Female servicemembers in the U.S. Military pay significantly more for their uniforms compared to male counterparts, per GAO. (Photo: U.S. Army)
The results of a Government Accountability Office investigation into claims that female servicemembers in the U.S. Military pay more than their male counterparts for uniform expenses have been released: the claims are true.
According to the GAO’s findings, female servicemembers paid as much as three times the amount that male servicemembers paid in 2020, depending on the U.S. Military branch they served. The GAO also found that over the past 10 years, each of the services (excluding Space Force) instituted numerous uniform changes that were disproportionately more expensive for women, and particularly so for female officers serving in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.
The GAO says that based on its investigation, it is recommending that the Department of Defense adopt new policies based on ensuring equity between male and female servicemembers in addition to establishing a provision that would factor the costs servicemembers would have to pay to adopt new uniform requirements.
Included in the GAO’s report was the DoD’s response to all four recommendations, “the department appreciates GAO’s review and generally agrees with the contents of the draft report. We continue to seek ways to improve this program and welcome GAO’s thoughtful recommendations.”
However, the DoD also says, “the department does not believe it would be appropriate to address ‘any and all’ cost differences, no matter how small or inconsequential. Therefore, in the interests of efficient and effective administration, the department with work to develop a standard by which to identify cost differences that are of such significance as to warrant being addressed.”
The GAO’s investigation began in 2019 after Congresswoman Julia Brownley, D-California, added a provision to the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act. Rep. Brownley, who is head of the Women Veterans Task Force in Congress, says she proposed the bill based on direct feedback she received from female servicemembers.
Author: Christian Southards
Coming from a family with a proud military background and wanting to contribute his writing skills to a worthy cause, Christian began writing for the California American Legion in August of 2020. His father is a 25-year Army Veteran and his grandfather served in the Navy during Vietnam.
