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.