While Congress diddles and daddles over the situation in the Middle East, especially over questions regarding Iran, and the administration claims the only thing we need is money, lots of it, without really spelling out what it will really be used for, very few of us have probably read the March 2026 report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the nonpartisan watchdog under the control of Congress, on military readiness.
Until I saw an article in the Washington Post I did not even know of the report.
This 65-page report made a number of recommendations to upgrade our military and they did not include firing people of color or holding prayer meetings at the Pentagon. The report noted the lack of sufficiently trained personnel to maintain equipment as well as planes and ships, resulting in needless accidents.
The report also noted that we do not take care of our military, giving them substandard housing here at home, and low incomes require many military families to rely on SNAP and other government programs. I’m not a hawk, but don’t you think our armed forces deserve more than a “Thank you for your service” or poppies on Memorial Day?
Prayer for the Day
While we pray for peace in a time of war,
We remember those now dedicating their lives to service;
While we live here at home and only read of danger in the world,
We need to care for those in places far from home.
Be with us, O God, as we strive for peace but do not forget
Those who respond to a world full of war.
In the name of the One who cares for all,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
There are a lot of contributing factors for the military recruiting crisis, but one of them is we’re not paying junior enlisted well enough so that they can live without food stamps. To have a strong military, we need to treat our people the right way.
Rye Barcott, co-founder and CEO of With Honor
we found that poor living conditions in some military barracks—such as the presence of mold, broken fire alarm systems, and extreme temperature— may pose potentially serious risks to the physical and mental health of service members as well as physical safety.
From the GAO Report issued March 2026
Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth;
Give me an undivided heart to revere your name
Psalm 86: 11