It's really beyond the DoD itself to solve these problems on their own. Pay increases require approval beyond those institutions further up the executive branch

It's really beyond the DoD itself to solve these problems on their own. Pay increases require approval beyond those institutions further up the executive branch, and I believe in congress in some cases. Pay raises happen at the beginning of every year, so hopefully the further up's will take action - but it takes a while for it to get to the payees. Mid year raises don't happen. If congress was smart they would just do a COLA adjustment for all the enlisted folks below say E-7 to make up for inflation.