Charging deployed sailors with the United States Navy a monthly storage fee for their privately owned vehicles on base places an undue financial burden on them, according to U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA) and three of her Republican colleagues.
In a letter sent to Rear Admiral Stephen Barnett, commander of the Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, the lawmakers pointed out that at Naval Station Norfolk, sailors are charged about $80 a month to keep their vehicles on base while they’re deployed, an amount they think may unintentionally place a financial burden on sailors, particularly junior enlisted sailors.
“This concern is particularly acute for junior enlisted sailors whose base pay may leave little margin to absorb recurring fees during a deployment,” wrote Rep. Kiggans and her colleagues. “Unlike more senior personnel, these service members often lack financial flexibility to make alternative arrangements on short notice. Deployment is already a period of significant sacrifice; a recurring monthly fee for secure, on-base vehicle storage compounds that sacrifice in a way that seems at odds with the Navy’s strong commitment to quality of life.”
The members acknowledged that providing and maintaining a secure vehicle storage facility involves real operational costs, but they wrote that they hoped to work with Barnett to identify a path forward that better serves junior sailors.
They asked that Barnett’s office consider two items. First, whether the current fee structure for deployed vehicle storage could be waived or significantly reduced for junior enlisted sailors, consistent with the tiered pay scales that already reflect the different financial circumstances of service members at various stages of their careers.
Second, whether any existing authorities could be used to offset storage costs for the most junior members of the force without requiring a legislative solution, according to their letter.
“Our office has always valued the open and productive relationship we share with Naval Station Norfolk, and [we are] grateful for the command’s continued commitment to excellence,” Rep. Kiggans and the members wrote. “That commitment reflects the professionalism and dedication of everyone at the installation, and we are proud to represent and support this community.”