(The Center Square) – When Army Specialist Dakota Barnes considered flying home to California for Christmas last year, she knew she couldn't afford it without giving up her yearly food budget.

That's when she heard about a nonprofit that could help through Fort Bragg's Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program. She contacted Miles for Military , a Boston-based nonprofit that helps newly enlisted members get home for special occasions.

Maureen Byrne started the program in 2023 after flying her son, Ronan, a Marine, home from base. At one point, she spent $900 to fly him home for less than 48 hours. That led to a question: How can junior enlisted troops making around $30,000 a year afford to go home?

She got the answer from her son: "He's like, Mom, nobody goes home. And i

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