Lawmakers and military officials are both concerned about the impact sequestration can have on the Armed Forces, but often lost in the fray is what could happen to servicemembers and their families. Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mark Ferguson recently visited with thousands of sailors and found most of them are anxious about the looming budget cuts, reports Stars and Stripes.
Ferguson spokes with troops while on a tour of Central Command, and while they know there is no threat to payment, there are considerable worries surrounding their benefits. Specifically, healthcare and housing payments may be affected by the $500 billion budget cuts.
"At every forum, sailors – from the most junior to our operational commanders – expressed concern regarding what sequestration will mean to our Navy and their service," Ferguson told the publication. "The uncertainty of our fiscal future is increasingly on the minds of our force."
The anxiety surrounding potential cuts to benefits and healthcare comes as an increase to TRICARE Prime enrollment is set to begin in October as part of last year's National Defense Authorization Act, according to The News Journal.