ARLINGTON, Va. (WTVM) - With the government shutdown continuing for around 4 weeks now, the uncertainty continues for service members around the nation - including soldiers on Fort Benning. We talked to a Navy veteran about the financial strain and how her non-profit is bridging the gap.

“The anxiety, the fear, the concern, what am I going to do? How am I going to put food on the table? How am I going to put gas in the car? How am I going to pay for child care?,” Retired Navy Rear Admiral Dawn Cutler said.

Those are questions coming from the 1.3 million active-duty military personnel - who got their paychecks earlier this month, but not certain about getting paid later this week, if the government shutdown continues.

Cutler - who served for 28 years - says a challenging military life is even more stressful with the financial unknown. She’s the chief operations officer for the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. Part of what they offer is money management help for military families in challenging times.

“We tell them check with their bank, see if they have payroll protection program, and if so, enroll in that...also to delay or defer any nonessential expenses,” she told News Leader 9.

USAA and Navy Federal credit Union also offer zero or low interest loans specifically during the shutdown.

Regardless, service members continue serving. In a statement on Facebook, U-S Army Garrison commander at Fort Benning said, quote: “the Maneuver Center of Excellence will continue to train Soldiers and leaders who are lethal and ready.”

That includes infantry and armor, airborne and ranger training. But there are staffing issues elsewhere. Civilian government workers, who are furloughed without pay, process a lot of the pay transactions - and not just paychecks.

“It’s all the other entitlements like housing allowances, special pay that aren’t getting started, because there’s no one to process those payments,” Cutler added.

Her nonprofit NMCRS operates more than 200 offices worldwide.