

The pay? Well below minimum wage when you do the math. Your family? They might qualify for SNAP benefits (food stamps) while you're gone.

This isn't just a hypothetical scenario; it is the root cause of military family food insecurity, a growing crisis affecting those who serve our country.

Would you take that job? Most of us wouldn't even finish reading the job description. Yet hundreds of thousands of Americans are living this reality right now.

The Math: What Causes Military Family Food Insecurity?

Let's be honest about the financial reality. A junior enlisted service member—the backbone of our military—earns roughly $25,000 a year in base pay.

Now, factor in the actual hours worked:

• Underway on a ship or submarine: Operational realities often demand 18+ hour workdays filled with drills, maintenance, and study.

• Deployed to a combat zone: You are on 24/7 alert status.

• Field exercises: Days blend into nights, weeks into months.

When you calculate the true hourly rate against these hours, it falls well below federal minimum wage. This pay gap is the primary driver of military family food insecurity, forcing spouses to stretch a limited budget just to put dinner on the table.

The Hidden Struggle: Unemployment and the "Spouse Tax"

It is not just about low base pay; it is about household income. Recent data confirms that one in five military families experiences food insecurity, a rate that rises to one in four for active duty families.

Two main factors exacerbate this:

1. Military Spouse Unemployment: Spouses face an unemployment rate of over 21% (nearly five times the national average) due to frequent moves and licensure hurdles.

2. Solo Parenting: Managing household emergencies alone prevents many spouses from holding steady jobs.

Watch: The Reality of Service

If you have a hard time believing that full-time service members are queuing up at food banks, you are not alone. Watch this report to see what "service" looks like for thousands of military families right now.

CBS reports on the growing number of active duty military families turning to food banks to survive.

Leadership Lesson: Team Over Self

Here's what makes military service different from any corporate job description: it's not a transaction. It's a selfless commitment rooted in values. In the military, I learned that some things matter more than personal gain:

• Mission over comfort.

• Team over self.

• Service over security.

This is distinct from the popular corporate idea of "servant leadership." As I’ve written before, Contextual Intelligence matters more than generic leadership advice because sometimes the mission requires decisions that don't fit a comfortable narrative.

A Note for Veterans in Transition

Sometimes, we stray from the virtues that made us join the military when we enter civilian jobs. Transition is difficult, and the fear of the unknown can be paralyzing.

If you are struggling with that shift, read my thoughts on The Math on Regret. Be honest with yourself and get back to center. The workforce needs your true north.

Solutions: The Military Food Security Act of 2025

The stories of struggle aren't isolated incidents; they are systemic failures. However, there is a path forward.

Legislation like the Military Food Security Act of 2025 is critical. It seeks to exclude the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) from income calculations for the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA). Currently, this bureaucratic technicality disqualifies many struggling military families from the very safety net their taxes pay for.

The Business Case for Resilience

This Veterans Day, we owe veterans more than a day of remembrance. But for business leaders, I am asking for something else: Recognition of value.

If a candidate told you they successfully managed multi-million dollar assets while earning $4 an hour, working 100-hour weeks, and worrying about their next meal, you wouldn't just pity them. You would realize they possess a level of grit, resilience, and operational focus that cannot be taught in business school.

Don't just help them because it's charity. Hire them because it's smart business.

• Hire Military Spouses: Visit Hiring Our Heroes to find talent that is resilient and adaptable.

• Support Policy Change: Advocate for the Military Food Security Act and the No Veteran Should Go Hungry Act.

• Donate to the Frontline: Support Feeding America and Blue Star Families which run specific programs to combat military family food insecurity.

The Question Remains

So I'll ask again: Would you work 100-hour weeks for less than minimum wage, away from everyone you love, for months at a time?

Veterans did. Many are still doing it right now, today.

That's worth more than a single day of remembrance. That's worth our lasting commitment to ensure their sacrifice wasn't in vain.

To all who served and are serving: Thank you. Your commitment to team over self sets an example we should all aspire to follow.

Frequently Asked Questions: Military Family Food Insecurity

What is military family food insecurity?

