Scavenging is the result of the low pay. In my experience, officers usually look the other way as they understand what it is, until they can't look away anymore. Many enlisted are paid so low, officers actually go out of their way to encourage them to sign-up for food stamps which many are eligible for. When "shrinkage" becomes a problem, they simply pause all requisitions for a while. Many of these items end up in "army surplus" stores surrounding the army base.