Military family food insecurity is the lack of consistent access to nutritionally adequate food for households with an active service member or veteran. Current data indicates that one in five military families—and as many as one in four active-duty families—struggle with this, often having to choose between bills and groceries despite serving their country.

Why is military pay often compared to less than minimum wage?

This comparison highlights the "effective hourly rate" of junior enlisted personnel. A junior enlisted service member earns roughly $25,000 a year in base pay. When this is divided by the 100+ hour workweeks required during deployments, underway periods, or combat zones, the hourly earnings frequently drop below the federal minimum wage.

What is the biggest financial barrier for military families?

The primary barrier is the combination of low base pay and a 21% military spouse unemployment rate—nearly five times the national average. Frequent relocations (PCS moves) and state-specific licensing hurdles make it difficult for spouses to maintain careers, forcing families to survive on a single income that's already below poverty-level when calculated hourly.

How does the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) affect food assistance?

BAH creates a "phantom income" problem. Under current federal rules, BAH counts as income when determining SNAP (food stamp) eligibility. This artificially inflates a family's on-paper income, disqualifying them from food assistance even when their actual disposable income is below the poverty line. It's a bureaucratic technicality that hurts those it should help.

What does the Military Food Security Act of 2025 propose?

The Military Food Security Act of 2025 proposes excluding the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) from income calculations for the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA). This legislative fix would allow thousands of low-income, junior enlisted families to finally qualify for the support programs their taxes pay for.

What is a 100-hour work week in the military?

A 100-hour work week is common during deployments, underway periods on ships or submarines (often 18+ hour days), combat zone alert status (24/7), and field exercises where days blend into nights. These operational demands mean service members are "on duty" continuously for weeks or months, with no weekends, holidays, or time off.

What is military spouse unemployment?

Military spouse unemployment refers to the 21% unemployment rate among military spouses—five times the national average. Frequent PCS (Permanent Change of Station) moves every 2-3 years, state-specific professional licensing requirements, and solo parenting demands during deployments make it extremely difficult for spouses to maintain consistent careers.

How can businesses help military families?

Businesses can hire military spouses through programs like Hiring Our Heroes, advocate for the Military Food Security Act, and donate to organizations like Feeding America and Blue Star Families that combat military family food insecurity. Beyond charity, hiring veterans and spouses is smart business—they bring resilience, operational focus, and grit that can't be taught.

What is SNAP eligibility for military families?

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) eligibility for military families is complicated by how BAH is counted as income. Many junior enlisted families who would otherwise qualify based on their actual disposable income are disqualified because BAH inflates their "official" income on paper. This bureaucratic barrier prevents struggling families from accessing benefits.

What is Blue Star Families?

Blue Star Families is a nonprofit organization that supports military families through programs addressing food insecurity, career support for spouses, and community connection. They conduct annual Military Family Lifestyle Surveys that document challenges like food insecurity, spouse unemployment, and the hidden costs of military service.

What is the true cost of military service?

The true cost of military service extends beyond low pay to include 6-9 month deployments away from family, missed birthdays and holidays, spouse career sacrifice, children changing schools repeatedly, and food insecurity. Service members accept "mission over comfort, team over self, service over security"—values that deserve recognition beyond a single Veterans Day. See also: The Math on Regret.

Who is Tony Grayson?

Tony Grayson is President & GM of Northstar Enterprise + Defense, former SVP at Oracle ($1.3B budget), AWS, and Meta (30+ data centers). He commanded nuclear submarine USS Providence (SSN-719) and received the Stockdale Award. As Veterans Chair for Infrastructure Masons, he has helped transition 100+ veterans into technology careers.

____________________________________

Tony Grayson is a recognized Top 10 Data Center Influencer, a successful entrepreneur, and the President & General Manager of Northstar Enterprise + Defense.

A former U.S. Navy Submarine Commander and recipient of the prestigious VADM Stockdale Award, Tony is a leading authority on the convergence of nuclear energy, AI infrastructure, and national defense. His career is defined by building at scale: he led global infrastructure strategy as a Senior Vice President for AWS, Meta, and Oracle before founding and selling a top-10 modular data center company.

Today, he leads strategy and execution for critical defense programs and AI infrastructure, building AI factories and cloud regions that survive contact with reality.